BUFFALO, NY—Buffalo State (3-6/3-5) had eight offensive plays of 42 yards or more and Rob Smith (Rochester, NY/McQuaid) had seven catches for 247 yards and three touchdowns in a 45-21 home victory over Morrisville State (1-8/1-7) in a NJAC contest this afternoon at Coyer Field.
Buffalo State quarterback Ryan Lehotsky (N. Royalton, OH/N. Royalton) was 11 for 20 for 405 yards and four touchdowns. Freshman Greg Spears (Syracuse, NY/Henninger) had his first 100-yard rushing game with nine carries for 122 yards and added a catch for 49 yards. Kevin Healy (E. Meadow/E. Meadow) and Jordan Boser (Geneva, IL/Geneva) led the Bengals with 10 tackles each.
Morrisville quarterback Joe Shue (Phoenix/G. Ray Bodley) was 22 of 34 for 253 yards and three touchdowns and an interception. Kyle Gordon (Riverhead/Riverhead) had four catches for 80 yards and two scores.
Buffalo State connected on a pair of big pass plays in the first half to jump out to a 17-0 lead, before the Mustangs cut the deficit to 17-7 with a touchdown in the closing seconds of the second quarter.
After Nick Debbins (Lancaster/Lancaster) opened the scoring with a 35-yard field goal, Mike Doherty (Tonawanda/Kenmore East) made an acrobatic one-handed catch over the defensive back and then sprinted down the left sideline for a 92-yard touchdown to extend the lead.
Following a Joseph Schriever (E. Amherst/Williamsville East) interception deep in Bengal territory, Buffalo State went back to work. Lehotsky hit Rob Smith (Rochester/McQuaid) for a 58-yard catch and run, and Manny Brooks (Auburn/Auburn) capped the drive with a 14-yard run, dragging would-be tacklers into the end zone with just 59 seconds remaining in the half.
Morrisville's offense came to life however, marching 60 yards in five plays, culminating with a 25-yard scoring pass from Shue to Gordon with just 12 ticks left on the clock.
Debbins hit a 27-yard field goal to open the second-half scoring, before Shue and Gordon connected for a 29-yard score to pull the Mustangs within one possession.
On the next possession, Spears broke a 42-yard run to set up a 7-yard touchdown pass from Lehotsky to Smith, and a successful 2-point conversion pushed the Bengals' lead to 28-14. Buffalo State's defense held on the next possession, and the Lehotsky and Smith hooked up again for 70 yards to get into scoring position. The duo connected again just three plays later for a 5-yard score.
Shue hit Sean Barrett (Hopewell Junction/John Jay) for a 9-yard touchdown on the first play of the fourth quarter, Morrisville would not score again.
Buffalo State answered on the next drive with Debbins' third field goal of the game, from 29 yards. On the next Bengals possession, Spears broke another long run of 54 yards, and Lehotsky and Smith connected for a third touchdown, from 15 yards out.
"It was great to see all three phases come together again and pick up back-to-back wins," said Buffalo State Coach Jerry Boyes. "We knew we were going to have a chance at some big plays, and the kids did a great job of executing all day."
Buffalo State will travel to Brockport to close out the season next Saturday at 1 p.m.