GAME #1 - BUFFALO STATE BENGALS AT BROCKPORT GOLDEN EAGLES
Thursday, Sep. 5, 2024 - 7:00 PM
Bob Boozer Field – Brockport, NY
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THE MATCHUP… Buffalo State is set to open the 2024 football season as they travel to Brockport to battle the Golden Eagles in the annual I-90 Bowl. Both teams are eager to get back into the action and start the season off with a win. All-time, Brockport holds the series lead with a record of 24-17 against the Bengals, including a win in each of the last seven matchups.
THE BENGALS' LAST GAME… Buffalo State closed out the regular season in 2023 falling short, 30-7, against St. Lawrence. St. Lawrence took the opening kickoff and went 63 yards in seven plays, capped by a 13-yard wide receiver swing pass from Will Lederman to Cole Salyards. After the Bengals went three-and-out, the Saints took possession at their own 48-yard line, and covered the 52 yards over 11 plays, including a nine-yard quarterback keeper by Lederman to make it 14-0.
Buffalo State turned the ball over on downs on the next drive, leading to a three-yard rushing touchdown by Daniel Lawther early in the second quarter. The extra point was unsuccessful as St. Lawrence led 20-0. After each team went three-and-out on their next drive, the Saints pinned Buffalo State deep with a 50-yard punt to the Buffalo State eight-yard line. The Bengals picked up one first down, but were forced to punt, leading to a St. Lawrence 23-yard field goal for a 23-0 lead into halftime.
The teams combined for just two first downs on the first five drives of the second half, before St. Lawrence scored on a two-play, 43-yard drive to make the score 30-0. The Bengals began to get things going on offense early in the fourth quarter, but
Nick Sciandra (North Tonawanda, NY/North Tonawanda) was short on a 43-yard field goal attempt to keep the game at 30-0. Buffalo State forced three three-and-outs for the St. Lawrence offense in the fourth quarter, and the offense found the end zone on a 16-yard touchdown pass from
Noah Kimble (Depew, NY/Lancaster) to
Tariq Nelson (Brooklyn, NY/Boys and Girls) with 1:03 remaining. Sciandra's ensuing onside kick went out of bounds, and the Saints ran out the clock on the final minute.
LAST TIME WE MET... The two sides met to kick-off the 2024 season where Brockport came away with a 42-6 victory. After Brockport returned the opening kickoff out near midfield, the Golden Eagles embarked on a nine-play drive to open the scoring with a three-yard quarterback keeper by Todd Simmons. After a Bengals' three-and-out, the Golden Eagles punched in a 5-yard run for another score. Sciandra got Buffalo State on the board with a 22-yard field goal, set up by 24 yards rushing on the drive by Wilson. Brockport scored another touchdown on a 42-yard punt return touchdown to take a 21-3 lead into halftime. The Bengals opened the second half on an 11-play, 53-yard drive, which Sciandra finished off with a 40-yard field goal. Brockport responded with a touchdown drive, then added a pair of late scores to put the game out of reach.
CAN HE DO IT… Tariq Nelson is currently sitting just 29 yards shy of 2,000 career receiving yards. Nelson is also 46 receptions away from 200 his career and has the third longest streak for consecutive games with a catch at 25. 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,
Kenneth Mosley (Buffalo, NY/Kenmore West) and
Ale Wilson (Bronx, NY/KIPP College Prep) are also making strides towards setting career marks. Mosley is 57 tackles shy of 200 for his career while Wilson is closing in on 2,000 career rushing yards.
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.
SCHEDULES/RESULTS...
BUFFALO STATE (0-0, 0-0 LIBERTY LEAGUE)
| Sept. 5 |
at Brockport |
7 PM |
| Sept. 14 |
HILBERT |
12 PM |
| Sept. 18 |
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 ***
BROCKPORT (0-0, 0-0 EMPIRE 8)
| Sept. 5 |
BUFFALO STATE |
7 PM |
| Sept. 14 |
at Susquehanna |
1 PM |
| Sept. 21 |
WILKES |
1 PM |
| Oct. 5 |
ST JOHN FISHER *** |
1 PM |
| Oct. 12 |
at Hartwick *** |
1 PM |
| Oct. 19 |
at Hilbert *** |
12 PM |
| Oct. 26 |
MORRISVILLE *** |
2 PM |
| Nov. 2 |
at UTICA *** |
12 PM |
| Nov. 9 |
CORTLAND *** |
12 pm |
| Nov. 16 |
at Alfred *** |
1 PM |
*** EMPIRE 8 CONTEST ***
