GAME #9 - BUFFALO STATE BENGALS VS RPI ENGINEERS
Saturday, November 9, 2024 - 12:00 PM
Coyer Field – Buffalo, NY
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THE MATCHUP… Buffalo State is set to return to Coyer Field for the final time of the regular season as they will host RPI for another Liberty League matchup as well as Senior Day. The Engineers lead the all-time series 6-1 and have won each of the last five matchups.
THE BENGALS' LAST GAME… Last time out, the Bengals won their first conference game since 2019 following a 35-21 victory over the Rochester Yellowjackets.
Amir Cameron (Brooklyn, NY/ James Madison) finished the day going 7/14 passing, with 132 yards and a touchdown, while also rushing for 37 yards and a rushing touchdown.
Tyler Mills (Fulton, NY/G. Ray Bodley) was on the receiving end of Cameron's touchdown, his only reception of the game.
Ale Wilson (Bronx, NY/KIPP College Prep) rushed for 70 yards, and touchdown, while
Cody Phillips (Lancaster, NY/Lancaster) rushed for 54 yards on nine carries.
Justin Brown (Brooklyn, NY/Abraham Lincoln) led the Bengals in tackles with 10 total, while
Sincere Green (Jamestown, NY/Jamestown) was credited with eight total tackles including 2.5 tackles for loss and 1.5 sacks.
As the first quarter started, the Bengals came out the gate pressuring the Yellowjackets defense. Going on a six minute, 14 play drive, the Bengals intensity resulted in a touchdown, with their defense ready to answer the call. On the Yellowjackets first offensive possession, the Bengals forced a punt, with this game looking to be going the Bengals way. At the start of the second quarter, the Bengals converted on a Yellowjacket mistake, forcing an interception by
Basiaka Butcher (White Plains, NY/Valhalla), with Cameron finding Mills for the Bengals lone passing touchdown. After dueling possessions in the middle of the second, the Yellowjackets would get on the board and as the final seconds of the second quarter would end, the Bengals would go into halftime leading 15-7. Like the second quarter, the Bengals and the Yellowjackets would trade possessions, with neither team finding the endzone. But once again, an opportunistic Bengals defense would find ways to impact the game, with
Michael Lastique (Far Rockaway, NY/Midwood) forcing a fumble and
Dominic Ferguson recovering the ball to take it 42 yards and put the Bengals up 22-7 in the third quarter. With the team's signaling of "4's" raised for the fourth quarter, the Bengals looked to hold on to their lead and come back home with victory. After a
Caleb Kruzicki (Williamsville, NY/Williamsville South) two-yard touchdown, the Bengals would extend their lead to 28-7. But the Yellowjackets wouldn't go down without a fight, scoring on back-to-back possessions and putting the pressure on the Bengals offense to respond. After a failed onside kick with under two minutes left in the game, Wilson would put the final nail in the coffin, securing a Bengals victory in enemy territory and marking their first Liberty League victory since 2019.
Ryan Rose led the Yellowjackets in passing, going 21/39 for 229, two touchdowns and two interceptions. Trey Johnson led the Yellowjackets in receptions with six, while Jackson Kane and Samuel Nuamah both led in receiving yards with 52. Defensively, Joe DeBonis, Simon Weeren and Luke Herter all tallied nine total tackles for the Yellowjackets, with Weeren and Herter each credited for tackle for loss and DeBonis with two tackles for losses.
LAST TIME WE MET... The two sides last met a season ago where RPI earned a 51-28 victory. It was an offensive battle as the Bengals had 450 yards of total offense while the Engineers had 535 total yards.
RPI led 20-7 at halftime but overpowered the Bengals in the second half scoring 41 total points. Buffalo State attempted a late offensive surge but could not overcome the deficit.
DEFENSIVE POWERHOUSE… Buffalo State continues to have one of the strongest defensive units in the Liberty League. Green currently leads the Liberty League with 15.5 tackles for loss averaging nearly two yards for loss. Green is also third in the Liberty League with 70 total tackles on the year. As a team, their red zone defense ranks fourth 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 12 tackles shy of 200 for his career while Wilson is closing in on 2,000 career rushing yards.
WATCHING WILSON… Wilson currently sits sixth on the Liberty League leaderboards in rushing yards with 394 net yards. Averaging 4.2 yards per carry with a long of 47.
THE AMAZING AMIR… Cameron currently ranks sixth 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
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.
EYES ON THE ENGINEERS… The Engineers come to Buffalo with a record of 3-5 (1-3 Liberty League) and are looking to snap a two-game skid. Last time out, RPI fell to Hobart in a narrow 27-21 matchup.
Leading the Engineers offense is quarterback Jake Kazanowsky who has thrown for 1,547 yards with nine touchdowns and nine interceptions. In the receiving room, Sean Kelly has 50 catches for 477 yards and a trio of touchdowns. On the ground, Kayden White is averaging nearly 50 rushing yards per game with six touchdowns on the year.
Defensively, Anthony D'Agostino has been everywhere tallying 60 total tackles including 3.5 tackles for loss and a sack. Nate Sicard leads the team with four sacks while Cortez Garrett and Mark Lapioli each have a pair of interceptions.
SCHEDULES/RESULTS...
BUFFALO STATE (3-5, 1-3 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 *** |
W, 35-21 |
| Nov. 9 |
RPI *** |
1 PM |
| Nov. 16 |
at St. Lawrence *** |
1 PM |
*** LIBERTY LEAGUE CONTEST ***
RPI (3-5, 1-3 LIBERTY LEAGUE)
| Sep. 5 |
#6 WISCONSIN-LA CROSSE |
L, 35-0 |
| Sept. 13 |
at Wilkes |
W, 32-25 |
| Sept. 20 |
WPI |
W, 51-7 |
| Sept. 28 |
at #9 Endicott |
L, 28-20 |
| Oct. 5 |
at Rochester *** |
L, 14-7 |
| Oct. 12 |
ST. LAWRENCE *** |
W, 34-10 |
| Oct. 19 |
at Ithaca *** |
L, 33-14 |
| Nov. 2 |
HOBART *** |
L, 27-21 |
| Nov. 9 |
at Buffalo State *** |
12 PM |
| Nov. 16 |
UNION *** |
12 PM |
*** LIBERTY LEAGUE CONTEST ***
