Box Score

BUFFALO, N.Y. -- The Ithaca College football team relied on three big scoring plays and capped a thrilling ending with a 30-yard touchdown pass with 22 seconds remaining in the fourth quarter to remain undefeated on the season and started Empire 8 play with a 24-20 win at Buffalo State on Saturday afternoon. The first two Ithaca touchdowns were 63-yard scores, and a 30-yard touchdown pass from Phil Neumann to Vito Boffoli proved to be the decisive score as Ithaca improved to 3-0 overall and 1-0 in the Empire 8. The Bengals are 2-2 overall and 0-1 in the Empire 8.

After Ithaca saw a 17-7 lead erased by the Bengals with two late fourth-quarter touchdowns, the Bombers took possession at their own 28 with 1:05 remaining and moved 42 yards in three plays on consecutive completed passes. After one incompletion, Neumann found Boffoli in the middle of the field and Boffoli broke two tackles and raced through the Bengal secondary for the winning touchdown.

Boffoli finished with career-best totals of five receptions for 68 yards and the 30-yard score was the longest reception and first receiving touchdown of his career.

Ithaca opened the scoring on the last play of the first quarter when tight end Jared Prugar got open down the left sideline and Phil Neumann found him in stride. Prugar made the catch and ran away from the Bengal defense for a 63-yard touchdown.

The Bombers extended their lead to 10-0 in the second quarter with a 41-yard field goal by sophomore Max Rottenecker, but the Bengals answered with a touchdown pass late in the second quarter to make the score 10-7 at halftime.

Ithaca's next big play came from special teams again as Josh Oliver caught a punt and ran 63 yards down the left sideline for a touchdown with 8:40 remaining in the fourth quarter

Buffalo State scored on a 14-yard touchdown pass with 3:30 remaining in the fourth quarter.

The Bombers took possession after that and failed to convert a first down before punting the ball away where Buffalo State took possession with 1:52 remaining at their own 38-yard line. The Bengals moved 62 yards in seven plays in just 47 seconds and scored on an 18-yard run up the middle by Rich Pete. The extra-point was missed and Buffalo State led 20-17 to set up the game-winning drive by the Bombers.

Ithaca's defense forced two turnovers in the game, a fumble recovery in the third quarter by Brian Hardenberg, and an interception in the fourth quarter by Mike Vulcano. Hardenberg led the defense with 10 tackles including 1.5 tackles for loss in addition to the fumble recovery. Jake Santora had nine tackles. Brian Garvey had two pass break-ups in the contest.

Ithaca continues conference play on Saturday, Oct. 5 at Hartwick at 2 p.m.

BOMBER NOTES

* Neumann reached 3,000 career passing yards with an 8-yard completion to Joel Lynch in the first quarter. Neumann finished the game with 217 passing yards and ranks eighth all-time at Ithaca in that category. It was his third consecutive 200-yard passing game.

* Oliver's punt-return touchdown was Ithaca's first since Dan Ruffrage returned a punt 91 yards for a score at Springfield on Oct. 15, 2011. It was the first punt-return touchdown that Buffalo State allowed since 2004. Oliver finished with 96 punt return yards and 46 kickoff return yards.

* Ithaca had two sacks of Buffalo State quarterback Casey Kacz, the first on a fourth-down play by Will Carter that turned the ball over on downs deep inside of Ithaca territory in the first quarter. The other was from Mike Sheldon.

* Rottenecker is 3-for-3 on field-goal attempts this season and has connected from 37, 41 and 41 yards.

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