GAME #3 - BUFFALO STATE BENGALS vs. ALFRED STATE PIONEERS (HOMECOMING)
Saturday, Sep. 28, 2024 - 5:00 PM
Coyer Field – Buffalo, NY

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THE MATCHUP… Buffalo State is set to return to Coyer Field for Homecoming as they host the Alfred State Pioneers for a late-night Saturday matchup. The Bengals are 1-0 all-time in the series with the Pioneers following a 27-0 victory in their only meeting back in 2016.

THE BENGALS' LAST GAME… The Bengals earned their first win of the season in dominant fashion following a 42-6 victory over Hilbert.

Amir Cameron (Brooklyn, NY/James Madison) led the Bengals as he matched the program record with five touchdown passes. Cameron was named Liberty League Offensive Player of the Week for his performance.

Tariq Nelson (Brooklyn, NY/Boys & Girls) and Cody Phillips (Lancaster, NY/Lancaster) each had a pair of touchdowns for the Bengals while Darion Jones (Buffalo, NY/Hutch Tech) and Julian Maloney (Buffalo, NY/West Seneca West) also scored.

Nelson led the receiving room with five receptions for 88 yards while Ale Wilson (Bronx, NY/KIPP College Prep) rushed for 93 yards. On the defensive side, Sincere Green (Jamestown, NY/Jamestown) paced the squad with 11 tackles and a sack.

After holding the Hawks on their opening drive, the Bengals responded with a strong drive downfield as Cameron connected with Phillips for the first touchdown of the game. The Bengals would tack on early in the second quarter and Jones was wide open in the middle of the endzone for an easy Bengals score. After a penalty-driven drive for Hilbert, Buffalo State took over and made quick work downfield as Phillips found the endzone for a second time. The Hawks were able to make a quick drive downfield and add a touchdown before the half but failed on a two-point attempt, giving the Bengals a 21-6 lead at halftime.

On the Bengals opening drive of the third quarter, the team quickly ran downfield as Cameron placed a perfect pass for Nelson in the endzone for another Buffalo State score. Later in the third, the Hawks would turn it over on downs, giving the Bengals another opportunity to add to their lead. Cameron's pass was right to Maloney, who juggled the tipped pass and came down with the catch for his first touchdown of the season. Cameron would connect again with Nelson late in the fourth to help the Bengals cruise to their first win of the season.

LAST TIME WE MET... As the two sides met for their one and only meeting back in 2016, the Bengals dominated on both sides of the ball in the shutout win.

Kyle Hoppy finished 20-35 for 224 yards and a touchdown while Tre Jones had a strong showing with 24 rushes for 156 yards and a touchdown. Had Bryant led the Bengals' receivers with five receptions for 71 yards.

For the pioneers, Dashon Turner was 6-17 for 104 yards with a 62-yard pass to Luke Nourse for the longest offensive play of the game.

After a Buffalo State field goal in the opening quarter, the Bengals were able to score a pair of touchdowns thanks to a three-yard run from Hoppy and a 10-yard pass to Stephen Johnson. The Pioneers couldn't get an offensive momentum with an interception and four punts in the first half.

Both sides would remain in a stalemate in the third quarter, however, Buffalo State would tack on a touchdown from Jones and a field goal from Marc Montana, his second of the game, to help solidify the Bengals win.

DEFENSIVE POWERHOUSE… Buffalo State continues to have one of the stronger defensive units in the Liberty League. Green currently leads the Liberty League with 5.5 tackles for loss averaging nearly three yards for loss. As a team their red zone defense also ranks second in the conference, just behind Rochester.

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 27. 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 42 tackles shy of 200 for his career while Wilson is closing in on 2,000 career rushing yards.'

THE AMAZING AMIR… Cameron currently ranks second in the Liberty League with five touchdown passes. Only trailing Patch Flanagan of Union who has seven.
 
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 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.

ASSESING ALFRED STATE… The Pioneers make the trip to Buffalo looking to get back in the win column with a record of 1-2 (0-0 ECFC) on the year. After winning their first matchup of the season against Anderson University, the Pioneers have been shutout in back-to-back contests against Rochester and MIT.

Leading the Pioneers offense is Justin Horvath who has thrown for 259 yards across their first three matchups. On the ground, Josh Graham has netted 156 yards on 45 attempts while Noah Currier leads the receiving room with nine receptions for 79 yards.

On the defensive side, Silas Egenlauf has been a force for Alfred State with 39 total tackles with 3.5 tackles for loss, a forced fumble, and a QB hit.

SCHEDULES/RESULTS... 

BUFFALO STATE (1-1, 0-0 LIBERTY LEAGUE)

Sept. 5	at Brockport	L, 27-0
Sept. 14	HILBERT	W, 42-6
Sept. 28	ALFRED STATE (Homecoming)	5 PM
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 ***

ALFRED STATE (1-2, 0-0 ECFC)

Sept. 7	ANDERSON (IN)	W, 13-0
Sept. 14	ROCHESTER	L, 28-0
Sept. 21	at MIT	L, 20-0
Sept. 28	at Buffalo State	5 PM
Oct. 5	APPRENTICE SCHOOL	12 PM
Oct. 12	at Curry	12 PM
Oct. 19	DEAN ***	12 PM
Oct. 26	at Anna Maria ***	12 PM
Nov. 2	GALLAUDET ***	12 PM
Nov. 16	ECFC CHAMPIONSHIP ***	TBA

*** ECFC CONTEST ***