Box Score

The St. John Fisher College football program scored three touchdowns in the final 5:11 of the first half and posted the biggest come-back win in Fisher history, as the Cardinals rallied from a 20-point deficit and beat visiting Utica College 28-27 at Fisher's Growney Stadium.

The previous record for greatest comeback-win came in the 2011 regular-season opener, when Fisher trailed 20-3 at Hartwick College, before scoring 49 straight points and winning 55-28.

With the win, Fisher improves to 6-2 overall and 3-2 in the Empire 8, while the Pioneers fall to 3-5, 1-4. The Cardinals are 13-0 all-time vs. Utica.
After losing five turnovers in last week's 25-22 loss at Ithaca College, turnovers again plagued the Cardinals early on.

Utica took a 7-0 lead with 9:05 left in the first quarter on a 15-yard pass from Casey Butkiewicz to Gregory Palmer. The Pioneers then took advantage off a fumble on a punt return. Starting at the Fisher 43, Utica capitalized on the great field position as Butkiewicz found Anthony Acevedo for a 21-yard touchdown. A missed extra point made it 13-0 Pioneers.

On the Cardinals next possession, the first play of the second quarter, Tyler Fenti was intercepted by James Lenahan who returned it 23 yards to the Fisher 44-yard line. Utica cashed in on a Jake Larson two-yard touchdown run to take a 20-0 lead early in the second quarter.

Fisher broke the silence facing the 20-0 deficit, using a 16-play, 68-yard drive capped off by a 19-yard touchdown pass to Nathan Nigolian from Fenti. Fisher converted two fourth down's on the drive to cut the Pioneer lead to 20-7 with 5:11 remaining in the second quarter.

The Fisher defense came up huge on the Pioneers next series, with Ryan Seymour intercepting Butkiewicz deep in Pioneers' territory. Just three plays later, Fenti was able to thread the needle to Dan Rudy for a 20-yard touchdown and cut the Utica lead to 20-14 with 4:11 to play in the first half.

Following a quick defensive stand Fisher went 71 yards on eight plays, capped off with Fenti hooking up with Ryan Sweet for a 36-yard score with 33 seconds left in the half to put Fisher up for good.

Fisher scored its fourth unanswered touchdown early in the second half on a 27-yard scamper from Cody Miller to take a 28-20 lead.

Utica responded scoring its first touchdown since three minutes into the second quarter as Butkiewicz found Acevedo for his second touchdown of the game to draw within one, 28-27, late in the third quarter for the game's final points.

Utica came up with a big stop midway through the fourth quarter. Francis caught a pass at the Utica 10, and was headed into the endzone, but was stripped of the ball by Rob Alexander just outside the goal-line.

The Fisher defense, however, didn't let the Pioneers penetrate past their own 32-yard line on their final two drives, while the offense, led by back-up quarterback Matt Naton picked up two first downs and kept possession for the game's final four minutes.

Fenti finished the day 24-33 for 203 yards and three touchdown passes. Rudy had a career-high eight receptions for 81 yards and one touchdown.  Miller had 108 yards rushing on the day.

On the defensive side of the ball, Sean Preish and Mike Guinta each had nine tackles. Guinta also added an interception, his fourth of the season and third straight game with an INT.

Fisher hits the road for a 1 p.m kickoff next Saturday at Buffalo State College.