GAME #10 – BUFFALO STATE BENGALS AT ST. LAWRENCE SAINTS
Saturday, Nov. 12, 2022 – 1:00 PM
Weeks Field at Leckonby Stadium – Canton, NY
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THE MATCHUP… Buffalo State heads into the final game of the season, hitting the road for a Liberty League matchup with the St. Lawrence Saints.
This will be the eighth meeting all-time between the sides, but just the fourth meeting since 1985. St. Lawrence holds a 5-2 edge in the previous seven matchups and the Saints also hold a two-game winning streak over the Bengals. However, Buffalo State came away victorious the last time the game was played in Canton, scoring 14 fourth-quarter points to take down St. Lawrence, 24-21, in 2017.
THE BENGALS' LAST GAME… The Buffalo State football team wrapped up its home schedule with a 63-7 loss to Hobart in Liberty League action at Coyer Field on Saturday afternoon.
The Bengals picked up one first down on their opening drive, but were then forced to punt.
Nick Sciandra's (N. Tonawanda, NY/N. Tonawanda) punt was blocked and recovered by Hobart at the Buffalo State 25-yard line. Hobart capitalized on the great field position on a two-yard quarterback keeper by David Krewson.
Another Buffalo State punt and a questionable kick catch interference penalty gave Hobart the ball near midfield, and two plays later, the Statesmen struck paydirt on a 28-yard run by Rayshawn Boswell.
Buffalo State advanced into Hobart territory on its next drive but turned the ball over on downs on fourth-and-two. Hobart advanced to the Buffalo State 11-yard line, but Tobias Wefering's 30-yard field goal went wide left.
After a three-and-out, the Statesmen extended the lead to 21-0 on a two-yard touchdown rush by Tim Denham Jr.
Tom Delgado's (Bayside, NY/Bayside) pass was intercepted and returned for a touchdown on the next Bengals' drive, and a dropped snap on a punt by Sciandra on the next drive led to another Hobart score.
Another pick-six and a excellent grab by Peyton Cayea down the right sideline for a 23-yard touchdown reception extended the lead to 49-0 at halftime.
On Hobart's opening drive of the second half,
Brandon Barksdale (Buffalo, NY/Bennett) blocked Wefering's 34-yard field goal attempt. Buffalo State advanced into the red zone, but the Bengals were stopped on fourth down from the nine-yard line.
Midway through the quarter,
Orlando Cabrera (Brooklyn, NY/Plainedge) had a strip sack to give the Bengals the ball at the eight-yard line, but Zac Ambielli scooped up a fumble on a failed handoff exchange two plays later, and raced 93 yards untouched to the end zone.
Delgado found Jones for an eight-yard score on the opening play of the fourth quarter, capping an 11-play, 75-yard drive.
The Statesmen responded with a touchdown of their own, and Buffalo State was unable to find the endzone on its last drive, despite reaching the Hobart seven-yard line.
Ale Wilson (Bronx, NY/Kipp College Prep) tallied his first 100-yard rushing game of the season, finishing with 113 yards.
Darion Jones (Buffalo, NY/Hutch Tech) nabbed his second touchdown of the season, making four grabs for 48 yards.
Seth Penn (Angola, NY/Lake Shore) led the Buffalo State defense with three tackles for loss.
LAST TIME WE MET… Wide receiver
Nas Jackson (Buffalo, NY/St. Joseph's) scored a touchdown in his final game for the Buffalo State football team, but visiting St. Lawrence converted on all five of its red zone chances as the Bengals fell to the Saints by a 41-6 score in the season finale, on a snowy and cold Saturday, November 13, 2021.
The Bengals drove down the field on their first drive, but
Nick Sciandra's (North Tonawanda, NY/North Tonawanda) 27-yard field goal was blocked by St. Lawrence's Victor Gamberoni, killing a 14-play, 51-yard drive.
The Saints marched down the field quickly, striking with a Daniel Lawther screen pass to Peyton Schmidt, as he rumbled 75 yards for the opening score. Ian Doin missed the ensuing kick to keep the score 6-0.
The Saints scored again on their next drive, as Lawther found TJ Cornacchia for a 19-yard touchdown pass.
Midway through the second quarter, the Saints increased the lead to 20, as Schmitt's 20-yard run set up an 8-yard touchdown run by Jamie Battaglia.
Buffalo State's first pass on the ensuing drive was intercepted, as Nicholas Baldini stepped in front of a Sionko pass with 52 seconds later. On the next play from scrimmage, Hill countered, catching a tipped pass from Lawther.
The Bengals then drove 28 yards in 33 seconds, but Sciandra missed a 42-yard field goal as they remained without a score entering the half.
St. Lawrence opened the second half with a scoring drive, as Battaglia plunged it in from a yard out, leading 27-0.
St. Lawrence then tallied touchdowns on two of its next three possessions, increasing its lead to 41-0.
Buffalo State finished the scoring, getting on the board on its first drive in the fourth quarter, as Dupee threw a low, 14-yard pass to the front corner of the end zone that Jackson slid and caught.
HITTING THE BOOKS… Buffalo State had seven players selected to the Liberty League All-Academic team, the conference announced prior to the Hobart game.
Jeffrey Burgess (Lancaster, NY/Lancaster),
Dominic Ferguson (Buffalo, NY/Kenmore West),
Julian Maloney (Buffalo, NY/West Seneca West),
Kyle Melito (Rochester, NY/Aquinas), Christian Schuster (Clarence, NY/Clarence),
Cam Sionko (Grand Island, NY/Grand Island), and
Caden Wheeler (Waverly, NY/Waverly) all have maintained a 3.30 cumulative GPA through their collegiate careers.
NEED MORE ALE… Ale Wilson's 113 rushing yards against Hobart last weekend were the most by a Bengal since Martin Bailey rushed for 122 yards against Rochester in 2019.
A CUT ABOVE… Tariq Nelson (Brooklyn, NY/Boys and Girls) leads the conference in receptions with 61 in nine games. His 6.8 receptions per game are 16th-most in the country.
BLOCK OUT THE NOISE… Buffalo State is tied atop the Liberty League rankings with four blocked kicks this season.
Alex Westcott (Orchard Park, NY/Orchard Park) has a pair of blocks, while
Seth Penn (Angola, NY/Lake Shore) and
Brandon Barksdale (Buffalo, NY/Bennett) each have one block.
RIDING SOLO… The Bengals have three of the top 10 leaders in the conference in solo tackles.
Michael Drywa (West Babylon, NY/East Islip) leads the Liberty League with 40 solo tackles, while
Anderson Osei-Gyimah (Bronx, NY/New Visions) is fifth, and
Ethan Biscaro (Batavia, NY/Batavia) is sixth.
TOP FIVE… Seth Penn is fifth in the Liberty League in tackles for loss. The senior defensive end has 8.5 total tackles for loss. Teammate
Darren Thompson's 1.07 tackles for loss per game are fourth in the conference.
THROUGH THE AIR… The Buffalo State offense has picked up the most passing first downs in the conference this season. The Bengals have 94 passing first downs, while Ithaca is in second place with 79 passing first downs.
PICK MAESTRO… With another interception this season,
Ethan Biscaro would be the first Bengal since Tiquan Simpkins in 2017 to record four interceptions in a single season.
FROM THE BRONX TO BUFFALO… Lazarus Morgan was appointed as the sixth head coach in the history of the Buffalo State football program In January 2022.
A native of the Bronx, Morgan was a defensive back at Utica from 2006-08, then began his coaching career at his alma mater from 2009-13. He then moved to Alfred University from 2014-19, serving as the Saxon's defensive coordinator in the final four seasons.
He arrives to Buffalo after serving as the defensive coordinator at SUNY Cortland during the 2021 season, where he oversaw the fifth-ranked overall defense in NCAA Division III, helping guide the Red Dragons to an 11-1 record, an Empire 8 title, and a trip to the NCAA playoffs.
CAPTAINS OF MORGAN... Four players will lead Buffalo State in 2022 as team captains.
Seth Penn (Angola, NY/Lake Shore) and
Anderson Osei-Gyimah (Bronx, NY/New Visions) will lead the Buffalo State defense, with
Tariq Nelson (Brooklyn, NY/Boys and Girls) and
Alex Westcott (Orchard Park, NY/Orchard Park) serving as offensive captains.
SCOUTING THE SAINTS… St. Lawrence enters the final game of the season with a 3-6 overall record (1-4 Liberty League). The Saints lost a defensive struggle to RPI in their last game, 10-6.
On offense, the Saints average 15.2 points per game. St. Lawrence has managed to score 30 or more points in three games this season, and have won all three. Daniel Lawther quarterbacks the offense with nine passing touchdowns, and three rushing touchdowns on the year. Five of Lawther's touchdown passes have gone to receiver T.J. Cornacchia, who the Bengals will hope to shut down this weekend.
On the defensive side, St. Lawrence has allowed an average of 25.0 points per game, and has forced ten turnovers on the season. Grady Harrington and Victor Gamberoni have each recorded a pair of interceptions, while Bennett Cheer is the only Liberty League player this season to forced two fumbles.
SCHEDULES/RESULTS…
BUFFALO STATE (0-9, 0-5 Liberty League)
Sept. 3 at St. John Fisher............................... L 62-21
Sept. 17 #15 SUNY CORTLAND………………........... L 66-7
Sept. 24 MORRISVILLE STATE (Homecoming)..L 31-10
Oct. 1 * at Union……………………........................... L 45-0
Oct. 8 * RENSSELAER POLYTECHNIC............ L 45-14
Oct. 15 * at Rochester....................................... L 12-6
Oct. 21 * #12 ITHACA........................................ L 51-10
Oct. 29 at Brockport (I-90 Bowl) .......................L 54-2
Nov. 5 * HOBART……………….................................L 63-7
Nov. 12 * at St. Lawrence……………......................... 1:00
* Liberty League game HOME GAMES IN CAPS
ST. LAWRENCE (3-6, 1-4 Liberty League)
Sept. 3 ENDICOTT (MA)……………….................. L 27-0
Sept. 10 at Norwich (VT)…..……………….......... W 30-19
Sept. 16 MORRISVILLE STATE..................... L 17-15
Sept. 24 at Castleton (VT)………………............. W 34-6
Oct. 1 * UNION………...................................... L 44-7
Oct. 15 * at # 12 Ithaca………………................... L 40-0
Oct. 22 * HOBART…………..…........................... L 31-10
Oct. 29 * at Rochester……..............................W 35-31
Nov. 5 * at Rensselaer Polytechnic..............L 10-6
Nov. 12 * BUFFALO STATE……………………........ 1:00
* Liberty League game HOME GAMES IN CAPS
