Bass-Sulpizio’s 3 TDs lead Cornell past Princeton 20-17

**Bass-Sulpizio’s Three Scores Propel Cornell to Gritty 20-17 Victory Over Princeton**

**ITHACA, N.Y. –** Garrett Bass-Sulpizio delivered a career-defining performance on Saturday afternoon at Schoellkopf Field, personally accounting for three touchdowns to lead Cornell to a crucial 20-17 victory over Princeton. The win snapped a two-game losing streak for the Big Red, bringing their overall record to 3-5 and their Ivy League mark to 2-3.

Bass-Sulpizio was the engine of the Cornell offense, especially on the ground. He rumbled for two rushing touchdowns and amassed 63 yards on 12 carries. His versatility was also on display, connecting with Jameson Wang on a 4-yard touchdown pass that proved pivotal. While Bass-Sulpizio’s heroics provided the highlights, Cornell’s ground game was a collective effort, with six different players contributing to a formidable 215 total rushing yards. The Big Red’s 20 points came from Bass-Sulpizio’s three touchdowns, with two successful extra-point attempts and one missed, highlighting the razor-thin margin of victory.

“Garrett really put the team on his back today,” said Cornell head coach David Archer after the game. “He made big plays when we needed them most, but this was truly a team win. Our offensive line and the entire backfield really committed to the run, and our defense made key stops. It was a testament to our resilience after a couple tough weeks.”

The victory marked a significant bounce back for Cornell, who had dropped their last two contests. The team’s resolve was tested throughout a tightly contested game, which saw Princeton make a late push.

For Princeton, the loss extended their own losing streak to three games, dropping their record to an identical 3-5 overall and 2-3 in Ivy League play. Quarterback Blake Stenstrom completed 14 of 26 passes for 177 yards, but the Tigers struggled to find the end zone consistently. Their scoring came from a 1-yard touchdown run by Blaine Hyson and a 29-yard field goal from Nico Gottung. Princeton’s momentum received a significant boost in the second half when Sam Johnson recovered a muffed punt at Cornell’s 23-yard line, setting up an easy score that kept the game close.

“It was a hard-fought game, and credit to Cornell, they made the plays when they had to,” said Princeton head coach Bob Surace. “We had opportunities, especially after the turnover, but we just couldn’t capitalize enough. We’ll learn from this and regroup.”

With the identical records, both Cornell and Princeton now find themselves tied for fifth place in the competitive Ivy League standings with two games remaining in the season. The Big Red will look to build on this momentum when they host Dartmouth next Saturday, November 11, at Schoellkopf Field. Princeton will aim to snap their skid when they return home to face Penn on the same day.