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NEW YORK – Columbia erased a 21-0 first-half deficit but ultimately fell, 30-27, in a game that had a little bit of everything going on at Robert K. Kraft Field Saturday on Senior Day. Cameron Molina led the way offensively for the Lions, rushing for 118 yards with two touchdowns on 29 carries.

Down by three scores midway through the second quarter, the Lions started their comeback bid when Trevor McDonagh found Leander Cutler on a two-yard pass. The drive for the Lions took more than eight minutes off the clock, when Columbia went 87 yards on 18 plays.

Columbia would find the end zone again, after a bad snap on a Cornell punt attempt. The Big Red's Chris Fraser kicked the ball through the back of his team's end zone, putting the Lions on the 4-yard line. On the first play of the drive, Hill took a quarterback option down the right side of the field and crossed the pylon to make it 21-14 with 2:26 left before the half.

To start the second half, Columbia took the opening kickoff and marched down the field with some strong play from Trevor McDonagh, who went 8-for-8 for 53 yards to set up a one-yard rushing touchdown by Molina to cap a 7:34 scoring drive and tie the score.

On the ensuing kickoff, Cameron Nizialek caught Cornell out of position and popped a kick to the Cornell 21 that was recovered by Alexander Holme to give the Lions the ball back deep in Big Red territory.

However, McDonagh was picked off on the very next play to temporarily halt the momentum. After a holding penalty, the Big Red were pinned all the way back to their own 3 and Matthew Cahal came up with a big play, intercepting a Solborn pass to put the Lions in the red zone.

On fourth and goal from the 1, Molina burst through the middle to give Columbia its first lead of the day, 27-21, at the 4:00 mark of the third quarter. The game took yet another turn on the PAT after Taylor Betros blocked the try and Jarrod Watson-Lewis took the return to the house to pull within four.

The teams then alternated punts before Cornell went on top for good. Hagy broke a 63-yard run for his third score of the day six seconds into the fourth quarter.

Despite three more possessions, the Lions could not muster another touchdown and the Big Red came away with the win.

Cornell (1-8, 1-5) opened the scoring in the first half on the second Big Red drive of the game. Luke Hagy capped a nine-play, 65-yard drive with a fourth down touchdown run from three yards out, giving Cornell a 7-0 lead midway through the first.

The second Cornell scoring drive started at the end of the first quarter, when Anders Hill was intercepted by Sean Scullen. On the next play, Hagy caught a 19-yard touchdown pass from Robert Somborn. The Big Red led 14-0 with 1:55 left in the first.

The Big Red opened up the second quarter with more scoring on a 70-yard touchdown strike. Collin Shaw took a Somborn bomb to the house, giving Cornell a 21-0 lead at the 13:21 mark in the second.

Molina added 56 yards receiving to lead the squad. JD Hurt posted eight tackles and a sack.

The Lions wrap up the season next Saturday, Nov. 22 at Brown for a 12:30 p.m. start.