BUFFALO STATE ATHLETICS
Game #6: Buffalo State Bengals (1-4) at Cortland Red Dragons (4-1)
Saturday, Oct. 13, 2018 – Noon
SUNY Cortland Stadium Complex (Cortland, N.Y.)
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The Matchup…Buffalo State is looking to rebound after a home loss to Alfred University last week to fall to 1-4 overall and 1-1 in Empire 8 play. Cortland if 4-1 overall and 2-1 in league play. The Red Dragons are averaging 47.4 points-per-game and have scored more than 50 three times this season. Cortland snapped a five-game losing streak against the Bengals with a 38-12 win in Buffalo last season.
The Bengals’ Last Game…Alfred University scored 38 unanswered points to close out the game and run away with a 51-7 victory over host Buffalo State under the lights at Coyer Field.
Martin Bailey led the Bengals on offense with 112 rushing yards on 14 carries, including a 91-yard scoring run. He also had two catches for 20 yards before leaving with an injury in the second half. Senior quarterback Kevin Torrillo finished 17 of 31 for 198 yards with three interceptions. Devin Delmont and Paul Brinkel paced the Buffalo State defense with eight tackles each.
Bailey’s 91-yard run cut the deficit to 13-7 early in the second quarter, but Alfred took control taking a 23-7 lead into halftime and continued to pull away in the second half.
Oh captain, my captains…Buffalo State will rely on the leadership of four captains this season. On the offensive side, the Bengals will be led by junior lineman Dave Lauer and senior quarterback Kevin Torrillo, and the defense will be led by senior end Cliff Brown and junior linebacker Gino Bonagura.
With honors…Senior wide receiver Jamar Rutledge is the lone returning all-conference performer from a season ago. Rutledge was named first teamm All-Empire 8 as a return specialist. He led the league averaging 23.5 yards-per-kick return on 25 attempts, which included a 96-yard touchdown return at Morrisville State. He was also second in the league, averaging 10.3 yards-per-punt return.
The Signal caller…Senior Kevin Torrillo enters the season as the starting quarterback this season after sitting behind four-year starter Kyle Hoppy. Torrillo took his first varsity snaps when he started in place of an injured Hoppy vs. Cortland on Oct. 7, 2017. Torrillo finished 21 of 44 for 304 yards with two touchdowns and three interceptions in that game. He finished 2017 with four appearances and was 30 of 60 for 366 yards with two TDs and three interceptions.
Breaking Out…Junior receiver Jordan Evert entered the season with 16 catches for 213 yards. In his first game of the season at Bridgewater, he finished with five catches for 153 yards and a touchdown. He went over 100 yards again against Hartwick with eight catches for 114. Through five games, he has 27 catches for 444 yards and five touchdowns.
Long time in the making…Buffalo State running back Martin Bailey ran for 117 yards on 21 carries, including touchdown runs of 2 and 40 yards in a 41-7 victory over Hartwick on Buffalo State’s homecoming. Bailey also caught one pass for 21 yards. It was Bailey’s first start since high school way back in 2011. He backed that up with 112 yards on 14 carries, including a 91-yard score agaisnt Alfred.
Inside the Numbers…Buffalo State has allowed 1,026 rushing yards in five games, and the opposition is averaging 423.4 total yards and 37.6 points-per-game. The Bengals have 449 rushing yards, and are averaging 247.0 yards and 23.6 points-per-game. Through five games, the Bengals do have a slight 12-11 edge in the turnover battle, including seven fumble recoveries.
Go for it…Buffalo State has converted 14 of 26 attempts on fourth down for a 53.9 percent conversion rate.
Rookie Under Center…Freshman quarterback Tony Maple saw his first action in the loss at RPI, going 8 of 9 for 71 yards and a touchdown. He also had six rushes for 20 yards. He added a 22-yard touchdown scramble in the win over Hartwick.
On the Move…Buffalo State has officially announced it will leave the Empire 8 following the 2018 season to join the Liberty League in 2019. The move will stabilize both leagues, creating a pair of seven-team conferences that will collaborate for both non-conference scheduling and a postseason bowl game. Buffalo State will compete with Hobart, Ithaca, RPI, Rochester, St. Lawrence and Union in the Liberty League.
Return to the “Glory Days”…Buffalo State has posted a .500 record or better in each of the past seven seasons. The Bengals made seven NCAA playoff appearances and won three other ECAC Bowl Championships, all from 1991-2000. The Bengals advanced to the NCAA playoffs in 1992, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 1998 and 1999, and won ECAC Bowl games in 1991, 1997 and 2000. During that 10-year span, the Bengals went a combined 78-28 (.736).
