GAME #7 - BUFFALO STATE BENGALS VS ITHACA BOMBERS
Saturday, October 26, 2024 - 12:00 PM
Coyer Field – Buffalo, NY

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THE MATCHUP… Buffalo State returns home as they will host the Ithaca Bombers in their second-to-last home game of the 2024 regular season. Ithaca holds the all-time series lead with a record of 20-10, winning each of the last five matchups overall.
Last time out, the Bombers came away with a 62-0 victory last season.

THE BENGALS' LAST GAME… Last time out, the Bengals fell 31-10 to Union in another Liberty League matchup.

Amir Cameron (Brooklyn, NY/James Madison) was 15-27 on the day for 237 yards and a touchdown. Mikai Johnson (Far Rockaway, NY/James Madison) had a career day for the Bengals snagging six receptions for 146 yards and a touchdown. On the defensive side, Quadir McEachin (Brooklyn, NY/James Madison) and Sincere Green (Jamestown, NY/Jamestown) each had 11 total tackles.

Union was able to march downfield on their second drive of the game and score the opening touchdown. The Garnet Chargers were successful on a two-point conversion attempt. Buffalo State got on the scoreboard halfway through the second quarter after a 36-yard field goal from Nick Sciandra (North Tonawanda, NY/North Tonawanda). The Garnet Chargers responded with a pair of touchdowns before the end of the half, holding a 21-3 lead entering halftime. Both sides were quiet in the third quarter until Union hit a 37-yard field goal. The Bengals offense responded with a 49-yard pass from Cameron to Johnson to get a Buffalo State touchdown. Heading into the final quarter of action, Union was able to add another score before cruising to victory.

Patch Flanagan was 9-16 for 139 yards and a pair of touchdowns. Union's defense tallied three sacks and four interceptions to keep the Bengals offense quiet.
 
LAST TIME WE MET... The two sides last met a season ago where Ithaca was able to shutout the Bengals for the first time since 2016.

The Bengals were forced to punt on their opening possession, and Ithaca kicked a field goal to go up 3-0 with 8:55 remaining. Noah Kimble (Depew, NY/Lancaster) was intercepted on the next play from scrimmage, and the Bomber scored on a trick play two plays later, a 37-yard touchdown pass from Julien Deumaga to Sam Kline. After a Buffalo State three-and-out with a solid return by Ithaca, the Bombers scored on a 17-yard rushing touchdown by Jalen Leonard-Osbourne. Ithaca stuck for touchdowns of 80 yards and 68 yards on the next two drives to lead 31-0 after one quarter. Kimble was intercepted on the second play of the second quarter, leading to another Ithaca touchdown. Ithaca drove down the field again on the next drive, but the Bengals' defense stiffened to force a 20-yard field goal attempt, which was successful. The Bengals went three-and-out again, and colin Schumm connected with Deumaga for a 36-yard touchdown to make it 48-0 at halftime. Ithaca scored a touchdown out of half on a 12-play, 71-yard drive to make it 55-0. Kimble was intercepted again on the next Buffalo State drive, leading to a two-yard touchdown run by Ryan Brozovic on the opening play of the fourth quarter. Kimble was intercepted on the final two Buffalo State drives to end the game.

Schumm finished 15-for-21 through the air with a pair of touchdown passes. Cam Paquette recorded a pair of interceptions for Ithaca.

DEFENSIVE POWERHOUSE… Buffalo State continues to have one of the strongest defensive units in the Liberty League. Sincere Green (Jamestown, NY/Jamestown) currently leads the Liberty League with 11.0 tackles for loss averaging nearly two yards for loss. As a team, their red zone defense ranks third in the conference while snagging an interception, two turnover on downs, and a 4-9 (44%) success rate on field goals.
 
MILESTONE WATCH… Kenneth Mosley (Buffalo, NY/Kenmore West) and Wilson are also making strides towards setting career marks. Mosley is 18 tackles shy of 200 for his career while Wilson is closing in on 2,000 career rushing yards.
 
WATCHING WILSON…  Wilson currently sits seventh on the Liberty League leaderboards in rushing yards with 302 net yards. Averaging over 5.0 yards per carry with a long of 47.

THE AMAZING AMIR… Cameron currently ranks fifth in the Liberty League in total offense averaging nearly 160 yards per game.

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.

A LOOK AT THE BOMBERS… 

SCHEDULES/RESULTS... 

BUFFALO STATE (2-4, 0-2 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 ***	L, 31-3
Oct. 19	at Union ***	L, 31-10
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 ***

ITHACA (3-3, 2-1 LIBERTY LEAGUE)

Sep. 7	#8 JOHNS HOPKINS	L, 27-23
Sept. 14	#16 ENDICOTT	L, 13-7
Sept. 28	at Curry	W, 38-13
Oct. 5	at Hobart ***	L, 16-7
Oct. 12	ROCHESTER ***	W, 24-0
Oct. 19	RPI ***	W, 33-14
Oct. 26	at Buffalo State ***	12 PM
Nov. 2	at Union ***	12 PM
Nov. 9	ST. LAWRENCE ***	1 PM
Nov. 16	at Cortland	12 PM

*** LIBERTY LEAGUE CONTEST ***