Game #2:  Buffalo State Bengals (0-1) at Adrian Bulldogs (0-1)
Saturday, Sept. 8, 2018 - 1 p.m.
Docking Stadium (Adrian, Mich.)

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The Matchup…Buffalo State and Adrian are meeting for the first time since 1999 with the Bengals holding a 2-0 lead in the all-time series.  Buffalo State opened its season last Saturday with 30-29 loss at Bridgewater State, falling on opening day for the first time since 2011.  Adrian enters its home opener 0-1 after losing 34-17 at Ohio Northern last Saturday.

The Bengals' Last Game…Buffalo State dropped a heartbreaker to open the season at Bridgewater State (Mass.) last Saturday, falling 30-29.  The Bengals led 23-16 in the third quarter, but after back-to-back scores by the Bears, trailed 30-23 late in the fourth quarter.  Buffalo State answered with a two-minute drive that resulted in a Jamar Rutledge 2-yard touchdown catch with just 27 seconds remaining, but the Bengals played for the win and failed to convert the two-point conversion.

Jordan Evert led the receiving corps with five catches for 153 yards and a touchdown.  Quarterback Kevin Torrillo was 20 of 33 for 264 yards with four touchdowns and two interceptions in his second collegiate start.   Gino Bonagura led the defense with 17 tackles and added a forced fumble and an interception which he returned 54 yards.

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 senior linebacker Dupreme Robinson.

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.
   
New 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.

The Century Mark...Junior receiver Jordan Evert entered his final 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.

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).