Game #2:  Buffalo State Bengals (0-1) at Utica Pioneers (1-0) 
Saturday, Sept. 14, 2019 -    Noon
Charles A. Gaetano Stadium (Utica, N.Y.)

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The Matchup…Buffalo State and Utica meet as non-conference rivals after competing head-to-head in the Empire 8 over the past seven seasons.  The Bengals opened the season with a 23-6 home loss against St. John Fisher, while Utica was impressive in a 41-14 victory over St. Lawrence.  Buffalo State is trying to snap a three-game losing streak against the Pioneers.

The Bengals' Last Game…St. John Fisher produced three first-half interceptions and had two rushing touchdowns by Dahmir Pross en route to a 23-6 victory over host Buffalo State in today's non-conference season opener at Coyer Field.
     
Senior quarterback Zak Ciezki finished 15 of 29 for 183 yards with a touchdown and three interceptions in his first collegiate start.  Jordan Evert was the top receiving target with eight catches for 101 yards and a touchdown.  Anthony Wasiyo led the Bengals' defense with 13 tackles including one for loss.  Jay-Quan Wilson added 12 stops with 1.5 sacks.
     
After a pair of quick three-play drives to open the game, the Cardinals opened the scoring on their second possession with a seven-play, 55-yard drive capped by a 4-yard touchdown run by Pross. 
     
The Cardinals pushed the lead to 10-0 with a 33-yard field goal by Joe Dotterweich early in the second quarter.
   
Buffalo State drove into Fisher territory twice later in the quarter, but both drives ended in interceptions, including one by Jason Rodriguez at the 1-yard-line with just nine seconds remaining before halftime.
     
Fisher pushed the lead to 20-0 with points on each of its first two possessions of the third quarter, connecting on a 28-yard field goal by Dotterweich, followed by a 2-yard run by Pross.
     
Buffalo State answered with its only score of the day in the closing minutes of the third quarter on a 45-yard strike from Ciezki to Evert, but the extra point attempt sailed wide to the left.
     
A 41-yard field goal that bounced off the cross bar and went through by Dotterweich in the opening minute of the fourth quarter completed the scoring.
     
The Cardinals finished with 336 total yards of offense, including 151 on the ground.  Buffalo State had 236 total yards, and just 53 net rushing yards.
     
Fisher won the turnover battle 3-0.

Century mark...Senior wide receiver Jordan Evert topped the 100-yard mark with 101 receiving yards on eight catches in the Bengals' opening loss against St. John Fisher.

Top tackler...Anthony Wasiyo registered 13 tackles in the Bengals' opening game which currently leads the Liberty League.  Teammate Jay-Quan Wilson ranks second with 12.

Signal call from the hardwood...Buffalo State's starting quarterback Zak Ciezki was originally recruited as a football player, but elected to play basketball instead for the past three seasons.  In 63 games with the Bengals' hoops team from 2016-2019, Ciezki averaged 3.1 points and had 34 steals as a guard.  As a senior in high school, Ciezki led Cheektowaga's football team to a Section VI Class B championship in 2014.

Oh captain, my captains...Four players will lead Buffalo State in 2019 as team captains.  Senior offensive lineman Dave Lauer will represent the offensive side of the ball.  The defense will be led by senior safety Gino Bonagura and senior defensive end Anthony Wasiyo, while senior kicker Tommy Carr will be the special teams captain.

With honors...Buffalo State returns a pair of players that earned All-Empire 8 honors last season.  Senior offensive tackle Dave Lauer was named second team, while senior wide receiver Jordan Evert earned honorable mention recognition in 2018.

New Home...Buffalo State is officially an affiliate member of the Liberty League starting this season.  The move stabilizes both The Liberty and Empire 8, 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. The Bengals played as an independent from 1981 through 2003, then joined the Atlantic Central Football Conference for 2004 and 2005, played in the New Jersey Athletic Conference from 2006-2011, and then in the Empire 8 from 2012-2018.

About the Bengals' Coach…
Christian Ozolins was promoted to interim head football coach on Nov. 16 and will serve in that capacity through the 2019 season.
     
Ozolins joined the Bengals' coaching staff in 2003 and was promoted to assistant head coach and offensive coordinator in 2013. He also served as the offensive backs coach and the recruiting and academic coordinator.
     
His previous college coaching experience includes stints at Maryville, Methodist, Alfred and Hamilton. As a player, he played in the NAIA National Championship Game for Cumberland University in Tennessee.
     
He earned his bachelor's in education from Cumberland and completed a master's degree from Alfred University. Christian also serves as the recreation and intramurals manager on campus. He and his wife Shaton reside in South Buffalo with their son CJ who plays football as a senior at Canisius High School.