Cornell wins wild 64-62 contest

MOUNT VERNON - Wild. Crazy. Entertaining.

The action and result resembled a video game contest between teenagers.

When a 43-yard field goal dropped a couple feet short of the crossbar as time expired, the Cornell Rams celebrated an exciting 64-62 Midwest Conference win over Illinois College Saturday at Ash Park.

The teams combined for a staggering 126 total points and more than 1,300 yards of offense in a seesaw affair that hinged on a defensive stand in the final seconds. Cornell Coach Vince Brautigam said it has been a long time since he has been a part of such a game.

'Missed extra-point, missed field goal, made field goal, first downs, it was unbelievable,” Brautigam said. 'It was two evenly matched teams. It came down to they had the ball last and the kid came up maybe two yards short on his field goal. What else can you ask for in a college game?”

The Rams (4-5, 3-2) trailed by four with 2:13 remaining and needed to travel 65 yards. Sophomore quarterback Daniel Brown, who led a game-winning drive last year against St. Norbert, marched the Rams down field for the 12th lead change of the game. He focused on moving the chains instead of the need for a touchdown.

'No matter where the ball is on the field we just have to make a first down,” Brown said. 'We need to make a first down. Don't worry about the long play. The long play will be there in the end. If you make eight-yard gains every play, the next thing you know you're inside the 20 yard line.”

Brown completed 4 of 6 passes for 49 yards, hitting Tommy Dorsey for a 25-yard gain to the Illinois College 12. He also rushed for 15 yards on three carries. The final tote was a 6-yard TD run, scrambling to his left and then making a move on a defender to cross the goal line. Brown faced a similar situation on an earlier fourth down, but threw an incompletion.

'He said next time take the game in your hands,” Brown said. 'I kept that mentality the next drive. I saw the opening again and I took it.”

Brown finished with 230 passing yards and two TDs, while rushing for 75 yards with three scores on the ground.

'He listened to some coaching,” Brautigam said. 'He's just a real heady kid.

'His calmness and what he did on the winning drive, that will help propel us in the future, without a doubt.”

The Blueboys (4-5, 3-2) potent offense proved it could score quickly, needing 27 seconds at the end of the first half to go 61 yards and 33 for a 76-yard drive to start the third for a 42-38 lead. Forty-three seconds was plenty to reach Cornell's 26. The same Rams defense that allowed 730 total yards, including 653 passing yards and seven TDs by quarterback Brady Huber, forced three straight incompletions before the final kick attempt with 1.4 ticks left.

'We went out on the field and knew the game relied on us,” Cornell safety Maliek Ketchens said. 'We made a stand. I'm so proud of our defense and I'm so proud of this team. It was a team effort - special teams, offense and defense - we just stuck together.”

Donevan Kerby and Ketchens had consecutive pass breakups. Kitchen made a leaping attempt at an interception in the end zone, closing down on what appeared to be an open receiver in the seam.

'I read the quarterback's shoulder,” Ketchens said. 'He turned and I played it. The ball was in the air. I should have picked it but the receiver made a good play on the ball.”

Illinois College's Austin Ellsworth had a game-high 158 receiving yards. His teammates, Andy Webb and Kyle Obertino, added 149 and 144, respectively. Huber completed 41 of 61 attempts and was picked off once in the end zone by Cornell's Kenny Smith.

Cornell's offense racked up 581 yards, erupting for a 24-point second quarter. The Rams rushed for 351 yards, including 141 yards and two scores from Ethan Thompson. Devan Clark added 84 and Wolfgang Strovers had 52. Senior Ben Knake was Brown's favorite target, catching nine balls for 104 yards. Knake had a 50-yard TD to put the Rams on the board and an 8-yard catch in the third for a 51-49 edge.

'This is as well as our offense has played all year,” Brautigam said. 'Hands down. We want to run the ball because if we can that sets everything else up.”

The win capped the seniors' careers at home. Their class improved to 20-18 the last four years, becoming the first class with an overall winning record since 1999. Brautigam said it was the best possible finish.

'I'm so proud of our whole team, because I told them today was about our seniors,” Brautigam said. 'I want each kid to give 100 percent to their teammates, especially for that senior class.”

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