Frahm helps Cornell kick Knox, 26-24
By Jim Ecker
MOUNT VERNON – Mitchell Frahm kicked four field goals Saturday to help Cornell trim Knox, 26-24, and celebrated his performance with his parents, grandparents and fiancee after the game at Ash Park.
Cornell does not have an entry in its record book for most field goals in a single game, but school officials believe four is a new school mark.
“Sounds good to me,” Frahm said with a big smile.
Frahm, a 5-foot-7 senior from Linn-Mar, also kicked a pair of PATs as the Rams held off the Prairie Fire after taking an early 17-0 lead. His field goals traveled 24, 38, 33 and 31 yards on a beautiful fall afternoon. He also did a nice job on kickoffs.
Whether it was a record for most field goals or not, Coach Curt Ritchie was happy for the left-footed booter.
“That’s great for Mitch,” he said. “For him to do that is awesome.”
Cornell raised its records to 3-4 overall and 3-3 in the Midwest Conference in Ritchie’s second year as head coach. Knox fell to 1-5 overall and 0-4 in the league.
Frahm, a decorated student, is an elementary education major and would like to coach football after college. His fiancee, Haley Sackett, is a Marion High School graduate so they are both from Marion, just a short drive from Mount Vernon.
Frahm would rather see his team score touchdowns, but he’s ready for a three-point kick when needed.
“Whatever I can do to help my team get a win,” he said. “I just did my job today.”
Cornell scored 17 points in the first quarter and appeared headed for a comfortable victory. Mason Dew hooked up with Jackson Lindsay on a short pass that turned into a 55-yard touchdown, Frahm booted his 24-yard field goal and Joshua Martin had the third Pick-6 of his career when he intercepted a pass and raced 46 yards to the end zone.
Martin, a senior from Stanton, Iowa, ranks among the NCAA Division III leaders with six interceptions this season.
Knox pulled within 17-10 in the second quarter. Frahm booted another field goal to make it 20-10, but the visitors scored a touchdown to make it 20-17 in the third quarter and put the game up for grabs.
Frahm kicked his third and fourth field goals, raising the count to 26-17, but Knox scored on a 49-yard pass play with 57 seconds left and made it 26-24. Cornell recovered the onside kick and ran out the clock.
“It’s good to get out with a win,” said Ritchie. “I’m just glad to see we made a mistake and didn’t hang our heads. That was a problem in the past.”
Dew completed 22 of 35 passes for 299 yards, with one touchdown and one interception. Kaleb Skeffington caught six passes for 92 yards, Darnell Boyd had five grabs for 53 yards and Lindsay snared four for 81.
Martin made 14 tackles, including eight solo stops and the Pick-6.
Knox 7 3 7 7 – 24
Cornell 17 3 3 3 – 26
C – Lindsay 55 pass from Dew (Frahm kick)
C – Frahm 24 FG
C – Martin 46 interception (Frahm kick)
K – Byrd 12 run (Fonnesbeck kick)
K – Bangura 35 FG
C – Frahm 38 FG
K – Krutsinger 2 run (Fonnesbeck kick)
C – Frahm 33 FG
C – Frahm 31 FG
K – Carter 49 pass from Rhett (Bangura kick)