The last three meetings between St. John Fisher College and UR have featured offensive explosions that led one team to victory.
Unfortunately for the Yellowjackets, like last season, it was Fisher’s offense that paved the way for the team’s 58-32 victory this weekend at the initial Courage Bowl played at Fisher’s Growney Stadium.
Fisher pounded the Yellowjackets en route to a record 672 yards of total offense. Cardinal running back Mark Robinson rushed 31 times for 229 yards and three touchdowns, while teammate Noah Ferenbach made 11 catches for 207 yards.
Fisher used their offense for a quick start, gaining an early 21-0 lead, only to see the Yellowjackets make a comeback in the second.
Sophomore and running back Matt Belicki capped a 13-play, 73-yard drive with a one-yard touchdown run. Belicki led the Yellowjackets with 92 yards rushing on 16 attempts.
The Yellowjacket defense stepped up, causing a turnover on Fisher’s next possession. Junior and linebacker Pat Gallagher forced a fumble on a sack which was recovered by the Yellowjackets.
Gallagher paced the defense with 12 tackles and a sack. The turnover set up a successful 22-yard field goal attempt by sophomore and kicker Rob Corey.
In the second half, Fisher’s offense responded again, pulling ahead 34-10 after a touchdown on the team’s opening possession.
On the ensuing kickoff, freshman Mike Sondericker raced 78 yards for a touchdown, which was followed by a successful two-point conversion making the score 34-18. Sondericker finished with 215 returning yards on seven attempts.
The relentless Fisher offense came back with two more big plays for touchdowns to increase their lead.
The Yellowjackets rebounded when senior and quarterback Aaron Molisani ran for a six-yard touchdown that was followed by another successful two-point try.
Early in the fourth quarter Molisani hit classmate David Ferris on a nine-yard touchdown pass to draw the Yellowjackets even closer. Fisher would answer yet again with a 37-yard field goal and capped off the scoring with a long touchdown run in the game’s final minutes.
Molisani led the Yellowjackets in passing, going 17-30 for 163, but was intercepted four times.
The Yellowjacket defense had three players with double digit totals in tackles. Senior and linebacker Nick Grow equaled Gallagher’s total of 12 tackles, but added one and a half sacks and senior linebacker Jeff Leslie added 10.
The Yellowjackets travel to Gettysburg College this weekend to open Liberty League play with a 1 p.m. start against the Bullets.
Allard can be reached at dallard@campustimes.org.
