DANBURY, CT-- A 25-yard field goal by Teddy Keyes with 13:09 remaining in the game proved to be the game-winning kick and Western Connecticut State (4-4/2-3) held on to defeat Buffalo State (2-6/1-5), 10-7, in an NJAC contest today at the Westside Athletic Complex.

West Conn outgained the Bengals, 360-219 for the game, led by Wayne Neal’s fourth consecutive 100-yard rushing game, as he racked up 126 yards on 32 carries. Quarterback James Williams was 19 of 30 for 266 yards with a touchdown and an interception. Derrick Way had six catches for 62 yards, and John Zervos caught four balls for 80 yards, including a 16-yard touchdown in the first quarter.

Sammy Smith (Buffalo/Hutch Tech) led the Bengals ground attack in his first collegiate start, carrying the ball 24 times for 79 yards. Dan Aquilio (Depew/Depew) was 10 of 25 for 140 yards and a touchdown and an interception. Greg Meyer (Lancaster/Lancaster) had just two catches for 50 yards. Tom LaPann (Glens Falls/Glens Falls) anchored the Bengals’ defense with 12 tackles and a sack. Peter Nguyen (Buffalo/South Park) added five tackles and his fifth interception of the season.

West Conn opened the scoring with 4:11 remaining in the first quarter on the 16-yard strike from Williams to Zervos. Buffalo State sputtered in the red zone, missing a 23-yard field goal late in the opening half, and then missed a 28-yard field goal early in the third quarter.

West Conn extended its lead to 10-0 with Keyes’ fourth-quarter field goal. The Bengals made the game interesting when Aquilio connected with Bob Vesona (Depew/Depew) on a 7-yard touchdown with just 1:03 remaining to cut the deficit. Buffalo State was unable to recover the onside kick, however, and the Colonials ran out the clock.

Buffalo State hosts The College of New Jersey in its NJAC season finale next Saturday at 1 p.m.