GAME #5 - BUFFALO STATE BENGALS VS. HOBART STATESMEN
Saturday, October 12, 2024 - 3:00 PM
Coyer Field – Buffalo, NY

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THE MATCHUP… Buffalo State returns to the friendly confines of Coyer Field as they open Liberty League action against the Hobart Statesmen. Hobart currently leads the all-time series with a record of 7-3. The Statesmen have won each of the last five matchups following a 45-21 win last season.

THE BENGALS' LAST GAME… Last time out, the Bengals dropped their matchup, 55-0, against the Division I Mercyhurst Lakers.

Noah Kimble (Depew, NY/Lancaster) was 8-18 for 60 yards on the day. Chris Boadi (Bronx, NY/New Visions/JFK) led the Bengals' rushing room with 35 yards across nine attempts. Sincere Green (Jamestown, NY/Jamestown) led the Bengals defense with nine tackles including one for a three-yard loss.

Following the opening kickoff, the Lakers marched downfield scoring on their first possession. Later in the first quarter, Mercyhurst would add a field goal before an 18-yard touchdown pass to give them a 17-0 lead. The Lakers were able to tack on a pair of touchdowns and a field goal, leading 34-0 heading into halftime.

Mercyhurst added three more touchdowns in the fourth quarter and able to cruise for the shutout win.

Adam Urena threw six touchdown passes totaling 305 yards. Cameron Barmore had a 120-yard receiving day with a pair of touchdowns.

LAST TIME WE MET... The two sides last met a season ago back in early October at Boswell Field at David J. Urick Stadium. After a dominate 31-point second quarter, the Statesmen were able to cruise the second half and secure the win.

Amir Cameron (Brooklyn, NY/James Madison) had one passing touchdown and two rushing touchdowns in his first career start. Ale Wilson (Bronx, NY/KIPP College Prep) rushed for 81 yards across 19 carries. Evan Cervantes (Cicero, NY/Bishop Ludden) led the Buffalo State defense with 14 tackles, including one for loss, and recovered a fumble. Kenneth Mosley (Buffalo, NY/Kenmore West) tallied his first career interception.

The score remained tied 7-7 after the first quarter. In the second, Hobart had five unanswered scores as they carried a 38-7 lead into halftime. The Statesmen offensive surge consisted of four total touchdowns with two of them being 40+ yard plays.

After Hobart added another touchdown early in the third, the Bengals were able to put up two more scores thanks to a one-yard run from Cameron and a 25-yard reception by Julian Maloney (Buffalo, NY/West Seneca West).

DEFENSIVE POWERHOUSE… Buffalo State continues to have one of the strongest defensive units in the Liberty League. Green currently leads the Liberty League with 9.5 tackles for loss averaging nearly three yards for loss. As a team, their red zone defense ranks third in the conference while snagging an interception, a turnover on downs, and a 2-5 (40%) success rate on field goals.

HE DID IT!… Nelson solidified himself with 2,000 career receiving yards. Nelson is also 32 receptions away from 200 his career and has the second-longest streak for consecutive games with a catch at 29. Buffalo State Hall of Famer Mike Doherty holds the record for most consecutive games with a catch since at least 2003 with a catch in 33 straight contests.

MILESTONE WATCH… In addition to Nelson, Mosley and Wilson are also making strides towards setting career marks. Mosley is 25 tackles shy of 200 for his career while Wilson is closing in on 2,000 career rushing yards.
 
THE DYNAMIC DUO… Both Nelson and Wilson currently sit in the top 10 of the Liberty League leaderboards in receiving yards and rushing yards, respectively.

OH CAPTAIN! MY CAPTAIN!… Mosley is one of four captains for the Bengals this season. He is joined by Darion Jones (Buffalo, NY/Hutch Tech), Shamond Phillips (Brooklyn, NY/It Takes A Village Academy), and Kenyi Onama (Rosedale, NY/Christ the King).

ABOUT THE BENGALS' COACH… Lazarus Morgan is in his third season at the helm of the Buffalo State football program in 2024 after being appointed as the sixth football coach in Buffalo State history in January 2022. 

In his first season as head coach, Morgan guided six student-athletes to Liberty League All-Conference selections, as well as seven All-Academic team winners. In 2023, the team saw nine All-Conference picks and six All-Academic winners.

He arrived in Buffalo after serving as the defensive coordinator at SUNY Cortland during the 2021 season, coordinating 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.

A native of the Bronx, Morgan played defensive back at Utica College 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.

STUDYING THE STATESMEN… Hobart makes the trip to Buffalo with a record of 4-1 and winners of their last three overall.

Last time out, the Statesmen opened Liberty League play with a huge 16-7 victory over Ithaca. Hobart has had a very productive season averaging 22.40 points per game and allowing opponents to just under 10.00 points per game.

Leading the Statesmen offense is senior quarterback Johnny Colombi who has thrown for 869 yards with eight touchdowns and just three interceptions. He is also contributing with his legs rushing for 122 yards and a pair of touchdowns. Ahmad Crowell paces the receivers with 13 catches for 317 yards and five touchdowns.

On the defensive side of the ball, Jaimen Bliss had 47.0 total tackles with two pass breakups and a forced fumble. Ryan Van Tassel and Corey Rock each have two interceptions on the year.

SCHEDULES/RESULTS... 

BUFFALO STATE (2-2, 0-0 LIBERTY LEAGUE)

Sept. 5	at Brockport	L, 27-0
Sept. 14	HILBERT	W, 42-6
Sept. 28	ALFRED STATE (Homecoming)	W, 12-0
Oct. 5	at Mercyhurst	L, 55-0
Oct. 12	HOBART ***	3 PM
Oct. 19	at Union ***	3 PM
Oct. 26	ITHACA ***	12 PM
Nov. 2	at Rochester ***	12 PM
Nov. 9	RPI ***	1 PM
Nov. 16	at St. Lawrence ***	1 PM

*** LIBERTY LEAGUE CONTEST ***

HOBART (4-1, 1-0 LIBERTY LEAGUE)

Sep. 6	ALFRED	W, 10-7
Sept. 14	at #9 Randolph-Macon	L, 14-7 (OT)
Sept. 21	MORAVIAN	W, 27-12
Sept. 28	at Keystone	W, 52-9
Oct. 5	ITHACA ***	W, 16-7
Oct. 12	at Buffalo State ***	3 PM
Oct. 19	at St. Lawrence ***	1 PM
Oct. 26	UNION ***	1 PM
Nov. 2	at RPI ***	3 PM
Nov. 16	ROCHESTER ***	1 PM

*** LIBERTY LEAGUE CONTEST ***