PITTSFORD, N.Y. - The Wilkes University football team were shut out in the fourth quarter as they dropped a close non-conference game to the St. John Fisher Cardinals 29-20 at Growney Stadium on Saturday.
 
The loss puts the Colonels at 0-4, while the Cardinals improve to 3-1 on the year.
 
Following a punt on their first possession, Wilkes first year player Noah Schultz (Mountain Top, PA/Crestwood) recovered a fumble on the punt and immediately got the ball back for the Colonels at the Cardinal 40 yard line. Three plays later, Zane Grover (East Stroudsburg, PA/Stroudsburg) caught a 28 yard touchdown pass from Isaiah Rodriguez (Lebanon, PA/Lebanon) to give the Colonels the early lead with 11:22 on the clock in the first quarter.
 
The Cardinals responded on their first offensive possession with a touchdown, as Ryan Romagnoli made up for his fumbled punt with the 14 yard score from quarterback Aaron Chase to make it a 7-7 contest with 6:20 on the clock.
 
On the next Colonels possession, Rodriguez connected with receiver Devin Higgins (Pennington, NJ/Hopewell Valley) for a 44 yard pass that helped set up a Rodriguez rushing touchdown, as he rumbled into the endzone for the five yard score with 1:29 on the clock in the first quarter to give Wilkes the 14-0 lead.
 
The Colonels defense came up with their second turnover of the quarter on the next drive, as Angel Ramos' (Allentown, PA/Parkland) hurry on Chase led to a fumble recovered by first year defensive lineman Michael Golay (Scranton, PA/Scranton Prep). A St. John pass interference call set Wilkes up on the Cardinals four yard line, but had an Elijah Jules (Red Bank, NJ/Red Bank Catholic) rushing touchdown called back for a holding penalty and were unable to put it in the back of the endzone. The would not go without points, however, as Nick Volpone's (Delco, PA/Ridley) 32 yard field goal attempt was true, and the quarter ended with the Colonels holding a 17-7 lead.
 
The Cardinal defense held strong in the second quarter, as they did not allow any points out of the Wilkes offense. Their offense was able to close the gap, as Peyton Nolan capped off a nine play, 80 yard drive late in the second quarter with a one yard touchdown run to make it a 17-14 contest with 3:12 remaining in the half.
 
The Cardinals forced a quick punt and got the ball back for one more drive in the first half, but had a touchdown of their own taken off the board for an illegal formation penalty. The Cardinals were forced to settle for three points on a 39 yard kick from Kyle Farewell to tie the game up going into halftime.
 
St. John received the second half kickoff, and were unable to put any points on the board. The Colonels then put together a methodical drive, taking 8:44 off the clock on a 16 play, 74 yard drive capped off by a 24 yard Volpone field goal to give the Colonels the lead back 20-17 with 3:12 left in the third quarter.
 
The Cardinals next possession was aided by a costly facemask penalty on the Colonels that helped set up a five yard Giovanni DiCaprio touchdown run to give St. John their first lead of the day 23-20 with 13:27 left in the fourth quarter.
 
A quick three and out by the Colonels gave St. John the ball back, and extended their lead on a 27 yard pass from Chase to Declan Faery with 5:11 on the clock to make it a 29-20 game.
 
The Colonels managed to drive down the to the Cardinals 21 yard line, but an incomplete pass from Rodriguez on 4th and 10 sealed the game for the Cardinals, as they took the 29-20 victory.
 
Rodriguez led Wilkes through the air going 11-26 for 135 yards and one touchdown. The junior also led on the ground with 10 carries for 69 yards and a touchdown. Higgins led the Colonles in recieving with three catches for 64 yards. John Washington (Brooklyn, NY/Eagle Academy) and Tallen Murray (Vineland, NJ/Saint Joseph Academy) led the Colonels tied with 10 tackles each. Washington also registered 1.5 tackles for loss, while Murray had 0.5.
 
For St. John, Chase was 14-24 with 137 yards and two touchdowns under center, and DiCaprio led the Cardinals rushing attack with 21 attempts for 74 yards and a touchdown. Faery led the team in recieving with three receptions for 58 yards and a touchdown while Ryan O'Dea led their defense with 11 total tackles.
 
The Colonels return to Schmidt Stadium next Saturday, September 30 for their first Landmark Conference matchup against the Juniata College Eagles in the Homecoming game. Kickoff is scheduled for 12:00 p.m.