Box Score

ITHACA, N.Y. – The Ithaca football team (4-2, 2-2 Empire 8) dropped a 21-14 game to visiting Buffalo State (3-4, 1-3 Empire 8) Saturday at Butterfield Stadium. The Bombers held a five-minute advantage in time of possession in the second half but failed to capitalize on two Buffalo State turnovers in the first two possessions of the third quarter in the defeat.

Buffalo State opened the scoring in a first-quarter touchdown run from 1-yard out that capped a 14-play, 91-yard drive over six minutes, 54 seconds. The Bengals added a 27-yard field goal late in the first quarter and held an 11-0 lead after the opening 15 minutes.

Ithaca answered with a 2-yard touchdown run by Clay Ardoin and an extra point from Garrett Nicholson to pull to within four points, but the Bengals added another field goal before halftime and led 14-7 at the break.

The Bombers kicked off to start the second half, and Cam Baker forced a fumble on the Buffalo State kickoff return, which Ithaca's Skylar Griffenberg recovered at the Bengals' 30. The offense couldn't move the ball and took a sack on fourth-and-3 to turn the ball over on downs.

On Buffalo State's first play from scrimmage, Griffenberg intercepted a pass and returned it 16 yards to the 50 yard line to give the Bombers another chance in good field position. That drive ended with an Ithaca punt, and Buffalo State answered with a 72-yard touchdown drive to take a 21-7 lead.

The Bombers drove to the Buffalo State red zone late in the third quarter, but a tipped pass was intercepted inside of the 10-yard line. Ithaca got the ball back and scored on a 10-yard touchdown pass from quarterback Phil Neumann to tight end Steve DelMoro with 10:14 left in the fourth quarter.

Ithaca had two more possessions, the first ended with a punt and the second ended on a loss of downs with 2:05 remaining. Buffalo State ran out the clock and held on for the win.

Ardoin carried 22 times for 70 yards, and Jarrett Naiden had nine carried for 32 yards.

Neumann completed 13-of-24 passes for 155 yards. He had one touchdown and was intercepted twice. Joseph Ingrao had seven catches for 112 yards, his third 100-yard receiving game of the season and fourth of his career.

Linebacker Dan Cimino had nine tackles, including one tackle for loss. Griffenberg had four tackles in addition to his fumble recovery and interception. Brian Garvey also had four tackles and an interception. Linebacker Jake Santora and safety Tom Scanlon had eight tackles each.

Sam Carney had a 44-yard punt return and three kickoff returns for 64 yards.

Ithaca returns to action Oct. 20 at St. John Fisher. The game will be televised by Time-Warner Cable Sports and begins at 4 p.m.

BOMBER GAME NOTES

• Ithaca's Mike Welch coached his 200th game as head coach. His career record stands at 142-58. He is in his 19th season in charge of the Bombers.

• With seven receptions in the game, Ingrao moved into eighth on the all-time list in receptions at Ithaca with 110. He also surpassed the 1,500-yard mark, and is the 12th player in Bomber history with at least 1,500 receiving yards.

• During the halftime ceremony, 2012 Ithaca student-athletes Jeremy Stierly (wrestling), Seth Ecker (wrestling) and Emma Dewart (women's track & Field) received national championship rings from Ithaca College President Thomas Rochon and Director of Intercollegiate Athletics Ken Kutler.

• Members of the 2012 induction class to the Ithaca College Athletics Hall of Fame were also honored, including former football players Blaise Iuliano '64 and Mike O'Donovan '99.