RELEASE DATE: 9/18/10

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Cornell holds off pesky Mounties 23-15 in 10^th Annual Josh Palmer Pigskin Classic

Box Score

MANSFIELD – Douglas Famularo ran for 95-yards and scored what proved to the be the game-winning touchdown on a 4-yard pass from Elliot Corey in the fourth quarter to lead Cornell to a 23-15 win over a feisty Mansfield in the 10^th Annual Josh Palmer Pigskin Classic Saturday afternoon at Karl Van Norman Field.

“We played well at times,” said Mountaineer head coach Dan Davis. “But we just made too many mistakes especially at key spots in the game.”

Cornell actually made the first mistake in the game off a fumble on their first play of the game that was returned for a 37-yard touchdown by Mansfield senior linebacker Solomon Isom. Ryan Lose's extra point attempt was good giving Mansfield an early 7-0 lead.

Cornell tied the game later on a 9-yard run by Famularo late in the first quarter and took a 14-7 lead into halftime when Corey scored on a 3-yard scramble.

Mansfield committed another error when the Mountaineers fumbled the opening kickoff of the second half but the MU defense rose to the challenge and forced Cornell to give the ball back on downs at their own 22.

Two series later Mansfield took over at its own 42 and was driving for what could have been the game-tying touchdown before turning the ball over on a fumble on Cornell's 13-yard line.

Ryan Reynolds gave Cornell a 17-7 lead early in the fourth quarter on a 25-yard field goal and Cornell took a 23-7 lead on Famularo's 4-yard pass reception with just over seven minutes left.

Mansfield scored the game's final touchdown late in the fourth quarter when senior Ben Anderton pulled in a 5-yard touchdown pass from quarterback Kode Plank.

Mansfield, which turned the ball over four times, posted 161-yards in total offense including 101-yards through the air. Desmen Johnson picked up 44-yards on the ground on 17 carries while Plank connected on 7-10 passes for 75-yards and a touchdown. Anderton led the receiving corps with four catches for 30 yards.

Corey completed 12-19 passes for 124 yards and a touchdown for Cornell with Spenser Grunenfelder pulling down six receptions for 108 yards.

The Mountaineer defense was led by Paul Houseknecht who recorded a game high 14 tackles, eight of them solo. He also had three tackles for a loss and recovered a fumble. Isom was credited with 13 tackles while Kevin Baker had 10 stops. Anthony Mazzone returned an interception for 17 yards.

“I think we played hard today,” said Davis. “And I'm pleased with our effort.”