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PITTSFORD, N.Y.- The St. John Fisher Cardinals were back at home in Growney Stadium on Saturday for their matchup with the Wilkes University Colonels. The Cardinals came out on top 29-20, in a hard fought match up. The teams were trading blows until late in the second half when Fisher's defense stopped the Colonels' drive 6 times out of their last 7, allowing only a field goal during the stretch.
This victory improves the Cardinals record to 3-1 on the year, which marks the team's best start since 2019.
The Cardinals answered with great resilience after going down early in the game after a couple miscues on special teams. Quarterback, Aaron Chase, showed impressive patience and confidence midway through the first quarter standing in the pocket amidst an interior rush and found Ryan Romagnoli for a 14-yard score to tie the game up. Then after allowing a touchdown on the subsequent drive and a turnover to follow, the Cardinals found themselves down two possessions with little time left in the half.
The Cardinals marched down the field on a commanding 9 play, 80 yard drive that was capped off by Junior running back, Payton Nolan, rushing into the end zone for his fifth score of the season leaving 3:18 on the clock in the half. The Cardinals got a quick stop on defense and then put together a great 2-minute drive to tie the game 17-17 going into the halftime.
In the second half, the Cardinals defense was determined to put the game away for good. Fisher did not allow the Colonels to gain more than 50 yards on 3 possessions, which allowed the offense to do what was needed to win. This came in the form of back-to-back touchdowns to end the game; a rushing touchdown from Giovanni DiCaprio and Chase's second touchdown pass, this time to Declan Faery.
Offensively, the Cardinals employed a heavier personnel package to disguise their play calling, as well as several different forms of pre-snap motion. By going to this package, the majority of their offensive play calls allowed running backs Nolan and DiCaprio to find consistent holes in the zone running scheme throughout the course of the game. The pair each rushed for over 70 yards and a touchdown on the day.
Defensively, the Cardinals sat back and allowed Wilkes to come to them throughout the day. The line backing core played up to its ability, stopping the run consistently. Ryan O'Dea played a phenomenal game totaling 11 tackles and a hit on the QB. Senior Cornerback, Deorion Moore, played spectacularly in both man and zone assignments against a team that enjoyed airing the ball. Moore finished the game with five pass break ups and a tackle.
The Cardinals are back at home in Growney Stadium next week in the 18th annual Courage Bowl against their rival SUNY Brockport. The game is set to kick off at 6 pm.
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