Bailey Sets College Passing Record as Fisher Defeats Buffalo State
Quarterback Tim Bailey tied the Fisher single-game record with five touchdown passes for the second straight game, as the Cardinals improved to 2-0 on the year with a 54-26 win at Buffalo State College.
Bailey, who finished the first half 14-for-20 for 298 yards and four touchdowns, also became the College’s all-time leader in touchdown passes in the win, bringing his career total to 52. The senior finished the game 18-for-25 for 340 yards and five touchdowns.
Three of Bailey’s five touchdown passes went to junior Ryan Schmidt, tying the College single-game record for receiving touchdowns in a game. Schmidt finished with seven receptions for 152 yards (all career highs).
While the final score was clearly on Fisher’s side, it didn't start out that way.
Buffalo State jumped out to a 7-0 lead on the game’s opening drive, but the Cardinals answered, marching 55 yards with FuQuan Borum scoring on an 8-yard run. Bailey converted two third downs to keep the drive alive, hitting Dan Witkowski for a 20-yard pass down the right side lines and finding Schmidt for a 15-yard pickup to the Buffalo State 10.
The Cardinals, playing in their first of four straight road games, took a 14-7 lead after Bailey hit Schmidt on a swing pass that went 47 yards for a touchdown. The drive was kept alive after Fisher was forced to punt, but an illegal substitution penalty against the Bengals gave the Cardinals a first down.
Schmidt and Bailey hooked up again, this time scoring on a 27-yard touchdown pass, making it 21-7, 90 seconds into the second quarter. The touchdown capped a 6-play, 81-yard drive.
Fisher made it 28-7 just 57 seconds later, as senior Shawn Masood made his second interception in as many games, this time taking it back for six points from 35 yards out.
The Cardinals pushed their lead to 34-7 with 5:06 left in the half as Bailey and Schmidt connected for their third touchdown on the day from 33 yards out.
Late in the first half, Bailey found Ryan Kramer, who darted down the right sidelines for an 18-yard score, giving the Cardinals a 40-7 lead at intermission.
Fisher picked up in the second half right where it left off, as the Cardinals drove 51 yards with Scott Allis scoring his second touchdown in as many games on a 15-yard pass from Bailey on the opening drive of the third quarter.
The Bengals snapped a streak of 47 straight points by the Cardinals with a four-yard run, but Fisher answered back with freshman Cody Miller scoring his first career touchdown on a one-yard run two minutes into the final quarter.
The Bengals scored two late touchdowns to close out the scoring.
Ryan Francis finished the game with four catches for 87 yards. Borum gained 50 yards on 15 carries, while Miller led the Cardinals with 67 yards on the ground on 14 attempts.