CHICAGO – University of Chicago's football team celebrated its Homecoming Weekend with a 45-7 victory over Midwest Conference-foe Cornell College on a picturesque fall day in front of a capacity crowd at Amos Alonzo Stagg Field.

The Maroons never trailed as they moved to 5-1, a result which included a 21-0 lead at the end of the first quarter and 35-0 advantage at the half. Nicholas D'Ambrose rushed for 171 yards on 18 attempts and three touchdowns to spearhead a rushing attack which gained 291 total yards. 

Wesley Gow passed for two TDs, finishing 12-for-15 for 120 yards through the air. Greg Asare was effective in the second half, rushing for 78 yards for seven carries. First-year Jack Ruff passed for his first career TD and went 4-for-6 with 49 yards passing, largely in the fourth quarter.

UChicago came out firing and stopped Cornell on each of its first three drives, converting all three into offensive scores. Michael Janis took a Gow pass into the end zone with 11:01 remaining for a TD on the Maroons' first offensive drive. D'Ambrose then scored on runs of two-yards and 38-yards to put UChicago ahead by three TDs.

After a blocked punt by Jack Goodkin set up the Maroons at Cornell's 12-yard line, Luke Degner continued the scoring with a catch from Gow in the back right area of the end zone to go ahead 28-0. D'Ambrose gained 49-of-71 yards on the next scoring drive, finding paydirt with 14 seconds left to stake the Maroons to a 35-0 lead.

Cornell's Joel Lacy found the end zone on its first offensive possession of the second half, but the Maroons answered with a 10-play, 82-yard drive. Ruff found Degner on the run for his second TD of the game from 21 yards out to make the score 42-7. Asare, with Ruff taking snaps, rushed six consecutive times to lead UChicago down the field before Will Goodman knocked in a 34-yard field goal.

UChicago outgained Cornell 460 to 220 in total offense. The Maroons put up an impressive 8.1 yards per play. 

Defensively, the home team racked up five sacks, which included 1.5 by Leo Speidel. William Skowronski was all over the field with a game-high 15 tackles to his credit. 

The Maroons (5-1, 4-1) will face Ripon (6-0, 5-0) on the road on Saturday, Oct. 22 at 1 p.m.