BUFFALO – Ale Wilson (Bronx, NY/KIPP College Prep), Cody Phillips (Lancaster, NY/Lancaster), and Basiaka Butcher (White Plains, NY/Valhalla) all scored touchdowns, but the Buffalo State football team fell short by a final score of 37-23 to the Apprentice School on Saturday afternoon at Coyer Field.
THE BASICS
FINAL SCORE: Apprentice School – 37, Buffalo State – 23
LOCATION: Coyer Field – Buffalo, NY
RECORDS: Apprentice School (1-1), Buffalo State (0-2)
INSIDE THE BENGAL BOX SCORE
- Kenneth Mosley (Buffalo, NY/Kenmore West) led the Bengals in tackles for the second straight game, finishing with 11 tackles.
- Sincere Green (Jamestown, NY/Jamestown) had ten tackles and a forced fumble.
- Phillips rushed for 48 yards on just 10 carries, while Wilson had 47 rushing yards and 15 receiving yards on three catches.
- Evan Cervantes (Cicero, NY/Bishop Ludden) had 10 tackles, including 2.5 tackles for loss.
HOW IT HAPPENED
- After the Bengals offense went three-and-out on its first drive, Green interrupted an option play on the first play from scrimmage by the Builders, forcing a fumble that Orlando Cabrera (Brooklyn, NY/Plainedge) recovered at the Apprentice School 27-yard line.
- One play later, Wilson rushed up the middle, broke free from five attempted tackles, and burst to the left for a 27-yard touchdown to put the Bengals up 7-0 after the extra point from Nick Sciandra (N. Tonawanda, NY/N. Tonawanda).
- The Builders needed just eight plays to go 85 yards to tie the score on a one-yard rushing touchdown by Curtis Green, aided by a pair of big receptions along the sidelines by Ta’Kevion Petty and a 15-yard unsportsmanlike conduct penalty on Buffalo State.
- The Bengals once again went three-and-out on their third drive, and the Apprentice School embarked on a 12-play, 74-yard drive to take a 14-7 lead after Lawrence Reed plunged into the end zone from three yards out.
- The Bengals drove inside Builders’ territory on the next drive, but turned the ball over after a fumble inside the red zone.
- Butcher stepped in front of a Mason Tatum pass three-plays later for an interception, then returned the pick 41 yards to the endzone to tie the score at 14-14.
- Tatum started the next drive with a deep pass down the right side for a 35-yard gain to the Bengals’ 30-yard line, before the Buffalo State defense forced a turnover on downs.
- Buffalo State’s offense was stopped again on three play, but was given a second chance after a roughing the punter penalty. However, the Bengals fumbled the ball on the next play, giving the Apprentice School great field position at the Buffalo State 49-yard line. The Builders capitalized, scoring a touchdown with just 27 second left in the half to go up 21-14.
- Darion Jones (Buffalo, NY/Hutch Tech) returned the ensuing kickoff into Apprentice School territory, and the Bengals were able to get into field goal position, but Sciandra’s 47-yard attempt was blocked as time expired.
- The Builders opened the half on an 80-yard touchdown drive to take a 27-14 lead after Mosley blocked the extra point attempt.
- The Bengals moved inside the Builders’ 10-yard line, before Wilson fumbled, which was recovered and returned to the Buffalo State 10-yard line before Noah Kimble (Depew, NY/Lancaster) was able to make a great play to bring him down. The Bengals’ defense stiffened, holding the Builders to just a field goal.
- Buffalo State responded with a touchdown drive, led by 43 rushing yards from Phillips, who punched the ball in from 11 yards out.
- After a defensive stop, the Bengals pulled to within seven on a 30-yard field goal by Sciandra with 12:02 remaining.
- Each team had a possession but was forced to punt, before the Builders took advantage of a pair of a short field to score a touchdown to make the score 37-23.
- The final Buffalo State drive featured multiple penalties and a pair of ejections as the Bengals were unable to get things going again.
FOR THE FOES
- Tatum threw for 269 yards and two scores, and rushed for 51 yards and another score to lead the Builders.
- Petty hauled in seven passes for 87 yards and a touchdown.
UP NEXT
The Bengals are back in action next week, heading to Dean College on Saturday for the first road game of the year.
