Football Celebrates Homecoming With Convincing Win Over Kean, 35-16
BUFFALO, NY—Dan Lopez (Lancaster/St. Mary’s) rushed for 119 yards and two touchdowns on 27 carries as Buffalo State (2-2/1-1) celebrated homecoming with a 35-16 victory over Kean University (2-2/0-1) in a New Jersey Athletic Conference (NJAC) game today at Coyer Field.
Buffalo State quarterback Dan Aquilio (Depew/Depew) was an efficient 13 of 18 for 229 yards and three touchdowns, with two scores going to Greg Meyer (Lancaster/Lancaster). Meyer finished with five catches for 84 yards. Bob Vesona (Depew/Depew) added 91 yards on the ground on just 11 carries. Jermaine Rose (Niagara Falls/Niagara Falls) anchored the Bengals’ defense with 14 tackles and an interception. Scott Forster (E. Otto/Catt.-Little Valley) added 13 tackles, and Peter Nguyen (Buffalo/South Park) had nine stops in two interceptions.
Kean quarterback AJ Roque (Matawan, NJ/Matawan) was 27 of 49 for 292 yards with a touchdown and four interceptions. Durell Dukes (Elizabeth, NJ/Elizabeth) led the Cougars receivers with nine catches for 97 yards and a scored. Clarence Goodman (Old Bridge, NJ/Old Bridge) led the defense with 15 tackles, and Markal Ginyard (Cape May, NJ/Middle Twp.) added 12 stops.
Kean took an early 7-0 lead, converting a pair of fourth downs on its opening drive, capped by a Jared Chunn (Tinton Falls, NJ/Monmouth) 1-yard run. Buffalo State took over for the remainder of the opening half, converting three Cougar turnovers into a 28-7 halftime advantage.
Kurt Martino (Sea Cliff/Northshore) intercepted a Roque pass to set up the Bengals’ first score, a 5-yard run by Lopez. Lopez found the end zone again from 8 yards, before Aquilio hooked up with Jarrett Smith (Beacon/Beacon) from 45-yards, and then hit Meyer with a 40-yard strike in the closing minute to extend the advantage to 21 points.
Kean opened the second half with a 16-play, 49-yard drive that resulted in a Jon Robinson (Brick, NJ/Point Pleasant) 30-yard field goal. The Cougars threatened again early in the fourth quarter, but Jermaine Rose (Niagara Falls/Niagara Falls) intercepted another Roque pass and returned it 70 yards deep into Cougar territory. Aquilio hit Meyer for a 10-yard touchdown on the very next play to put the game out of reach.
Dukes reeled in an 8-yard scoring pass from Roque on the next Kean possession, but the Cougars could not pull closer.
“It was a great win for our kids and the program,” Buffalo State Head Coach Paul Shaffner said. “We set out with a goal and accomplished it on all levels today. You can see that they believe and are grasping what it takes to be successful.”
Buffalo State will travel to Monclair State for another NJAC contest next Saturday at 1 p.m.
Buffalo State quarterback Dan Aquilio (Depew/Depew) was an efficient 13 of 18 for 229 yards and three touchdowns, with two scores going to Greg Meyer (Lancaster/Lancaster). Meyer finished with five catches for 84 yards. Bob Vesona (Depew/Depew) added 91 yards on the ground on just 11 carries. Jermaine Rose (Niagara Falls/Niagara Falls) anchored the Bengals’ defense with 14 tackles and an interception. Scott Forster (E. Otto/Catt.-Little Valley) added 13 tackles, and Peter Nguyen (Buffalo/South Park) had nine stops in two interceptions.
Kean quarterback AJ Roque (Matawan, NJ/Matawan) was 27 of 49 for 292 yards with a touchdown and four interceptions. Durell Dukes (Elizabeth, NJ/Elizabeth) led the Cougars receivers with nine catches for 97 yards and a scored. Clarence Goodman (Old Bridge, NJ/Old Bridge) led the defense with 15 tackles, and Markal Ginyard (Cape May, NJ/Middle Twp.) added 12 stops.
Kean took an early 7-0 lead, converting a pair of fourth downs on its opening drive, capped by a Jared Chunn (Tinton Falls, NJ/Monmouth) 1-yard run. Buffalo State took over for the remainder of the opening half, converting three Cougar turnovers into a 28-7 halftime advantage.
Kurt Martino (Sea Cliff/Northshore) intercepted a Roque pass to set up the Bengals’ first score, a 5-yard run by Lopez. Lopez found the end zone again from 8 yards, before Aquilio hooked up with Jarrett Smith (Beacon/Beacon) from 45-yards, and then hit Meyer with a 40-yard strike in the closing minute to extend the advantage to 21 points.
Kean opened the second half with a 16-play, 49-yard drive that resulted in a Jon Robinson (Brick, NJ/Point Pleasant) 30-yard field goal. The Cougars threatened again early in the fourth quarter, but Jermaine Rose (Niagara Falls/Niagara Falls) intercepted another Roque pass and returned it 70 yards deep into Cougar territory. Aquilio hit Meyer for a 10-yard touchdown on the very next play to put the game out of reach.
Dukes reeled in an 8-yard scoring pass from Roque on the next Kean possession, but the Cougars could not pull closer.
“It was a great win for our kids and the program,” Buffalo State Head Coach Paul Shaffner said. “We set out with a goal and accomplished it on all levels today. You can see that they believe and are grasping what it takes to be successful.”
Buffalo State will travel to Monclair State for another NJAC contest next Saturday at 1 p.m.
Media Contact:
Jeff Ventura, Sports Information Director | 7168786030 | venturjm@buffalostate.edu