ALFRED, NY – The Alfred University football team dropped a 34-12 decision to visiting St. John Fisher in the Saxons' 2014 season finale Saturday afternoon at Yunevich Stadium.

Alfred (5-5) ran for 219 yards against a Fisher defense that had allowed an average of only 95 coming in. AU sophomore tailback Casey Bright (Pulaski, NY/Pulaski) ran for a career-high 109 yards on just 10 carries, and sophomore quarterback Tyler Johnson (East Syracuse, NY/East Syracuse-Minoa) had 97 yards on 13 carries, with a 58-yard TD run.

The Saxon offense turned the ball over four times, however, and was unable to get any yards through the air, finishing with 57 yards passing. Alfred's defense played well, allowing 377 yards, but holding the Cardinals' rushing attack, which had been averaging 239 yards per contest, to just 112 on 42 carries.

Alfred found itself in a hole early. After Fisher drove 61 yards for a touchdown on the game's opening possession, the Cardinals got the ball right back when AU fumbled the ensuing kickoff at the Saxon 35-yard line. Three plays later, Fisher scored again and led 14-0 just 9:26 into the contest.
Alfred got on the board with 4:14 remaining in the second when sophomore tight end Mike Brien (Victor, NY/Victor) caught a two-yard TD pass from Johnson to cap a 12-play 80-yard drive. The extra point was blocked and AU trailed 14-6. Fisher would answer, driving 65 yards in seven plays, with backup quarterback Danny Catan hitting wideout Rob Riggio on a 37-yard TD pass with 1:39 left in the half, giving the Cardinals a 21-6 halftime lead.

Johnson's 58-yard touchdown run, on the first play after a Fisher fumble, followed by a missed PAT, drew the Saxons to within nine points, at 21-12, with 9:07 left in the third. That was as close as AU would get, as Fisher added a pair of touchdown runs -- the first by running back Chris Smith with 2:37 left in the third; the second by running back Justin Jacoby with 4:56 left in the fourth – to close out the scoring.

Alfred's linebacking corps had an outstanding game, with its three starters combining for 33 tackles. Junior middle linebacker Corry Wallace (Mastic Beach, NY/Longwood) had 16 tackles, including four for loss and a sack, and freshman outside linebacker A.J. Licata (Lake View, NY/Frontier) had eight (two for loss) with two sacks, two forced fumble and two pass breakups. Senior outside linebacker Justin Liberta (Hamburg, NY/Frontier) had nine tackles.

Junior free safety Mike Berardi (Wellsville, NY/Wellsville) had eight tackles; freshman cornerback Jared Watkins (Buffalo, NY/Cleveland Hill) had seven to go with three pass breakups; and sophomore defensive end Charles Branwell (Brooklyn, NY/Lincoln) had five tackles, including a sack. Senior cornerback Mike Perkins (Rochester, NY/East) had a forced fumble and a recovery.
 
Catan finished with 189 yards passing and a touchdown in relief of starter Tyler Fenti, who threw for 76 yards and a score before going out of the game with an injury in the second quarter. Riggio (88 yards receiving) and tailback James Chambers (49 yards) each had six receptions and one TD catch. Tailback Tony Fusco ran 24 times for 92 yards and a TD.

Linebacker Peter DiMilia had a team-high eight tackles to lead the Fisher defense. Safety Bryant Moore (seven tackles) and linebacker Mike Donitzen (five tackles, forced fumble) each had an interception, while safety Ryan Ballard had five tackles and a fumble recovery.