ITHACA, N.Y. -- Sophomore running back
Devon Turner (Bergenfield, N.J.) rushed for a game-high 109 yards and the Cougars defense stepped up with three interceptions and one last stand on Cornell's final drive as Caldwell sprint football defeated the host Big Red, 16-14, at Schoellkopf Field in the thrilling season-opener for both teams.
Caldwell got on the board first on a 42 yard pass from senior
Frank DeMaio (Nutley, N.J.) to classmate
Jared Montoya (Union City, N.J.) early in the second quarter. DeMaio then threw a 19-yard scoring strike to fellow senior WR
Jeremy Colon (Union City, N.J.) for a 13-0 lead. The extra point was blocked, however, and Cornell brought it all the way back for a two-point PAT return, making the score 13-2 in favor of the Cougars at halftime.
Junior kicker
George Escobar (Belleville, N.J.) added a 34-yard field goal midway through the third quarter to give the Cougars a 16-2 lead, which held up until the Big Red scored with 6:15 left to make it 16-8. After a successful onside kick, Cornell quickly reached paydirt again, but the ensuing two-point conversion pass failed, leaving the hosts down, 16-14, with 4:05 left.
The Cougars fell on the ensuing onside kickoff, but were unable to get the clinching first down, giving Cornell one more chance following a punt by
JD Breslauer (Parsippany, N.J.) that left the hosts at their own 27 yard line with 1:45 left.
The Big Red were able to edge into Caldwell territory on a key third down conversion, but the Cougars defense, so good all day, held firm as a final attempted pass fell short on fourth and eight, giving Caldwell a final kneel-down for the victory.
Turner's big day led a solid Cougars ground game, as he and freshman
Eriq Harris combined for 160 of the team's 165 yards rushing. DeMaio was his usual steady self under center, finishing with 145 yards passing, two TDs and no INTs. Montoya, senior
Peter Johnson (Cedar Grove, N.J.) and Colon had two catches apiece.
Defensively, senior lineman
Darien Davis (Paterson, N.J.) was a menace, registering eight tackles including a sack and tackle for loss, while junior DB
Gennaro Longobardi (Nutley, N.J.) picked off two Cornell passes among the three CU interceptions on the day. Freshman
Lazarus Lisojo (Woodbridge, N.J.) and junior DB
Michael Bonsu (Atlanta) collected six tackles each.
The Cougars are back in action next Saturday, Sept. 23, at 7 p.m. when they host Chestnut Hill at Bonnel Field at Caldwell High School in their home opener.
