Sep 23, 2017
BUFFALO, N.Y.—Buffalo State scored 24 unanswered points and limited RPI to just 89 total yards in the second-half to register a 33-21 come-from-behind victory over visiting RPI today at Coyer Field to improve to 3-0 for the first time since 1999.
THE BASICS
FINAL SCORE: Buffalo State – 33, RPI - 21
LOCATION: Coyer Field, Buffalo, N.Y.
RECORDS: Buffalo State (3-0), RPI (3-1)
INSIDE THE BENGAL BOX SCORE
- The Bengals defense held RPI to just 290 total yards of offense, forced four turnovers and also produced a safety to open the scoring.
- Bart Mazzara (Lockport/Starpoint) finished with six tackles and had a hand in three of the turnover with an interception, a fumble recovery and a forced fumble.
- Khalil Sommerville (Buffalo/Bennett) added seven tackles with a sack and a forced fumble.
- Senior quarterback Kyle Hoppy (Orchard Park/Orchard Park) finished 22 of 34 for 263 yards with a touchdown, and added a team-high 46 rushing yards.
- Freshman running back Austin Neal (Buffalo/South Park) found the end twice on runs of 12 and 1 yards, and Antoine Holloman (Brooklyn/Abraham Lincoln) added a 5-yards scoring run.
- Ricky Bailey (Niagara Falls/Niagara Falls) led the Bengals' receivers with five catches for 66 yards.
- Jamar Rutledge (Buffalo/McKinley) had four catches for 55 yards, and Stephen Johnson (Buffalo/McKinley) caught four passes for 53 yards, including a 2-yard score.
HOW IT HAPPENED
- After trailing 21-9 after the first half, Buffalo State forced a turnover on a strip by Sommerville and recovery by Mazzara on RPI's opening possession and took control of the game from there.
- The Bengals capitalized on the short field and marched into the end zone capped by a 2-yard pass from Hoppy to Johnson to cut the deficit to 21-16.
- Buffalo State took the lead on its next possession with an eight-play, 67-yard drive the ended with Holloman's 5-yard touchdown run.
- Following another RPI fumble on the first play of the fourth quarter caused by Mazzara and recovered by Darren Wesley (Brooklyn/Erasmus Hall), a 38-yard strike from Hoppy to Bailey to the 1 yard line set up Neal's second rushing touchdown of the game.
- The Bengals forced a pair of punts and then tacked on a 22-yard field goal by Justin Simoncelli (W. Seneca/W. Seneca East) to complete the scoring with 2:49 remaining.
- A late interception by Tiquan Simpkins (Syracuse/Henninger) sealed the victory.
- The game started with RPI jumping out to an early 14-0 lead, taking advantage of a pair of big plays to set up touchdowns. A 68-yard punt return by Conor Davies set up a 10-yard strike from Ed Trimpert to Keaton Ackerman to open the scoring less than four minutes into the contest.
- The Engineers found the end zone again on their next possession after a 56-yard pass from Trimpert to Danny Calabro set the table for a 4-yard scoring run by Nick Cella.
- Buffalo State got on the board with a safety late in the first quarter when RPI fumbled its own fumble in the end zone.
- RPI drove into Bengals' territory again on its next possession, but Bart Mazzara (Lockport/Starpoint) came up with an interception on a jump ball in the end zone to end the threat.
- Buffalo State answered with an 11-play, 80-yard drive, capped by a 12-yard scoring run on a second-effort by freshman Austin Neal (Buffalo/South Park) to cut the deficit to 14-9.
- The Engineers would respond to reclaim the two-score lead before halftime, however, with a 32-yard pass from Trimpert to Ackerman to push the score to 21-9 at the intermission.
- Buffalo State outgained RPI 361-290 for the game, including 225-89 in the second half, and the Bengals won the turnover battle, 4-0.
FOR THE FOES
- Trimpert finished 7 of 20 for 151 yards with two touchdowns and two interceptions.
- Ackerman caught three passes for 67 yards with a pair of touchdowns.
- Cella was the leading rusher with 38 yards on seven carries with a touchdown.
- Bryan Hayes led the Engineers defense with 11 tackles.
UP NEXT
Buffalo State will return to Empire 8 play on the road at Alfred University next Saturday at 1 p.m.