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Mansfield freshman D.J. McLean, scored on a 48-yard touchdown pass from Adam Hutchison but it wouldn’t be enough as Mansfield dropped a 30-12 decision to Cornell in the 15th Annual Josh Palmer Pigskin Classic Saturday afternoon at Karl Van Norman Field.

Cornell used a grinding ground attack led by running back Evan Ball’s game-high 134 yards while quarterback Robert Pannullo completed 11-18 passes for 125 yards and two touchdowns.

The teams battled to a scoreless tie after one quarter of play before Ball scored the first touchdown of the day on a 3-yard run early in the second quarter. The 20-yard scoring drive was set up by a blocked punt
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Cornell went up 14-0 two series later when Pannullo completed a 47-yard touchdown pass to Rob Hendricks for a 14-0 lead.

Mansfield fumbled the ensuing kickoff return at its own 34 with Cornell scoring four plays later on a four-yard run by Pannullo.

Cornell extended the lead to 24-0 on a 35-yard field goal by Ben Finkelstein that hit the post and went through the upright on the first series of the third quarter.

The Mountaineers finally got a break two series later when a Cornell fumble was recovered by Chad Steinmetz at the Cornell 15. Two plays later a Mansfield fumble was recovered in the end zone by lineman Steve Sicilia to cut the score to 24-6.

Cornell added another score early in the fourth quarter on a six-yard toss from Pannullo to Ryman Seeley.

But Mansfield never gave up, with Mclean, who also caught a touchdown pass in the last week’s season opener, pulling in a short pass from Hutchinson and weaved his way through the Cornell defense for a 48-yard touchdown.

Mansfield failed on the extra-point attempt to pull to 30-12.

The Mountaineers Kyle Post blocked a 37-yard field goal attempt on Cornell’s next series and mounted an 87-yard drive that ended on the Cornell 8-yard line as time expired.

Both team had 20 first downs each with Mansfield gaining 347 yards in total offense to Cornell’s 344 yards.

Freshman Devyn Nelsen gained 71 yards on 12 carries for Mansfield with Keith Brown adding another 45 yards on 11 carries.

Sophomore quarterback Adam Hutchison ended the game completing 18-of-29 passes for 190-yards with senior Kurt Logan catching seven passes for 76 yards. Sophomore Jakob Woods had six grabs for 66 yards and Mclean three catches for 61 yards.

Seniors John Capwell and Mike Bucek led the defense with 10 tackles each while Capwell also added a sack. Senior Kyle Post had nine stops and Brandon Pace tackles.

Mansfield travels to Army West Point next Saturday in a 1 p.m. kickoff.