BOXSCORE
Eleventh-ranked St. John Fisher College scored 31 points in the second half and posted a convincing 37-6 win over No. 16 Ithaca College in an Empire 8 Conference football showdown on Saturday at Fisher's Growney Stadium.
The win marks Fisher's third straight over Ithaca and improves the Cardinals' record to 3-1 overall and 1-0 in the Empire 8. Fisher's lone loss of the year was at No. 1 Mount Union College in its season-opener. With the loss, Ithaca, who scored 69 points last week, falls to 3-1, 1-1. Since 2002, the winner of the Fisher-Ithaca game has gone on to win at least a share of the Empire 8 Conference title and has gone on to play in the NCAA Division III Championship.
Sophomore quarterback Tim Bailey threw for a career-high 315 yards, including 243 yards in the second half. Senior wide receiver Jimmy Smith finished with seven catches for 191 yards and one touchdown. Running back Brad Carlton rushed for a career-high 129 yards on 17 carries and one touchdown. Fisher finished the day with 504 yards of total offense.
For Ithaca, Tom Bergerstock rushed for 96 yards – 55 of which came on Ithaca's opening drive. Brian Weverbergh caught seven passes for 94 yards, while quarterback Dan Juvan was 11-for-19 for 130 yards. Brian Grastorf relieved Juvan in the third quarter and was 9-for-15 for 95 yards and one interception.
After Fisher missed a 47-yard field goal on its opening drive, Ithaca drove 62 yards and Andrew Rogowski kicked a 26-yard field goal to give the Bombers their only lead of the game.
Fisher tied the game on its next possession with a 26-yard field goal from Chris Pierri and took a 6-3 lead into intermission after a 27-yard field goal with 6:23 left in the second quarter.
After the Bombers went three-and-out on the opening possession of the third quarter, Fisher pushed its lead to 9-3 with a 30-yarder from Pierri. Ithaca made it 9-6 on its next possession with Rogowski kicking a 26-yard field goal.
Fisher took command of the game after that, scoring touchdowns on its last four drives.
Carlton scored on a 10-yard run with 2:58 left in the third (
Listen to Carlton's TD). Ithaca punted to the Fisher 25 on its ensuing possession and on the very next play Bailey threw the ball down the right sideline with Smith getting past the Ithaca defense and scoring on a 75-yard touchdown pass to make it 23-6 (
Listen to Smith's TD Reception).
Ithaca drove to the Fisher 14 on its next possession, but the drive ended with Dan Pollock batting down a pass at the line of scrimmage on a fourth-and-six play.
The Cardinals marched 86 yards on 10 plays and made it 30-6 midway through the fourth quarter with Bailey scoring on a one-yard run (Listen to Bailey's TD Run). Bailey and Smith hooked up again on the drive, this time connecting for a 56-yard pass.
Kenny Bostick ended Ithaca's next drive with an interception that was returned 59 yards to the Ithaca 23. Five plays later, sophomore Luke Herrington scored his first career touchdown with a one-yard run with just under three minutes left (Listen to Herrington's First TD of the Season).
Bostick led the Fisher defense with a career-high 10 tackles, while Matt Driscoll added nine stops. John Sheridan and Sean Trapper each recorded sacks in the win.
For Ithaca, Jason Chier finished with nine tackles. Adam Drescher, Kyle Scharles and Ryan Clarke each had a sack.
Fisher will return to action at 1 p.m. next Saturday and will host Hartwick College. The Hawks defeated Fisher 31-28 last year and the two schools shared the Empire 8 title.
Ithaca has a bye next week and will play at Norwich University the following week.
