MOUNT VERNON – Sparked by three second-half touchdowns, Cornell made it a 60-minute battle with Midwest Conference football unbeaten Lake Forest in Saturday's home-opening 28-19 loss at Van Metre Field at Ash Park.
 
The Rams (1-2 overall, 1-1 MWC) regrouped from a 14-point halftime deficit and pulled within 21-19 on a 2-yard TD plunge by BooBoo Browning – his second scoring run of the half – with 2:34 remaining in regulation.
 
Lake Forest (3-0 overall, 2-0 MWC) went to its all-American receiver A.J. Jackson on the ensuing possession to stave off Cornell's upset bid. Jackson ran around left end for a 54-yard TD that provided the final margin with 1:39 left to go.
 
Cornell turned the ball over on downs at the Lake Forest 28-yard line on its final drive of the game.
 
The Rams outgained Lake Forest in total yards, 354-306, and held a decisive 23-10 advantage in first downs. Cornell controlled the ball for nearly 35 minutes and ran 72 offensive plays, to Lake Forest's 46.
 
Cornell missed scoring chances throughout the contest, including a 91-yard kickoff return in the second quarter by junior speedster Rommel Pinner that was nullified by penalty.
 
The home team also came up empty on a 1st-and-goal situation from the Lake Forest 2 at the end of the second quarter, leaving the Foresters with a 14-0 lead at intermission.
 
Tony Gomez led Cornell's ground attack with 90 yards on 25 carries. The senior captain also had three receptions, including a 10-yard TD from John Smith early in the fourth quarter that brought Cornell within 21-12.
 
Browning found the end zone from two yards out on Cornell's first drive of the third quarter. He netted 27 yards on four carries.
 
Smith completed 16-of-27 passes for 195 yards, while also rushing for 33 yards. Gavin Soukup was Smith's top target with five receptions for 57 yards. Pinner's lone catch resulted in a 55-yard gain.  
 
Cornell's defense stood tough against the Foresters, who beat MWC preseason favorite Illinois College last weekend. Lake Forest was limited to 135 rushing yards, a big chunk coming on Jackson's final run.
 
Zavion Jordan and Jorden Delap led the defense with five tackles apiece. Julius Jenkins and Shawn Laikupu each recorded a sack.
 
Coming up – The Rams are on a bye next week before playing host to Ripon (1-2 overall, 1-1 MWC) for a 2 p.m. Homecoming kickoff.