Football | 10/24/2024 6:30:00 PM
PITTSFORD, N.Y. – The St. John Fisher University football team (3-3, 2-1 Empire 8) faces No. 2 SUNY Cortland (6-0, 4-0 Empire 8) at 1 p.m. on Saturday at Grady Field.
Live Coverage
Last Time Out: St. John Fisher 56, Hartwick 0
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In their first home game in more than a month, the Cardinals beat Hartwick 56-0 last Saturday afternoon at Growney Stadium for their second straight victory.
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The Cardinals scored more than 50 points for a second straight game. It marked the first time they have done that since the end of the 2012 season when they scored 55 against Utica and 63 against Castleton State.
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The Cardinals amassed more than 500 yards of offense for the second time this season.
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The shutout marked the Cardinals' first since their 3-0 victory over RPI in September 2022.
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The Cardinals ran for a season-high 270 yards and six touchdowns.
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Dating back to the start of last season, the Cardinals have rushed for 200 yards or more in six games.
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Fisher's defense intercepted three passes against Hartwick for the second straight year.
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The Cardinals have won 16 of their 19 games against Hartwick since 2005, including the last six in a row. Fifteen of the Cardinals' 16 victories in the series since then have come by three scores or more.
Fisher's Dynamic Backfield Duo
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Running backs Camden Chance and Peyton Nolan have made for one of the best backfield tandems in the region.
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Chance has carried the ball 66 times for 340 yards and eight touchdowns, the third most in the Empire 8.
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Chance last week amassed a career-high 104 yards and scored two touchdowns on 18 rushes.
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Chance, a junior who began his collegiate athletic career as a basketball player at Oswego State, has scored two or more touchdowns in three of Fisher's six games.
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Nolan, a senior who's missed some time due to injury this season, has been productive when he's been on the field. Last week, he returned to the lineup after missing Fisher's Oct. 12 win over Hilbert and scored a pair of touchdowns. He finished with 54 yards rushing on 11 carries.
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In four games this season, Nolan has 291 yards rushing and four scores on 58 attempts.
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A 2023 first-team All-Empire 8 pick, Nolan last season finished second in the league in rushing yards (1,011) and first in average yards per game (111.2). He found the end zone 11 times, including three times in a 38-21 win over Hartwick.
Getting It Done Both Ways
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Sophomore quarterback Ryan Whitney had two touchdowns passing and two touchdowns rushing in Fisher's dominant win over Hartwick.
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Whitney completed 12 of 21 passes for 160 yards and threw touchdowns to wide receiver Jackson Cusack and tight end James Kennedy.
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Whitney rushed nine times for a career-high 70 yards and found the end zone twice in the second quarter.
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Whitney has accounted for nine touchdowns so far this season, with six through the air and three on the ground.
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Whitney ranks third in the Empire 8 in passing yards with 1,242 through six games. He trails Cortland's Zac Boyes (1,362) and Brockport's Ben Gocella (1,265).
One Of The Best In The Empire 8
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The Cardinals have one of the top 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.
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Once again, Miscia is among the Empire 8's leaders in tackles. He leads the Cardinals and is tied for ninth in the conference with 38 total stops this season.
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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.
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Miscia currently ranks third on the program's all-time tackles list with 371. He needs 11 more tackles to pass Todd Lexer (1989-93) for second on that list.
About Cortland
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Cortland last season won its first-ever Division III national championship, beating unbeaten North Central College 38-37 in the 50th Amos Alonzo Stagg Bowl. Cortland became the first team from New York to win the Division III title since 1991 Ithaca.
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Cortland is off to a 6-0 start for the 14th time in school history.
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The No. 2 Red Dragons have one of the most explosive offenses in the country. They rank third in scoring (55.2 points per game), seventh in total offense (516.8 yards per game) and 10th in rushing (262.0 yards per game). They have the Empire 8's top passing offense (254.8 yards per game).
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The Red Dragons have scored 40 points or more in all of their games this season.
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Cortland's defense has also been one of the best units in the nation, as it enters this weekend's contest 13th in total defense (218.3 yards allowed per game) and 12th in scoring defense (11.5 points allowed per game).
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An Associated Press Division III first-team All-American last year, quarterback Zac Boyes leads the Empire 8 in passing yards (1,362) and touchdowns (14). He's ninth in the nation in completion percentage (71.9).
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Running back Ethan Gallo leads Division III with 15 rushing touchdowns. He's 17th in rushing yards with 672.
Looking Ahead…
The Cardinals face Alfred University at 1 p.m. next Saturday, Nov. 2, in Alfred, New York. Fisher has won four of the last five meetings, including two in a row.
