Football Falls 45-0 at Ithaca
ITHACA, NY—Ithaca (1-0), ranked No. 12 in Division III, forced eight Buffalo State (0-2) turnovers and scored 35 points in 7:05 in the second half en route to a 45-0 victory today at Butterfield Stadium.
The Bombers led just 10-0 at halftime in their season opener, but blew the game open in the second half. After a three stalled drives to open the second half, Ithaca forced a Buffalo State fumble at the Bengals’ 13 yardline and needed just three plays to score as Justin Esposito caught an eight-yard touchdown pass from Josh Filicetti to extend the lead to 17-0 with 4:57 remaining in the third quarter. The next Buffalo State drive ended with Ithaca’s Joe Napoleone intercepting his second pass of the game. The Bombers extended the lead to 24-0 five players later on a two-yard run by Jamie Free, his second score of the game. Buffalo State fumbled again on its next play from scrimmage, and Ithaca pushed the lead to 30-0 two plays later when James Davis ran 32 yards to score.
After forcing another Bengals fumble on the next drive, the Bombers scored again just eight seconds into the fourth quarter on a 34-yard pass from Jeff O’Hara to Esposito. Ithaca found the endzone for the final time on its next possession, as Jamie Donovan broke off a 65-yard scoring run with 11:52 remaining.
Ithaca’s offense totaled 443 yards on the day, including 253 yards on the ground. Felicetti finished 13-of-24 for 148 yards. Alex Baez led the Bombers rushing attack with 15 carries for 78 yards. Napoleone finished with six tackles, two interceptions and a forced fumble.
Buffalo State registered just 155 yards of total offense with 38 rushing yards and 117 through the air. Quarterback Mike Mikolaichik (Hilton/Hilton) was 17-of-32 for 117 yards with three interceptions. Jeff Shostak (E. Smethport, PA/Smethport) led the Bengals’ receivers with six catches for 40 yards. Buffalo State fumbled six times, losing five. Perry Taglienti (Depew/Lancaster) led the Bengals defense with 11 tackles and a fumble recovery. Michael Haynes (Cheektowaga/Cleveland Hill) made eight stops and had an interception.
Buffalo State will open its home schedule next Saturday with its first-ever Atlantic Central Football Conference game against Wesley at 1 p.m.
The Bombers led just 10-0 at halftime in their season opener, but blew the game open in the second half. After a three stalled drives to open the second half, Ithaca forced a Buffalo State fumble at the Bengals’ 13 yardline and needed just three plays to score as Justin Esposito caught an eight-yard touchdown pass from Josh Filicetti to extend the lead to 17-0 with 4:57 remaining in the third quarter. The next Buffalo State drive ended with Ithaca’s Joe Napoleone intercepting his second pass of the game. The Bombers extended the lead to 24-0 five players later on a two-yard run by Jamie Free, his second score of the game. Buffalo State fumbled again on its next play from scrimmage, and Ithaca pushed the lead to 30-0 two plays later when James Davis ran 32 yards to score.
After forcing another Bengals fumble on the next drive, the Bombers scored again just eight seconds into the fourth quarter on a 34-yard pass from Jeff O’Hara to Esposito. Ithaca found the endzone for the final time on its next possession, as Jamie Donovan broke off a 65-yard scoring run with 11:52 remaining.
Ithaca’s offense totaled 443 yards on the day, including 253 yards on the ground. Felicetti finished 13-of-24 for 148 yards. Alex Baez led the Bombers rushing attack with 15 carries for 78 yards. Napoleone finished with six tackles, two interceptions and a forced fumble.
Buffalo State registered just 155 yards of total offense with 38 rushing yards and 117 through the air. Quarterback Mike Mikolaichik (Hilton/Hilton) was 17-of-32 for 117 yards with three interceptions. Jeff Shostak (E. Smethport, PA/Smethport) led the Bengals’ receivers with six catches for 40 yards. Buffalo State fumbled six times, losing five. Perry Taglienti (Depew/Lancaster) led the Bengals defense with 11 tackles and a fumble recovery. Michael Haynes (Cheektowaga/Cleveland Hill) made eight stops and had an interception.
Buffalo State will open its home schedule next Saturday with its first-ever Atlantic Central Football Conference game against Wesley at 1 p.m.
Media Contact:
Jeffrey Ventura, Sports Information Director | 7168786030 | venturjm@buffalostate.edu