Cornell rallies to clinch share of conference title
Tagged under: District 7, Gameday Hub, News
PFN Staff | October 26, 2019
AJ Shaffer
Just a few short years ago, the Cornell Raiders shuttered their locker room doors and put away the pads, closing up their program and made an agreement with Quaker Valley for players to participate in football there. Then came six classes in the PIAA. Quaker Valley wanted out of the agreement to keep them at a lower level, and Ed Dawson wanted to play football. With just 38 total boy interested, they brought football back to Cornell three years ago. Fast forward to tonight. The Raiders just took down traditional power OLSH 22-14 and own a share of the conference crown with Sto-Rox.
The OLSH Chargers got the ball to start the game and they started at their own 40 yard line. On the first play Jaymar Pearson busted a big 38 yard run down to the Cornell 22. Later that drive he connected with Eric Olexa for an 11 yard touchdown.
Later in the quarter OLSH got the ball back again, but they started on their own 5 yard line. Cornell’s defense came up big when they sacked Jaymar Pearson in the end zone making the score 7-2.
Cornell started with great field position at Cornell’s 37 yard line. On the very first play OLSH picked it off and got the ball back. They took advantage of that turnover when Brock Saftner scored on a 25 yard run. That made it 14-2 with a little over a minute left in the first quarter.
Cornell couldn’t do anything on their next drive and punted it back to OLSH. They marched down the field and after a run by Brock Saftner it was first and goal at 10. On fourth down they decided to go for it and a pass fell incomplete and Cornell came up with a big stop.
That drive started at their own 6 yard line. A key play on the drive was when Cornell converted on fourth and 21. After that Cornell scored on a 1 yard quarterback keeper by Zaier Harrison making it 14-8. That stop and then score was clearly a turning point in the game for Cornell. “It was great, going for it on fourth down a couple times, we were going to punt it and the kids said come on coach, so I said let’s go, they believe in themselves” said Coach Dawson.
That score occurred with 17 seconds left before half so that was the score at half. In the second half Cornell would take the lead when Zaier Harrison connected with Kaden Divito for a 16 yard touchdown making it 15-14 Cornell. Harrison had a big role in the game. He was 15 of 24 for 223 yards and had 67 yards rushing. “He’s special I’ve been saying it and hopefully someone will come and offer this kid” said Coach Dawson.
Cornell extended their lead when OLSH fumbled it and it was a very costly turnover because it set up Cornell with a first and goal at the 4. After some penalties Harrison scored on a 11 yard run, making it 22-14. The rest of the game OLSH struggled to run the ball when it was very successful in the first half. “Our kids believe in themselves and we talk about adversity all the time, we step over it and keep running the race” said Coach Dawson.
OLSH had their chances to tie it but kept turning it over and Cornell couldn’t extend their lead because several drive stalled on penalties. The final ended up being 22-14 Cornell.
Next week thanks to Clairton winning over Jeannette, Cornell will host a first round playoff game against an opponent to be determined. Despite the loss OLSH also made the playoffs but will play on the road against a team to be determined.
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