Big Red quarterback Jeff Mathews dives over the goal line for a score against Wagner Oct. 1. The Big Red bounced back with a 31-7 win, avenging a 41-7 loss at Wagner in 2010. (Photo courtesy of Cornell Athletic Communications).
Published on Oct. 1, 2011
After a 41-7 loss to Wagner last season, it almost appeared personal as Cornell avenged a 34-point loss to the Seahawks en route to a 31-7 victory Saturday afternoon at Schoellkopf Field.
But according to head coach Kent Austin, no grudges were held.
“We don’t focus on anything in the past,” Austin said. “Every game is a different game. Every game takes on a new complexion.”
And the game took on the complexion of a blowout early. The Seahawks (1-4) fumbled the ball late in the first quarter, and the Big Red (2-1, 0-1 Ivy League) took over at the Seahawks’ 20-yard line.
Four plays later, sophomore quarterback Jeff Mathews connected with Nick Mlady on a six-yard touchdown pass to take a 7-0 lead with 4:18 left in the first quarter.
The Big Red blocked two punts and forced three fumbles, and the defense recorded eight sacks, the most by the Big Red since posting a school-record 10 at Harvard in 1992.
And the second-most sacks in a game in team history came from the same Big Red defense that recorded no sacks last week at Yale.
According to Big Red defensive end Zack Imhoff, getting pressure on the quarterback was the defense’s top priority in practice.
“The key for us all week was to start getting after the pass rusher,” Imhoff said.
“Last week against Yale we didn’t get after them at all, and that strains the whole defense…so it all starts up front. As much pressure as we can get, the better for us.”
Imhoff recorded three and a half sacks, and blocked a key punt that gave the Big Red the ball inside the Seahawks’ five-yard line midway through the second quarter.
“That was a crazy play wasn’t it?” said Imhoff, referring to the Seahawks’ Nick Linehand being tackled 25 yards back from where he recovered the blocked punt.
With the Big Red already matching last season’s win total (two) after three weeks, coach Austin likes what he sees from his team, yet comes into each week ready for some element of surprise.
“I’ve been here long enough not to expect anything,” he said with a chuckle.
“I’m just real proud with where we’re at and with what the guys are doing.”
Mathews also backed his head coach, remaining adamant that today’s game against Wagner was not personal.
“We never talked about last year,” he said. “That wasn’t important to us because we know we’re moving forward here. Last year’s just not a big deal anymore.”
The Big Red host Harvard next Saturday, Oct. 8, hoping to win its first conference game.
And according to Mathews, the Big Red highly anticipates the Crimson’s arrival to Ithaca.
“We’ve been waiting for Harvard for a long time,” he said.
“…When it’s Harvard, you put a big smile on your face because we’re ready and we want to play them bad.”
While the win against the Seahawks may not be a shot of redemption as perceived by many, Imhoff believes it gives them the confidence to believe they can compete every week.
“I think it’s just a morale builder,” he said. “We all feel like we can play with everybody now.”