Despite Hot Start, Cornell No Match for the Crimson

­At the outset of the 2016 Ivy League football season, few expected Cornell to turn around its program in such a short time frame. Just a year ago, the Big Red finished dead last in the Ancient Eight with a 1-6 record. Cornell was outscored by 118 points in those seven games collectively and also lost all three of its non-conference games.

Those unpropitious statistics are what make the Big Red’s accomplishments this year so impressive. Before they met with Harvard this past Saturday, the Ithacans had won their first three contests. These victories included a convincing 14-point win against Yale and a furious come-from-behind triumph over No. 25 Colgate.

Despite the stunning progress Cornell has made in just one offseason, it was still no match for a Harvard team that seems more and more invincible by the week. The Crimson strolled to its second Ivy win of the season, a 29-13 victory over the Big Red in Cambridge, bolstered by defensive success across the board and an offensive attack centered around the rush.

CORNERING THE MARKET

After a key pass breakup or a timely interception, one may see Harvard’s defensive backs celebrating with each other by putting a fist to their helmets and making a knocking motion.

“We have this thing within the defensive backs called knuckleheads,” junior safety Tanner Lee said. “As freshmen, we came in and we would always make mistakes, and that’s how we got that [nickname] so we just kept it going.”

On the third Big Red drive of the game, sophomore quarterback Dalton Banks spotted senior wide receiver Ben Rogers running a deep slant. Down 7-0, Cornell looked to even the score early, and Banks beat the coverage with a perfectly delivered toss hitting Rogers in the hands. On the play, Lee trailed Rogers by two steps.

Lee more than redeemed himself over the course of the game, coming up with two interceptions to go along with the pick by sophomore linebacker Anthony Camargo on Cornell’s first offensive snap.

The knuckleheads were the main reason Banks was held to only 19 completions on 39 passes. Though there are still moments when mistakes are made leading to gaps in coverage, the group has evolved and improved in its three years in the program.

In spite of allowing a few momentous plays, the Crimson secondary has been an overall strength through four games. Opponents have been held to 18. 3 points per game, and contributions from Lee, captain Sean Ahern, senior safety Kolbi Brown, and senior cornerback Raishaun McGhee, among others, have been a key factor in Harvard’s defensive prowess.

STAYING GROUNDED

It has been noted before that the major difference between the Crimson’s quarterbacks for the past two seasons is athleticism. Last year’s starter, Scott Hosch, was a pocket passer, while senior quarterback Joe Viviano creates plays with both his arm and his legs.

This contest against Cornell marked the first time Viviano found himself opposed by a quarterback who liked running the ball as much as he did.

Banks carried the ball 12 times for 29 yards, and although his 2.4 yards per carry figure was subpar at best, he has shown an affinity for the run early on in his career. In his three starts to begin this season, Banks ran the ball 28 times.

The San Antonio, Texas native is an imposing signal caller, weighing in at 232 pounds, and his ground game is just as imposing. Banks bullies his way through tacklers, often going straight up the middle and absorbing multiple hits on each carry.

On the other end of the spectrum is Viviano. The senior from Berwyn, Pa. tends to juke his way around the defensive line, sprinting along the sidelines and sliding to avoid punishing hits.

Viviano bested the Big Red defense, carrying the ball 16 times for 56 yards, including one rush for 25 yards.

“We put pressure on them, and it forces them to try to make plays with their legs,” Cornell coach David Archer said. “From a defensive perspective [it’s] a real threat when a quarterback can run.”

CAN’T CALL CORNELL’S CARRIES COSTLY

It is safe to say that the Big Red’s rushing attack was a non-factor in its 13 point offensive output. Both Big Red touchdowns were the result of the Banks-Rogers connection in the air.

Cornell only amassed 80 net yards rushing, and Harvard nearly doubled that total with 159.

Despite running the ball more than the Big Red’s primary running threat, sophomore Chris Walker, Banks struggled to make progress downfield. Like Cornell’s ground game in general, most of Banks rushing attempts were stopped short for minimal gains.

“It all starts up front, and the strength of our team probably overall is having a better defensive line,” Harvard coach Tim Murphy said.

Another factor in the Big Red’s failure to produce significant rushing yardage was the Crimson’s lead. In typical fashion, Harvard jumped out to an early lead and decided to hold the ball so as to limit Cornell to fewer drives and scoring opportunities.

“You kind of have to call the game a bit different when you’re down a couple of scores, and you might not run it as much,” Archer said. “But my hat’s off to them for doing a nice job on defense.”

Staff writer Jack Stockless can be reached at

jack.stockless@thecrimson.com.