WASHINGTON, D.C. - The Gallaudet University football team dropped a tough non-conference game to nearby neighbor Catholic University of America, 38-13, on a bone chilling Saturday afternoon at Hotchkiss Field. The teams played through a Nor'easter as the game conditions ended up playing a factor in the outcome.

Gallaudet (3-4) fumbled the ball seven times (lost four) as the Cardinals (1-5) turned three consecutive Bison fumbles into touchdowns in the decisive third quarter.

Catholic scored 25 unanswered points after Gallaudet held a 7-6 advantage for the majority of the second quarter before the Cardinals scored with a minute left before the half. Catholic's two-point attempt failed as it took a 12-7 lead into the half.

The Cardinals scored the game's first touchdown as Rich Barry scored the first of his four scores on the day from five-yards out just four minutes into the game. CUA fumbled the extra-point attempt as it led 6-0.

Gallaudet caught a break in the second quarter as Catholic attempted to punt but a bad snap sailed the ball all the way back to the Cardinal 7-yard line where the Bison took over. Two plays later Jacob Schlotthauer (Oshkosh, Wis.) dove in from a yard out. Senior Justin Wilson (Phoenix, Ariz.) converted the extra-point attempt as the Buff and Blue led 7-6 with 10:08 left before the half.

Catholic marched 55 yards in eight plays right before the half as Barry scored from four yards out with 1:14 left before the half to give the Cardinals the lead for good.

In the third quarter, things got sloppy in the final four minutes as GU senior quarterback Jimmy Gardner (St. Augustine, Fla.) put the ball on the ground three times as the Cardinals recovered. Barry scored twice and Kyle Gaughan picked up one loose ball and ran it back 16 yards for the touchdown. The 19-point swing in three minutes put the Bison in a tough position down 31-7.

Junior running back Cole Johnson (Edina, Minn.) provided a spark for the Bison offense in the fourth quarter as he ran 49 yards for the score with 13:30 left in the game. Wilson's pass failed on the extra-point try as Gallaudet trailed 31-13.

Catholic answered as it used a 13-play, 59-yard drive, to take seven minutes off the clock as Dan Zentz scored from a yard out with 6:27 left in the game.

The Bison rushed for 193 yards and passed for 25 yards. Johnson led the way with 96 yards on eight carries. Gardner (2-for-5, 25 yards) finished the game with 38 rushing yards on 23 carries as he lost 57 rushing yards and four fumbles. Sophomore Michael Gimeli (Deerpark, N.Y.) caught both of Gardner's passes for 25 yards and rushed for 28 yards.

The Cardinals finished the game with 342 offensive yards (246 on the ground) and 24 first downs. Barry ran the ball 24 times for 115 yards and four touchdowns. Quarterback Dylan Knight (11-for-16, 96 yards) finished the day with 72 rushing yards on 13 carries. Wide receiver Mike Smith had four receptions for 35 yards.

Catholic also had a tough time holding onto the ball as the Cardinals fumbled five times but never lost the ball to the Bison. CUA's only turnover occurred when Knight threw an interception in the first quarter as Shelby Bean (Colorado Springs, Colo.) made the pick and returned the ball 16 yards to the Catholic 28-yard line. GU turned the ball over on downs a minute later.

Freshman linebacker Tom Pangia (Hammonton, N.J.) made a game-high 13 tackles while fellow freshman Kevin Allen (Houston, Texas) added 10 tackles and one tackle for a loss of three yards. Gallaudet had 10 defenders with five or more tackles. Sophomore Jon Van Wey (Alexandria, Va.) made the only sack for the Bison, a loss of eight yards. Senior Martin Blomquist (Neptune, N.J.) made eight tackles including the tackle on the Cardinal punter in the second quarter for a loss of 41 yards.

Catholic's Christian Pavik and Avatus Stone tied for nine tackles to lead the Cardinals. Joe Martin made a sack for a loss of five yards and recovered a fumble. Tom Kelly made the other sack for CUA for a loss of six yards.

Gallaudet will close out the home regular-season schedule on Saturday, October 24, against Becker College in an Eastern Collegiate Football Conference game. The Homecoming Game kicks off at 1 p.m.