BUFFALO — Utica limited Buffalo State to just 58 passing yards en route to a 26-13 victory in an Empire 8 contest today at Coyer Field.
The Bengals opened the scoring with a 37-yard field goal by Marc Montana (E. Amherst/St. Joe’s), but Utica found the end zone twice before the end of the first quarter. Two plays after the Bengals’ field goal, Teddy Van Galen hit Jerred Beniquez for a 63-yard touchdown. A bad snap led to a missed extra point. The Pioneers extended their lead to 13-3 with a 1-yard scoring plunge by Lindell Reed. Montana hit his second field goal of the game from 39 yards out with 5:03 remaining in the half to cut the deficit. After a three-and-out, the Bengals got the got the ball back and went 77 yards on 10 plays, capped by a 4-yard touchdown strike from Hoppy to tight end Nick Jones (Buffalo/W. Seneca West) to even the score at 13-13 just 20 seconds before the intermission.
Utica drove into Bengal territory with the opening possession of the second half, but Ish Height (Brooklyn/Grand St. Campus) produced his third interception of the season at the Buffalo State 5-yard line to end the threat. The Pioneers forced a punt on the ensuing possession however, and this time completed the drive with a 9-yard pass from VanGalen to Beniquez to reclaim the lead for good at 20-13. Buffalo State’s best opportunity to even the score came midway through the fourth quarter when a shanked punt into the wind gave the Bengals possession on the Pioneers’ 28-yard line. Buffalo State was unable to advance past the 16 and then a fumbled snap on a field goal try resulted in a turnover on downs. Utica was able to put the game out of reach on the ensuing possession when Ryan Burnett broke through for a 39-yard scoring run. The Bengals blocked the extra point leaving the score 26-13 with just 1:30 remaining. An interception by Chance Harris on a fourth and long allowed Utica to take and knee in “victory formation” to run out the final seconds in the victory.
Buffalo State will close out its home schedule next Saturday against Hartwick. Kickoff has been moved up to 11 a.m. to accommodate a home men’s soccer playoff game that will start at 3 p.m. to ensure enough daylight.
from BuffaloStateAthletics.com via IFTTT
