BOX SCORE
The St. John Fisher College football team claimed the ECAC Northeast Championship with a 17-7 win over host Husson University in Bangor, ME. With the win, Fisher raised its record, and finishes the 2008 campaign with a 7-4 overall record.
Senior QB
Tom Hammel stepped in off the bench and completed 8-of-14 passes for 95 yards and two touchdowns with no interceptions en route to Most Valuable Player honors in his final collegiate game.
Hammel guided the Cardinals on all three scoring drives, including an impressive drive that put the game out of reach. With the Cardinals up 14-7 in the fourth quarter, Fisher drove 82 yards on 15 plays and ate up nearly nine minutes of clock.
Ricky Tatar capped the Cardinals’ drive with a 22-yard field goal to put the nail in the coffin.
Sophomore running back
Scott Biehl got his number called for the tough yardage down the stretch when the Cardinals sought to run out the clock, and finished the contest with 113 yards on 23 carries (both career-highs).
After a scoreless first quarter, Hammel and the Cardinals took a 7-0 lead when the senior QB found
Josiah Smith in the corner of the endzone. Fisher, who gained possession on its own two yard line, drove 98 yards over 15 plays and used up 9:02 to take the lead.
A stalwart Fisher defense, that held the Hawks to just 130 yards of total offense, kept Husson at bay until midway through the third quarter. Junior running back Julius Williams broke a tackle on an inside handoff and ran to the pylon for Husson’s only score of the day. The five-yard scamper tied the game at 7-7.
Despite the bitter cold and blowing snow, Fisher responded with 10 unanswered points in the final 15 minutes to earn the win.
Tim Marion, who also returned a punt 23 yards, hauled in a 15-yard pass from Hammel that gave Fisher a 14-7 lead at the 13:17 mark, before the offense came together again with an extended drive to seal the win.
Andy Episcopo led the defense with seven tackles and one sack, while defensive back
Jason Cirulli made two tackles and intercepted a pass.