BELOIT, Wis. – Joshua Martin's second career pick six proved pivotal in the end as Cornell's football team held off Beloit, 26-19, in Midwest Conference action Saturday at Strong Stadium.
 
The Rams (2-2 overall, 2-1 MWC) climbed into the top half of the conference standings with their 10th consecutive series victory over Beloit (0-4 overall, 0-3 MWC), which made it close late with a pair of fourth-quarter touchdowns.
 
Cornell was in control early, fueled by Martin's 40-yard interception return for a TD that put the Rams ahead 13-0 with 6:31 to go in the first quarter. It was the Rams' second pick six in as many games (Zavion Jordan, 62 yards vs. Lawrence on Sept. 20).
 
The Rams opened a seemingly comfortable 26-6 lead midway through the third quarter on Mason Dew's second TD pass of the game, a 19-yard strike to Kaleb Skeffington. Dew, appearing in his first action at quarterback this season, finished 13-of-21 passing for 174 yards.
 
Dew hooked up with sophomore Chase Kennedy on a 5-yard TD pass on the game's first possession, capping an impressive 9-play, 75-yard drive.
 
BooBoo Browning scored on a 1-yard run early in the second quarter as Cornell took a 20-6 lead into halftime. Browning finished with 34 yards on 12 carries. Trey Anderson led Cornell's rushing attack with 53 yards on 12 attempts.
 
The Rams turned the ball over four times in the game, although Beloit was unable to convert any of them into points. Cornell's Savian Perez recorded a key interception and return of 27 yards with Cornell leading 26-13 and less than six minutes remaining in the fourth quarter.
 
Beloit scored on a 1-yard TD run on the final play of the game.
 
Cornell's defense limited the Buccaneers to 238 yards of total offense and 4-of-16 on third-down chances. Linebacker Luca Schoensee led the unit with seven tackles, followed by Jamal Thompson with six stops. Thompson and Hunter Kollasch each had one tackle for loss.
 
Senior playmaker Rommel Pinner had another big day for Cornell's special teams, returning two kickoffs for 105 yards. He is the MWC leader with 370 kickoff return yards on the season.
 
The Rams had nine players record a reception, led by Silas Heimos with four catches for 31 yards.
 
Cornell did not punt in the contest and held a five-minute advantage in time of possession.
 
Coming up – The Rams welcome Ripon (2-2 overall, 2-1 MWC) for Cornell's 111th Homecoming game at 2 p.m. next Saturday, Oct. 11 at Van Metre Field at Ash Park.