Box Score (BOX SCORE)

PITTSFORD, NY—Buffalo State (0-2) scored on its opening possession, but could not get its offense in gear the rest of the night, and host St. John Fisher (1-0) scored its only touchdown in the closing minutes of the game to escape with a 12-7 victory in a non-conference battle tonight at Growney Stadium.

Quarterback Ryan Kramer finished 28 of 42 for 218 yards with two interceptions, but threw a 30-yard touchdown pass to Ryan Francis with 2:03 remaining to lead St. John Fisher. Francis finished with nine catches for 74 yards and the score, and Ryan Schmidt had 11 grabs for 60 yards. Dave Vosburgh led the Cardinals' defense with 10 tackles, including seven solo stops.

Ryan Lehotsky (N. Royalton, OH/N. Royalton) was 3 for 5 for 52 yards and a touchdown on the opening possession, but ended the game 18 of 35 for 175 yards with three interceptions. Ismail Brooks (Auburn/Auburn) was the Bengals' leading rusher with 76 yards on 22 carries. Emanuel Williams (Washington, DC/Sweet Home) led a gallant effort by the Buffalo State defense with 13 tackles, including nine solos. Pasquale Vacchio (Glen Head/North Shore) added 10 tackles and an interception.

Fisher totaled 331 yards of total offense, including 218 in the air and 113 on the ground. Buffalo State had total 260 yards, but 116 after its first two drives of the game.

After Buffalo State forced a Fisher three-and-out on the game's opening possession, the Bengals marched 80 yards on nine plays, and took a 7-0 lead with a 26-yard scoring strike from Lehotsky to Caesarae Lewis (Newbern, AL/Sunshine).

After another defensive stop, Buffalo State's offense moved the ball again, going 64 yards on nine plays, before the Cardinals' Shawn Masood picked off a Lehotsky pass in the end zone, thwarting the Bengals' scoring chance.

Anthony Dolson (N. Syracuse/CNS) returned the favor for the Bengals' on Fisher's first possession of the second quarter, picking off a Kramer pass near midfield, but Joe Leavell stepped in front of a Lehotsky pass just two plays later and put the Cardinals in business at the Bengals' 41 yard-line. Buffalo State's defense held again, however, forcing a punt.

The Bengals' offense was stalled again on the next possession and Fisher earned another short field and converted it into a Chad Monheim 35-yard field goal for the Cardinals' first points of the game, cutting the deficit to 7-3 prior to halftime.

Fisher sustained a 12-play drive on its first touch of the second half, but again had to settle for a field goal by Monheim, this time from 25 yards. The kick closed the gap to 7-6, accounting for the only points in the third quarter.

Mason Judd sacked Lehotsky, pinning the Bengals deep in their own territory on their first possession of the fourth quarter and the Cardinals forced a punt. Fisher moved the ball into Buffalo State territory, and had its first chance at taking the lead, but Monheim missed a 40-yard field goal try with 8:42 remaining on the clock.

The Bengals went three-and-out again, and punted the ball right back to the Cardinals. Fisher moved the ball quickly with a 17-yard run by Schmidt and a 15-yard completion from Kramer to David Kirchner on consecutive plays. Buffalo State's defense had an answer again however, and forced another field goal try. Monheim missed again, this time from 38 yards, with 5:43 remaining.

Fisher's defense allowed just one first down on the ensuing drive, before forcing Buffalo State to punt for a ninth time. The Cardinals took over on their own 47, and needed just four plays and 57 seconds to take the lead on a 30-yard pass from Kramer to Francis. The Cardinals' two-point conversion attempt failed, leaving the score at 12-7.

Mike Doherty (Tonawanda/Kenmore East) returned the following kickoff 29 yards to give the Bengals' the ball at the 50-yard line with 1:56 remaining. After Lehotsky hit Lewis for an 18-yard gain, he found Matt Pagano (Walworth/Gananda) for 27 yards, giving the Bengals' a first-and-goal from the Fisher 6. After two negative plays and an incomplete pass, Buffalo State had one more chance from the 12, but Lehotsky's pass was intercepted in the end zone by Zach Dolan, and the Cardinals ran out the clock.

Buffalo State will host Western Connecticut State for next Saturday's home opener at noon at Coyer Field.