Central beats Rams with ground game

Central won the battle on the line of scrimmage and took advantage of three Cornell turnovers in handing the Rams a 49-17 Iowa Conference setback Saturday afternoon at Schipper Stadium.

Cornell (2-5 overall, 0-5 IIAC) put together a long touchdown drive to pull even with the Dutch at 7-7 with 5:49 left in the first quarter. Central (6-2, 5-1) took control of the game from there, scoring touchdowns on its next four possessions and building a 35-10 lead at halftime.

The Dutch relied on a ground attack that accounted for 340 yards and six touchdowns. Cornell was limited to 10 rushing yards on 19 carries.

Cornell quarterback Juan Flores recorded his fourth 200-yard passing game of the season. The sophomore completed 23-of-41 passes for 228 yards and a touchdown. Flores was picked off twice and sacked five times.

Flores overcame an early interception and helped lead the Rams on an 11-play, 83-yard touchdown drive midway through the first quarter. Junior Andrew Burdick finished it off with a fourth-down scoring strike of six yards to Andrew Campbell that made the score 7-7.

Anthony Bridges booted a 27-yard field goal midway through the second quarter, putting the Rams within 28-10. His fifth field goal of the season capped a 12-play, 62-yard drive.

Cornell freshman Justin Cox hauled in a 26-yard touchdown pass from Flores with 4:04 remaining in the third quarter, cutting the deficit to 35-17. Cox finished the game with eight receptions for 56 yards, both career bests.

Thomas Connor caught seven balls for 74 yards. James Scully totaled 73 yards on four receptions, with a long of 33 yards.

Cornell's defense had three players reach double figures in tackles, led by Tyler Bailey's game-high 16 stops. Jeffery Bollnow and freshman Alex Latow had 10 tackles apiece. Bollnow came up with a third-quarter interception, his first of the season.

Freshman Preston Ritchie had a solid day in the return game, running back three kicks for 74 yards. He had a long return of 37 yards.

Central outgained the Rams in total yards, 529-244. The Dutch had 28 first downs, to Cornell's 15. The Rams turned the ball over three times in their own territory. The miscues led to 14 Central points, including a fourth-quarter interception return for a touchdown.

Cornell plays host to Loras in a 1 p.m. kickoff Saturday, Oct. 29 at Ash Park Stadium. The Duhawks gave Coe a battle Saturday in a 28-21 loss in Dubuque.