TROY, N.Y.—
Martin Bailey (Buffalo/Kenmore West) threw for one score and ran for another, but it was not enough as Buffalo State dropped a 28-26 decision at RPI today in Liberty League action.
THE BASICS
FINAL SCORE: RPI – 28, Buffalo State - 26
LOCATION: East Campus Stadium - Troy, N.Y.
RECORDS: RPI (5-3/2-2) Buffalo State (1-7/1-3)
INSIDE THE BENGAL BOX SCORE
- Jordan Evert (Amherst/Sweet Home) finished with nine catches for 144 yards and a touchdown.
- Zak Ciezki (Cheektowaga/Cheektowaga) was 23 of 37 for 239 yards with a touchdown, and running back Bailey was 2 for 3 passing out of the "wildcat" for 89 yards with a score. He also had a rushing touchdown with 13 carries for 37 yards.
- Joe Stewart (Buffalo/Kenmore West) also scored and had three catches for 95 yards.
- Gino Bonagura (Lindenhurst/Lindenhurst) had a team-high eight tackles.
HOW IT HAPPENED
- RPI struck first with a 48-yard touchdown run by Peter Lombardi on its first offensive possession.
- The Bengals answered less than three minutes later when Bailey hit Stewart for a 57-yard score to even the game at 7-7.
- Buffalo State took the lead with a 5-yard run by Bailey early in the second quarter, capitalizing on a short field after a muffed punt by the Engineers.
- RPI knotted the score prior to halftime with a 9-yard scoring run by Marc Meislahn.
- Buffalo State entered the fourth quarter with a lead for just the second time this season, outscoring the Engineers 10-7 in the third quarter.
- A 32-yard field goal by Tommy Carr (Churchville/Churchville-Chili) started the second-half scoring, but a 40-yard run by Joe Scaglione put RPI in front.
- The Bengals answered on the ensuing possession with a 3-yard scoring strike from Ciezki to Evert to take the 24-21 lead.
- Lombari finally gave RPI the lead for good midway through the fourth quarter with a 28-yard reception from George Marinopoulos.
- The Bengals stalled on their next possession, but a 52-yard punt by Zachary Sajdak (Tonawanda/Tonawanda) rolled down to the 1-yard line, setting up a safety on the next play when Taihele Williams (Brooklyn/Abraham Lincoln) tackled the RPI runner in the end zone.
- Buffalo State went three-and-out after the free kick, however, and RPI was able to grind out the final 4:36 with the ball.
- Buffalo State finished with a 453-384 advantage in total yards. RPI had 198 rushing yards.
FOR THE FOES
- Marinopoulos was 16 of 24 for 186 yards with a touchdown.
- Scaglione had eight carries for 87 yards and a score, and Lombardi finished with two rushes for 57 yards and four catches for 58 yards and scored two touchdowns.
UP NEXT
Buffalo State will travel to Hobart next Saturday for a 6 p.m. kickoff.