Nationally-ranked St. John Fisher College had its 10-game winning streak snapped today, as the No. 17 Cardinals dropped a 42-31 decision to host Alfred University in a pivotal Empire 8 Conference football game.

With the loss, Fisher falls to 7-1 overall and 3-1 in the Empire 8, while Alfred improves to 6-1, 3-0. Fisher's last loss came nearly one year ago today, losing 31-28 to Alfred at Fisher on October 24, 2009.

The game started eerily for the Cardinals.

Fisher forced the Saxons to punt on the game's opening drive (one of only punts on the day), but on its first offensive play, Tim Bailey's pass to the sidelines was intercepted and returned 28 yards for a touchdown, giving the Saxons a 7-0 lead less than three minutes into the game.

Fisher came back though and tied the game on its next possession, driving 57 yards on 11 plays. Ryan Francis caught a four-yard pass from Bailey on a third-down play. The big play of the drive came on a 3rd-and-20 as Terrence Wallace picked up 18 yards and fumbled, but Ryan Kramer scooped up the ball and gained 11 more yards.

Alfred regained the lead on its next possession, driving 62 yards on eight plays to take a 14-7 lead with four minutes left in the first.

Fisher tied the game up early in the second quarter as Kramer scored on a 14-yard run, tying the game at 14-14. The Saxons regained the lead on the very next play from scrimmage though. After a kickoff return to the Fisher 47, the Saxon ran an end-around pass to a wide open receiver, giving Alfred the 21-14 lead.

After a kickoff return to near midfield and a personal foul penalty against the Saxons, Fisher had the ball at the Alfred 37 and a 33-yard pass from Bailey to Dan Witkowski gave Fisher the ball at first-and-goal at the Alfred 4, but the Cardinals had to settle for a 31-yard field goal from Chad Monheim to bring it to a 21-17 game.

Alfred marched down the field though on the next possession, scoring on a 10-play, 70-yard drive to take a 28-17 lead into the locker room at halftime.

The Cardinals got back in it on the opening drive of the second half with Kramer scoring his second touchdown of the day on a 2-yard run to make it 28-24.

Alfred answered Fisher's touchdown with a touchdown of its own, as the Saxons converted two third downs and marched 67 yards to take a 35-24 lead with 5:55 left in the third.

The Saxons tacked on another touchdown converting on a third-and-goal from the Fisher 13 to take a 42-24 lead with 10:10 left in the game. The touchdown capped a 14-play, 72-yard drive that ate up 7:19 of clock.

Fisher scored its final touchdown of the game with 1:45 left on Francis' second touchdown of the day on a 17-yard pass from Bailey.

For Fisher, Bailey went 20-for-38 for 265 yards and two touchdowns. Kramer ran the ball 16 times for 82 yards. He also caught six passes for 71 yards.

Francis finished with six catches for 83 yards.

Brenden Moore led the Fisher defense with nine tackles.

Fisher went 11-17 on third down conversions, while Alfred capitalized on 10 of 13.

Fisher will wrap up the 2010 regular season with two home games in each of the next two weeks. The Cardinals will host Frostburg State University at 12 p.m. next Saturday before hosting Springfield College on November 6th in the regular-season finale.