Football | 10/4/2024 5:30:00 PM

PITTSFORD, N.Y. – The St. John Fisher University football team (1-2) begins Empire 8 play against SUNY Brockport (2-1) at 1 p.m. on Saturday in the 19th Annual Courage Bowl game at Bob Boozer Field. 

Live Coverage

• Each of Fisher's home and conference games this season will be streamed live on the Empire 8 Network. Mark Gruba is Fisher's play-by-play voice for home broadcasts.

• Gene Battaglia calls each of Fisher's games live on The Fan Rochester (95.7 FM or AM 950). Fans can also listen on the Audacy App.

Bigger Than Football 

One of the premier games in Division III football, the Courage Bowl has been played every year since 2005 and benefits Camp Good Days and Special Times, organizations that support children and teenagers diagnosed with cancer and other diseases. Camp Good Days selects some of those individuals to serve as honorary coaches and cheerleaders for the game every year. 

On Thursday, St. John Fisher's coaches and captains attended the Courage Bowl Luncheon at SUNY Brockport, where they met their honorary team members for the 19th Annual Courage Bowl. 

The Cardinals' honorary coaches this year include Zachary Lewis and Michael Maldonado, while their honorary cheerleaders will be Reagan Cutler and Alanna Kahley.

Former Fisher assistant football coach Gary Mervis founded Camp Good Days after his daughter, Teddi, was diagnosed with a malignant brain tumor in 1979. Since its inception, Camp Good Days has served more than 50,000 campers from 22 states and 36 foreign countries. The non-profit organization provides children with cancer a residential camping experience to bond and connect.

The winner of the Courage Bowl earns the Teddi Trophy, named after Mervis' daughter. The date of the game, final score and names of the honorary captains and cheerleaders are later inscribed on the trophy. 

Courage Bowl History

• The Cardinals have played in every Courage Bowl game. They won the first 12 games and have lost the last six. 

• Brockport owns a 6-3 record in the Courage Bowl against Fisher. The Cardinals have not beaten Brockport since 2016. 

• The Cardinals have beaten Alfred once, Brockport three times and the University of Rochester eight times in the Courage Bowl. 

Last Time Out

• Wilkes University stunned the Cardinals last Saturday in Wilkes Barre, Pa., rallying from 21 points down en route to a 28-21 victory. 

• Running back Peyton Nolan rushed for 91 yards and a touchdown on 25 attempts. Camden Chance had 25 yards and a score on seven rushes. 

• Defensive lineman Zach Dreisbach recorded the Cardinals' first sack of the season in the first half, forcing Wilkes quarterback Xavier Powell to fumble. Linebacker Joe Miscia recovered for Fisher. 

• Miscia led the Cardinals with eight tackles. 

Nolan And Chance A Dynamic Pair In Fisher's Backfield 

• Nolan and Chance combined for 214 yards rushing and three touchdowns in a 42-40 win over Keystone College two weeks ago. 

• Last week against Wilkes, they rushed for 116 yards and two touchdowns (one apiece). 

• Chance, a junior transfer who played basketball at Oswego State, has scored three touchdowns in Fisher's last two games. He had 71 yards and scored twice against Keystone. His first collegiate touchdown came on a 41-yard run in the third quarter. 

• Nolan, who missed Fisher's first game due to injury,  ranks second in the Empire 8 in rushing yards per game (117.0). He's fifth in total yards (234). 

• 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. 

• Since the beginning of last season, the Cardinals have amassed 200 yards rushing or more in five games. They had 250 yards rushing against Keystone. 

About Brockport

• Fisher owns a 7-6 record against Brockport since 2005. 

• The Golden Eagles have the second-best total defense in the Empire 8 (301.7 yards allowed per game). They've allowed just 14.7 points per contest (second in the E8). 

• Brockport has allowed 87.7 rushing yards per game (third in the league). 

• Golden Eagles running back Isaiah Simmons ranks second in the league in total rushing yards (322). He has four touchdowns. 

• Linebacker Ben Robinson is tied for second in the league with 31 total tackles. 

• Defensive back Kyle Haettich is one of eight players in the Empire 8 with two interceptions this season. He returned one for a score against Wilkes. 

Up Next

The Cardinals will play their third straight road game at noon next Saturday, Oct. 12, against Hilbert.