ITHACA, N.Y. – The Navy sprint football team (1-0) scored early and often in the first half and cruised to a 40-7 victory over Cornell (0-1) on Saturday afternoon at Schoellkopf Field in Ithaca, N.Y. The Midshipmen offense scored six touchdowns in the first two quarters, while the defense forced five first-half turnovers.
 
"We came out fast and executed the way we wanted to, building a 40–0 lead by halftime," head coach Captain Carter Reading, USMC said after the game. "In the second half, we were able to get a lot of our younger guys and backups valuable reps, which is huge for our depth as the season goes on.
 
"I'm proud of how our team handled their business today and how everyone contributed to the win."
 
The Navy offense amassed 332 total yards, including 294 yards in the first half. The Mids finished the game with 231 yards through the air with 101 yards on the ground.
 
Starting quarterback Luke O'Connell finished the game 7-for-9 for 209 yards and two touchdowns, while rushing the ball once for 48 yards and a TD. J.P. Bobo completed four passes in relief for 24 yards, while Rhett Sypult had one completion in his first collegiate game.
 
Grant Sterchi made the most of his first collegiate game, hauling a pair of passes for 145 total yards and a pair of touchdowns. Sterchi had touchdown receptions of 66 and 79. Jake Berger also added a pair of receptions, finishing with 54 yards. Broderick Freeman added 19 yards on a reception with Ibi Denson notching a pair of grabs for nine yards.
 
O'Connell's 48 yards led the Midshipmen rushing attack. Hunter Gennicks followed with 45 yards on nine carries – all in the first half – with a pair of touchdown runs. Wyatt Keyt found the end zone on one of his two one-yard carries. Sypult finished with 11 yards, while Freeman added 10 yards.
 
Defensively, the Mids held the Big Red to 212 total yards on 158 yards passing and 54 yards on the ground and one touchdown. Navy limited Cornell to just 97 yards in the first half. The lone Big Red score came on a 96-yard touchdown drive that was assisted by a pair of pass interference calls against the Mids to extend the drive.
 
Navy finished the game with 11 tackles for loss, including a sack, while forcing two fumbles and recovering three loose balls. The Midshipmen intercepted three passes, while breaking up an additional two attempts. In addition, Navy blocked a Cornell punt.
 
Connor Miltenberger led the way with 11 tackles, including 2.5 tackles for loss, half a sack, and a forced fumble. Sam Stotler followed with eight stops, including a pair of TFLs with a forced fumble and a fumble recovery. Tucker Opdahl added seven tackles with an interception and a blocked punt. Jake Wolinski added six stops, including a pair of tackles for loss, while Nathan Keast and Jake Rodriguez followed with four tackles each. Owen Erker recorded a pair of interceptions, while Seamas Carrasco and Mick Tabor both recovered fumbles with Tabor returning it 45 yards to set up a Navy touchdown.
 
The Midshipmen started the game off strong as O'Connell hit Sterchi along the left side on third down and Sterchi took the pass 66 yards down the sideline for the Mids' first touchdown of the 2025 season. Gennicks put Navy up by two touchdowns as the junior capped a five-play, 72-yard drive with a 14-yard TD scamper around the left side. The drive was highlighted by a 41-yard pass down the middle to Berger inside the red zone to set up the Gennicks score. Following an interception by Opdahl, O'Connell quickly hit Sterchi for 79-yards on the first play for the rookie's second touchdown of the quarter to make the score 20-0.
 
In the second quarter, Navy once again started quick, as Erker picked off a Cornell pass and O'Connell capped a four-play, 57-yard drive with a 48-yard jaunt into the end zone to push the advantage to 27-0. The Midshipmen defense made a stand and the Big Red attempted a fake punt. Opdahl caused a fumble that Carrasco recovered. Four plays later, on fourth and four, Gennicks rushed for 20 yards into the end zone for his second score of the day. The Mids once again used defense to help facilitate the offense. Miltenberger caused a fumble on a sack that Tabor picked up and returned 45 yards to the one yardline. Keyt rushed straight up the middle to put Navy in front 40-0.
 
Cornell scratched the scoreboard in the fourth quarter. The Big Red capped a 12-play, 96-yard drive with a 23-yard touchdown pass. The home team benefited from two pass interference calls that went against the Mids to extend the drive, including one on fourth and 18. The score would be the only one of the second half and the Mids recorded the 40-7 victory.
 
Up next, Navy will remain on the road against St. Thomas Aquinas on Friday, Sept. 26 at 6:00 p.m. in Hillburn, N.Y. The game will be live streamed on FloCollege and live stats will be available.