The St. John Fisher College football program defeated host Springfield College 27-21 on Saturday in the Second Round of the NCAA Division III Championship.

With the win, Fisher improves to 11-1 on the year, setting a College-record for wins in a season, and will now host Rowan University at 12 p.m. next Saturday in the NCAA Division III East Regional Championship Game.  This is the first time in the program’s 20-year history the Cardinals have advanced to the “Elite 8” in the national playoffs.

The Fisher defense held Springfield, which entered the game as the No. 1 rushing offense in the country, averaging 388.2 yards, to just 220 yards on the ground and zero passing yards. 

The Cardinals did an outstanding job of shutting down Springfield’s Chris Sharpe, who entered the game averaging a nation-leading 170 rushing yards per contest.  Sharpe, who rushed for 280 yards on 26 carries and scored seven touchdowns in Springfield’s 55-38 win over Fisher five weeks ago, was held to just 69 yards on 25 carries, including a 28-yard scamper on the first play from scrimmage.

Senior All-American Mark Robinson (Bath-Haverling/Bath) rushed for 120 yards on 24 carries and scored three of Fisher’s four touchdowns.  Robinson now ranks 13^th all-time in NCAA Division III scoring with 384 points on 64 career touchdowns and 21^st in career rushing with 4,632 yards.

After Springfield scored on its opening drive, the Cardinals answered with a four-play, 68-yard drive.  Sean Nowicki (Alden/Alden) caught a 47-yard pass from quarterback Rob Kramer (Oneida/Oneida) on Fisher’s first offensive play, and three plays later, Robinson scored on a 16-yard run.

Springfield regained the lead midway through the second quarter, but Fisher again answered with an 11-play, 65-yard drive.  Matt Kelly (Aquinas/Rochester) scored his first career touchdown on a two-yard pass from Kramer, but the key play of the drive came on the previous play.  On fourth-and-20 from the Springfield 28, Kramer stepped up in the pocket and hooked up with Corey Jackson (Iroquois/East Aurora) for a 26-yard strike.

Fisher then took the lead for good on the opening possession of the second half.  Nowicki had a 42-yard kickoff return to the Springfield 39, and seven plays later, Robinson scored on a 10-yard run.

The Fisher defense forced its second turnover of the day on Springfield’s next possession. Senior Greg Pyszczynski (West Seneca East/West Seneca) forced a fumble near midfield, which was recovered by Dan Pollock (G. Ray Bodley/Fulton).  The Cardinals went up 13 with a seven-play, 51-yard drive, capped by a one-yard run from Robinson.

Springfield trimmed the lead to six with 10:29 left, but couldn’t get any closer. Fisher punted the ball away with 6:44 left and forced the Pride to go three-and-out inside their 10-yard line. 

Fisher got the ball back with 4:31 left and ran the ball 10 straight times, including a key two-yard run by Robinson on fourth-and-one from the Springfield 17 with 2:40 left , before turning the ball over on downs with two seconds left.  The Fisher defense ended the game in fitting-fashion, drilling Sharpe as he attempted to throw a desperation pass.

Senior All-American Gene Lang (C.W. Baker/Baldwinsville) led the Fisher defense with 11 tackles.  He also forced a fumble in the second quarter at his own goal line, which was recovered by Pyszczynski.

Steve Flagler (Vernon-Verona-Sherrill/Sherrill) finished with nine tackles, while Josh Gottlieb (Fox Lane/Pound Ridge) and Scott Miranto (North Tonawanda/North Tonawanda) each finished with six stops.

Pyszczynski and Pollock, along with Matt Becton (St. Joseph’s/Buffalo) and Steve Stepnick (Iroquois/Cowlesville) each tallied five tackles.  Pollock also registered a sack, as did Nick Boone (Hornell/Hornell).

Kramer finished the game 11-for-19 for 178 yards and one touchdown.  Jackson finished with four catches for 58 yards, while Tim Marion (Warwick Valley/Warwick) caught three passes for 37 yards.

James Reile (Herkimer/Herkimer) gained 19 yards on five carries, including a 12-yard run on Fisher’s final drive.  Nick Suchyna (St. Francis/Buffalo) ran the ball once for 17 yards.

Ricky Tatar (Gates-Chili/Rochester) averaged 37 yards on three punts, while Chris Pierri (Fairport/Fairport) converted on 3-of-4 extra point kicks.