Crimson Chronicles

Game 4 at Cornell Big Red (10/10/11):

On Saturday afternoon, the Crimson traveled to Schoellkopf Field in Ithaca for a date with the Big Red of Cornell. The Crimson won the toss and, as is their custom, deferred until the second half. On Cornell's opening drive, Jeff Mathews hit Shane Savage on a 42-yard touchdown pass to give the Big Red an early 7-0 lead. After the Crimson punted away on their first two possessions, they were able to get some traction the third time around. Starting out at their 19, Colton Chapple hit Alex Sarkisian for 9 amd then Zach Boden rushed up the middle for 8 more. From the 36, Chapple connected with Chris Lorditch on a 41-yard catch and run, moving the ball to Cornell's 23. On first and 10 from the 11, Chapple found Chrissis alone in the end zone and the score was tied at seven. Late in the quarter, Harvard got the ball back at the 45 and Chapple hit Lorditch on a 28-yard gain to the 32.

Moving into the second quarter, David Mothander kicked a 42-yard field goal to give the Crimson a 10-7 lead. Cornell came right back to take the lead as Mathews connected with Savage again, this time on a 39-yard catch and run and the Big Red were on top 14-10. Diasater struck on Harvard's next drive as Chapple moved the offense all the way down to Cornell's 13 before his pass into the end zone was intercepted by Campbell, who ran the ball back 62 yards all the way to Harvard's 31. The Big Red movedthe ball to Harvard's 14 where Brad Greenway kicked a 31-yard field goal to put the Big Red ahead 17-10. On the Crimson's next possession, Chapple was able to move the ball to midfield, where he connected with Chrissis on a 41-yard catch and ruun down to the 7. From there, Boden rushed twice, his second from the 2 to tie the score 17-17. Harvard got the ball bvack late in the first half and Chapple moved the ball from the 39 to Cornell's 14, in part on a long pass completion to Sarkisian. With time running out, Mothander knocked in a chip shot to give Harvard a 20-17 lead at the half.

On the Crimson's first offensive series, they were able to move the ball to midfield before punting away. Mathews then smartly moved Cornell's offense from the 20 all the way to Harvard's 20, where Luke Tasker ripped up the middle to the 2. From there, Rayn Houska banged it in and the Big Red went back on top 24-20. Late in the quarter, the Crimson started out at midfield, where Chapple connected with Sarkisian on a 42-yard touchdown pass and Harvard took a 27-24 lead. The Crimson got the ball back with less than two minutes remaining in the quarter after the Big Red turned over the ball on downs at their 38. After a holding call pushed the ball back, Chapple hit Chrissis on a 17-yard gain.

On the first play of the fourth quarter, Chapple hit Cameron Brate on a 27-yard touchdown pass and Harvard went ahead, 34-24. On Harvard's next possession, Chapple moved the ball to Cornell's 26 on a completion to Lorditch. From there, Chapple found Kyle Juszczyk in the end zone and it was 41-24. Both teams then punted away on their next two possessions. Late in the quarter, the Big Red got the ball back at the 15 and Mathews was throwing. He was able to push the offense to Harvard's 44, where he hit Tasker on catch and run for the touchdown to make it 41-31. The Crimson got tyhe ball back with two minutes remaining and successfully ground down the clock. Chapple paseed for 414 yards in the effort.