Imperial, PA -  Cornell High School football ended their regular season with a record of 8-1. The best the school has seen in a while. The team merged with Quaker Valley High School’s football team during the 2013-2015 seasons. Cornell finally decided to bring back its own football program alongside Nazareth Prep in 2017.

 The team had a hard time coming back ending the 2016 season with a record of 0-9 and then the 2017 season, 1-8. Cornell football team stepped their game up a bit in 2018, ending the season with the record 4-5. 

Suddenly, the team shocked the WPIAL with their 2019 regular season. The Cornell Raiders beat Union, Bentworth, Northgate, Rochester, Bishop Canevin, Laurel, Greensburg Central Catholic, and OLSH. Their only loss of the season is to Sto-Rox, losing a close game of 28-25. The team won co-section champs alongside Sto-Rox. The Cornell Raiders earned a home game against the California Trojans that was played at West Allegheny High School on November 1, 2019. 

The Cornell Raiders started the game by kicking off to California. The Trojans scored a touchdown on their first drive with a 1 yard rush into the endzone. Cornell Raider’s, Savon Wilson, blocked the point after attempt. 6-0, Trojans with 6 minutes left in the first quarter. Cornell scored right back. Amere Hibbler, scored a rushing touchdown of 24 yards. Trojans blocked the PAT.  The game now tied at 6-6. With two minutes left in the first quarter, Trojans scored a 3-yard rushing touchdown. California went for the two-point conversion but ultimately failed. The first quarter ended with the Trojans leading 12-6. 

The Raiders are the first to score in the second quarter. Cornell’s QB, Zaier Harrison, completed a 10-yard pass to Amere Hibbler for a Cornell touchdown. Raiders go for a two-point conversion, but they were unsuccessful. The game is tied once again at 12-12. Shaun Godfrey then stripped the ball from the Trojans, and Cornell’s Isaiah Langston recovered it on their own 27-yard line. Zaier Harrison completes a 25-yard pass to Isaiah Langston and successfully completes the two-point conversion. Cornell leads 20-12. To end the quarter, Harrison intercepts California’s pass to end their drive at Cornell’s 1-yard line. 

Cornell receives the opening kickoff after halftime but ends up punting the ball to California. The Trojans end up running the ball 18 yards for a touchdown and complete their two-point conversion. The game is tied again at 20-20. In Cornell’s next drive, Zaier Harrison rushes 11 yards into the end zone. The two-point conversion is failed and the Raiders lead 26-20 at the end of the third quarter. 

The fourth quarter begins with a California punt to Cornell. Cornell’s drive is stopped, and they are forced to punt. Trojans rush for a 35 yard touchdown and make the PAT. Trojans take the one-point lead, 27-26. Amere Hibbler, takes the ball for a long rush down the field, giving the Raiders good field position. Savon Wilson rushes 27 yards for a Cornell touchdown. The two-point conversion failed, but the Raiders once again take the lead at 32-27. Cornell’s defense holds the California Trojans for the rest of the fourth quarter. Cornell Raiders beat the California Trojans 32-27.

The Cornell Raiders move their way up through the playoffs and will play the Clairton Bears on November 8, 2019 at Chartiers Houston High School.