ITHACA, N.Y.- The Caldwell University sprint football defense recorded a safety and the special teams unit blocked a punt and returned it for a touchdown as the Cougars defeated Cornell University for the program's first-ever win over the Big Red.
 
The Cougars improve to 2-0 and 2-0 in the CSFL North Division, while the Big Red fall to 0-2 overall and 0-2 in division play.
 
Caldwell got on the board first as the defense recorded a safety for a 2-0 lead in the opening quarter. The Cougars added to their lead in the second quarter as junior Frank DeMaio (Nutley, N.J.) connected with sophomore Nadir Orsini (Jersey City, N.J.) for a 26-yard touchdown strike to extend their lead to 9-0.
 
The Cougars scored on their opening possession of the second half as DeMaio connected with junior Jeremy Colon (Union City, N.J.) for a 33-yard connection on a 3rd-and-9 play. Freshman Justin Schmidt (Budd Lake, N.J.) broke free on a 25-yard run to advance the Cougar offense inside the five-yard-line. Junior Joseph Mongelli (Wayne, N.J.) capped the 6-play, 68-yard drive with a two-yard touchdown run to move the score to 15-0.
 
On Cornell's ensuing offensive possession, junior Jahmall Readus (Paterson, N.J.) blocked a Big Red punt and freshman Patrick Sinegra (Wharton, N.J.) scooped it up and returned it for a touchdown.
 
Later in the third quarter, freshman Anthony Haines (Nutley, N.J.) pushed Caldwell's lead to 29-0 with a five-yard touchdown run.
 
Cornell got on the board with a touchdown in the final minute of the third quarter to cut the score to 29-6.
 
Sophomore George Escobar (Belleville, N.J.) added a 25-yard field goal midway through the final quarter. The Big Red added a late touchdown to close out the scoring in the game.
 
DeMaio completed 8-of-14 passes for 181 yards and one touchdown, while rushing 14 times for 66 yards. Schmidt added 61 rushing yards on eight carries, while sophomore Rahmeir McGraw (Prospect Park, N.J.) rushed seven times for 37 yards. Senior Carl Watson (Newark, N.J.) finished with 13 carries for 37 yards. Colon hauled in three passes for 84 yards, while freshman Akhi Barksdale (Brick, N.J.) added two catches for 59 yards. Orsini posted two receptions for 32 yards and a touchdown.
 
Defensively, the Cougars were led by senior Anthony Guarino (Tinton Falls, N.J.) who tallied 10 tackles. Junior Michael Lohrmann (Hasbrouck Heights, N.J.) totaled seven tackles, including 4.5 for losses and one sack.
 
The Cougars host Chestnut Hill College in a CSFL match-up on Saturday, October 8 at 7 pm at James Caldwell High School.