ITHACA, N.Y. – The Ithaca football team (3-2, 1-2 Empire 8) dropped a 13-10 overtime game to St. John Fisher (4-1, 2-0 Empire 8) Saturday afternoon at Butterfield Stadium in front of a crowd of 3,149 in an Empire 8 contest. The Cardinals kicked a field goal on the first possession of overtime, and then blocked a field-goal attempt by the Bombers.

The Bombers opened the game with a scoring drive that covered 64 yards over 13 plays and used 6:25 on the game clock. It was capped by a 31-yard field goal from senior placekicker Andrew Rogowski (Canisius/East Amherst).

St. John Fisher answered with a touchdown drive on a long completion, and the defenses for both teams dominated most of the first half. After each team punted, four consecutive turnovers took place in the second quarter.

Ithaca took a 10-7 lead late in the second quarter on a three-play 67-yard drive that included a 30-yard pass reception by junior wide receiver Joseph Ingrao (St. Anthony's/Nesconset) and a 28-yard catch by senior wide receiver Dan Ruffrage (Utica-Notre Dame/Whitesboro), both from junior quarterback Jason Hendel (Deerfield/Riverwoods, Ill.). Hendel ran the ball in from 9 yards out for the go-ahead score, his third rushing touchdown of the season.

The Cardinals kicked a game-tying field goal early in the third quarter and both teams missed field goal attempts late in the fourth quarter to send the game to overtime.

It was Ithaca's first overtime game since 2006, following three overtime games in the 2005 season.

The Bombers forced three St. John Fisher turnovers in the game.

Senior linebacker Joe Gilfedder (Governor Livingston/Berkeley Heights, N.J.) had 12 tackles to lead Ithaca's defensive effort including two tackles for loss. Senior linebacker Eric Toporoff (Montville Township/Montville, N.J.) was in on 11 tackles for Ithaca.

Junior linebacker Jake Santora (Staples/Westport, Conn.) had 1.5 tackles for loss, a career high, and also recorded his first-career interception on a leaping one-handed grab with the Cardinals driving inside of Ithaca territory. Senior cornerback Spence White (Sleepy Hollow/Yonkers) forced a first-half fumble, his fifth forced fumble of the season.

Hendel finished the game with a career-high 77 rushing yards to lead the Bombers. He was 17-for-27 passing with three interceptions. Sophomore running back Sal Sulla (North Rockland/Stony Point) had 52 yards on 14 carries. Ingrao finished with a career-high seven catches for 95 yards and Ruffrage had 61 yards on five catches.

St. John Fisher converted 11-of-18 third-down attempts, while Ithaca converted just 1-of-9 third down attempts.

Ithaca plays at Springfield at 2 p.m. Saturday.

Box Score and Play-by-Play