In a game dedicated to the children of Camp Good Days and Special Times, the St. John Fisher College football program won its 11th consecutive Courage Bowl, as the Cardinals came away with a 42-41 win in double overtime over visiting College at Brockport on Saturday in Courage Bowl XI in front of 5,387 fans at Fisher's Growney Stadium.
The game was an emotional rollercoaster on both sides of the ball.
With the game tied at 35-35 with two seconds in regulation, Fisher's Taylor Byrne attempted a potential game-winning field goal from 27 yards out. Byrne's kick however was blocked and scooped up by Brockport's Brynell Middletown, who returned it 40 yards before being chased down by Byrne, who made the game-saving tackle at the Fisher 30.
In the first overtime, Fisher's Alec Mortillaro intercepted a Brockport pass in the back of the endzone on third-and-goal from the Fisher 5. Fisher took the ensuing drive all the way down to the Brockport 5, but Byrne's potential game-winning kick sailed wide left.
In the second overtime, Fisher quarterback Danny Catan scored on a 1-yard run and Byrne's extra point put Fisher up 42-41. Brockport answered just four plays later with Dan Andrews scoring on a 4-yard run, but the ensuing extra point went wide right, ending the game.
Brockport scored the game's first 14 points and led 14-0 after one quarter. Andrews scored on a 5-yard pass midway through the first quarter to put Brockport up 7-0. On the ensuing Fisher drive, Ed Suriano forced a fumble and scooped up the ball and rambled 60 yards for the defensive touchdown.
The big plays continued. On fourth-and-5 from the Brockport 45, punter Brandon Fuentes took the direct snap and rambled down the right sideline untouched for a 55-yard score.
Brockport regained its 14-point lead on the ensuing drive with Nate Wilkinson scoring on a four-yard pass from Wayne Bonsell.
Fisher answered. After Derek Boland recovered a fumble at the Brockport 25, Fisher's James Chambers converted a fourth-and-goal play from the Brockport 2, scoring on a 2-yard run.
Brockport drove deep into Fisher territory at the end of the first half, but Fisher's Brandon Miller blocked the 32-yard field goal with two seconds left, keeping the Cardinals down just seven at 21-14 at the half.
Fisher tied the game on the first possession of the second half. Catan connected with Bobby Campese for a 10-yard touchdown pass, capping an 11-play 43-yard drive.
Just over two minutes later, Fisher took its first lead of the game with James Chambers hurdling a defender and rambling 67 yards for the touchdown reception. Brockport, however, scored the next 14 points to regain the lead. Andrews scored on a 1-yard run in the opening moments of the fourth quarter. Andrews scored his third touchdown of the day on a 19-yard pass with 9:53 remaining in the fourth.
Fisher came back and tied the game on the next possession. Catan took it into the end zone from 15 yards out, knotting the game at 35s.
For Fisher, Catan was 10-of-18 for 164 yards and two touchdowns, while rushing for two scores. Tony Fusco gained 152 yards on the ground on a career-high 31 carries. Chambers finished the day with 227 all-purpose yards (58 rush, 67 receiving, 102 kick return). Defensively, Mortillaro led the Cardinals with 12 tackles and made a career-high two interceptions. Miller finished with 10 tackles and registered two sacks.
Fisher returns to action at 12 p.m. next Saturday at Buffalo State.
Fisher Wins Courage Bowl XI In 2OT
/seasons/2015/boxscores/20150926_bx9w.xml
2015
Brockport
41
St. John Fisher
42
| Final | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | OT | 2OT | T |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Brockport (2-1) | 14 | 7 | 0 | 14 | 0 | 6 | 41 |
| St. John Fisher (1-2) | 0 | 14 | 14 | 7 | 0 | 7 | 42 |
Sep 26, 2015