GAME #8 - BUFFALO STATE BENGALS AT ROCHESTER YELLOWJACKETS
Saturday, November 2, 2024 - 12:00 PM
Edwin Fauver Stadium – Rochester, NY
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THE MATCHUP… Buffalo State is set to head back on the road as they will travel down the I-90 to battle the Rochester Yellowjackets in another Liberty League matchup. The Bengals have a narrow 4-3 all-time series lead against the Yellowjackets despite Rochester winning each of the last three matchups.
THE BENGALS' LAST GAME… Last time out, the Bengals fell 49-14 in a conference home matchup with the Ithaca Bombers.
Amir Cameron (Brooklyn, NY/James Madison) was 12-20 through the air for 167 yards, a touchdown, and an interception. Cameron also led the Bengals on the ground rushing for 52 yards including a long of 43 yards.
Chris Boadi (Bronx, NY/New Visions) rushed for 49 yards and a touchdown while
Mikai Johnson (Far Rockaway, NY/James Madison) had four receptions for 68 yards and a touchdown.
Quadir McEachin (Brooklyn, NY/James Madison) had a strong showing defensively for the Bengals with 12 total tackles while
Sincere Green (Jamestown, NY/Jamestown) had 11 total tackles and two for loss.
Ithaca got the scoring started quickly getting a safety on the first play of the game. The Bombers responded with a drive down field as Jake Williams rushed eight yards for the touchdown. Ithaca would add two more touchdowns in the quarter to jump out to a quick 23-0 lead. After Williams scored another touchdown early in the second quarter, Buffalo State responded with a pair of 40+ yard rushes from Cameron and Boadi to get the Bengals in the redzone. Boadi was able to rush left shortly after for the Bengals touchdown.
Coming out of the half, the Bombers came out firing with a 55-yard rushing touchdown to take a 36-7 lead. The Bombers would add two more touchdowns before the Bengals got another opportunity as Cameron found Johnson for a 42-yard touchdown. Ithaca took a knee in the final seconds to secure the win.
Matthew Parker was 21-25 for 219 yards and a touchdown for Ithaca. Jalen Leonard-Osbourne rushed for 126 yards and a pair of touchdowns. Ryan Burns led the Bombers on the defensive side with seven total tackles.
LAST TIME WE MET... The two sides last met a season ago where Rochester was able to score a pair of touchdowns in the fourth quarter to steal a 29-22 win.
Ale Wilson (Bronx, NY/KIPP College Prep) rushed for 105 yards on 17 carries. He also hauled in two receptions for 29 yards and a receiving touchdown.
Basiaka Butcher (White Plains, NY/Valhalla) had his second interception of the season, and his second pick-six after returning the pick for a touchdown.
Darion Jones (Buffalo, NY/Hutch Tech) made six catches for 57 yards and a touchdown.
Noah Kimble (Depew, NY/Lancaster) finished 17-for-31 for 193 yards, throwing two touchdown passes.
Nicholas Bauer (Suffern, NY/Suffern) had a sack and two tackles for loss.
The Yellowjackets got the scoring started in the second quarter with a 10-yard touchdown pass following an interception from Jordy Tawa.
After a bad snap from the Bengals gave Rochester two points for a safety, Buffalo State was able to force a fumble on the Yellowjackets and capitalize scoring their first touchdown of the night. Rochester quickly marched downfield shortly after to add another score and carry a 15-6 lead into halftime.
Coming out of the half, Buffalo State was able to quickly score following a 22-yard catch-and-run from Wilson.
Michael Lastique (Far Rockaway, NY/Midwood) snagged an interception on the next Yellowjacket drive; however, the Bengals were unable to capitalize.
Buffalo State would snag another interception on the next drive as Butcher jumped in front of the pass and returned it for a touchdown. After the Yellowjackets scored, the game was tied at 22 with just over five minutes left in regulation.
The Bengals got the ball back with just over one minute left in regulation, but suffered and interception which led Rochester to be able to score the eventual game-winning touchdown
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. Green is also third in the Liberty League with 62 total tackles on the year. As a team, their red zone defense ranks third in the conference while snagging an interception, three 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 15 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 332 net yards. Averaging 4.4 yards per carry with a long of 47.
THE AMAZING AMIR… Cameron currently ranks fifth in the Liberty League in total offense averaging nearly 170 yards per game.
OH CAPTAIN! MY CAPTAIN!… Mosley is one of four captains for the Bengals this season. He is joined by Jones,
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.
RESEARCHING ROCHESTER… The Yellowjackets enter the week with a record of 6-1 (2-1 Liberty League) after shutting out St. Lawrence, 21-0, last time out. Rochester is also 4-0 in the friendly confines of Edwin Fauver Stadium.
Leading the charge is quarterback Ryan Rose who has thrown for 836 yards and six touchdowns while averaging 139.33 yards per game. Daniel Papantonis has been a stud in the rushing room averaging nearly 110 yards per game with six touchdowns. Aidan Papantonis and Trey Johnson are averaging over 40 receiving yards per game with three touchdowns apiece.
On the defensive side, Luke Herter has 57 total tackles, an interception, and a sack. Jordy Tawa has 11 pass breakups to lead the conference.
SCHEDULES/RESULTS...
BUFFALO STATE (2-5, 0-3 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 *** |
L, 49-14 |
| Nov. 2 |
at Rochester *** |
12 PM |
| Nov. 9 |
RPI *** |
1 PM |
| Nov. 16 |
at St. Lawrence *** |
1 PM |
*** LIBERTY LEAGUE CONTEST ***
ROCHESTER (6-1, 2-1 LIBERTY LEAGUE)
| Sep. 7 |
at Olivet |
W, 28-21 |
| Sept. 14 |
at Alfred State |
W, 28-0 |
| Sept. 21 |
SALVE REGINA |
W, 28-6 |
| Sept. 28 |
NEW ENGLAND |
W, 42-21 |
| Oct. 5 |
RPI *** |
W, 14-7 |
| Oct. 12 |
at Ithaca *** |
L, 24-0 |
| Oct. 26 |
ST. LAWRENCE *** |
12 PM |
| Nov. 2 |
BUFFALO STATE *** |
12 PM |
| Nov. 9 |
at Union *** |
12 PM |
| Nov. 16 |
at Hobart *** |
1 PM |
*** LIBERTY LEAGUE CONTEST ***
