Football | 10/18/2024 8:00:00 AM

PITTSFORD, N.Y. – After playing road games for almost a month straight, the St. John Fisher University football team (2-3, 1-1 Empire 8) returns to action at Growney Stadium against Hartwick College (1-4, 0-2 Empire 8) at 3 p.m. on Saturday. 

Live Coverage

• The Cardinals' home and conference games this season will be streamed live on the Empire 8 Network. Mark Gruba is the play-by-play voice for all home Cardinal football games. 

Last Time Out: Fisher Snaps Two-Game Losing Skid At Hilbert 

• The Cardinals piled up more than 400 yards of offense in a 52-6 road victory over Hilbert last Saturday at St. Francis High School in Hamburg, New York. 

• The Cardinals scored three touchdowns on the ground, another three through the air and one on defense. Their offense scored touchdowns on its first four drives, and sophomore linebacker Colin Faust fell on a fumble in the end zone en route to a 35-6 halftime lead.

• Faust's fumble recovery in the end zone late in the second quarter marked the Cardinals' second defensive score this season. Safety Timothy Vanderbrink returned an interception 43 yards for a touchdown in a 42-40 victory over Keystone College on Sept. 21. 

• Running backs Camden Chance and Deante Hall led a rushing attack that amassed 169 yards on 37 attempts. Chance set career highs in rushing yards (91) and touchdowns (3), while Hall had a career-high 61 yards on 12 rushes.

• Quarterback Ryan Whitney completed 12 of 16 passes for 213 yards with two touchdowns. Backup Mason Lister completed 5 of 8 attempts for 49 yards and threw his first career touchdown pass. 

• Three different Fisher pass catchers scored their first career touchdowns: sophomores Jackson Cusack and Mykel White and senior Ryan Delaine. Seven players caught at least two passes in the contest. 

Taking A Chance…

• Chance, a junior, began his collegiate athletic career as a basketball player at Oswego State. He decided to change course this past offseason, transferring to play football at St. John Fisher University. 

• Chance, who played football in high school, has successfully transitioned back to the gridiron. Through five games, Chance has 237 yards rushing (second on the team) and six touchdowns, the third most in the Empire 8. 

• Chance has scored multiple rushing touchdowns in two games. He had two against Keystone and three against Hilbert. 

• Chance had a career-high 91 yards rushing on 15 attempts against Hilbert. 

One Of The Best In The Empire 8

• The Cardinals have one of the best linebackers in the Empire 8 in fifth-year senior Joe Miscia, a three-time All-Empire 8 selection. He's earned second-team honors in each of the last two seasons. 

• Once again, Miscia is among the Empire 8's leaders in tackles. He leads the Cardinals and is tied for sixth in the conference with 37 total stops this season. 

•  The Wayne, New Jersey, native led Fisher in tackles (96), tackles for a loss (7.5) and interceptions (3) last season. He's been Fisher's leading tackler for three straight seasons. 

• Miscia currently ranks third on the program's all-time tackles list with 371. He needs 12 more tackles to pass Todd Lexer (1989-93) for second on that list. 

Last Time vs. Hartwick

• The Cardinals overcame a 14-3 halftime deficit en route to a 38-21 victory over Hartwick in Oneonta last season. 

• Running back Peyton Nolan had 176 yards rushing and three touchdowns on 29 attempts. The Cardinals rushed for 328 yards as a team. 

• Quarterback Aaron Chase threw 135 yards and had two touchdown passes. 

• Miscia and defensive back Trenton Sherman had interceptions in the victory. Defensive linemen Jabari Oxely and Zach Dreisbach recorded sacks. 

Series History vs. Hartwick

• The Cardinals have won 15 of their 18 games against Hartwick since 2005, including the last five in a row. 

• Fourteen of the Cardinals' last 15 victories in the series have come by three scores or more. 

• Hartwick has just one victory at Growney Stadium since 2005. 

• Hartwick's last victory in the series came in 2017. 

Scouting Hartwick 

• Hartwick ranks fifth in the league in points per game (25) and sixth in total offense (346.6 yards per game). The Hawks are last in the league in rushing (70 yards per game) but first in passing (275.8 yards per game). 

• Wide receiver Conor Cosgrove ranks second in the league in catches (31), receiving yards (539) and touchdowns (4). He's gone over 100 yards receiving in two games this season. 

• Carlito Aldamuy has also had a strong season for the Hawks. The wide receiver has four catches for 359 yards and two scores over four games. 

• Hartwick's defense has given up the second-most points (42.4) and yards per game (416.6) in the Empire 8. 

• The Hawks have been particularly vulnerable against the pass, allowing 275.8 yards per contest.

Up Next

The Cardinals face No. 2 Cortland at 1 p.m. next Saturday, Oct. 26, at Stadium Complex. 

• Cortland won the Division III national championship last season. 

• The Cardinals have lost their last five games against the Red Dragons.