MOUNT VERNON – Cornell's football team celebrated its 109th Homecoming Game and first 3-1 Midwest Conference start since 2014 with a 36-24 victory over Beloit Saturday afternoon at Van Metre Field at Ash Park.
 
The Rams (3-2 overall, 3-1 MWC) charged into a three-way tie for second place in the league with their eight consecutive series win over Beloit (1-4 overall, 0-4 MWC). They put up 36 points for the second week in a row and improved to 61-42-6 all-time in Homecoming contests.
 
Cornell quarterback John Smith was an efficient 26-of-35 passing for a career-high 276 yards and one touchdown. Sophomore wide receiver Cole Reed netted a career-best 114 receiving yards on nine catches and Trey Birdsong found the end zone for the fifth consecutive game for a balanced Cornell attack, which accumulated 426 yards of total offense.  
 
Junior running back Tony Gomez ran for a game-high 127 yards and two TDs, eclipsing the 1,000-yard rushing mark for his career. He churned out 73 pivotal yards on 10 handoffs in the fourth quarter with the game in the balance.
 
Cornell built a 30-10 lead midway through the third quarter, although the Buccaneers answered with back-to-back TDs and trimmed the margin to 30-24 with 9:18 remaining.
 
The Rams capitalized on good field possession on the ensuing series following an unsuccessful Beloit onside kick attempt. With a heavy dose of running by Gomez, Cornell marched 58 yards on seven plays, capped by a three-yard TD run from Gomez that gave the Rams breathing room at 36-24 with 5:24 left.
 
Sophomore defensive back Perry Wilson III came away with a clutch interception on Beloit's next offensive drive, stopping the Bucs on Cornell's 11-yard line. The Rams ran out the remainder of the clock with five consecutive rushes by Gomez.  
 
Cornell's defense limited the Buccaneers to 44 rushing yards on 17 attempts and also forced three turnovers, including interceptions by Savian Perez and Wilson III. Sophomore linebacker Luca Schoensee led the Rams with nine tackles, followed by Nicholas Sells with six. Impressive freshman Linus Velder had five solo tackles and recovered a fumble.
 
Birdsong finished with eight catches for 77 yards, including a 20-yard TD on Cornell's opening drive of the game. Gavin Soukup had six receptions for 64 yards.
 
Senior Daniel Abesames-Hammer scored his first collegiate TD on a fourth-down two-yard run that pushed the Rams ahead 30-10.
 
Mitchell Frahm converted a 32-yard field goal and three PAT kicks.
 
Coming up – The Rams draw a road test next Saturday, Oct. 14, against Monmouth (3-2 overall, 3-1 MWC). Kickoff is 1 p.m. in Monmouth, Ill.