BOX SCORE
Seventeenth-ranked Salisbury University defeated No. 20 St. John Fisher College 58-52 in four overtimes Saturday at Fisher's Growney Stadium.
Both schools set several program records in the game, including longest game (four overtimes), most combined points scored (110) and most combined yards of total offense (1,101). While both teams enjoyed great offensive performances, it was the Salisbury defense that came up big to end the game.
Defensive end Jarrell Chandler (Salisbury, MD) sacked Fisher quarterback
Tim Bailey on a fourth-and-two play from the Salisbury 7 in the fourth overtime to end the game.
Salisbury (5-1), who entered the game as the nation's top rushing offense, rushed for an amazing 529 yards and scored all eight of its touchdowns on the ground. Bryan Woolson (White Hall, MD) rushed for 162 yards and scored three touchdowns; Randal Smedley (Frederick, MD) and Ronnie Currey (Ellicott City, MD) each rushed for 98 yards; Warren Anderson (Vienna, VA) gained 93 yards and scored one touchdown; and Shelby Fisher (Baltimore, MD) gained 83 yards and scored four touchdowns, including two in overtime and one to force overtime with 33 seconds left.
For Fisher (3-3), Bailey tied the Fisher single-game record for touchdown passes with five and threw for 334 yards on 22-of-34 passing. Tim Marion caught five passes for 102 yards and scored two touchdowns and ran for one score. Jimmy Smith caught five passes for 94 yards, while Brad Carlton, who rushed for a career-high 150 yards on 34 carries, snagged five passes for 33 yards and scored one touchdown.
Eli Hayes caught three passes for 61 yards and scored his first career touchdown on a 42-yard pass late in the first half to give the Cardinals a 24-17 lead at intermission. LISTEN TO THE PLAY
Salisbury tied the game (24-24) on the first possession of the second half with Anderson scoring on a three-yard run.
Fisher responded with a 11-play, 58-yard drive with Matt Kelly scoring on a four-yard pass with 5:49 left in the third (LISTEN TO THE PLAY). Fisher pushed its lead to 38-24 with 13:32 left in the fourth quarter with Bailey scoring on a one-yard run on a fourth-down play.
On the ensuing drive, Salisbury drove deep inside Fisher territory, but Fisher freshman Dave Vosburgh forced and recovered a fumble at the Fisher 6. Vosburgh, who was making his first career start, forced three fumbles in the game, setting a Fisher single-game record and coming up one shy of tying the NCAA Division III record.
On the very next play, however, Carlton fumbled and the ball was recovered by Salisbury's Matt Barnes (Ijamsville, MD). The Sea Gulls wasted little time taking advantage of the turnover, as Woolson scored from six-yards out on the very next play.
After Fisher went three-and-out on its next possession, Salisbury appeared ready to tie the game, driving 60 yards on eight plays, but Curley fumbled the ball at the Fisher 5 with 3:32 remaining in regulation.
The Cardinals picked up one first down on the next drive, but were forced to punt. The Sea Gulls drove 59 yards on seven plays, using just 1:03 off the clock with Fisher plunging into the endzone with 33 seconds left to force overtime.
In the first overtime, Carlton scored on a 12-yard shuffle-pass from Bailey to give the Cardinals a 45-38 lead(LISTEN TO THE PLAY). Salisbury, however, tied the game up with another one-yard run from Fisher. The Sea Gulls converted two fourth downs during the drive.
In the second overtime, Salisbury's Woolston scored on a two-yard run on a fourth-and-goal play. Fisher responded with a 25-yard touchdown pass from Bailey to Marion on the very next play to tie the game at 52-52(LISTEN TO THE PLAY).
In the third overtime, Fisher had to settle for a 33-yard field goal attempt from Chris Pierri, but the kick was wide right. The Fisher defense forced Salisbury to go three-and-out on its ensuing possession and kicker Tommy Kowalick's (Sterling, VA) field goal attempt from 42 yards out came up short.
Salisbury scored the game's final points on a four-yard run from Fisher, but the necessary two point conversion was stopped.
After the two teams traded field goals to start the game, including this one from Pierri, the Cardinals ran a double-reverse, with Smith pitching the ball back to Bailey, who tossed a 55-yard strike to Marion running wide open down the right sideline (LISTEN TO THE PLAY). The Cardinals extended their lead to 17-3 with Marion rushing up the middle on a fourth-and-one play, breaking two tackles and scoring from 34 yards out (LISTEN TO THE PLAY).
Salisbury tied the game at 17-17 scoring two touchdowns on its next two possessions. Woolston scored on an 11-yard run with 9:35 left and Fisher scored on a six-yard run with 3:22 left, capping a nine-play, 83-yard drive.
