BUFFALO — Buffalo State piled up 523 yards of total offense and found the end zone seven times in a 51-33 victory over visiting Hartwick in an Empire 8 contest today at a windy Coyer Field.
Hartwick opened the scoring on the second play from scrimmage with a 71-yard strike from Billy Pine to Koree Reed and after missing the extra point, led 6-0. The Bengals answered with 17-consecutive points. Marc Montana (E. Amherst/St. Joe’s) got things started with a 40-yard field goal, and one play after a Hartwick punt, Jones got loose for a 58-yard score. Hoppy then hit Bryant for a 64-yard touchdown down the left sideline on the opening play of the second quarter. The teams traded touchdowns on the ensuing possessions with Hartwick closing the deficit to 20-13 on a 1-yard keeper by Pine, before Hoppy and Bryant connected again for a 41-yard catch and run. Hartwick cut into the deficit again, closing the gap to 24-20 after Hoppy was hit as he threw and the errant pass was corralled by Marcus Mistersaro and returned 80 yards for a touchdown. The Bengals completed the first-half scoring with Jones’ second touchdown of the day, finding the end zone from 10 yards out, making the score 31-20 at the break.
Buffalo State was forced to punt on the opening possession of the second half, and Ryan Mutterer’s (Indian Trail, NC/Porter Ridge) sailed out of bounds at the Hartwick 1-yard line. The Hawks needed just one play to dig out of the hole, however, as Pine hit a streaking Reed for a 99-yard score to close the margin to 31-27. Buffalo State responded with seven-straight passing plays with the final one going for a 19-yard touchdown to Madison Wesolowski (Elma/Iroquois). A failed conversion attempt left the Bengals ahead, 37-27. Buffalo State pushed the advantage to 24 with a pair of fourth-quarter rushing touchdowns by Hoppy from 1 and 13 yards respectively, before Hartwick completed the scoring on a late 9-yard run by Pine.
Buffalo State will play its final two regular season games on the road, beginning with a trip to Ithaca next Saturday at 1 p.m.
from BuffaloStateAthletics.com via IFTTT
