Cornell secured a 39-17 win over Penn at Franklin Field on Saturday, marking its fourth consecutive victory. This is the first time since 1999 that Cornell has achieved a four-game winning streak.
The Big Red improved to a 4-4 overall record and 3-2 in Ivy League play. The team scored 19 points in the third quarter to take control of the game. Junior quarterback Garrett Bass-Sulpizio completed 24 of 31 passes for 265 yards and one touchdown, also rushing for another score. Sophomore receiver TJ Hamilton led with five catches for 123 yards, while Brendan Lee had six receptions for 41 yards and a touchdown.
Cornell’s running game was effective, with sophomore Jordan Triplett gaining 85 yards and scoring once on 17 carries. Senior Gannon Carothers contributed two touchdowns and rushed for 36 yards on five attempts.
The game began with Cornell taking an early lead after sophomore kicker Caden Lesiewicz made a 32-yard field goal. Penn responded in the second quarter with quarterback Liam O’Brien scoring on a short run, giving the Quakers a brief lead. Cornell regained momentum before halftime when Bass-Sulpizio connected with Lee for a two-yard touchdown pass, putting Cornell ahead at the break despite Penn having more than double the possession time.
In the third quarter, Cornell capitalized on a fumble recovery deep in Penn territory, leading to Triplett’s three-yard touchdown run less than a minute into the half. Carothers then added two more rushing touchdowns in the quarter.
Penn managed to respond briefly with Donte West’s 75-yard touchdown run but could not close the gap further as Cornell’s defense held strong.
Bass-Sulpizio capped off an eight-minute drive early in the fourth quarter with his own one-yard rushing touchdown, sealing Cornell’s win.
Defensively, senior Damon Barnes led Cornell with seven tackles. Joey Cheshire recovered a fumble and recorded six tackles. Ben Sahakian forced a fumble and registered five tackles including one sack.
This win was Cornell’s first road victory in over a year and its first at Franklin Field since 2021.
Cornell will next face Dartmouth in Hanover, New Hampshire on November 15th. Dartmouth leads their all-time series.
