The St. John Fisher College football team opened up its Empire 8 Conference schedule
with a convincing 40-17 win over host Ithaca College on Saturday.
Freshman running back
Christian Zemaitis set a Fisher single-game record with five rushing touchdowns – all in the second half. He also tied the Fisher record for touchdowns in a game with five (a record shared by All-American Mark Robinson, who scored five touchdowns - four rushing, one receiving - in a 65-20 win over Mt. Ida College). Zemaitis finished the day with a career-high 178 rushing yards on just 18 carries.
The win today by Fisher marks the fourth straight year the Cardinals have defeated the Bombers (2006: 34-10, 2007: 37-16, 2008: 37-6 – combined score: 148-49). Fisher is just the second program since 1974 to beat Ithaca in four consecutive years, joining Buffalo State College who beat the Bombers four straight times from 1995-98.
Fisher (3-2 overall, 1-0 Empire 8), who never trailed in the game, took its 6-0 lead to the second half and pushed it to 12-0, as Zemaitis went untouched down the right sideline to score on a career-long 50-yard run. The extra point, attempted by
Cullen Bradley, was blocked however, and returned for two points for Ithaca, making it 12-2.
Zemaitis scored touchdowns on Fisher’s next four possessions as well. The 5-foot-11, 200-pounder rushed nine yards, capping a 7-play, 88-yard drive with 4:50 left in the third quarter. On Fisher’s next possession, which was set up with an interception by
Andy Episcopo, Zemaitis scored on a four-yard run, finishing an 11-yard drive.
Ithaca scored its first offensive points on its next possession and used a two-point conversion to make it 26-10 with 12:39 left, but the Cardinals marched 58 yards in under 80 seconds with Zemaitis scoring his fourth touchdown of the day on an 18-yard scamper.
After another Ithaca touchdown made it 33-17, Zemaitis plunged into the endzone from two yards out on fourth-and-one play with 3:30 remaining.
While the offense produced in the second half, the defense forced three turnovers in the first two quarters.
Andre Bliss intercepted a pass on Ithaca’s opening drive, while
Nick Krajacic scooped up a fumble after Bliss sacked Ithaca’s quarterback on a corner blitz.
Fisher got on the board first, as the Cardinals drove 67 yards on eight plays, with
Brad Carlton scoring on a two-run off right-tackle. The extra point, by
Chad Monheim, however, was no good. Carlton had the big play on the drive, breaking off a 34-yard run, followed up by a 17-yard rush from Zemaitis. Bailey converted a key 3rd-and-10 to sustain the drive, rushing 10 yards for the first down, as the Cardinals led 6-0 after the first half. The touchdown drive was set up by an interception by sophomore
Brenden Moore.
Bailey led the Fisher offense, which produced 533 yards and 33 first downs. He completed 28-of-40 passes for 230 yards. Seniors
Paul Deckard and Carlton each finished with a career-high eight receptions. Senior
Marcus Miles snagged five passes for 79 yards.
Carlton also rushed for 69 yards on 15 attempts, while Bailey gained 58 yards on five attempts.
Moore and Episcopo each tallied a team-high nine tackles in the win. Moore also tallied one sack, as did Bliss and
Adam Kinney.
Fisher will return to action next Saturday and will host Utica College at 7 p.m. under the lights of Growney Stadium.