Buffalo State Football Steamrolls Western Connecticut on Record-Setting Day, 82-17
For the second-consecutive year, Buffalo State (1-2/1-1) set a school record for points in a game against Western Connecticut State (0-2/0-1), blasting the visiting Colonials 82-17 in an NJAC contest this afternoon at Coyer Field. Buffalo State's previous record for points was 71, set in last season's 71-3 win in Danbury, Conn.
Buffalo State also piled up a school record 702 yards of total offense, including 438 rushing yards, and set a new school standard with 11 touchdowns. In all, the Bengals scored in six different ways, including five rushing touchdowns, three passing TD's, two punt returns, a fumble recovery return, a field goal and a safety.
Buffalo State quarterback Ryan Lehotsky was 12 of 16 for 225 yards with an interception in two scores, and Casey Kacz was 3 for 6 for 39 yards with a score and a pick, and had five rushes for 89 yards and a touchdown. Freshman running back Rich Pete had 12 carries for 108 yards to lead the ground attack. Mike Doherty led all receivers with five grabs for 91 yards and a score.
West Conn quarterback Hime Rraci finished 11 for 26 for 252 yards and two touchdown and an interception. Dave Plaskon had six catches for 188 yards and two touchdowns.
Buffalo State opened the scoring with a 9-yard strike from Lehotsky to Doherty, before West Conn capitalized on a Tyrell Ballard interception to set up a 38-yard field goal by Nick Randles.
The Bengals took over from there, however, scoring the next 31 points before eventually taking a 45-10 lead into halftime. After Pete scored on a 12-yard run, Nick Debbins booted a 24-yard field goal. Then Joe Ferraro caught a 58-yard pass from Lehotsky, and just 21 seconds later, after Steve Phillips popped the ball out of the hands of the Colonials' running back, defensive lineman Sal Vacchio grabbed the ball in mid air and rumbled 46 yards for another score. Matt Pagano then caught a 10-yard TD pass from Kacz to complete the run.
West Conn broke the momentum temporarily with a 60-yard touchdown pass from Rraci to Plaskon with 1:34 remaining in the half, but the Bengals answered with a 23-yard quarterback keeper by Kacz with 22 ticks before the break.
Brooks Estarfaa opened the second-half scoring for Buffalo State with his first of two touchdowns, finding the end zone on a 1-yard run. West Conn's Rraci and Plaskon hooked up again on the next possession, this time covering 64 yards for the touchdown, but the Bengals would then score the game's final 30 points.
The Bengals took two punts the distance, first a 72-yard scamper by Caesarae Lewis, followed by an 83-yard return by Jaleel Harris. Estarfaa added his second score on a 16-yard run, Bryan Whitlock broke a 34-yard TD run, and the Bengals added a safety when a muffed snap by the West Conn quarterback bounced out of the back of the end zone.
Buffalo State will visit Montclair State for another conference game next Saturday at 1 p.m.
