GAME #4 - BUFFALO STATE BENGALS AT MERCYHURST UNIVERSITY LAKERS
Saturday, October 5, 2024 - 1:00 PM
Saxon Stadium – Erie, PA

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THE MATCHUP… Buffalo State heads back on the road as they battle Mercyhurst University for their final non-conference matchup of the season. All-time, the two sides have met 16 times, where Buffalo State holds the advantage with a narrow 9-7 record. The Bengals have also won each of the last seven matchups with the last one coming in a 16-14 thriller back in 1997.

THE BENGALS' LAST GAME… Last time out, the Bengals earned a 12-0 victory over Alfred State to celebrate Homecoming. The win gave Buffalo State their first winning record since 2017 as well as their first shutout since 2016 when they coincidently beat the Pioneers 27-0.

Amir Cameron (Brooklyn, NY/James Madison) led the Bengals offense for the second straight contest throwing for 96 yards with 87 rushing yards; including a game-sealing 45-yard touchdown run to propel the Bengals to victory. Ale Wilson (Bronx, NY/KIPP College Prep) was a force on the ground rushing for 132 yards across 16 attempts. Nick Sciandra (North Tonawanda, NY/North Tonawanda) nailed a 53-yard field goal in the first half to set a new Buffalo State program record, which was 52-yards set by Marc Montana back in 2014. On the defensive side, Kenneth Mosley (Buffalo, NY/Kenmore West) and Sincere Green (Jamestown, NY/Jamestown) each tallied nine tackles while Green had a forced fumble and two sacks.

After a slow start to the first quarter, the Bengals were able to gain some momentum downfield. Following a sack from the Pioneers, Sciandra was set up for his record-breaking field goal that he sent right down the middle. He previous career-high was 51 which he set last season. At the start of the second quarter, the Pioneers failed on a field goal attempt which led to a Buffalo State 3-0 lead at halftime.

Alfred State had another chance to tie the game with a field goal in the third quarter, but Brandon Gracey (Camden, NY/Mexico Academy) reached his arm just high enough to block the kick as Mosley recovered the ball to gain the turnover. Buffalo State carried the momentum into the final 15 minutes of action clinging to a 3-0 lead. The Pioneers threatened late but failed to convert on fourth down inside the Bengals 10-yard line. Late in the fourth quarter, Wilson found an opening for a 47-yard run to get into enemy territory. Following the two-minute warning, the Bengals came out ready as Cameron avoided a sack and rushed down the sideline for the Bengals' touchdown. Alfred State took a safety before recovering on onside kick. Buffalo State would then seal the game thanks to a sack from Dominic Ferguson (Buffalo, NY/Kenmore East) and Samuel Palmesano (Corning, NY/Corning-Painted Post) to give the Bengals their first winning record since the 2017 season.

LAST TIME WE MET... The two sides last met back in 1997. Buffalo State came away with a 16-14 victory to win their seventh straight against the Lakers.

DEFENSIVE POWERHOUSE… Buffalo State continues to have one of the strongest defensive units in the Liberty League. Green currently leads the Liberty League with 8.5 tackles for loss averaging nearly three yards for loss. As a team their red zone defense also ranks first in the conference holding teams to just three touchdowns, 0-3 on field goal attempts, and also a turnover on downs.

HE DID IT!… Nelson solidified himself with 2,000 career receiving yards. Nelson is also 38 receptions away from 200 his career and has the second-longest streak for consecutive games with a catch at 28. 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 33 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.

A LOOK AT THE LAKERS… Mercyhurst welcomes the Bengals with a record of 1-4 (0-0 NEC). In their first year as a Division I program, the Lakers earned a win over Wheeling University, 28-25, and have since last four straight matchups. Last time out, the Lakers fell 25-24 to Frostburg State in a heartbreaker.

Leading the Lakers offense Adam Urena who has thrown for over 1,000 yards across five games with 11 touchdowns and just one interception. His top target has been Cameron Barmore who has 30 receptions and six touchdowns, averaging 72 yards per game. On the ground, Ayron Rodriguez has rushed for just over 200 yards with a pair of touchdowns. Defensively, Tyler Buterbaugh has 39 total tackles with an interception and 3.5 tackles for loss.

SCHEDULES/RESULTS... 

BUFFALO STATE (2-1, 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	1 PM
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 ***

MERCYHURST UNIVERSITY (1-4)

Aug. 29	at Wheeling	W, 28-25
Sept. 7	at Howard	L, 32-31
Sept. 14	at Robert Morris	L, 55-28
Sept. 21	at Montana State	L, 52-13
Sept. 28	FROSTBURG STATE	L, 25-24
Oct. 5	BUFFALO STATE	1 PM
Oct. 12	at Central Connecticut State	12 PM
Oct. 26	at Sacred Heart	12 PM
Nov. 2	at Duquesne	12 PM
Nov. 9	LINCOLN	1 PM

Nov. 23   SAINT FRANCIS                            1 PM