Final Score: Hartwick 7, Buffalo State 41
 
Venue: Buffalo, NY – Coyer Field
 
Records: Hartwick (2-2, 0-1 E8); Buffalo State (1-3, 1-0 E8)
 
Recap: Buffalo State registered 447 yards of offense and forced five Hartwick turnovers as the Bengals defeated the Hawks 41-7 on Saturday in the Empire 8 Conference opener for both teams. Buffalo State opened the scoring at 9:23 of the first quarter with a touchdown before the Hawks tied it 1:29 into the second on a Bryce Macina (Syracuse, NY/Onondaga Central) to Dylan Mucci (Cortlandt Manor, NY/Iona Prep) 4-yard touchdown pass. The Bengals answered just 1:23 later with a score to take the lead for good. The Hawks later would drive to the Buff State 19 yard-line but a fumble would hand the ball back to the Bengals. They would drive 91 yards and scored with just 14 seconds left in the half to take a 21-7 lead into the break. The second half began with the Hawks recovering an on-side kick but they would eventually turn the ball over on downs. Buff State countered with another score on a 40-yard rushing touchdown from Martin Bailey to go up 28-7. The Bengals forced Hartwick turnovers on its next two possessions, the second coming on an interception on the Bengal goal line. The hosts converted again on the ensuing possession for a 34-7 advantage with 12:25 left in the fourth quarter. After an interception and a punt on the Hawks' next two possessions, the Bengals closed out the scoring with another score with 2:28 left in the game.  
 
Notes:

• Macina threw for 163 yards and one score with three picks
• Ronald Ballard (Deposit, NY/Deposit) rushed for 103 yards on 24 carries. He also made three catches for 23 yards
• Connor Darmetko (Menands, NY/Watervliet) made four catches for 76 yards
• Tom Peabody (Hoosick Falls, NY/Hoosick Falls) led all Hawks with nine tackles. He also had an interception
• Josh Wilcox (Ithaca, NY/Candor) had seven hits, including two sacks and a fumble recovery
• Cameron Conrad (New City, NY/Clarkstown North) also had seven tackles

 
Up Next: Hartwick hosts #4 Brockport on Saturday, October 6 during True Blue Weekend. Kickoff is 2 p.m. from Wright Stadium.