Cornell slams door on Penn's season, 24-21

ITHACA, N.Y. -- The Penn football season came full circle Saturday. A topsy-turvy year of highs and lows finally came to rest on the latter, as the Quakers dropped a 24-21 decision to Cornell in front of 5,223 at Schoellkopf Field. Penn (5-5, 3-4 Ivy League) never looked like the team that carried a three-game winning streak into the 103rd meeting with Cornell. After the game Penn coach Al Bagnoli isolated the problem -- everything. "I'm disappointed in the play of everyone, to be quite candid with you," Bagnoli said. "I'm very disappointed in the way we gave up big plays, I'm very disappointed in the way we turned the ball over, [and] I'm very disappointed in our inability to run the ball in crucial situations. "I think this was a complete team collapse." Penn had chances, plenty of them, to tie the game or take the lead in the fourth quarter. But interceptions and a key Big Red defensive stand saved the game for Cornell (4-6, 4-3). Down 24-21, with just under nine minutes to play, Penn quarterback Brian Russell overthrew Brian Bonanno on a third down and 6 at the Cornell 35. He was picked off by Big Red safety Chris Allen. That was just the beginning, as a subsequent possession ended with a Jasen Scott fumble deep in Cornell territory. The game was really decided on with just over two minutes left. Penn was driving toward midfield on what would likely be their final possession. After a nine-yard pass to Alec Dafferner set up a second-and-one, the Quakers never got another yard as Scott was met at or behind the line on three consecutive plays. "That was a team effort, when you've got a short yardage stand like that," said Big Red defensive lineman Seth Payne, who stopped Scott for a loss on fourth down. "You're not going to make a play unless all the holes are filled up." Cornell never trailed in breaking a five-game losing streak to Penn and retaking the Trustees' Cup., which is given to the winner of the game. The Big Red also showed no signs of missing senior tailback Chad Levitt, who despite missing the final game with a broken arm, led the Ivy League in rushing with 1435 yards. With the premier offensive player in the league out, Big Red coach Jim Hofher turned to a mixture of up-the-middle running from back-up Brad Kiesendahl and a potent passing attack. The Quakers secondary had perhaps its worst game of the season, continually being exposed by quarterback Scott Carroll. The Big Red signal caller came out throwing, hooking up with Ian Wilson for 35 yards straight down the left side on the Big Red's first play from scrimmage. Two plays later, Carroll hit Eric Krawczyk on a little slant across the middle. Penn safety James Finn couldn't intercede and 39 yards later, Cornell had a 7-0 lead with 10 minutes, 40 seconds left in the first quarter. For the day, Carroll was 17-of-30 passing for 244 yards with three touchdowns and an interception. "We knew coming in that they always pass -- they're a good passing team," Penn cornerback Larrin Robertson said. Once the passing game was established, Cornell turned to Kiesendahl on the ground. The junior tailback, who had played sparingly until last week, ran powerfully through the middle, finishing with 130 yards on 32 carries. "When we lost a terrific player to injury, in Chad Levitt, a week ago, a lot was going to fall to Brad Kiesendahl and he did a terrific job," Hofher said. Penn answered the home team score-for-score in the first half. In the first quarter, a tough catch near the left side of the end zone by tight end John Ricchio capped a seven-play, 62-yard drive. After a second Carroll-to-Krawczyk strike, this time 17 yards with 11 minutes left in the half, Penn knotted the score at 14 going into halftime with a 25-yard pass from Brian Russell to John James, who kicked over the left pylon for the touchdown. Russell had a second consecutive impressive statistical day. The freshman connected on 17-of-27 passes for 208 yards and, a season high for Penn quarterbacks, three touchdowns. His two second-half interceptions, however, were instrumental in the Quakers loss. "I thought Brian at times played very well," Bagnoli said, adding, "and then at times it showed that he's a freshman." After Carroll's third touchdown pass, this time to Steve Busch from 11 yards out, and a 28-yard John Rodin field goal six minutes into the second half gave Cornell a 24-14 lead, Penn began a final, futile comeback. As he has been all year, Scott was the focal point. His slippery moves after catching a swing pass in the left flat six yards from the end zone allowed Penn to get withing three points with 1:29 left in the third. Playing for the final time as a Quaker, Scott (36 carries, 125 yards) had a school record-breaking sixth consecutive 100-yard rushing game.