The nationally-ranked St. John Fisher College football program rallied for a 28-24 win over visiting Buffalo State College on Saturday in front of 4,273 fans.

With the win, Fisher, ranked No. 14 in the latest D3football.com national poll, improves to 5-0 overall and 3-0 in the Empire 8 Conference, while the Bengals falls to 2-2, 1-1.  It is the fourth time since 2006 that Fisher has started the season off 5-0.

It was a scrappy win for the Cardinals, who started a freshman quarterback and had the game's final touchdown scored on a 17-yard run with 4:28 left by one of their starting defensive ends.

Chris Smith carried the ball 15 times for 81 yards and one score after James Chambers left the game in the second quarter after rushing for 94 yards on seven carries.  Smith also recorded one sack and broke up a pass on the game's final drive.

Quarterback Collin Fiutko completed 15-of-22 passes for 209 yards and three touchdowns.  He became the first freshman quarterback to start for the Cardinals in 16 years and performed admirably, filling in for injured-senior Matt Naton, who leads the Empire 8 Conference in passing efficiency.
 
On the very first play from scrimmage, Fiutko connected on a 78-yard pass to William Coon to put the Cardinals up 7-0 just 18 seconds into the game.
 
The Bengals would tie the game up at 7s on the ensuing drive and took a 14-7 lead early in the second quarter.   Fisher would answered with a six-play, 69-yard drive capped by a five-yard touchdown reception from Mike Collichio with 4:26 left in the half.
 
Buffalo State's Marc Montana booted a 41-yard field as the half expired to put the Bengals up 17-14 at the break.

Fisher would retake the lead with Wyatt Stehle scoring on a 35-yard reception with under six minutes left in the third.  Buffalo State took a 24-21 edge with 10:45 left, but was held scoreless for the remainder of the game.
 
Mark Guarino-Hyde came through with a sack on fourth-and-one from the Fisher 38 with eight minutes left.  Fisher then took the ensuing drive 56 yards with Smith breaking tackles and reaching the endzone from 17 yards out with just under five minutes left. 

Senior safety DJ Logory, who finished with a team-high 17 tackles, sealed the win with an interception near midfield with 16 seconds remaining. It was one of three interceptions by the Fisher defense on the day, with Alec Mortillaro and Patrick Chamberlain each chalking up one pick.

Senior Anthony Lee tallied 10 tackles, while Evan Majewski and Aaron Jones were also in on sacks.
 
Collichio led the Cardinals with seven catches for 56 yards, while Coon posted 103 yards on three receptions, marking the second straight game he's gone over the century mark.
 
Devin Dzikowicz was a perfect 4-for-4 on extra points, while Brandon Belles averaged 35.0 yards on five punts.
 
Fisher will return to action at 6 p.m. next Saturday and will host SUNY Morrisville under the lights of Growney Stadium.