Mansfield Holds on to Down Buffalo State in Wild Finish
Division II Mansfield held on to prevail at Buffalo State by a 20-19 score as the Bengals missed a 21-yard field goal as time expired to fall to 0-2 on the season. Mansfield is now 1-1.
Buffalo State got on the scoreboard first with 23 seconds remaining in the first quarter when Felix Joyner plunged in from three yards out and an Eric Buchanan kick made the score 7-0. On the ensuing drive, Mansfield drove 64-yards on five plays, capped by a 10-yard touchdown catch from Travis Motley to Arnoldo Santiago. Mansfield missed the extra point try, to make the score 7-6. Buffalo State answered the Mansfield score on its next possession with a similar drive of 65-yards on four plays, including a 38-yard run by Joyner and a 20-yard touchdown strike from Mariano Granata to Marc Hoppy. After another missed extra point, Buffalo State held a 13-6 lead. Mansfield was able to tie the score before the intermission, however, as they blocked a Ryan Cox punt and recovered on the Bengals' 15-yard-line. Steve Smith ran it in from the one-yard-line just four plays later, and the teams would go to the locker room 13-13.
After forcing the Bengals to punt on their first series of the second half, the Mountaineers took the lead for good at 10:19 of the third quarter when the quarterback Motley pounded the ball in from the 1-yardline. After Jeff Mimm's kick sailed through the uprights, Mansfield grabbed a 20-13 lead. In the fourth quarter, Buffalo State orchestrated a seven-play drive of 45 yards, and Joyner scored his second touchdown of the day from one-yard out. After a second missed kick, the Bengals still trailed 20-19. After trading possessions, Buffalo State pinned Mansfield back to its own four-yard-line with 1:37 remaining after a 70-yard boot by Cox. The Bengals defense held and after a 20-yard punt Buffalo State took over on the Mansfield 27 with just 31 seconds remaining. Bobby Ballard hauled in Granata pass at the four yard-line with just 22 seconds to play to set up a potential game-winning field goal. After Tom Jakubaszek recovered a Buffalo State fumble on the next play, the Bengals were forced to call on Cox to try a 21-yard field goal. His attempt missed right, however, as time expired and Mansfield triumphed 20-19.
Joyner led Buffalo State with 125 yards rushing and two touchdowns. Granata was 7-for-19 with one touchdown and one interception. Mike Pawlikowski and Tyree Parker led the Bengals' defense with 12 tackles each.
Buffalo State got on the scoreboard first with 23 seconds remaining in the first quarter when Felix Joyner plunged in from three yards out and an Eric Buchanan kick made the score 7-0. On the ensuing drive, Mansfield drove 64-yards on five plays, capped by a 10-yard touchdown catch from Travis Motley to Arnoldo Santiago. Mansfield missed the extra point try, to make the score 7-6. Buffalo State answered the Mansfield score on its next possession with a similar drive of 65-yards on four plays, including a 38-yard run by Joyner and a 20-yard touchdown strike from Mariano Granata to Marc Hoppy. After another missed extra point, Buffalo State held a 13-6 lead. Mansfield was able to tie the score before the intermission, however, as they blocked a Ryan Cox punt and recovered on the Bengals' 15-yard-line. Steve Smith ran it in from the one-yard-line just four plays later, and the teams would go to the locker room 13-13.
After forcing the Bengals to punt on their first series of the second half, the Mountaineers took the lead for good at 10:19 of the third quarter when the quarterback Motley pounded the ball in from the 1-yardline. After Jeff Mimm's kick sailed through the uprights, Mansfield grabbed a 20-13 lead. In the fourth quarter, Buffalo State orchestrated a seven-play drive of 45 yards, and Joyner scored his second touchdown of the day from one-yard out. After a second missed kick, the Bengals still trailed 20-19. After trading possessions, Buffalo State pinned Mansfield back to its own four-yard-line with 1:37 remaining after a 70-yard boot by Cox. The Bengals defense held and after a 20-yard punt Buffalo State took over on the Mansfield 27 with just 31 seconds remaining. Bobby Ballard hauled in Granata pass at the four yard-line with just 22 seconds to play to set up a potential game-winning field goal. After Tom Jakubaszek recovered a Buffalo State fumble on the next play, the Bengals were forced to call on Cox to try a 21-yard field goal. His attempt missed right, however, as time expired and Mansfield triumphed 20-19.
Joyner led Buffalo State with 125 yards rushing and two touchdowns. Granata was 7-for-19 with one touchdown and one interception. Mike Pawlikowski and Tyree Parker led the Bengals' defense with 12 tackles each.
Media Contact:
Jeffrey Ventura, Sports Information Director | 7168786030 | venturjm@buffalostate.edu