FOR IMMEDIATE: Cornell Pulls Away from Mounties in Season Finale – Maniscalco Goes Over 3,000 yard mark in career passing

ITHACA,NY – Senior Mike Maniscalco passed for 252 yards and three touchdowns and Mansfield held an earlier lead but the Mountaineers couldn't contain Cornell's rushing game in suffering a season-ending 38-17 setback at Schoelkopf Field Friday night.

Maniscalco capped a record-setting carrier completing 21-of-42 for 252 yards and three touchdowns and ended the season shattering the school record by passing for 1801 yards and 16 touchdowns.

Despite Maniscalco's passing prowess, Mansfield couldn't stop Cornell rushing attack as the Big Red rolled out 298 yards on the ground.

Mansfield took the opening drive and needed just five plays to drive 75-yards, scoring on 65-yard slant pass to Eddie Larcom from Mike Maniscalco.

Cornell respond on its first possession of the night using eight plays to drive 51 yards before settling for a 38-yard field goal by Michael Zazzara cutting the score to 7-3 with just under seven minutes to play in the first quarter.

Cornell got a break early in the second quarter, picking off a deflected Maniscalco pass at the Mansfield 29 and scoring three plays later on a 6-yard run by quarterback Rob Pannullo to take a 10-7 lead.

The Big Red were pinned inside their own 20-yard line late in the quarter but mounted a 88-yard drive before scoring on a 5-yard touchdown run by Kevin Nathanson with 17 seconds left in the half to give Cornell a 17-7 halftime advantage.

Mansfield struggled early to establish a running game gaining seven yards on seven carries in the first half.

Cornell added two more touchdowns, the first on a 5-yard run by Benjamin Herrera midway through the third quarter and the second on a 6-yard from Pannullo to Rob Hendricks taking a 31-7 advantage.

Mansfield didn't give up mounting 9-play, 67-yard scoring drive capped off with a 19-yard touchdown pass from Maniscalco to Kurt Logan on a 4th and 2 to pull to 31-14 with just under 12 minutes to play.

Cornell answered with its final scoring drive of the night to increase the lead to 38-14.

But Mansfield displayed the same tenacity it has all season, refused to give in mounting a 8-play, 60-yard drive capped off with sensational 18-yard touchdown grab by Larcom from Maniscalco cutting the score to 38-21 with just over two minutes remaining.

Cornell held a 458-290 advantage in total offense, most of it coming on the ground.

Larcom had an outstanding game catching nine passes for 150 yards and two touchdowns while Kurt Logan had eight catches for 83 yards including a score.

Senior Anthony Mazzone had a sensational last game of his outstanding career recording a game-high 12 tackles including seven solo. Spencer Underdown also had 12 stops with Jonathan Badman adding seven.

Quarterback Rob Pannullo led Cornell running for 129 yards and two touchdowns while also passing for 137 yards and a score.

Maniscalco ends his career as the Mountaineers all-time sprint passing leader throwing for 3072 yards and 26 touchdowns.