UTICA, N.Y.—Utica scored all 26 points in the second half to defeat visiting Buffalo State 26-15 today in a non-conference clash at Gaetano Stadium.
THE BASICS
FINAL SCORE: Utica - 26, Buffalo State – 15
LOCATION: Gaetano Stadium – Utica, N.Y.
RECORDS: Utica (2-0), Buffalo State (0-2)
INSIDE THE BENGAL BOX SCORE
- Senior quarterback Zak Ciezki (Cheektowaga/Cheektowaga) was 19 of 31 for 203 yards with a touchdown and an interception and also had 43 rushing yards on 11 attempts.
- Joe Stewart (Buffalo/Kenmore West) was the Bengals' top receiver with six catches for 50 yards.
- Devin Delmont (Blasdell/St. Francis) led the Bengals on defense with 11 tackles.
- Gino Bonagura (Lindenhurst/Lindenhurst) had 10 tackles and an interception, and Darren Wesley (Brooklyn/Erasmus Hall) had a pick-6, and Elloheim Tucker (Bronx/Cardinal Spellman) also had an interception.
HOW IT HAPPENED
- The only points of the opening half came in the form of a 33-yard Tommy Carr (Churchville/Churchville-Chili) field goal as time expired to give Buffalo State a 3-0 edge at the break.
- Utica finally broke through on its second possession of the second half, evening the score with a 30-yard field goal by Make Medici.
- The Pioneers took a lead they would not relinquish on the next possession, needing just three plays to go 56 yards, capped by a 25-yard touchdown pass from Logan Wilcox to JJ O'Connor.
- Wesley stepped in front of a Wilcox pass late in the third quarter and returned it 23 yards to the house to cut the deficit to 10-9, but the ensuing extra point was blocked and Marquis Simpson returned it 98 yards to tack on two points for Utica.
- The Pioneers marched 60 yards in eight plays on the next possession and pushed the lead to 19-9 on a 2-yard scoring run by Jamarious Morgan.
- O'Connor added another touchdown catch from 30 yards with 6:33 remaining to extend the Utica lead to 26-9.
- Ciezki connected with Jordan Evert (Amherst/Sweet Home) for a 5-yard touchdown with 1:08 remaining to complete the scoring.
- Uitca finished with 328 total yards, compared to 319 by Buffalo State.
FOR THE FOES
- Wilcox finished just 9 of 25 for 171 yards with two touchdowns and three interceptions.
- Morgan had 123 yards on 18 carries and a score.
- O'Connor had three catches for 70 yards and two touchdowns, and Peyton Miller had four catches for 89 yards.
- John Nish and Antonio Scala finished with 10 tackles each.
UP NEXT
Buffalo State will host Brockport next Saturday at noon.