GAME #2 - BUFFALO STATE BENGALS AT HARTWICK HAWKS
Saturday, Sep. 12, 2026 - 12:00 PM
Wright Stadium – Oneonta, NY
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THE MATCHUP… It's a new era for the Buffalo State football program as they look to rebound after a week one loss to the Brockport Golden Eagles. Head Coach
Mike Neale and his squad will head to Hartwick as part of an early season road trip featuring four away contests within the first five weeks of the season. Buffalo State holds a 7-2 record in the all-time series despite the Hawks coming away with a narrow 29-27 victory a year ago on Coyer Field. Prior to that matchup, the Bengals had won seven of the previous eight contests.
LAST TIME WE MET... Both sides met in week two of last season where the Hawks' defense stepped up in the second half to hault the Bengals late push.
Noah Kimble threw for 173 yards with a pair of touchdowns with two interceptions.
Keegan Whitfield (Fredonia, NY/Fredonia) posted 100 yards receiving with a touchdown. On the defensive side,
Nicholas Bradt had nine tackles and a pass breakup while
Sincere Green 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 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, the Bengals found the back of the endzone for a score.
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 later scored another touchdown to lead 29-20 with just under 90 seconds to play. In response, Bengals marched down field where Kimble found
William Kitching 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.
Dennis Riordan threw for 97 yards with a passing and a rushing touchdown for Hartwick. Akil Williams led the receiving room with 86 yards and a touchdown.
OH CAPTAIN! MY CAPTAIN!… Leading the Bengals this season are captains
Amir Cameron and
Brody Stevens (Orchard Park, NY/Orchard Park). Cameron and Stevens are two key returners for the Bengals this season with Cameron leading the way on the offensive side of the ball and Stevens on the defensive side.
Cameron played in seven games last year, totaling over 1,000 yards with four touchdowns. Stevens appeared in all ten games tallying 66 tackles and three pass breakups.
ABOUT THE BENGALS' COACH… Mike Neale enters his first season leading Buffalo State after most recently serving as the defensive coordinator at Delaware Valley for two seasons. During his time with the Aggies, the team compiled a 16-6 overall record and ranked second in total defense and scoring defense in the country in 2024.
A native on San Diego, Calif., Neale has totaled over 20 years of coaching experience in all three phases as well as a head coach, including 19 years at the Division III level.
NOTES ON HARTWICK… The Hawks opened their season last week with a 42-14 loss against Misericordia. Hartwick posted a pair of touchdowns in the fourth quarter as quarterback Ty'Lyn Blackwell-Williams found Jaylin Walker and Miles Sinclair for scores. Akil Williams put up a 73-yard rushing performance for the Hawks.
On the defensive side, John Acompora-Miller had nine total tackles and a sack.
Head Coach Matt Rogers enters his second season leading the Hawks after a 4-6 record in 2025. Prior to Hartwick, Rogers spent the 2024 season as the offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach at Wilkes. In his first season as head coach in 2025, Hartwick posted their most wins in a season since 2015.
SCHEDULES/RESULTS...
BUFFALO STATE (0-1, 0-0 LIBERTY LEAGUE)
| Sept. 3 |
at Brockport |
L, 68-0 |
| Sept. 12 |
at Hartwick |
12 PM |
| Sept. 19 |
ALFRED STATE (HOMECOMING) |
1 PM |
| Sept. 26 |
at Union *** |
1 PM |
| Oct. 3 |
at Rochester *** |
1 PM |
| Oct. 10 |
RPI *** |
12 PM |
| Oct. 24 |
HILBERT *** |
3 PM |
| Oct. 31 |
ITHACA *** |
3 PM |
| Nov. 7 |
at St. Lawrence *** |
1 PM |
| Nov. 14 |
HOBART *** |
1 PM |
*** LIBERTY LEAGUE CONTEST ***
HARTWICK (0-1, 0-0 EMPIRE 8)
| Sept. 4 |
at Misericordia |
L, 42-14 |
| Sept. 12 |
BUFFALO STATE |
12 PM |
| Sept. 19 |
at Cortland *** |
12 PM |
| Sept. 26 |
BROCKPORT *** |
12 PM |
| Oct. 3 |
ALFRED *** |
12 PM |
| Oct. 10 |
at St. John Fisher *** |
2 PM |
| Oct. 24 |
ALFRED STATE *** |
3 PM |
| Oct. 31 |
at Morrisville *** |
1 PM |
| Nov. 7 |
UTICA *** |
1 PM |
| Nov. 14 |
at Hilbert |
12 PM |
*** EMPIRE 8 CONTEST ***
