ONEONTA, NY – Visiting St. John Fisher built a 35-0 first half lead en route to a 56-13 win over Hartwick on Saturday evening at Wright Stadium. The Cardinals racked up 600 yards of offense on the day improving to 6-3 overall and earning a share of the Empire 8 title. The win also avenges back-to-back Hartwick victories over Fisher in each of the last two years. The Hawks close out the regular season 5-4. Both the Hawks and Cardinals will hope to get a call from the ECAC on Monday with news that their seasons will continue with an ECAC Bowl bid.
Fisher quarterback Tim Bailey passed for 326 yards and three touchdowns completing 15 of 22 passes on the day. Paul Deckard made five receptions for 116 yards, including a 74-yard touchdown catch midway through the second quarter. Ryan Francis also broke the 100-yard receiving mark with 104 yards and a score on three catches. Brad Carlton rushed for 153 yards and four touchdowns on 22 carries.
For the Hawks, Tosh DeMulder (Unadilla, NY/Unatego) ran for 76 yards on 14 attempts and Nate Rockefeller (Delhi, NY/Delaware Valley) gained 55 yards on the ground. Quarterback Brian Radley (Herkimer, NY/Dolgeville) threw for 215 yards and two touchdowns on 18-of-37 passing. Jordan Wilkins (Portsmouth, NH/Hyde School) led the Hawks in receptions (4) and receiving yards (72) on the day. Noah Koreman (Albany, NY/Albany) made three catches for 61 yards and a third-quarter touchdown, and Jon Kravetz (East Syracuse, NY/ESM) made three catches, including an eight-yard touchdown score.
After Fisher punted on their opening possession, 'Wick drove 70 yards on 10 plays to the Fisher three yard-line only to come up empty on a missed field goal. The Cardinals took advantage and marched 80 yards on 12 plays with Carlton scoring on a 3-yard rush to break the ice.
Following a Hartwick punt early in the second quarter, Fisher would score on its next four possessions to take command of the game. A 15-yard Bailey to Jeff Same touchdown pass gave the Cardinals a 14-0 edge, and after getting the ball back, Bailey hit Deckard for his big touchdown reception to make it a 21-point game.
After a Hawk interception, Carlton broke free for a 27-yard run and he capped off the drive two plays later for a 28-0 Fisher edge. Fisher then gained the ball back with five minutes left in the half after Hartwick's third punt of the period. Carlton capped a 5-play, 49-yard drive to make it 35-0 at the half.
The Hawks caught a break early in the second half as Dan Witkowski fumbled Brett Radley's (Herkimer, NY/Dolgeville) punt and Frank Devine (Farmingdale, NY/Farmingdale) recovered giving 'Wick some life. Radley then hit Koreman on the next play from scrimmage for a 22-yard touchdown making the score 35-7.
Fisher would close the door on any comeback attempt on their next possession as they ate up five minutes on 10 plays for 77 yards with Carlton finishing with his final TD to extend the lead back to 35 points.
Radley would find Kravetz in the end zone on the Hawks' ensuing possession but it would be Hartwick's final points of the day. Bailey hit Ryan Francis who made a catch and broke free for a 54-yard score for Fisher and a Tony Dechario 5-yard TD run in the 4th ended the day's scoring.
Jordan Spirou (Westbury, NY/W.T. Clarke) led all players in tackles on the day with 16 for the Hawks. Senior P.J. Prunty (Danbury, CT/Danbury) added 12 hits and Ben Tomaino (Oneonta, NY/Oneonta) recorded eight, including two tackles for a loss of eight yards. Tomaino moved into sole possession of third place with 37 tackles for a loss past Jim Hoysradt (1993-96) on the all-time Hartwick charts.
Fisher's defense pressured Radley throughout the day and held the Hawks scoreless twice on the goal line at the end of the first half and on 'Wick's final possession late in the fourth. John Sheridan paced Fisher with nine tackles. Nick Krajacic added seven and Brendan Moore contributed seven.
