ITHACA, N.Y. - Different opponent, same story.
For four of its last five games, the Quakers have suffered a close loss resulting from special teams mistakes.
So it was an appropriate finale at Cornell when the Red and Blue lost 28-27 after failing a trick play for a two-point conversion with under two minutes to go.
And as quarterback Robert Irvin's pass fell incomplete with less than a minute left, the seniors left the field with tears in their eyes after losing their last collegiate game.
Going into the game, Quakers coach Al Bagnoli had said he wanted to win so that those seniors would be able to leave on a high note with good memories and a sweet taste in their mouths.
"I want to take the blame," Bagnoli said. "I feel bad for our seniors."
Nobody watching the first three quarters could have predicted the wild fourth and bizarre finish. After Cornell quarterback Nathan Ford connected for a touchdown with receiver Zac Canty on a 15-yard fade to open the scoring, the game came to a grinding halt.
Ford was injured midway through the first quarter following a sack, and, for a while, neither offense was able to make any more progress against the opposing defense.
The Big Red's pass defense was ranked third in the Ivy League before Saturday, so it was expected that Irvin would have some difficulty. But, by halftime, he had only completed one of eight passes for a total of 11 yards.
Quakers running back Joe Sandberg, who figured to be a factor against a relatively weak Cornell rush defense, couldn't get much running room. The senior scored four
touchdowns in the game, but all of those scores came from inside the 10, and he had just 58 yards on 19 carries. His long for the game was a nine-yard rush.
"I was in position to make the plays," Sandberg said. "Unfortunately, as a team, we didn't make enough of those plays, and four touchdowns doesn't mean anything at the end of the day when you lose."
Things didn't look good for the Big Red going into the fourth quarter as Penn led 14-7. With Ford out, Cornell was forced to rely upon freshman quarterback Stephen Liuzza, who had been inconsistent both throwing and running the ball.
But Liuzza wouldn't relent to the pressure as he led his team to a thrilling fourth-quarter comeback.
"I don't feel any pressure," Liuzza said. "I know I have to go out there and do my job."
So he kept his cool, and Cornell found some fire to open the final quarter.
After Penn was forced to punt from deep in its own territory, the Big Red made a quick score to knot it at 14. Soon after, a 74-yard pass to receiver Anthony Jackson set up a draw play, and Liuzza ran it in to make it 21-14.
"That was a play we schemed up before the second half," Jackson said of his big reception. "We recognized it had been open all the first half."
With momentum shifting in Cornell's favor, Irvin found his groove and receivers Matt Carre and Braden Lepisto for big gains, leading to another Sandberg touchdown run.
But the Big Red was unfazed, and it hit back immediately. Bryan Walters returned the ensuing kickoff 88 yards for a score and had the home crowd, band and bench on their feet.
Irvin again led a 70-yard, game-tying drive. But Bagnoli opted to run a fake field goal that had holder Scott Williams pitch the ball over his shoulder to kicker/wide receiver Lepisto, who was supposed to run it into the corner of the end zone.
However, the play broke down, and Cornell snuffed out the last chance for the Quakers to win back the Trustees' Cup, the trophy that has gone to the winner of the Penn-Cornell game since 1894.
"We certainly tried not to go into overtime based on what's happened," Bagnoli said.
A final Penn possession with a minute left in the game ended with an incomplete pass to Matt Carre at midfield.
With the Red and Blue loss, Cornell retains the Trustees' Cup.
But more importantly, the Quakers failed to exorcise the demons that have haunted their season and close games. And once again, they have posted a losing Ivy record.
For Bagnoli, this was not the way he expected the Ivy season to turn out.
"It's been that kind of year," he said.
