MORRISVILLE, N.Y. – Visiting Morrisville State football picked up a big 35-7 Empire 8 win Saturday as they handed host St. John Fisher College the loss on their home turf in Pittsford, N.Y.
The win is the second straight for the Mustangs who improve to 4-3 overall and pull even at 2-2 within conference action. Fisher drops to 1-5, 1-3 overall in the Empire 8.
The visitors won the opening toss and from the get-go, set the pace of the game, consuming more than seven minutes in time of possession on their opening drive. Morrisville State took the 7-0 lead midway through the opening quarter as Brandon Gwinner (Schenectady, N.Y.) completed the 72-yard drive with a one-yard rushing score up center. Alexander Stewart (Norwich, N.Y.) added the point after to make it a 7-0 advantage.
The Mustangs made it a 14-0 game early on in the second after starting their drive at the end of the first, as Nick Edmond (Blythe, Calif.) completed the one-yard toss to fellow senior tight end Petrit Boga (Bronx, N.Y.) for the scoring play, a drive that started on their own eight-yard line, 11 plays earlier.
Edmond would then collect one of his own minutes later, after the Morrisville State defense held the Cardinals to a three-and-out, pounding the ball forward on a one-yard rushing score after Gwinner hit Toure Hall (Stratford, Conn.) for a 26-yard gain down to the host one-yard line.
Morrisville State led 21-0 until Fisher was able to sneak by the Mustang defense for a score 30 seconds before the half, as Alejandro Utset completed the six-play drive with a one-yard carry forward for the score.
The long ball favored well for the Mustangs in the third, as they were able to put another score on the board to extend their lead to 28-7. Gwinner connected with junior wide receiver Jermaine Cooper (New York, N.Y.) for the 53-yard bomb, after starting the drive at their own 19-yard line.
Fisher got some life at the end of the third as they forced a Gwinner fumble, but the defense again came up huge on the host drive as they drove deep into Mustang territory to the six, and forced a turnover on downs for a second time in the contest as the pass from Utset fell incomplete.
Morrisville State utilized the momentum to extend the lead on their ensuing possession, taking the ball 93-yards on 13 plays, capped off by a one-yard Edmond pound into the end zone for the 35-7 visitor lead.
For a second straight contest, the Mustang secondary forced an interception, this time as Sadeeq Nathanel (Bronx, N.Y.) stepped in front of Utset's pass to return the ball to Morrisville State's possession, and keep Fisher scoreless as the visitors collected the win.
THE BASICS:
- Final Score: Morrisville St. 35, St. John Fisher College 7
- Location: St. John Fisher College, Pittsford, N.Y.
- Records: Morrisville State 4-3, 2-2 E8; St. John Fisher 1-5, 1-3 E8
WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW:
- Morrisville State dominated total offense, stampeding past the Cardinals 444 yards to the hosts 160.
- The Mustangs had a balanced attack in both the air and on the ground, recording 170 yards rushing and another 274 through the air.
- Senior Brandon Gwinner (Schenectady, N.Y.) connected on 15-of-28 passes for 236 yards and a score, adding another 12 net yards in rushing for a score.
- Senior running back Nick Edmond (Blythe, Calif.) led all ball carriers with 104 yards on 25 carries for two touchdown scores, completing both pass attempts for another 38 yards and a touchdown.
- Three served as main targets for Gwinner in the receiving unit, including Toure Hall (Stratford, Conn.) who led all wide outs with 106 yards on eight receptions. Jermaine Cooper (New York, N.Y.) added another 87 yards on three catches, and Raffaele Bradshaw (Westbury, N.Y.) pulled in three for another 70 yards receiving.
- Defensively, the Mustangs limited the Cardinals to just 35 yards rushing, and 125 yards passing, forcing two turnovers. Michael Bodnar (Miller Place, N.Y.) led the defensive unit with nine total stops, including a forced fumble that he recovered in the third quarter.
- Rob Heitzmann (Oriskany, N.Y.) added eight tackles along with Deondrade Wells (Goshen, N.Y.).
- Morrisville State maintained possession more than 11 minutes in the opening quarter, and nearly 40 for the entire contest, limiting St. John Fisher to opportunities on the field.
WHAT'S NEXT:
- Morrisville State returns to action next Saturday for their final road game of the 2018 season, traveling to Buffalo State College for a 12 p.m. Empire 8 bout.
Morrisville State College's curricula are enriched with applied learning and pave the way for opportunity at both the Morrisville and Norwich campuses. An action-oriented, interactive learning lab, the college is a national leader in technology and has been lauded for its exemplary, innovative and effective community service programs.
The college was ranked among the Best Regional Colleges in the North by U.S. News & World Report Best Colleges 2018 issue and was also recognized in the Top Public Schools, Regional Colleges North in the 2018 Best Colleges rankings. For more information about Morrisville State College, visit www.morrisville.edu.
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