Tenth-ranked St. John Fisher College suffered its first home loss in nearly two years today, as Hartwick College ruined Fisher's Homecoming Weekend and defeated the Cardinals 31-28 at Growney Stadium in a key Empire 8 Conference game.

Last year, both Fisher and Hartwick shared the Empire 8 title, but the Hawks earned the automatic bid to the NCAAs, thanks to their 31-28 win over Fisher last year.

Today's loss drops Fisher's record to 3-2 overall and 1-1 in the Empire 8 and snaps an 11-game home winning streak. Hartwick improves to 2-1, 1-1.

Hartwick broke a 28-28 tie with 1:04 left on a 32-yard field goal from Ryan Boyea (Mechanicville, NY). After Jimmy Smith (Oneida, NY) returned the ensuing kickoff to the Hartwick 45, Fisher's Tim Marion (Warwick Valley, NY) converted a big third down with a 33-yard catch and run to the Hartwick 17. On the very next play, quarterback Tim Bailey (East Aurora) rolled out to his left and ran to the Hartwick 10, but was hit from behind and the fumbled ball was recovered by Hartwick's James Walsh (Grahamsville, NY) at the Hartwick 9 with 16 seconds left.

Bailey's fumble was one of several squandered scoring opportunities by the Cardinals throughout the day. Marion also lost a fumble at the Hartwick 5 in the second quarter, while kicker Chris Pierri (Fairport, NY) missed two field goals, including a 25-yarder with 12:10 left in the fourth quarter.

Both Fisher and Hartwick put up fairly similar offensive numbers. Both teams totaled 25 first downs, while the Cardinals held a slim advantage (490-487) in total yards.

Bailey threw for a career-high 342 yards and four touchdowns on 23-of-33 passing. Smith finished with a career-high nine catches for 78 yards and one touchdown, while Marion finished with a career-high 129 yards and two touchdowns on six catches. Junior running back Brad Carlton (Schenectady, NY) rushed for 85 yards on 23 carries.

For Hartwick, quarterback Jason Boltus (Baldwinsville, NY), who entered the game as the nation's leader in total offense, averaging 426 yards through the air, completed 18-of-30 passes for 266 yards on three touchdowns. He also rank the ball 11 times for 56 yards. Tosh DeMulder (Unadilla, NY) kept the Fisher defense off-balance for most of the day and rushed for 110 yards on 21 attempts and one touchdown.

In a game that many would have predicted to be high-scoring -- Hartwick entered the game with the No. 1 scoring offense in the county (52.5 points per game), but was dead-last in points allowed (53.0 ppg) – no points were scored until Hartwick's Jack Phelan (Slingerlands, NY) scored on a 17-yard pass from Boltus with 4:45 left in the second quarter.

The Cardinals responded, however, with a five-play, 66-yard drive with Paul Deckard (Manlius, NY) scoring his first career touchdown on a 52-yard pass from Bailey. 

Hartwick marched right down the field on the next possession and took a 14-7 lead with Keith Geraldsen scoring (Ravena, NY) on a 19-yard pass from Boltus with 25 second left in the half.

Fisher made the most of the remaining time and tied the game a 14-14 going into intermission.  With a drive-start at the Fisher 38, Bailey picked up 17 yards on quarterback-keeper to the Hartwick 45. On the very next play, Bailey heaved the ball into the left corner of the endzone with Marion catching the batted up ball.

After both teams traded possessions to start the second half, Fisher took a 21-14 lead with Marion catching a five-yard pass from Bailey with 6:17 left in the third. DeMulder tied the game up for Hartwick at 21-21 scoring on a two-yard on the Hawks next possession and regained the lead at 28-21 with Boltus rolling right and throwing across the field to Dan Gill (Massapequa, NY), who scored a seven-yard touchdown with 8:08 left. 

Fisher tied the game up its next possession with Smith catching a 13-yard pass from Bailey with 5:41 left. 

Hartwick marched 56 yards on 10 plays (44 yards on the ground) on its final drive – with Boyea, who kicked a 40-yard field goal last year to beat Fisher, splitting the up-rights from 32 yards out.  

Fisher will return to action at 12 p.m. Saturday and will host Salisbury University, while the Hawks will host Alfred University at 2 p.m.