Cornell battles but comes up short against Midwest Conference football leader Monmouth

MOUNT VERNON – Cornell Coach Dan Pifer adjusted his hat, pondering what had transpired, while Rams quarterback John Smith clutched his helmet in hand.

Neither were hanging their respective hats on a moral victory, despite a valiant effort and strong showing against one of the league’s top teams.

“I hate moral victories because I’d rather win,” Smith said. “It showed us we can hang with anybody in this conference.”

Cornell led or was tied for about three quarters but Monmouth (Ill.) closed with 17 unmatched points in the fourth quarter for a 38-28 victory in a Midwest Conference college football game Saturday at Ash Park’s Van Metre Field.

“I think we put it all together for the first time,” Pifer said. “The effort was good. We were physical. We did all the things we have to do. You have to make plays in the end. That’s what we didn’t do.”

The Rams (3-3, 3-2) played one of their most complete games, holding the Fighting Scots under their league-leading scoring average and scoring more points against them than any conference foe this season. They certainly proved something to themselves, even if the final result wasn’t in their favor.

“We’re a program,” Cornell sophomore defensive lineman Julius Jenkins said. “We win some. We lose some. We show progression. We showed today that we can win if we put our hearts in it and keep fighting like we always do.”

Monmouth (5-1, 5-0) took an early lead on Brayden Deem’s 17-yard touchdown pass to the back of the end zone. Cornell answered immediately.

Smith marched the Rams 64 yards on 10 plays, hitting Cole Reed for a 28-yard score and tying it at 7-7 with 4:08 left in the first quarter.

“I just have to know what to do,” said Smith, who praised the coaches’ play calls. “I have to put the ball in my athletes’ hands.”

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The Rams defense stiffened and forced two straight punts. The offense responded with consecutive TDs for a 21-7 edge with 7:27 left before halftime. Smith hit Dakota Seastrom for a 5-yard score and BooBoo Browning broke a 60-yard TD jaunt.

Smith added a 2-yard run in the third after hitting Kaleb Skeffington for a 58-yard gain on the previous play. Smith targeted nine receivers and all but one logged a reception. He finished with 240 yards passing and two touchdowns, giving him 1,244 yards and 11 TDs this season.

“My guys trust me and I trust my guys,” Smith said. “As long as I get it to them, I know they will be able to make a play.”

Deem touchdown passes of 8 yards to to Nate Thornton and 24 to Lucas Kessinger sandwiched Smith’s touchdown run to make the score 28-28 entering the fourth.

The final quarter was all Monmouth.

Cody Szelc’s 35-yard kick gave the Fighting Scots a 31-28 lead with 7:13 to play. They were ahead for the first time since about four minutes left in the opening quarter. Deem threw an 11-yard TD pass to Thornton for the final margin, while the Rams committed two turnovers and a punt on their series.

Deem finished with 201 yards and five touchdowns.

Monmouth won its 10th straight in the series with Cornell. The Rams were competitive and had a signature win in their grips until the final six minutes.

“We fought really hard,” Jenkins said. “I love that about this team. We refuse to give up, regardless of what the scoreboard says.

“I love this team because we fight, fight and fight.”

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Photos: Cornell College football vs. Monmouth

Pifer said this is part of the process and the growing pains of building up a program. The key is to learn how to finish games against quality opponents. The response from now until next week’s game at University of Chicago is important.

“You have to be in these games and you have to learn from it,” Pifer said. “That’s how you get better when you’re in them again. We have to learn from it.

“It was a tight ball game. Hopefully, we build on this and we get in this situation again, we start winning these games. That’s how you turn the corner.”

Comments: kj.pilcher@thegazette.com