Box Score ROCHESTER, N.Y.--The Hobart College football team lost in the first round of the NCAA Tournament to fifth-ranked St. John Fisher 24-7 at Growney Stadium. The Cardinals improve to 10-1, while the Statesmen end the season at 8-3.

St. John Fisher outgained Hobart 389-299. The Cardinals bottled up the Statesmen running game, holding the visitors to just 101 yards. Hobart also struggled on third down, converting on just four of 14 tries.

The Statesmen won the opening coin toss and elected to receive. Hobart drove to the Fisher 10 yard line before sending the field goal unit onto the field. Dominick Ancona's 28-yard attempt missed wide left.

The Cardinals answered with a 13-play 75-yard drive that results in a 22-yard Chris Pierri field goal to give the home team the only points of the first half.

Hobart turned the ball over twice on downs and punted once, while St. John Fisher punted twice and turned the ball over on downs once heading into the intermission.

It's the first time the Statesmen have been shutout in a half, since Hobart and Delaware Valley played a scoreless first half in the second round of the 2005 NCAA Tournament.

The third quarter was a wild affair that saw both quarterbacks throw interceptions, while the Cardinals also lost a pair of fumbles.

Fisher fumbled away its opening drive. Hobart drove inside the Cardinals' 10, but senior quarterback Andrew Strom's pass attempt on second and goal was tipped at the line and intercepted.

First-year linebacker Kyle O'Laughlin made sure the turnover didn't hurt the Statesmen, picking off Rob Kramer at the Hobart 9.

Four plays later, the Statesmen lined up in punt formation with Ancona's heals near the back of the end zone. Instead of punting though, Hobart put the ball in the hands of first-year running back Andrew Marlier. The direct snap play gained 6 yards, but was well short of the first down.

The play proved to be the turning point in what had been a defensive battle. On second down, senior defensive end Jim Drury forced a Fisher fumble at the 8-yard line, but the Cardinals managed to recover at the 1. James Reile dove over the pile on the next play for the game's first touchdown. The extra point gave SJF a 10-0 lead with 3:54 left in the third quarter.

The Statesmen went three and out on their ensuing drive and Ancona's 45-yard punt was returned 77 yards to the Hobart 8. Two plays later, O'Laughlin caused another Fisher turnover, this time forcing a fumble that sophomore linebacker Ryan Robinson recovered.

Following another Hobart punt, the Cardinals put the ball in Reile's hands. He caught a first down pass for 19 yards and carried on four straight plays, the last a 2-yard touchdown. With the extra point, Fisher led 17-0 with 12:45 left in the contest.

Hobart answered with a 13-play, 72-yard march that Strom capped with a 5-yard run into the end zone. Ancona's extra point made the score 17-7 with 6:24 remaining.

Strom was 19-of-27 for 198 yards, while rushing for 36 yards. Senior wideout James Wright was his top target making five catches for 73 yards.

The defense force the Cardinals to punt, but the kick took a funny hop and hit a Hobart blocker and was recovered by Fisher at the Statesmen 27. Fisher iced the victory four plays when Reile scored from 14 yards out. He produced a game-high 112 yards rushing and three TDs.

The Hobart defense was led by Justin Hager's game-high 15 tackles, while Ryan Aruck was in on 12 stops, including one of four Hobart sacks. Hager's 114 tackles this season are the third most in Hobart history, while his 67 solo tackles are a Statesmen season record.