Sionko
Jeff Ventura
21
Winner St. John Fisher SJF 1-0 , 0-0
14
Buffalo St. BSC 0-1 , 0-0
Winner
St. John Fisher SJF
1-0 , 0-0
21
Final
14
Buffalo St. BSC
0-1 , 0-0
Score By Quarters
Team 1st 2nd 3rd 4th F
SJF St. John Fisher 7 0 14 0 21
BSC Buffalo St. 0 7 7 0 14

Game Recap: Football |

Late rally falls short for Football in 21-14 loss to Fisher in opener

BUFFALO, N.Y.— St. John Fisher's defense thwarted Buffalo State three times in the fourth quarter, as the Bengals dropped their 2021 opener with a 21-14 loss in front of a packed Coyer Field crowd Saturday night.
 
THE BASICS
FINAL SCORE: St. John Fisher – 21, Buffalo State – 14
LOCATION:  Coyer Field – Buffalo, N.Y.
RECORDS:  St. John Fisher (1-0), Buffalo State (0-1)
 
INSIDE THE BENGAL BOX SCORE
  • Junior quarterback Cam Sionko (Grand Island, N.Y./Grand Island) threw for 308 yards on 25 of 40 attempts, throwing for two touchdowns while throwing two interceptions in his first career start
  • Tariq Nelson (Brooklyn, N.Y./Boys and Girls) was the top receiving target with eight catches for 124 yards and a touchdown. Che'Kore Moore (Niagara Falls, N.Y./Niagara Falls) caught five balls for 64 yards and a score.
  • Mike Drywa (East Islip, N.Y./East Islip) led the Bengals' defense with 11 tackles including one for loss.
  • Griffin Mack (North Tonawanda, N.Y./North Tonawanda) added seven tackles with one forced fumble.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED
  • On Buffalo State's first possession of the game, a Sionko pass on 3rd down was intercepted by Justin Rodriguez near midfield.
  • The Cardinals took advantage on the ensuing drive, opening the scoring after a one-yard touchdown run by Alex Shudt.
  • A long Buffalo State drive was halted by Rodriguez' second interception, as he picked off Sionko's pass in the back corner of the end zone.
  • The Bengals responded in the second quarter, as Sionko found Moore with a 19-yard touchdown pass to tie the game at seven with 16 seconds left in the half.
  • Fisher opened the second half with a long 12-play drive, capped off by a 1-yard touchdown run by Dahmir Pross.
  • Sionko struck right back on the first play of the ensuing drive, hooking up with Nelson on a go-route for an 80-yard touchdown pass, the longest passing play from scrimmage since Ryan Carney '16 caught a 92-yard pass in the 2014 season (10/4/14 vs. Frostburg State).
  • Fisher retook the lead with another touchdown drive, as Hunter Walsh found Jonathan Letta in the back corner of the end-zone for a 22-yard touchdown.
  • Buffalo State was unable to convert on three fourth-down attempts in the fourth quarter, as the Cardinal 'D' kept them at bay.
  • Buffalo State out-gained Fisher by a 450-283 margin, including a 142-88 margin on the ground.
 
FOR THE FOES
  • Walsh was 17 of 25 for 195 yards and a touchdown under center.
  • Pross rushed for 77 yards and a touchdown on 17 carries.
  • Pross also led the team in receptions with 65 yards on seven receptions.
  • Vince DiMonte and Max Bates tied for the team lead with 11 tackles each.
  • Rodriguez finished with two tackles, two interceptions and two pass breakups to lead the secondary.
 
UP NEXT
Buffalo State will get a week off, before heading to Cortland on Saturday, Sept. 18 for a 2 p.m. kickoff.
 
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