MOUNT VERNON – A 20-point second-quarter surge sent the Rams on their way to a 34-0 Midwest Conference football victory over Lawrence on Senior Day in Saturday's home finale at Van Metre Field at Ash Park.
The Rams (4-5 overall, 3-4 MWC) recorded their 13th consecutive series win over Lawrence and enjoyed a postgame victory bell celebration for the fourth time this fall, completing a successful home slate at 4-1.
The last time Cornell won more home games in a season was the 1995 MWC championship season (5-0).
Cornell's defense came away with four sacks and three turnovers in posting its second shutout of the season. Senior safety
Joshua Martin went out in style with two interceptions for 73 yards. His eight interceptions on the year are just one shy of the school record.
Quarterback
Mason Dew had a big day passing with 301 yards and three touchdowns, including a 90-yard TD strike to senior
Kaleb Skeffington. That marked Cornell's longest scoring play since the 2017 campaign.
Senior
Mitchell Frahm connected on field goals from 26 and 37 yards in the second quarter that opened the scoring. He also converted all four of his PATs and climbed to No. 3 on Cornell's career list for points by a kicker with 142.
Cornell's offense hit full stride late in the second quarter, scoring two TDs in the final 1:39 of the half.
Darnell Boyd hauled in a 37-yard TD pass that put the Rams ahead 13-0. On Lawrence's ensuing drive, Cornell quickly got the ball back on an interception by Martin, doing Martin things.
Two plays later, Dew found
Chase Kennedy in the end zone for a 36-yard score that padded the margin to 20-0 with 42 seconds left in the first half.
The Rams delivered the knockout blow late in the third quarter on Skeffington's 90-yard catch and run. It was his fifth TD reception of the season, and third covering 50-plus yards.
Freshman quarterback
Beau Burns joined in on the scoring parade with a 1-yard TD run with 6:38 remaining. It was his first collegiate TD. The drive was set up by Martin's 60-yard interception return to the Lawrence 10.
Skeffington netted a career-high 99 receiving yards on just three catches. Boyd caught five balls for 79 yards, fifth-year
Cole Reed four for 71.
Senior linebacker
Jamal Thompson once again paced the defense with 12 tackles, followed by
Rhys Land with 11 stops. Senior
Julius Jenkins,
Michael Navarro and
Hunter Fenske each had two tackles for loss.
Cornell outgained the Vikings in total yards, 444-272. Lawrence (1-7 overall, 1-5 MWC) owned a 17-minute advantage in time of possession.
Coming up – The Rams wrap up the season next Saturday, Nov. 7, against 23rd-ranked Lake Forest (8-0 overall, 6-0 MWC) at 12 p.m. in Lake Forest, Ill.
