The nationally-ranked St. John Fisher College football program racked up 68 points and 654 yards of total offense, as the Cardinals set multiple offensive records in their 68-40 win over visiting Hartwick College on Saturday in the final home game of the 2016 season.
With the win, Fisher, ranked No. 23 in the D3football.com national poll, improves to 8-1 overall and 6-1 in the Empire 8 Conference. The victory sets up an Empire 8 Conference title tilt next week with Fisher traveling to face Alfred University (9-0, 7-0). The winner of next Saturday's game will receive the Empire 8's automatic bid to the NCAA Division III Championship.
Playing in his final home game, senior quarterback Matt Naton set Fisher single-game records with 504 passing yards and seven touchdown passes, while sophomore William Coon totaled 222 receiving yards on 11 catches, breaking the single-game record of 218 yards, set back in 1988.Coon scored three receiving touchdowns on the day and also returned an on-sides kick 44 yards for a touchdown late in the game.
Tony Fusco rushed for 116 yards on 23 carries and one touchdown, while Mike Collichio snagged nine passes for 149 yards and one score.
The 68 points are two shy of the Fisher single-game record, set in a 70-41 win over Hartwick back in 2005.
After forcing Hartwick to go three-and-out on its opening possession, Fisher wasted little time getting on the board. Coon put the Cardinals up for good with a 34-yard touchdown pass just over two minutes into the game, capping a three-play, 68-yard drive.
Hartwick answered on its ensuing drive, but senior Anthony Lee blocked the extra point to make it 7-6 with 8:47 remaining in the first.
Just over one minute later, Coon scored his second touchdown of the day, scoring on a 54-yard pass from Naton.
After another Hartwick score, Fisher took a 21-13 lead on the first play of the second quarter with Collichio scoring on an 18-yard pass.
The Fisher defense delivered another three-and-out on the next possession, and the offense quickly responded yet again as Coon caught his third touchdown pass of the day, a 29-yard score with 11:49 remaining in the half, putting the Cardinals up 28-13.
Hartwick, which finished the day with 333 passing yards, made it one-possession game as Koree Reed made a 13-yard touchdown caught to make it 28-20 midway through the second.
Fisher, however, scored the final two touchdowns of the half to take a 42-20 lead at the break.
Fusco scored on a one-yard run with 5:02 remaining, and after Demarre Nelson's fifth interception of the season at his own 31 with 36 seconds left, Will Blake out-wrestled a
Hartwick defender on a pass to endzone from 26 yards out as time expired, capping a 7-play, 69-yard drive. All eight of Fisher's offensive touchdown drives used less than 2:30 off the
clock, as the Cardinals held the ball for just over 24 minutes.
Naton was well on his way to his record-setting day, finishing the first half with 353 passing yards and five touchdowns.
Hartwick scored first in the second half to make it two-possession game, while the Fisher offense tacked on two field goals during the quarter. Devin Dzikowicz drilled 27- and 26-yard field goals during the stanza to put the Cardinals up 48-26 going into the fourth.
The Hawks scored on their first possession of the fourth quarter with 9:55 remaining to make it 48-32, but Fisher answered right back, just 52 seconds later with J.J. Mulvey scoring his first career touchdown on a 18-yard pass from Naton.
Freshman quarterback Collin Fiutko also got in on the action, hitting Colin McGraw for a 21-yard touchdown catch with 4:31 remaining. It was also McGraw's first career touchdown catch as well.
After a Hartwick touchdown with 1:28 left, Coon scored on the 44-yard return to close out the scoring.
Defensively, Fisher racked up four sacks, including 1.5 from Aaron Jones and 1.0 from Chris Smith. Marc Coles was also credited with a sack, while Jake Kulig notched a half-sack.
DJ Logory led the defense with 12 tackles, giving him 106 for the season. Lee finished with seven tackles, one fumble recovery and one block, while Justin Rivera added seven tackles and one forced fumble.
Senior Patrick Chamberlain also intercepted a pass, his third of the year.
Dylan Harrington and Justin DiBernardo each finished with three receptions and combined for 70 yards.
Offensive Records Fall As Fisher Downs Hartwick
/seasons/2016/boxscores/20161105_gydv.xml
2016
Hartwick
40
St. John Fisher
68
| Final | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | T |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hartwick (2-7) | 13 | 7 | 6 | 14 | 40 |
| No. 22 St. John Fisher (8-1) | 14 | 28 | 6 | 20 | 68 |
Nov 05, 2016