(BOX SCORE)
DANBURY, Conn.—Buffalo State (1-4/1-3) dominated all phases of the game, setting a school record for points, touchdowns and margin of victory, blasting host Western Connecticut State (0-5/0-4), 71-3, for its first victory of the season in an NJAC contest today at the Westside Athletic Complex.
The Bengals found the end zone a total 10 times (eclipsing the previous single-game touchdown record of eight), and in all tallied points in six different ways, scoring four times via the ground, three through the air, on an interception, fumble recovery and kick returns, and added a field goal. The 71 points shattered the previous standard of 59 against Mercyhurst in 1996 (five overtimes). The 68-point margin of victory also smashed the previous record of 46 over Thiel in 1994.
“It was a great win for the players,” said Buffalo State head coach
Jerry Boyes. “It was a nice reward as we executed on offense, defense and special teams for the full 60 minutes.”
Jarrett Smith (Beacon/Beacon) also tied a school record with three receiving touchdowns, scoring on plays of 4, 64 and 31 yards. Smith finished with five catches for 146 yards.
Ryan Lehotsky (N. Royalton, OH/N. Royalton) was 9 of 13 passing for 152 yards and two scores.
Jordan Boser (Geneva, IL/Geneva Community) anchored a Bengals' defense that forced seven Colonial turnovers with nine tackles, including two sacks and a forced fumble.
Buffalo State took command from the opening kickoff and was ahead 28-3 before the end of the first quarter. After forcing West Conn into a three-and-out on the game's opening possession, Lehotsky connected with Smith for a 43-yard catch and run that set up a 4-yard scored just three plays later as the same pair hooked up again. The Bengals forced a second Colonials' turnover of the first quarter and converted the short field into a 14-0 advantage on a 21-yard touchdown scamper by
Greg Spears (Syracuse/Henninger).
West Conn responded with only points of the day in the form of a James Campbell 39-yard field goal. Any momentum gained did not last long however, as
Mike Doherty (Tonawanda/Kenmore East) took the ensuing kickoff return 88-yards for his first career touchdown, extending the Bengals' advantage to 21-3. The kickoff return for the Bengals' first for a score since 1999.
Buffalo State's defense got into the scoring act later in the opening quarter, after West Conn marched into the Bengals' red zone. On a third-and-long, Kevin Kiliszek (Lancaster/Lancaster) got loose in the Colonials' backfield and recorded a sack, jarring the ball free.
Kimani George (Brooklyn/William Grady) scooped it up and rumbled 73 yards for his first career score.
The second quarter did not start any better for the Colonials when
Cory Martin (Tonawanda/Kenmore East) recovered a fumble deep in West Conn territory that turned into
Nick Debbins' (Lancaster/Lancaster) first field goal of the season, from 27 yards. Buffalo State still just getting started as it added two more scores in the first half to take a 45-3 lead at the intermission. After
Gibran Johnson (Buffalo/Dutchtown GA) rushed it in from 12 yards out,
Nate Geary (Hamburg/Frontier) tossed a 64-yard scoring strike to Smith.
Smith reeled in his third receiving touchdown of the day from 31 yards on the Bengals' first possession of the second half.
Kam Johnson (Henrietta/Rush-Henrietta) joined the parade to the end zone when he intercepted a pass on West Conn's next possession and sprinted 73 yards for the score.
Freshman backup running back
Casiem Maxwell (Albany/Bethlehem) made the most of his first career action, adding the game's final two touchdowns, scoring on a 7-yard run in third quarter, and crossing the goal line again in the fourth quarter from 2 yards.
Buffalo State will play at No. 16 Montclair State next Saturday at 1 p.m.
