Luther sends Cornell losing streak to 32

MOUNT VERNON - They ignored him all day. But with the game on the line, Trey Scheetz got two looks and two huge catches.

Scheetz hauled down two fade passes from quarterback Chris Reynolds in the final two minutes, the second for a touchdown that iced Luther's 19-10 win Saturday over Cornell at icy Ash Park. It's 32 straight IIAC defeats for the Rams.

“We were just trying to milk the clock there at the end of the game,” said Scheetz, a senior from Clear Creek-Amana. “Obviously, we knew that matchup was there all day, but we didn't decide to take it until the end. It ended up working out.”

Andrew Burdick hit Thomas Connor for a 1-yard touchdown pass with 2:18 left that brought Cornell within 12-10. Facing a 3rd-and-11 at the Cornell 45 on the ensuing possession, Reynolds lofted a ball down the left sideline that the 6-foot-2 Scheetz jumped up and caught over 5-7 freshman cornerback Myles Kelly for a 23-yard gain.

 On 4th-and-10 from the 22 with 20 seconds left, Luther (3-2, 2-1) called the same play and got the same result.

“They made the play both times they had to make it, and it clinched the game for them,” Cornell Coach Matt Dillon said. “Your heart goes out to (Kelly) because he was in perfect position both times.”

“If you're going to be a good football team and have a good football program, you're going to have to be able to learn to make plays and win games like this,” Luther Coach Mike Durnin said. “It's not always going to be easy.”

Cornell (1-5, 0-4) played another opponent heads up, outgaining Luther, only to lose again. The record for most consecutive IIAC losses belongs to Simpson at 34 (1958-62).

“We're looking forward to winning a couple of games,” said Burdick, a freshman from Florida who accounted for 301 yards rushing and throwing. “We're always right there. It's just little things happen.”

Cornell is at Buena Vista next week.