Game #9 - Buffalo State Bengals at Hobart Statesmen
Saturday, Nov. 6, 2021 - 1:00 PM
Boswell Field at David J. Urick Stadium (Geneva, N.Y.)
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The Matchup…The Buffalo State football team will take a road trip for the final time in the 2021 season, heading East to the Finger Lakes region to take on Hobart College. This is the eighth meeting between the two teams, as the Statesmen hold a narrow 4-3 advantage in the all-time series, which began in 1984.
The "Ruby" Season...Buffalo State Football embarks on its 40th season of varsity competition in 2021. Sept. 12, 1981 was the first varsity football game for the Bengals, falling to Alfred. The Bengals finished 3-3 in their opening season, defeating Niagara twice, sandwiched around a victory over St. John Fisher by a 16-7 score. The Bengals originally started as a club program in 1980, before earning varsity status the next year.
Buffalo State 150...This year marks the 150th year of Buffalo State College. Founded in 1871, Buffalo State has grown tremendously, and is now the largest comprehensive four-year college in the State University of New York system, educating over 9,000 undergraduate and graduate students each year.
The Bengals' Last Game…Brockport claimed the I-90 Bowl trophy for the fifth consecutive season, as the Buffalo State football team dropped a 41-16 decision to the Golden Eagles in non-conference action from Coyer Field on Oct. 30.
Brockport struck first after a slow first drive by both teams, as the Jala Coad scored from two-yards out in the first quarter. The ensuing extra point was blocked by Zach Rathka (Blenheim, N.Y./Cobleskill-Richmondville) as the Bengals trailed by six.
Three Buffalo State interceptions resulted in a trio of scores between the first and third quarters, as Brockport increased its lead to 27-0. On the ensuing possession, a 73-yard strike from Thomas Dupee (Brownville, N.Y./General Brown) to Tariq Nelson (Brooklyn, N.Y./Boys and Girls) put the Bengals on the board, and Dupee rushed in the ensuing two-point conversion as the Bengals trailed 27-8. On the ensuing kickoff, Nick Sciandra (North Tonawanda, N.Y./North Tonawanda) placed a high, bouncing onside kick that was recovered by Biscaro at the 50-yard line, but the Bengals couldn't capitalize on offense.
Brockport took advantage, as Coad scored his third rushing touchdown of the game to end the third, and Rashad Law opened the fourth with a rushing score on his own to increase the lead to 41-8. Later in the fourth, the Bengals capped the scoring as Cam Sionko (Grand Island, N.Y./Grand Island) threw a six-yard touchdown pass to Cam Crosier (Kenmore, N.Y./Kenmore East), and Nas Jackson (Buffalo, N.Y./St. Joe's) caught the ensuing two-point pass from Sionko.
Dupee completed 12 of 26 passes for 153 yards and a touchdown, throwing for a touchdown and three interceptions. Sionko completed 9 of 14 passes for 107 yards and a touchdown in the second half. Nelson caught six passes for a game-high 138 yards and a touchdown, including a 73-yard scamper in the third quarter, while Crosier added four receptions for 59 yards and a touchdown. On the defensive end, Ethan Biscaro (Batavia, N.Y./Batavia) led the defense with 10 tackles, five solo, while Justin Jones (Amherst, N.Y./Canisius) added four tackles and an interception.
Inside the Numbers...The Bengals are third in the conference with 1.71 sacks per game...They're also third with 37 penalties on the season...Barksdale is second in the conference with 1.1 passes defensed per game...Mike Glinski (Buffalo, N.Y./West Seneca West) leads the league and is 40th nationally with 9.4 tackles per game. Jones is fourth in the conference with 8.0 tackles per game...Nas Jackson (Buffalo, N.Y./St. Joseph's) is second in the conference with 16.9 yards per kick return...Praise Prawl (Jamaica, N.Y./Flushing) is second in the league with 282 kick return yards.
Liberty League Honors...The following Buffalo State student-athletes have earned Liberty League weekly honors this season:
Sept. 7 - Tariq Nelson (Liberty League Honor Roll)
Oct. 4 - Mike Glinski & Justin Jones (Liberty League Honor Roll)
Oct. 23 - Daveitto McKenzie (Liberty League Honor Roll)
Brainiac Bengals...Eight Bengal student-athletes were honored by the Liberty League this past Thursday, earning Liberty League All-Academic Honors.
Thomas Dupee, Sr., Fashion Design, Brownville, N.Y. - 3.82
Cam Crosier, Jr., Health & Wellness, Buffalo, N.Y. - 3.33
Joseph Gibson, Sr., Childhood Education, Arkport, N.Y. – 3.90
Nate Currier, Sr., Business, Ontario, N.Y. – 3.46
Omar Robinson, Sr., Criminal Justice, Arverne, N.Y. - 3.49
Kyle Schreader, Sr., Economics, Lockport, N.Y. - 3.43
Cam Sionko, Jr., Business, Grand Island, N.Y. – 3.69
Kyle Melito, Sr., Physics, Rochester, N.Y. – 3.50
Scouting Hobart...Hobart comes into this weekend's contest with a 6-2 record, and a 2-2 record in four Liberty League contests. Last weekend, Hobart fell short in a challenge for a postseason berth, falling in overtime by league-leading Union in a 27-20 overtime classic.
Defense and ball control are Hobart's bread and butter. The Statesmen are ninth nationally, averaging 34:19 of game time with the ball. They are fifth nationally at protecting the quarterback, allowing just 0.50 sacks per game. They also lead the Liberty League with 222 yards on the ground per game. On defense, the Statesmen have given up just 104 first downs on the season, which is 13th among Division III teams. They're also 15th nationally at third down conversion defense, as teams converted just 26.4 percent of the time.
Individually, running back Rayshawn Boswell leads the league in a number of categories, with 717 rushing yards, 6.89 rushing yards per carry, 143.6 all-purpose yards, 12 touchdowns, and 90 points scored. David Krewson quarterbacks the offense, completing 91 of 171 passes for 1,203 yards and five touchdowns compared to six interceptions. His main target is Alex LaBella, with 29 receptions for 328 yards and two touchdowns. Boswell also has 16 receptions for 233 yards and three touchdowns.
Defensively, Bryan Aguilar leads the way with 59 tackles (12 solo). Emmett Forde has 38 tackles and a team-leading three sacks and 10.5 tackles for loss. Cal Sullivan leads the team with three interceptions.
Last Time We Met...In the first matchup between the teams in 26 years, Hobart scored 21 unanswered points, as Buffalo State fell to the Statesmen by a 40-23 score at David J. Urick Stadium on Nov. 9.
Martin Bailey scored three touchdowns, including a pair on the ground, to lead the Bengal offense. Zak Ciezki completed 24 of 36 passes for 192 yards and one touchdown, and Jordan Evert tallied seven catches for 85 yards. Defensively, Gino Bonagura surpassed the 100-tackle mark for the second straight year with seven stops.
After Hobart struck first with a rushing touchdown, Bailey answered with a one-yard run, tying the game at seven. Ray Conley gave Hobart the lead with 45 seconds left in the quarter, as his 36-yard touchdown reception from Ryan Hofmann gave the Statesmen a 13-6 lead.
Three Hobart touchdowns between the second and third quarter gave Hobart a 33-7 lead, before the Bengals responded with a 23-yard Tommy Carr field goal. Hoffmann's third passing touchdown gave Hobart a 40-10 lead, before the Bengals answered with a pair of Bailey touchdowns, one in the air and one on the ground, to end the scoring at 40-23.
The Wizard of 'Oz'...Christian Ozolins was promoted to interim head football coach on Nov. 16, 2019 and will serve in that capacity through the 2021 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 University 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.
Looking Ahead…The Bengals will honor the senior class of 2021 and welcome back the "Pioneers of Bengal Football" in the home finale against St. Lawrence on Nov. 13, beginning at noon.
