Fisher Battles Back To Knock Off JCU In NCAAs
Visiting St. John Fisher College created six turnovers and battled back from a 13-0 deficit to earn a 26-15 win over ninth-ranked John Carroll University on Saturday in the opening round of the NCAA Division III Football Championship.
With the win, Fisher (9-2), now 5-0 all-time in first-round NCAA Championship games, advances to the Sweet 16 and will face Hobart College at 12 p.m. next Saturday. John Carroll, who entered the game No. 1 in the nation in points allowed per game, finishes the year at 9-2.
The Cardinals trailed early on. After going three-and-out on its opening drive, the Blue Streaks scored on a 45-yard touchdown pass to take a 7-0 lead just four minutes into the game. The Fisher defense wouldn't allow a touchdown, however, after that. The Blue Streaks made it 10-0 late in the first quarter. They penetrated inside the Fisher 10, but were forced to kick a 27-yard field goal.
On their very next possession, going against a 25-mile-an-hour wind, John Carroll drove 94 yards to inside the Fisher 5, but had to set for three points yet again.
Trailing 13-0 with just under four minutes left, Fisher got on the boards. The Cardinals marched 76 yards on 11 plays with quarterback
Tyler Fenti scoring on a five-yard run to make it 13-7 at the half.
Fisher took a 14-13 lead midway through the third quarter. After John Carroll fumbled on its opening drive of the second half, the Cardinals marched 56 yards, but couldn't convert on a fourth-and-goal play from the Blue Streaks 3. On the very next play, however,
Ryan Seymour intercepted pass on the left sidelines and scored on the 13-yard return.
John Carroll took the lead back at 16-14 with 9:36 left. After a rough-the-kicker penalty kept the drive alive and two conversions on fourth downs, the Blue Streaks converted a 34-yard field goal into the wind.
Fisher, however, came right back. Fisher drove 66 yards on nine places with
Nathan Nigolian scoring a 15-yard pass from Fenti. The duo also hooked up on a two-point conversion to make it 22-16 with 5:56 left.
Dan Rudy picked up 23 yards on a third-and-14 from the Fisher 42 to keep the drive alive.
Mike Guinta made his sixth interception of the year – and his fifth in the last six games – on the next possession – right near midfield.
After eight consecutive rushes from
Cody Miller, senior kicker
Brendan Carey delivered a career-long 39-yard field goal to make it 25-16 with 1:54 left.
Fisher sealed the win with
Bryant Moore making his second interception of the day at Fisher 13 with less than a minute left.
Sean Preish led the Fisher defense with a career-high 21 tackles – two shy of the Fisher single-game record. He also recovered a fumble in the first quarter.
Peter DiMilia forced two fumble, including a huge a sack in Fisher territory in the first quarter.
Cody Foster finished with a sack as well.
On offense, Miller racked up 102 yards on the ground and went over 1,000 for the year. Nigolian snagged eight passes for 92 yards.