GAME #3 - BUFFALO STATE BENGALS AT ALFRED STATE PIONEERS
Saturday, Sep. 20, 2025 - 6:00 PM
Pioneer Stadium – Alfred, NY
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THE MATCHUP… Buffalo State looks to get in the win column as they will hit the road for the first time this season. The Bengals will travel to Alfred State to battle the Pioneers for the third time all-time. Buffalo State holds a 2-0 record in the series following a 27-0 win back in 2016 and a 12-0 win last season.
THE BENGALS' LAST GAME… Buffalo State fell short in a back-and-forth affair with Hartwick last week with a final score of 29-27.
Noah Kimble (Depew, NY/Lancaster) threw for 173 yards with a pair of touchdowns with two interceptions.
Jeadi Higdon (Syracuse, NY/Corcoran) led the rushing room with 69 yards and a touchdown while
Keegan Whitfield (Fredonia, NY/Fredonia) posted 100 yards receiving with a touchdown. On the defensive side,
Nicholas Bradt (Gloversville, NY/Gloversville) had nine tackles and a pass breakup while
Sincere Green (Jamestown, NY/Jamestown) added eight tackles including 1.5 tackles for loss. Buffalo State put up 345 yards of total offense as they averaged just over five yards per play.
Hartwick opened the scoring on their opening drive with a 28-yard catch-and-run on fourth down. The Bengals evened the scoring at the start of the second quarter as
Caleb Kruzicki (Williamsville, NY/Williamsville South) blocked a punt from the Hawks that
Antuane Hawkins (Staten Island, NY/Curtis) was able to scoop and return for a Buffalo State touchdown. Later in the quarter, Hartwick added another score on a rushing attempt to take a 13-6 lead. Buffalo State responded on the very next drive. After a big rush from
Mikai Johnson (Far Rockaway, NY/James Madison), Higdon later ran 19 yards for his first career touchdown.
The Bengals took a 14-13 lead into halftime after earning a safety on a high snap from Hartwick. Coming out of the half, the Hawks retook the lead with a pick six from Robert Kennedy. Buffalo State scored right away in the fourth quarter to retake the lead as Kimble found Whitfield for Bengals' biggest offensive play of the season on a 78 yard reception.
Following a Buffalo State penalty, the Hawks blocked the extra point attempt, and Connor Brogan returned it down field for a safety to make the score 22-20 Hartwick. The Hawks scored another touchdown to lead 29-20 with just under 90 seconds to play. The Bengals marched down field where Kimble found
William Kitching (Flushing, NY/Bayside) for the score, giving Buffalo State some late life. Hartwick recovered the onside kick attempt from the Bengals and took a knee to run out the final seconds and secure the win.
LAST TIME WE MET... The two sides last met a year ago as the Bengals hosted Alfred State for homecoming.
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 was a force on the ground rushing for 132 yards across 16 attempts.
Nick Sciandra 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 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. His 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 and
Samuel Palmesano to give the Bengals the win.
TOP-10 IN THE LIBERTY LEAGUE… The following Bengals currently rank in the top-10 in the Liberty League at their respective positions:
Jeadi Higdon: Rushing Yards, 90, 7
th
Keegan Whitfield: Receiving Yards, 147, 6
th
Jeadi Higdon: Return Yards, 82, 8
th
Isaiah DeCamp: Total Tackles, 18, 3
rd
Sincere Green: Total Tackles, 16, 8
th
OH CAPTAIN! MY CAPTAIN!… Leading the Bengals this season are captains
Amir Cameron,
Mikai Johnson,
Carlos Almeyda,
Brody Stevens, and
Ian Behrens.
ABOUT THE BENGALS' COACH… Lazarus Morgan is in his fourth season at the helm of the Buffalo State football program in 2025 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. A year ago, Morgan's squad added six All-Liberty League selections and 13 All-Academic honorees.
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 welcome the Bengals with a 1-1 record on the year. After falling to Anderson in their season opener, Alfred State earned a dominating 49-13 win over Hilbert.
Justin Horvath has been the primary quarterback for Alfred State throwing for 218 yards, four touchdowns, and a 63.27% completion percentage. Noah Currier leads the Pioneer rushers with 205 yards and three touchdowns including 121 yards in the effort against Anderson. On the receiving side, Elijah Georges has 11 catches for 156 yards and a pair of touchdowns.
On the defensive side of the ball,
Evan Cervantes has 22 total tackles including 4.5 tackles for loss, one pass breakup, two forced fumbles, and two fumble recoveries. Ceon Miles III has 3.5 sacks while Donnell Hall has a pair of interceptions.
SCHEDULES/RESULTS...
BUFFALO STATE (0-2, 0-0 LIBERTY LEAGUE)
| Sept. 4 |
BROCKPORT |
L, 41-0 |
| Sept. 13 |
HARTWICK |
L, 29-27 |
| Sept. 20 |
at Alfred State |
6 PM |
| Sept. 27 |
at Hilbert *** |
12 PM |
| Oct. 4 |
UNION (HOMECOMING) *** |
4 PM |
| Oct. 11 |
at RPI *** |
1 PM |
| Oct. 25 |
ROCHESTER *** |
3 PM |
| Nov. 1 |
at Ithaca *** |
12 PM |
| Nov. 8 |
ST. LAWRENCE *** |
1 PM |
| Nov. 15 |
at Hobart *** |
1 PM |
*** LIBERTY LEAGUE CONTEST ***
ALFRED STATE (1-1, 0-0 EMPIRE 8)
| Sept. 6 |
at Anderson (IN) |
L, 7-6 |
| Sept. 13 |
at Hilbert |
W, 49-13 |
| Sept. 20 |
BUFFALO STATE |
6 PM |
| Sept. 27 |
at Utica *** |
1 PM |
| Oct. 4 |
MORRISVILLE *** |
12 PM |
| Oct. 18 |
at #25 Brockport *** |
12 PM |
| Oct. 25 |
HARTWICK *** |
4 PM |
| Nov. 1 |
#24 CORTLAND *** |
1 PM |
| Nov. 8 |
ALFRED *** |
1 PM |
| Nov. 15 |
at St. John Fisher *** |
12 PM |
*** EMPIRE 8 CONTEST ***
