By Matthew Shaffer
Staff W
The College’s football team fell to St. John Fisher College on Saturday, Sept. 21 by a final score of 40-16. Although it was a beautiful afternoon in Rochester, New York, a poor second half resulted in St. John Fisher spoiling the day for the Lions.
After a goal-line stand by the Lions defense, they drove 88 yards on over 16 plays plays, capped off by a short touchdown run by junior quarterback Andrew Donoghue.
The Lions next drive was shorter, as they moved 54 yards on eight plays and got in the endzone on a four-yard touchdown catch by senior wide receiver Jack Clevenger. By halftime, the game looked promising for the College, which was up 16-3.
The third quarter had some stellar defense by both teams, leading to multiple punts. With just under six minutes remaining in the third quarter, the Lions let up an 18-yard touchdown reception, making the score 16-11.
At that point in the game, there had been a missed extra point, an incomplete two-point conversion and a safety in favor of St. John Fisher. It was a peculiar day on the scoreboard, not to mention the 76-yard punt return for a touchdown by St. John Fisher to start off the fourth quarter.
The punt return marked seven of 29 points scored by St. John Fisher in the fourth quarter, as the College fell apart in the final 15 minutes. Despite accumulating more total yards and leading through three quarters, the Lions were crushed in the second half, surrendering 35 unanswered points.
Despite the loss, one bright spot for the College was its receivers’ performances, as senior wide receiver Vinny Guckin had a career high 15 catches for 165 yards, while Clevenger added 94 yards over eight catches and a touchdown.
On the defensive end, the Lions recorded a couple of sacks and forced a turnover courtesy of sophomore linebacker James Mele.
The Lions will rest up on their bye next week before getting back in action on Oct. 5 against William Paterson University.
