BUFFALO, NY—Buffalo State (4-5/4-4) scored touchdowns on seven straight possessions to open the game and piled up 483 yards of total offense in a 51-30 victory over visiting Brockport (2-6/2-5) in today's I-90 Bowl at Coyer Field.
The two teams combined for 639 yards in the first half, including 359 by Buffalo State. The Bengals finished with 290 yards in the air and 193 on the ground, as Buffalo State won its second-straight I-90 Bowl. The victory marked the 99th career win for Buffalo State head coach Jerry Boyes.
Sophomore quarterback Casey Kacz (Amherst/Sweet Home) paced the Bengals, completing 22 of 31 passes for 290 yards and two scores. He also had 11 carries for 74 yards and two touchdowns. Mike Doherty (Tonawanda/Kenmore East) led the receiving corps with 10 catches for 158 yards and a touchdown. Kevin Healy (East Meadow/East Meadow) led the Bengals's defense with 15 tackles, including a sack and had an interception. Pasquale Vacchio (Glen Head/North Shore) added 14 stops with 1.5 sacks and a fumble recovery.
Brockport quarterback Joe Scibilia (N. Tonawanda/Starpoint) finished 21 of 36 for 231 yards with two touchdowns and an interception, and added a rushing score. Tyrone Nichols (Troy/Lansingburgh) led the ground attack with 17 carries for 93 yards, and Andrew Mrozek (Depew/Lancaster) had a team-high seven catches for 92 yards and a score. Alex Hayes (Phoenix/Birdlebough) led the Golden Eagles' defense with 11 tackles.
Brockport drove the ball into Bengals' territory on the game's opening possession, but turned the ball over on downs. The Bengals then marched 73 yards on six plays on the ensuing possession, including a 40-yard scramble by Kacz, and took a 7-0 lead on a 10-yard Ismail Brooks (Auburn/Auburn) run.
Brockport responded on their next possession, scoring on a 16-yard pass from Scibilia to Mrozek to even the score at 7-7.
The Bengals reclaimed the lead just one offensive play later with a 40-yard touchdown run by Rich Pete (Utica/TR Proctor), and they never looked back. After a Brockport fumble on their next drive, Buffalo State needed just two plays to score again, when Kacz and Doherty connected on a 53-yard passing play.
Brockport scored on its next touch with a 3-yard run by Scibilia, but the Bengals answered quickly again, needing just four plays to travel 55 yards. Brooks plowed into the end zone from 1-yard out for his second score to complete the first quarter scoring, putting the Bengals ahead 28-13.
Kacz extended Buffalo State's lead on the first possession of the second period with a 4-yard run on the option. After a Bobby Giambra (W. Seneca/W. Seneca East) 42-yard field goal for Brockport, the Bengals went to the house again with a 17-yard counter screen from Kacz to Pete.
Brockport cut the deficit to 42-23 with 2:59 remaining in the half on a 6-yard pass from Scibilia to Jordan Hogan (Lockport/Newfane). Buffalo State concluded the first half scoring with just over a minute remaining however, on Kacz's second rushing touchdown, this time from 7 yards. Giambra clanked a 40-yard field goal try off the left upright on the final play of the half, leaving the score 48-23 at the intermission.
Buffalo State's offense stalled for the first time of the game, turning the ball over on a pair of Kacz fumbles on its first two possessions of the second half, but the Bengals defense came up with a pair of stops.
After combining for 71 points in the first two quarters, neither team scored in the third period. Healy's interception and 26-yard return set up the Bengals for a 38-yard field goal by Nick Debbins (Lancaster/Lancaster) with just under seven minutes to play to complete Buffalo State's scoring. Brockport added a late touchdown on a 21-yard quarterback keeper by backup Dylan Umbra (Sidney/Sidney).
Buffalo State will conclude its season next week at Morrisville State at noon.