Box Score

The nationally-ranked St. John Fisher College football team fell for the second straight week, losing 25-22 to the Ithaca College Bombers Saturday at Butterfield Stadium.  It was the Bombers first win over the Cardinals since 2005.
 
Fisher falls to 5-2 overall and 2-2 in the Empire 8, while Ithaca moves to 6-1 and 4-1 respectively.
 
Fisher had tough time protecting the ball all day committing five turnovers, including four in the second half.  However, a strong defensive effort helped keep Fisher in the game late.
 
Trailing 25-14 with less than five minutes to play, Fisher went 79 yards as Tyler Fenti used his legs to finish off the drive with a 13-yard score.  Fenti found Nathan Nigolian on the two-point conversion to cut the lead to 25-22 with just under three minutes to play in the game.
 
The Cardinals successfully recovered the ensuing onside kick but Fenti's second interception of the game allowed the Bombers to run out the clock.
 
Following a defensive battle in the first half, which resulted in the Cardinals taking a 7-6 lead into the break, Ithaca spent no time making an impact in the next half.  Sam Carney took the opening kickoff 88 yards to the Fisher nine yard line.  Tom Dempsey found Ben Cary for the one-yard touchdown three plays later to take the 12-7 lead after a failed two-point conversion.
 
Fisher then drove into Ithaca territory but failed on a fourth and ten and the Bombers made them pay, finding the endzone just two plays later.  Ithaca followed up a 65-yard passing play with a 14-yard touchdown from Evan Skea to take a 19-7 lead.
 
The Cardinals responded on their next possession when Fenti found Ryan Kramer for the 19-yard touchdown on an eight play, 64 yard drive midway through the third quarter.
 
On next Fisher possession Fenti was intercepted by Mike Vulcano, who returned it 29 yards to the Fisher eight yard line.  However Mike Guinta was able to come up with his second interception in two weeks, this time in the endzone to keep the Bombers off the board.
 
Fisher was unable to capitalize on the turnover though as six plays later Ithaca recovered a Fenti fumble at the Fisher 37, resulting in a 24-yard field goal at the beginning of the fourth quarter to take a 22-14 lead.
 
The woes continued for Fisher on the offensive end with Nigolian hauling in a 24-yard pass for a first down but losing a fumble that was recovered by the Bombers the Fisher 40 yard line.
 
Ithaca used an important 11 play 37 yard drive, including converting a fourth down and three from the Fisher 31, leading to a Bomber field goal to make the score 25-14 halfway through the fourth quarter.
 
The first half had a much different feel from the second, with both defenses looking strong. After holding Ithaca on fourth and two from the Fisher 45 on the Bombers first offensive possession, Fisher marched down the field only to have Cody Miller lose a fumble that was recovered by Ithaca in the endzone.
 
On the Cardinals next possession the Bombers stopped Fisher on a fourth and five from the Ithaca 34 which set up the first points of the game.  Ithaca marched 52 yards on 13 plays, capped off by a 35-yard field goal five minutes into the second quarter.
 
Fisher was finally able to break through late in the second quarter.  The Cardinals, behind their fast paced no-huddle offense, went 80 yards in 1:41 with Miller finding the endzone from five yards out with under one minute to play in the second quarter.  Fenti was 4-5 on the drive throwing for 48 yards.
 
On the ensuing kickoff Josh Oliver had a 53 yards return to the Fisher 45 yard line.  The Bombers went 35 yards in six plays to the Cardinals three, converting a field goal with time expiring to cut the deficit to 7-6 at the half.
 
Fenti finished the day 29 of 48 for 326 yards and two interceptions.  Ryan Kramer had 11 catches for 108 yards while Miller ran for 71 yards on the day.
 
Sean Preish paced the Cardinals defense with 12 tackles, along with one sack.
 
Fisher returns home at 2 p.m next Saturday against Utica College.