Oct 31, 2015
ONEONTA, N.Y.—Buffalo State outgained Hartwick, 467-374, but the Hawks capitalized on three turnovers to hand the visiting Bengals a 41-30 loss in an Empire 8 game today at Wright Stadium.
THE BASICS
FINAL SCORE: Hartwick – 41, Buffalo State - 30
LOCATION: Wright Stadium – Oneonta, N.Y.
RECORDS: Hartwick (3-5/1-5), Buffalo State (5-3/3-3)
INSIDE THE BENGAL BOX SCORE
- Buffalo State quarterback Aaron Ertel (Depew/Depew) finished 25 of 40 for 290 yards with a touchdown and an interception.
- Tre Jones (Rochester/Greece-Athena) finished with 91 yards and two touchdowns on 15 carries, and Dale Stewart (Niagara Falls/Niagara Falls) had nine carries for 53 yards and a score and four catches for 52 yards.
- Dez Howard (Buffalo/St. Francis) had a pair of sacks and four tackles, as the Bengals' defense allowed only one rushing yard by Hartwick.
HOW IT HAPPENED
- Buffalo State produced points on its first two offensive possessions, jumping out to an early 10-0 lead.
- Mitch Thomas (Buffalo/Sweet Home) snagged his first interception of the season on the game's first play, setting up a 49-yard field goal by Marc Montana (E. Amherst/St. Joe's) on the game's opening drive. The Bengals then scored on a 29-yard touchdown pass from Ertel to freshman Jordan Evert (Amherst/Amherst) on their next possession.
- Hartwick scored 17 unanswered points to take a 17-10 lead into halftime, however. Korey Jubie kicked a 23-yard field goal, and then Buffalo State was driving early in the second quarter before Ricky Giraldo intercepted an Ertel pass and returned it 95 yards for a touchdown to even the score at 10-10. Hartwick then took the lead on an 18-yard touchdown reception by Marcus Mistersaro from John Garcia.
- Both teams traded fumbles in the waning minutes of the first half, but neither could capitalize. Buffalo State missed a 40-yard field goal on the final play of the half, after missing a 28-yard try earlier in the game.
- Each team punted twice to open the second half before Buffalo State finally assembled an eight-play, 61 yard drive capped by a Stewart 9-yard touchdown run, but the Bengals missed the extra point to remain behind by a point at 17-16.
- Hartwick extended its lead to eight on the very next play from scrimmage as John Garcia hit a wide open Brad Garcia for a 65-yard touchdown.
- The Hawks got the ball back in Bengal territory just two plays later when Frank Sorrenti stripped a scrambling Ertel and Chris Mercieca recovered the fumble. Hartwick converted that turnover into seven more points on a 24-yard pass from Garcia to Tanner Williams.
- After a Bengals three-and-out, Hartwick struck again with a six-play drive that ended with John Garcia's third touchdown pass of the game to Brad Garcia, covering 32 yards.
- Buffalo State roared back with two touchdowns in a span of 1:50. Jones scored on a 13-yard run with 4:59 remaining, and then ran it in again from 19 yards to cut the deficit to 38-30 with 3:09 remaining.
- The Bengals then attempted on onside kick, but Hartwick was ready, and Travis Samuels picked the bouncing ball cleanly and returned it 45 yards to the Bengals 1. Hartwick sealed the victory with a 23-yard field goal with 1:13 remaining.
FOR THE FOES
- John Garcia was 18 of 31 for 373 yards with four touchdowns and an interceptions.
- Brad Garcia had five catches for 135 yards with two scores, and Williams had five grabs for 123 yards and a touchdown. Samuels led Hartwick's defense with 11 tackles.
NOTEWORTHY
- The loss ends a four-game winning streak for Buffalo State.
- The win is the first for Hartwick over Buffalo State in five tries.
UP NEXT
Buffalo State is scheduled to return home next Saturday against Ithaca at noon.