NEW YORK (AP)—Austin Knowlin scored on a 76-yard punt return for the second straight game, sparking Columbia to a 17-7 victory over Cornell on Saturday.
Knowlin returned Nick Maxwell’s punt midway through the fourth quarter with the Lions (2-7, 2-4 Ivy League) holding a 10-7 lead.
Knowlin returned a punt 76 yards for a score last week in the third quarter against Harvard.
Nathan Ford threw for 376 yards and a touchdown for Cornell (4-5, 2-4), but also threw three second-half interceptions. One led to a 47-yard field goal by Jon Rocholl that gave the Lions a 10-7 lead.
Calvin Otis intercepted Ford’s pass intended for Horatio Blackman at the Columbia 22 and Rocholl matched his longest kick of the season when the Lions drive stalled at the Cornell 30.
Columbia quarterback M.A. Olawale rushed for 106 yards, but was sacked for 13 yards to finish with 93.
Ray Rangel put the Lions ahead 7-0 in the first quarter with a 1-yard run at the end of a 49-yard drive. The score was set up when Olawale ran for 23 yards and Zack Kourouma followed with a 19-yard run to the Cornell 4.
Ford tied the score at 9:49 of the second quarter with a 4-yard touchdown pass to Jesse Baker three plays after connecting on a 60-yard pass to Bryan Walters that took the ball to the Columbia 4.