With the win, Fisher, ranked eighth nationally, improves to 7-1 overall and 3-1 in the Empire 8, while Springfield, who started the season ranked ninth nationally, falls to 3-4 overall.
Springfield trailed 10-7 at intermission but took the lead on a 63-yard touchdown run from Brian Cunningham, giving the Pride a 14-10 just five minutes into the second half.
The Cardinals cut the lead to one on the ensuing drive with a 25-yard field goal from
Chris Pierri (Fairport/Fairport) with 8:39 left in the third quarter.
The Cardinals defense held steady, with linebackers
Steve Flagler (Vernon-Verona Sherrill/Sherrill) and
Derek Melnyk (Monroe Township/Jamesburg, NJ) making a critical stop on
fourth down of the Pride’s next possession.
Fisher’s
James Reile (Herkimer/Herkimer) gave the Cardinals the lead for good two plays later on a 59-yard touchdown run with 2:25 left in the third quarter. Reile appeared to be wrapped up in the backfield, but escaped the tackle and galloped down the left sideline to give his team the lead for good. Quarterback
Rob Kramer (Oneida/Oneida) connected with
Chris Harmon (Caledonia-Mumford) on the ensuing two-point conversion giving the Cardinals a 21-14 lead with under three minutes to play in the third quarter.
On third-and-15 from deep in Springfield territory, Fisher defensive back
Scott Miranto (North Tonawanda) intercepted a pass at Springfield 40 and returned it 27 yards to the Springfield 13.
Kramer tossed his second touchdown of the day on the very next play to
Jimmy Smith (Oneida/Oneida) with one second left in the third quarter to give the Cardinals a 28-14 lead.
After
Kenny Bostick (Aquinas/Rochester) recovered a muffed punt return at the Springfield 10, senior
Ryan Hanson (G. Ray Bodley/Fulton) closed out the scoring with a seven-yard touchdown run with 2:21 left
In a brisk first-half that lasted less than one hour, Springfield jumped out to a 7-0 lead, as the Pride drove 55 yards on its opening drive with Sharpe tossing a 10-yard touchdown pass to Erich Timmerman with 6:44 left in the first quarter.
The Cardinals scored the next 10 points however, and led 10-7 at intermission. Pierri booted a 22-yard field goal with 2:42 left in the first quarter. Fisher took the lead with 2:22 left in the second quarter on a third-and-nine play, as Kramer escaped a sack and delivered a 13-yard touchdown pass to Smith.
Fisher held Springfield quarterback Chris Sharpe to just 46 yards rushing and 46 yards passing. It is just the second time in the last 19 games the reigning Division III Player of the Year has failed to score a touchdown.
Reile led the Fisher offense with 107 yards on 19 carries, while Hanson gained 65 yards on 13 carries. Kramer completed 11-of-18 passes for 157 yards with Smith gaining 77 yards on five receptions.
Cunningham led the Springfield offense with 100 yards on 12 carries, becoming just the first rusher this season to reach the century mark against the Fisher defense. Springfield, which entered the game averaging 320 yards of rushing offense, gained just 213 yards on the ground and committed three turnovers after committing just five all season.
Fisher will play its final two home games of the regular-season at home. The Cardinals will host Utica College next Saturday and will meet undefeated Alfred University in the regular-season finale.
