MOUNT VERNON – Cornell's Tony Gomez had himself a whale of a Senior Day with 265 all-purpose yards and four touchdowns as the Rams grinded out a 26-7 Midwest Conference football win over in-state rival Grinnell in Saturday's season finale at Van Metre Field at Ash Park.
 
Coach Dan Pifer's Rams (5-5 overall, 5-4 MWC) secured the program's first back-to-back winning seasons in MWC play since 1996, after near-misses against the league's top two teams (Lake Forest and Monmouth) earlier this fall.
 
The Rams claimed their 12th consecutive series win over the Pioneers (2-8 overall, 2-7 MWC), who hung within one possession midway through the fourth quarter.
 
Gomez, among 13 Cornell seniors recognized prior to kickoff, turned in a memorable performance with 207 rushing yards and three TDs on a career-high 30 carries. The final rush of his outstanding career resulted in a 4-yard TD with 42 seconds left in regulation.
 
Grinnell put the first points on the board with an 11-play, 80-yard TD drive in the first quarter. The Rams answered early in the second period on Gomez's 2-yard TD run that tied it at 7-7.
 
Cornell's defense helped turn momentum late in the second quarter on a strip sack by Julius Jenkins that was recovered by Dakota Ambush near midfield. On the ensuing possession, Gomez took a short pass from quarterback John Smith and broke numerous tackles on his way to the end zone for a 34-yard TD with 21 seconds left in the first half.
 
The Rams gained some breathing room on a Gomez 4-yard TD with 8:54 left in regulation, making the score 19-7. Cornell senior cornerback Tyler Cochrane put the nail in the coffin with an interception that set up the fourth and final TD by Gomez.
 
The Rams surrendered only 198 total yards to Grinnell, which averaged just 2.6 yards per rush. Sophomore linebacker Jorden Delap anchored the defense with a career-high 14 tackles, highlighted by 10 solo stops.
 
Lucas Schoensee finished with six tackles and one pass breakup. Jamal Thompson had five tackles and one interception.
 
Sophomore BooBoo Browning netted 57 yards on only five carries, including a long run of 41 yards. Smith passed for 117 yards, 58 going to Gomez. Gavin Soukup added three catches for 37 yards.       
 
The Rams totaled 380 yards and held a 19-11 advantage in first downs.