Freshman Aidan Russo broke free for a 45-yard touchdown run in the fourth quarter Saturday, and the Cornwall Dragons held on to beat Our Lady of Lourdes 43-41 in their first divisional game.

Cornwall improved to 4-3. Lourdes, which had only one loss entering the game, fell to 5-2.

Russo’s score came with the Dragons clinging to a 36-34 lead.

“It feels great especially in that time of the game,” said Russo, a linebacker and running back. “But I know that it wasn’t just me. My linemen the entire game blocked perfectly and gave me the holes to break one.”

“I knew I had one chance to seal the game, and we took it,” he said.
Senior Gabe Colsant played a major role on both sides of the ball. The wide receiver and strong safety scored one receiving and one rushing touchdown, intercepted a pass and led Cornwall with four receptions, most of them from junior quarterback Sage Caesar.

“I think it was really a statement that our team is still a powerhouse in Section 9. We’re legit,” Colsant said.

Caesar ran for three touchdowns. “Being a dual threat alongside guys like Gabe Colsant and Aidan Russo, I think it is really hard to play against us,” he said.

Lourdes struck first. Sophomore Boden Bickel returned the opening kickoff to Cornwall’s 17-yard line, and junior running back Lucas Pascal scored on the ensuing drive. The Warriors converted the two-point try for an 8-0 lead.

Colsant’s interception set up Cornwall’s answer, a touchdown run on first-and-goal, and the extra point made it 8-7. Senior defensive end Ishmael Lebron then recovered a Lourdes fumble, and Caesar’s 8-yard touchdown run with 7:35 left in the second quarter made it 14-8.

Lourdes took the lead on a 67-yard touchdown pass from junior quarterback Jack Quirk to senior Jack Savona, the team’s former quarterback who now plays receiver. Savona broke two tackles on the way to the end zone, and the two-point conversion made it 16-14.

Quirk found Savona for another touchdown after being knocked down by junior defensive end Quadir Truluck, putting Lourdes up 22-14.

Cornwall answered before halftime. Pressure from Truluck forced a bad throw that Russo intercepted with a diving effort, and Colsant scored with nine seconds left in the second quarter.

“The big play to have the pick on the sideline. We go down and score in less than 40 seconds,” Cornwall head coach Kevin Arduino said. “I said at halftime to the guys that will be the difference. Those plays are huge, and they all matter.”

Caesar scored his second rushing touchdown in the third quarter and added a two-point conversion for a 29-22 Cornwall lead. Lourdes rallied behind Pascal and Bickel, each of whom scored on the ground, to lead 34-29 after Cornwall penalties extended drives. Caesar’s third rushing touchdown early in the fourth quarter gave the Dragons a 36-34 lead before Russo’s run made it 43-34.

Lourdes didn’t quit. Quirk hit junior running back James Krauza on a fade route in the end zone on fourth-and-5 to cut the deficit to 43-41. Junior cornerback Aydan Ayala recovered the ensuing onside kick to seal the win.

Penalties remained a problem for Cornwall, which was flagged for 45 yards, including an unsportsmanlike conduct call after Lourdes’ first-quarter two-point conversion.

“It’s been the story of our team. It feels like we’re playing behind the sticks on offense,” Arduino said. “We gave them 45 yards in penalties, which is almost half the field of free yards.”

Arduino said the team can reach its ceiling if it eliminates the penalties, and he said the responsibility falls on the coaches and players.

Cornwall also forced a fumble and two interceptions in the first half. Russo shared the backfield with juniors Michael Cooper and Zaire Owens, and Cooper praised the freshman.

“I’m so proud of Russo, with him being a freshman and getting that clinching touchdown,” Cooper said. “It’s great to have a great running back room.”

Cornwall visits Wallkill on Oct. 23 at 7 p.m.