SEPTEMBER 2, 2006
BOB ZIADIE
KING’S FOOTBALL
DROPS SEASON OPENER TO ST. JOHN FISHER, 30-0
ROCHESTER, NY --
Senior all-American tailback Mark Robinson and junior tailback James
Reile both rushed for over 100-yards each as 24th ranked
host St. John Fisher College handed King’s College an opening-day
30-0 loss on a rain-soaked Growney Stadium Saturday in Rochester,
NY.
Robinson, who
rushed for over 2,000 yards in 2004 before missing most of the 2005
season with a shoulder injury, enabled the Cardinals to establish
their strong running game on the game’s opening possession
The St. John
Fisher standout opened the game with a 24-yard gain to then followed
with runs of nine and 14 yards to give the Cardinals a first down at
the Monarch 45. Two plays later, Robinson would break free for a
39-yard touchdown run with 12:29 remaining in the first quarter.
Robinson accounted for all 92 rushing yards on the drive. Chris
Pierri would add the conversion as St. John Fisher took a 7-0 lead.
After forcing a
King’s punt, Steve Stepnick would return the offering 33 yards to
the Monarch 37. Quarterback Nick Suchyna would kick-start the drive
by hitting Matt Kelly for 14 yards to the Monarch 23. Robinson then
carried for seven yards to the 16-yard line before Suchyna found
Corey Jackson for 13 yards to the King’s three-yard line. On the
next play, however, Monarch linebacker John Haller would strip
Robinson of the ball at the one-yard line and Bob Cirko would
recover the fumble for the Monarchs to end the scoring threat.
After a Monarch
punt gave Fisher possession at its own 40, the Cardinals would
strike quickly, Junior tailback James Reile, who rushed for over
1,400 yards during Robinson’s absence last season, would take a
second-down carry 50-yards the King’s four-yard line. On the next
play Reile raced off right tackle and into the end zone to extend
the Cardinal lead. Pierri’s kick would give St. John Fisher a 14-0
advantage with 4:18 left in the first quarter.
Following another
King’s punt, Fisher would take over at the Monarch 49-yard line. A
pair of runs by Robinson picked up nine yards. Two plays later
Suchyna found Sean Nowicki down the right sideline for 33 yards to
the Monarch 12. From there the drive would stall and Pierri
converted a 26-yard field goal to extend the St. John Fisher lead to
17-0 with 5:42 left in the half.
King’s would look
to counter on its ensuing possession when the Monarchs took over at
their own 24-yard line following a punt. After a nine-yard pass from
Searfass to tight end Bernie Mullen moved the ball to the St. John
Fisher 46-yard line, the Monarchs would fumble on the next play and
the Cardinals would recover at their own 44 with 2:43 remaining in the
second stanza as King’s entered the break trailing 17-0.
St. John Fisher out gained King’s 263-to-70 in total first-half
yards, led by Robinson’s 123 yards on 14 carries.
King’s would elect
to kickoff in the second half in favor of playing with the wind but
the move would allow the Cardinals to strike first. Reile would
take a first-down carry for 36 yards, then added 19 more to the
Monarch 27. Suchyna would find Nowicki for 10 yards to the King’s 17
followed by a six-yard run by Reile. Facing a third-and-18 play from
the Monarch 25, Fisher would attempt the fourth down play but
Suchyna’s pass was intercepted in the end zone by Craig Haywood as
the Monarchs held off another scoring threat.
The Cardinals
would take off on their own 40 following a King’s punt Suchyna found
Chris Harmon for 47 yards to the King’s 14. After two short runs set
up a third-and-four play, Suchyna's hit Tim Marion for two yards to
force a fourth and two. Robinson would pick up a first down with a
four-yard run to the King’s four. On the next play, Robinson would
score on a run of left tackle to add onto the Cardinal lead.
Pierri’s kick would push the led to 24-0 with 6:44 remaining in the
third quarter.
Fisher would add the final points of the game when Stepnick
intercepted a Searfass pass at the Monarch 17. On the first play,
Josiah Smith would break through the line of scrimmage and raced
untouched into the end zone. The conversion kick would fail but St.
John Fisher’s lead grew to 30-0 with 7:58 left.
St. John Fisher would out gain King’s 478-109 in total offense as
the Cardinal defense limited King’s to just 39 yards in the second
half.
Robinson finished the game with 137 yards on 19 carries with two
touchdowns while Reile added 131 yards on 13 attempts. Suchyna
completed 9-of-16 passes for 127 yards while Nowicki led the
Cardinals with three catches for 44 yards.
John Ortiz led King’s with 50 yards on 15 carries while Mullen had two receptions for 25 yards. Searfass completed
8-of-13 passes for 42 yards. Senior linebacker John Haller led
King’s defense with a career-high 17 tackles.
The Monarchs will
make its home debut Saturday with a 1:30 p.m. contest against
Lebanon Valley College.
