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St. John Fisher University Athletics

Deante Hall
21
Winner St. John Fisher SJF 1-0 , 0-0
0
FDU-Florham FDU 0-1 , 0-0
Winner
St. John Fisher SJF
1-0 , 0-0
21
Final
0
FDU-Florham FDU
0-1 , 0-0
Score By Quarters
Team 1st 2nd 3rd 4th F
SJF St. John Fisher 0 21 0 0 21
FDU FDU-Florham 0 0 0 0 0

Game Recap: Football | | Mike Hogan, Athletics Communications Coordinator

Football Opens Raby Era With 21-0 Road Win Against FDU-Florham

MADISON, N.J. – As he prepared for his first game in charge of the St. John Fisher football program, Ed Raby Jr. had one big question on his mind: How would his team respond to adversity when things get real?

While enjoying a happy bus ride back to Pittsford, Raby and his staff have to be very pleased with the first answer their team provided. 

The Cardinals on Saturday overcame a handful of early squandered scoring chances in a 21-0 victory over Fairleigh Dickinson University-Florham to open the Raby era at Robert T. Shields Field. The shutout marked Fisher's fourth in the last 10 seasons. 

The Cardinals also snapped a two-game losing streak in season openers with the victory. 

How It Happened 

  • The Cardinals' first missed opportunity came on the game's first drive, when they drove deep into FDU territory only to be stuffed on a Camden Chance rush on 4th-and-2 from the 19-yard line.

  • Fisher got the ball back quickly after its defense forced FDU to punt after three plays, but quickly gave it right back to the Devils. Chance fumbled at the end of a 13-yard carry that would've given the Cardinals a first down at the FDU 30-yard line. 

  • The Cardinals' defense responded with a big play of its own, as sophomore defensive back Matthew Bennett snagged his first collegiate interception at the FDU 47-yard line following a 12-yard run from Devils running back Kwanir Edwards. 

  • Senior running back Deante Hall began Fisher's next offensive possession with a pair of short runs before junior quarterback Ryan Whitney connected with Nate McGoldrick for a 38-yard gain. The senior tight end made the catch in traffic over the middle and raced all the way to the FDU 2-yard line. 

  • Once again, though, the Cardinals couldn't cash in. A pair of Whitney incompletions and a Hall run for no gain, a three-play stretch that included a false-start penalty, forced Fisher to settle for a 17-yard Dominik Greco field goal attempt. He missed the kick wide right. 

  •  The Cardinals more than made up for their early miscues in the second quarter, scoring all 21 of their points in quick succession. All in less than nine minutes, Hall scampered for a 39-yard touchdown on a 4th-and-1, Whitney fired a 33-yard touchdown to sophomore receiver Shawn Watson and junior safety Timothy Vanderbrink returned a fumble 32 yards to the end zone. The latter two scores happened in a span of 31 seconds. 

  • The Cardinals' defense forced its third turnover of the game in the third quarter, as Vanderbrink forced and recovered another fumble. FDU also punted twice, turned the ball over on downs and missed a field goal in the second half. 

Game Notes

  • Raby has won four straight season openers as a head coach. 

  • Hall rushed for a career-high 104 yards on 14 attempts. His touchdown in the second quarter marked the first of his collegiate career.

  • Sophomore linebacker Jack Tanoory stuffed the stat sheet with seven tackles, including three for a loss of yards, two forced fumbles, a sack and a pass breakup. 

  • Vanderbrink made seven tackles and recovered two fumbles, one of which he forced. His touchdown in the second quarter marked the second of his collegiate career. He returned an interception for a score in a win over Keystone last September. 

  • Whitney finished the day 9 of 18 passing for 133 yards and a touchdown. McGoldrick had two catches for a team-high 44 yards, with his 38-yard catch-and-run in the second quarter being the longest of his career. 

  • Watson hauled in his first collegiate touchdown pass. 

  • Junior linebacker Tyler Marks and senior defensive lineman Bradford Coleman recorded their first collegiate sacks. 

  • Sophomore defensive back Trent Hill made a career-high eight tackles.

  • The Cardinals' defense held FDU to just 85 yards passing. 

  • The Cardinals have shut out an opponent in each of the last two seasons. They blanked Hartwick 56-0 last October at Growney Stadium. 

  • The Cardinals have scored four defensive touchdowns since the beginning of last season. 

Up Next

The Cardinals host St. Lawrence at noon next Saturday, Sept. 13, at Growney Stadium.


 
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