Cornell Football 2016

[Jeff Hopkins '82]

We gave up 38 points.  Doesn't sound like we were all that dominant on defense. ::rolleyes::

[ugarte]

We gave up 38 points.  Doesn't sound like we were all that dominant on defense. ::rolleyes::

Think of it as two different games. Lost the first 31-12; won the second 27-7. The defense was good in the "second" game.

[scoop85]

We gave up 38 points.  Doesn't sound like we were all that dominant on defense. ::rolleyes::

Think of it as two different games. Lost the first 31-12; won the second 27-7. The defense was good in the "second" game.

I do think we're vulnerable to a power rushing team -- Our D-line still seems on the smallish size and can be pushed around. Our linebackers and D-backs have been solid tacklers, however.

[Al DeFlorio]

If the wind picks up off the Charles it will turn the Stadium into a wind tunnel blowing from the closed toward the open end.  Harvard is accustomed to dealing with this.  Visiting teams are not.  A big advantage.  Want to run down the clock as much as you can going into the wind and do the opposite (e.g., no-huddle offense) with the wind behind, maximizing your number of plays with the wind.

[Ken711]

If the wind picks up off the Charles it will turn the Stadium into a wind tunnel blowing from the closed toward the open end.  Harvard is accustomed to dealing with this.  Visiting teams are not.  A big advantage.  Want to run down the clock as much as you can going into the wind and do the opposite (e.g., no-huddle offense) with the wind behind, maximizing your number of plays with the wind.

Harvard's OL and DL are going to prove too strong for Cornell. Harvard wins this be 24 points.

[billhoward]

Dalton Banks picked off on first play of game (receiver Shaw bobbles ball), Harvard returns to Cornell 6 and scores 2 plays later. Harvard 7-0. Could be a long afternoon? Maybe not: With 4 minutes to play in the first, Banks lofts a 41-yard pass to Rogers, who settles in under the ball in the end zone. Shades of Jeff Matthews. 7-7.

Halftime, Harvard 14-7. We're not winning but we're not en route to repeating last year's 40-3 pounding.

Third quarter, a long Harvard march (helped by a 15-yard targeting penalty / ejection against Cornell) puts Harvard up 20-7 (PAT block, almost run back for 2 points). Cornell quickly gets in Harvard territory then Banks is picked off in the end zone. Harvard next possession settles for a field goal. H23-7 about 3 minutes to play third. That keeps it a two-score game, the announcers note. Quarter ends Harvard 23-7

Harvard opens breathing room with a TD midway through the fourth; failed 2-point conversion. Harvard 29-7. Banks' arm gets Cornell another TD, 4 minutes to play. PAT kick hits the upright. Harvard 29-13. Failed onside kick gives Harvard the ball on its 40 with 4:10 left. Cornell gets the ball back with about :16 left and that's the game.

3 Cornell turnovers hurt especially the pick on the first play. Cornell looked decent. Harvard looked like Harvard.

Cornell's Dalton Banks was 19x39 passing, 2 TD, 3 Int. Attendance reported as 11,509. Box score: http://www.cornellbigred.com/boxscore.aspx?path=football&id=20111

It could have been a lot worse: Michigan 78, Rutgers 0.

[Trotsky]

Harvard up 14-7 at the half.

[margolism]

Seems like Cornell is beating Cornell in this game.  And the refs suck.  Still a close game.

[Trotsky]

Missed a TD return by a shoelace.  7-20 but driving in the third.

[Trotsky]

Harvard starting to show its class.  23-7 in the 4th.  They play gorgeous football.  It's encouraging that we're staying with them as much as we are.

[Trotsky]

9 Harvard grads on NFL rosters.  That's pretty damn impressive.

[scoop85]

We're certainly competitive today, just making too many mistakes.  But a far cry from the way Harvard manhandled us last year.

Things are going in the right direction it seems, finally.

[ugarte]

Playing Harvard this close (despite the final score) is a huge step in the right direction.

[Ken711]

Was the freshman Nick Null kicking did Zach Mays get hurt?

[scoop85]

I heard Mays got hurt during the week - to what extent I don't know