SPRINGFIELD, Mass. (October 20, 2007) -- Senior quarterback Rob Kramer passed for 157 yards and two touchdowns to lead the #8-ranked St. John Fisher Cardinals football team to a 35-14 Empire 8 conference victory over Springfield College this afternoon in front of a disappointed Homecoming Day crowd at SC’s newly-rededicated Amos Alonzo Stagg Field (formerly Benedum Field).

With the victory, St. John Fisher is now 7-1 overall, and 3-1 in the Empire 8. Springfield falls to 3-4 overall, 1-2 in conference play.

It was the third time these two teams have met in the past two years. Last season in Pittsford, N.Y., Springfield defeated St. John Fisher, 55-38. The Cardinals came back to win an NCAA Second-Round contest at Springfield by a score of 27-21. SJFC then went on to compete in the Final Four of the NCAA tourney.

The score was 10-7, in favor of St. John Fisher, at halftime of this game. Springfield actually took a 7-0 lead with 6:44 remaining in the first quarter. Senior wide receiver Erich Timmerman (Middletown, N.Y.) caught a third-down 10-yard pass for a TD from senior quarterback Chris Sharpe (Derry, N.H.). That culminated a 12-play, 55-yard march. Sophomore PK Chris Bush (Fly Creek, N.Y.) booted home the extra point.

Later with 2:42 left in that same quarter, Cardinals junior PK Chris Pierri (Fairport, N.Y.) made a 22-yard field goal to cut the margin to 7-3. That ended a 9-play, 55-yard drive.

As time was winding down in the second period, Fisher took advantage of its longest drive of the day – 80 yards in 14 plays – with a 13-yard TD pass from Kramer (Oneida, N.Y.) to junior wide receiver Jimmy Smith (Oneida, N.Y.). Pierri’s kick made it 10-7 with 2:22 left.

Following a punt by SJFC early in the third period, Springfield took over on its own 37. One play later, sophomore fullback Baldwin Cunningham (Manchester, Conn.) raced 63 yards up the middle, then cutting to his right, to reach paydirt. The extra point by Bush gave the Pride its last lead of the day with 10:35 left in the third period.

From there, it was pretty much all St. John Fisher the rest of the way. Fisher scored on a 25-yard field goal by Pierri following the ensuing kickoff. The big play was a 25-yard completion from Kramer to Smith. Still, Springfield led 14-13 towards the latter stages of the third quarter, and was driving inside SJFC territory, when it faced a fourth-and-two at the Cardinals’ 37. Sharpe kept the ball, but was stopped by senior outside linebacker Steve Flagler (Oneida, N.Y.) and sophomore linebacker Derek Melnyk (Jamesburg, N.J.) for just a one-yard gain.

The Cardinals took over at their own 36, but two plays later they were in the end zone. On a second-and-five, senior running back James Reile (Herkimer, N.Y.) broke a tackle after he appeared to be wrapped up, and raced 59 yards down the left sideline for what proved to be the play of the game. Senior tight end Chris Harmon (Caledonia, N.Y.) then converted the two-point try on a pass from Kramer – and Fisher took the lead for good, 21-14, with 2:25 left in the quarter.

Three plays later, Sharpe was intercepted for only the second time all season by senior DB Scott Miranto (North Tonawanda, N.Y.), who returned it 26 yards all the way down to the SC 14. There was only one second left on the clock at the change of possession. From there, Kramer completed his second TD pass of the day to Smith on the last play of the third quarter. The extra point made it, 28-14, SJFC. The Cardinals had exploded for two touchdowns in a span of 2:25.

The score remained that way through most of the fourth quarter. The Cardinals then took advantage of a fumbled punt in the waning minutes. SJFC took over at the SC 10, and then punched one home when senior running back Ryan Hanson (Fulton, N.Y.) scored from seven yards out. That final TD came with 2:21 remaining.

For SJFC, Kramer completed 11 passes in 18 attempts for 157 yards and two TDs. Reile rushed for a game-high 107 yards and one TD on 19 carries. Hanson rushed for 65 yards and one TD on 18 carries. Smith was the leading receiver with 77 yards and two TDs. Harmon caught two more passes for 24 yards.

For Springfield, Sharpe ran for a season-low 46 yards on 15 carries. He entered the contest ranked 12th nationally in rushing (Division III), averaging 131.7 yards per game. It was also only the second time in the last 19 games where he did not score a touchdown. Sharpe also passed for 46 yards on five completions in nine attempts. He was intercepted twice. Cunningham led Springfield in rushing with 100 yards even and one TD on 12 carries. Timmerman caught three passes for 38 yards and one TD.

On defense, Fisher was led by senior DB Steve Stepnick (Cowlesville, N.Y.) with 17 tackles, including 10 unassisted. Junior LB Josh Gottlieb (Pound Ridge, N.Y.) followed with 11 tackles. Miranto had both Fisher interceptions. For SC, junior ILB Tom Caporale (Closter, N.J.) led his club with 12 tackles. Senior OLB Jason Bakoulis (Norwich, Conn.) and sophomore ILB Jeff Creeden (Mansfield, Mass.) followed with 11 tackles each.

Next week, St. John Fisher will host Utica at 1 pm. Springfield will host Ithaca at noon.

published: 10/20/2007