BOX SCORE
The St. John Fisher College football team dropped a 36-33 decision in overtime to host Alfred University on Saturday in a pivotal Empire 8 Conference showdown.
Fisher, who could have won its third Empire 8 title in the last four years and earned an automatic bid to the NCAA Championship with a win, finishes the regular season with a 6-4 overall record will travel to Bangor, ME to take on Husson University in the ECAC Northeast Championship at noon on Saturday.
The Cardinals, who trailed 30-14 going into the fourth quarter, scored 16 points in the final quarter and had a chance to take the lead with 2:01 left in regulation, but their extra-point kick was blocked.
In overtime, Fisher’s
Ricky Tatar kicked a 24-yard field goal to give Fisher a 33-30 lead, but Alfred scored on a 25-yard touchdown pass on its first play in the extra frame to earn the win.
For Fisher, it was the third heart-breaking loss of the season. On October 4th, the Cardinals lost to Hartwick College 31-28 for the second straight year after fumbling the ball away inside the Hawks’ 10-yard line with seconds remaining. The following week, Fisher squandered a 14-point fourth quarter lead and lost 58-52 to Salisbury University in four overtimes.
While the Cardinals put up a valiant effort, rallying from 16 points down in the fourth, too many early mistakes plagued them.
The Fisher defense forced two interceptions – one by
Jason Cirulli and one by
Kenny Bostick in the second half – and forced the Saxons to go three-and-out on their final five possessions, but allowed four touchdown passes and over 370 yards of offense through the first 35 minutes of the game.
Fisher quarterback
Tim Bailey threw for 302 yards and two touchdowns on 31-of-60 passing (Fisher single-game record for attempts), but was intercepted three times.
The Cardinals failed to run the ball effectively (31 rushes for 74 yards) and had two drives inside the Alfred 21 that came away without any points, while one drive had to settle for three points after having first-and-goal from the Alfred 5.
Senior wide receiver
Tim Marion came through with an outstanding individual effort. Marion set career-highs for receptions (14) and receiving yards (134). He also totaled 60 yards on six punt returns and returned three kicks for 64 yards.
Freshman receiver
Eli Hayes, starting for injured senior receiver
Jimmy Smith also enjoyed his best game in a Fisher uniform, tallying 10 catches for 134 yards and two touchdowns (all career-highs).
Fisher jumped out to a 14-7 lead after the opening quarter. Bailey tossed a 14-yard pass to Hayes to give the Cardinals a 7-0 lead. After Alfred tied the game at 7-7, Fisher took the lead on a defensive touchdown. Senior
Josh Gottlieb sacked Alfred’s freshman quarterback and nosetackle
Matt Becton recovered the fumbled ball in the end zone.
The Saxons scored the game’s next 23 points before Fisher began its feverish rally.
Chris Pierri kicked a 21-yard field goal with 14:46 left in the fourth to make it 30-17. Nearly 10 minutes later, Fisher’s Hayes scored his second touchdown of the day on a 25-yard pass from Bailey, making it 30-24.
After forcing Alfred to go three-and-out on next possession, the Cardinals marched 69 yards on nine plays with senior Matt Kellyuinas/Rochester) rumbling into the end zone from two-yards out with 2:01 left, tying the game at 30-30. Hayes made the big play on the drive, snagging a 42-yard pass on a fourth-and-10 play