(BOX SCORE)
PITTSFORD, NY—Buffalo State (0-1) could not overcome four turnovers and just 11 passing yards, dropping its season-opener 20-7 at No. 13 St. John Fisher (1-1) tonight in a non-conference at Growney Stadium.
Jeremy Mountain (Cheektowaga/Maryvale) and
Mark Boswell (Buffalo/Kenmore East) shared plays under center for the Bengals. Boswell was 1 of 7 for minus-1 yard, but rushed the ball 12 times for 90 yards. Mountain was 3 of 7 for 12 yards with an interception.
Sammy Smith (Buffalo/Hutch Tech) had 65 yards on 13 carries.
Jermaine Rose (Niagara Falls/Niagara Falls) anchored the Bengals on defense with 10 tackles and a sack.
Scott Forster (E. Otto/Catt.-Little Valley) added nine tackles.
The Cardinals outgained Buffalo State, 411-212. Fisher quarterback Tim Bailey 19 of 34 for 264 yards and a touchdown. Tim Marion led the receiving corps with six catches for 91 yards and a score. Josh Gottlieb led the Cards on defense with 12 tackles and a sack.
Fisher took a 3-0 lead on the game's opening possession, marching down the field before settling for a Chris Pierri 28-yard field goal. The Cardinals got the ball back immediately, recovering a fumble on the ensuing kickoff, taking over at the Bengals' 46-yard line. The Bengals' defense held, however, and forced a punt.
After two stalled offensive possessions, the Bengals' defense continued to hold and Buffalo State started its third drive pinned deep in its own territory. Buffalo State appeared to lose a fumble on its own 5-yard line, but a Cardinals personal foul penalty bailed the Bengals out and gave them some breathing room. After driving down close to the red zone, including a conversion on fourth-and-four from the Cards' 29, Boswell was picked off by Jason Cirulli, who returned the ball to the Bengals' 46-yard line.
The Cardinals quickly drove deep into Buffalo State territory, but the Bengals' defense stood up again, stopping Fisher on a fourth-and-one play from the 3-yard line. Buffalo State moved the ball from the shadow of its goalposts, but Mountain was intercepted. The Bengals' defense had the answer again, stopping Fisher and keeping the score just 3-0 at the intermission.
After a three-and-out for the Bengals to open the second half, Fisher drove 64 yards in seven plays, capped by a 1-yard quarterback keeper by Robbie Brown, extending the Cardinals lead to 10-0.
The teams traded possessions, before Fisher capitalized on another Bengals' fumble, needing just one play, a Bailey pass to Marion for a 20-yard touchdown to push the advantage to 17-0. The Cardinals added another score on their next possession, driving to the Bengals' 2 yard line, before Pierri booted a 19-yard field goal.
Buffalo State broke the shutout with 1:47 remaining on a 1-yard run by #E. Todd Hurlbut# (Phoenix/John C. Birdlebough). The run culminated a drive that covered 66-yards in eight plays, including a 33-yard keeper by Boswell on a fourth-and-four play. St. John Fisher recovered the ensuing on-side kick and ran out the clock.
Buffalo State will host defending NJAC Champion The College of New Jersey next Saturday as part of the Homecoming/Family Weekend festivities on campus. The game will mark the Bengals' first home game and conference season-opener.
