PITTSFORD, NY – Host St. John Fisher outscored Hartwick 30-0 in the opening half of play en route to a 43-13 victory at Growney Stadium in the Empire 8 Conference opener for both teams. The Cardinals, who are ranked 9^th in the AFCA national poll and 10^th in the d3football.com poll, improve to 4-0 this season. Hartwick slips to 3-1 overall.
           
The Hawks, who entered the day averaging 44 points per game over their first three games, ran into a very solid Fisher defense which recorded 10 tackles for a loss, six sacks, and four interceptions in the game. The Cardinals' defense also limited the Hawks to 41 net yards rushing on the day.

'Wick ended up with 307 yards of offense. The Cardinals, who gained 264 yards on the ground, finished with 396 yards of offense.
           
Hartwick quarterback Keegan Corbett (Bennington, VT/Mount Anthony Union HS) finished the game with 18 completed passes on 29 attempts for 218 yards. He was intercepted twice.
           
Tanner Williams (Eagle Bridge, NY/Hoosick Falls HS) and Chris Hoose (Leeds, NY/Cairo-Durham HS) combined for 15 catches for 188 yards. Williams made eight receptions for 104 yards with Hosse making seven catches for 84 yards.  Nick Knauer (Wynantskill, NY/Tamarac HS) was Hartwick's top rusher with 47 yards.
           
Junior linebacker Bryan Schweitzer (Babylon, NY/Babylon HS) led all players with 10 tackles. Junior Joe Seney (Gloversville, NY/Gloversville HS) added eight hits, including three tackles for a loss of seven yards for the Hawks.
           
St. John Fisher took the lead on its opening possession with three minutes elapsed in the first quarter. David Kirchner broke free and ran to the end zone from 39 yards out and the extra point gave the hosts a 7-0 lead.
           
On the Hawks' next two drives the Fisher defense forced a punt and then intercepted a Mike Mathews' (Pound Ridge, NY/Fox Lane HS) passing attempt. A 10-play, 38-yard drive would produce a Brendan Carey 34-yard field goal to extend Fisher's edge to 10 points.
           
Following two straight Hartwick punts, Fisher would score on its next two drives. A 9-yard touchdown run with 11:28 left in the second quarter made the score 16-0. Jason Brown (Rensselaer, NY/Rensselaer HS) blocked the extra point for 'Wick.
           
Miller added his second touchdown with 5:56 left in the half. Just 23 seconds later, Mathews' second attempt from scrimmage was picked off by Adam Burdick who took the ball back 54 yards to make it 30-0 at the half.
           
Fisher's production continued in the second half as it scored on its opening drive. The Hawks got on the board on the ensuing possession. 'Wick picked up five first downs on the drive, which included a Corbett-to-Williams 25-yard passing play. Joe Rosiecki (Montgomery, NY/Valley Central) capped the 9-play, 83-yard drive with a 3-yard touchdown run and Maxwell Sergovich (Watervliet, NY/Catholic Central) tacked on the extra point.
           
The Cardinals would score for the final time with 3:54 to play to go up 43-7. Hartwick would then end the day's scoring after a 74-yard drive. Corbett would connect with Hoose for a big 31-yard gain to the Fisher one yard-line with 19 seconds left. The Hawks called timeout and following an unsuccessful quarterback sneak, Corbett punched the ball in as time expired for the final 43-13 score.
           
Miller led Fisher with 99 yards rushing and two scores. Quarterback Ryan Kramer connected on 17 of 25 passes for 132 yards. Kirchner finished the game with nine catches for 67 yards.
           
Defensively for the Cardinals, seven players had at least five tackles. They were led by Mason Judd's six tackles which included three for a loss.
           
Hartwick looks to rebound from the loss next weekend against visiting Frostburg State. The Hawks and Bobcats play at 2 p.m. during Hartwick Homecoming & Reunion Weekend.