Game Leaders
Team Stats
Passing Yards
Rushing Yards
Turnovers
Time of Poss.
BUFFALO, N.Y.—Buffalo State was unable to overcome an early deficit as No. 25-ranked Union spoiled the Bengals' homecoming with a 28-14 defeat today at Coyer Field.
THE BASICS
FINAL SCORE: #25 Union – 28, Buffalo State - 14
LOCATION: Coyer Field – Buffalo, N.Y.
RECORDS: Union (7-0/4-0), Buffalo State (1-6/1-2)
INSIDE THE BENGAL BOX SCORE
Zak Ciezki (Cheektowaga/Cheektowaga) had an efficient day going 28 for 38 for 284 yards with a pair of touchdowns and no interceptions.
Jordan Evert (Amherst/Sweet Home) had a game-high 10 receptions for 81 yards and a touchdown, and freshman Joe Stewart (Buffalo/Kenmore West) had season-bests with eight catches for 97 yards.
Gino Bonagura (Lindenhurst/Lindenhurst) led Buffalo State with 13 tackles, and Devin Delmont (Blasdell/St. Francis) finished with 10 stops, including one for a loss.
HOW IT HAPPENED
Union jumped out to and early 14-0 lead finding the end zone on each of its first two possessions just over seven minutes into the game.
After an Andre Ross 12-yard catch to open the scoring, the Dutchmen tacked on a 19-yard scoring grab by Spencer Crystal.
After its first defensive stop, Buffalo State cut the deficit in half early in the second quarter, capping a 14-play, 66-yard drive with a 9-yard touchdown catch by Evert in the front corner of the end zone.
The Dutchmen reclaimed the two-score lead with a 45-yard touchdown pass to Will Sirmon with just under six minutes remaining in the first half.
Buffalo State used a pair of red zone turnovers in the third quarter to stay in the game. A forced fumble by Peyton Hill (Lagrangeville/Arlington) that was recovered by Tre Pitts (Rochester/Eastridge) thwarted an early threat by the Dutchmen, and then a Darren Wesley (Brooklyn/Erasmus Hall) interception on the 1-yard-line canceled another potential Union score.
The Bengals capitalized on the second turnover, assembling a 6-play, 99-yard scoring drive that featured a 49-yard catch and run by Stewart. The Bengals capped off the drive with a wild play that started with a near sack of Ciezki who flipped the ball to running back Martin Bailey (Buffalo/Kenmore West) who picked up 31 yards before fumbling, and the ball was scooped up by offensive lineman Kyle Schreader (Lockport/Starpoint) who rumbled the final 8 yards for the score.
Union responded on the very next possession, however, driving 80 yards on 11 plays, ending Crystal's second score of the day from 9 yards out with 6:13 remaining to complete the game's scoring.
Union finished with 425 yards of total offense, compared to 352 by the Bengals.
FOR THE FOES
Quarterback William Bellamy was 17 of 23 for 264 yards with four touchdowns and one interception.
Sirmon had three catches for 92 yards and a score, and Griffin Beal finished with five receptions for 81 yards.
Joseph Ferreira led the ground attack with 20 carries for 95 yards.
Colin Lama led the defense with 12 tackles, including two for loss.
Union finished with 10 tackles for loss, including five sacks.
UP NEXT
Buffalo State will travel to RPI next Saturday for a noon kickoff.