BUFFALO STATE GAME NOTES

ITHACA, N.Y. – The Ithaca College football team will play its final home game of the 2016 season against Buffalo State College on Saturday afternoon at 1 p.m. Ithaca enters the Empire 8 Conference matchup with a 4-4 overall record, while Buffalo State is 5-3. It will also be the final home contest for hall of fame head coach Mike Welch, as he will retire at season's end.

Game Coverage:

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All-Time Series:

Ithaca and Buffalo State have met 25 times since 1988, with the Bombers winning 15 of those contests. The two schools squared off each season from 1988 to 2006, including two meetings each in 1992 and 1994. The rivalry was renewed in 2012, and Buffalo State has won three of the last four matchups.

The Bombers won the first five games before the Bengals prevailed, 28-26, in the 1992 playoff contest. After another victory by Buffalo State in 1993, Ithaca claimed both matchups in 1994 - 16-15 and 10-7 in double overtime during the NCAA Tournament.

Buffalo State went on a 5-0 run from 1995-99, but Ithaca would answer with seven consecutive victories from 2000-06.

The Bombers have won two games by shutout, 53-0 in 1988 and 45-0 in 2004. Buffalo State's largest margin of victory took place in 1995 by a 24-6 outcome.

Last Season's Meeting:

Buffalo State prevailed, 7-3, last season in a defensive battle. Ithaca was held to just 174 of offense (88 passing, 86 rushing), while the Bengals racked up 287 yards. The Bombers won the turnover battle, however, 3-1.

Ithaca scored the only points of the first half on a 23-yard field goal by Max Rottenecker with 10 seconds left in the second quarter. Buffalo State scored the eventual game-winning touchdown with 11:43 left in the fourth quarter on an 11-yard pass.

Last Time Out:

Ithaca dropped a 34-17 decision last Saturday at No. 24 St. John Fisher College. The Bombers scored the first points of the game on a 23-yard field goal by DJ Ellis, but trailed, 13-10, heading into halftime.

Fisher scored the lone points of the third quarter on a 13-yard pass to extend its lead to 20-13. Ithaca answered with a touchdown pass from Wolfgang Shafer to Brian Balsamo to cut the deficit to 20-17. The Cardinals answered right back on their first play from scrimmage with a 73-yard touchdown to go back up by 10 points, 27-17.

It appeared as though that Ithaca got right back in the game with a 67-yard touchdown by Will Gladney, but the play was called back on an offensive penalty. Three plays later, Fisher blocked Ithaca's punt and returned it for a touchdown to account for the eventual final score of 34-17.

Senior Day:

During halftime of Saturday's game, the 22 seniors playing in their final home game at Butterfield Stadium will be recognized for their contributions to Bombers football over the past four seasons.

Thank you to Shawahl Abdur-Rahman, Andrew Antoinette, Brian Balsamo, Rob Barbieri, Alex Barrow, Tyler Beauchesne, Ross Brayman, Sean Crandall, Christopher Durr, Thomas Goodberlet, Andrew Homkey, Skyler Kauf, Myles LaFrance, Nick Lomanto, Jack Meehan, Wolfgang Shafer, Devan Shambo, Anthony Skretny, Alex Sullivan, Peter Trathen and Joe Vandenbos.

Welch's Final Game at Butterfield:

Hall of Fame coach Mike Welch will patrol the sidelines one last time tomorrow afternoon at Butterfield Stadium. Coach Welch will retire at season's end after 23 seasons at the helm of the Ithaca program. He has guided Bombers football to an overall record of 168-77 since 1994, eight trips to the NCAA Division III Championship and eight Empire 8 Conference titles.

Welch has also served as president of the American Football Coaches Association in 2014, and was inducted into the Ithaca College Hall of Fame in 2015.

Scouting the Bengals:

Buffalo State brings a 5-3 overall record and 3-3 mark to Butterfield Stadium this afternoon. The Bengals average 29.1 points per game and allow 24.0 per contest. Their offense produces 414.3 yards (186.0 rushing and 228.3 passing), while the defense surrenders 342.4 yards.

Tre Jones leads the rushing attack with 762 yards on 125 carries and five touchdowns, while Dale Stewart has scored seven times on 71 carries for 419 yards. Quarterback Kyle Hoppy has thrown for 1,533 yards in six games and eight touchdowns, and has also rushed for 141 yards and five more scores.

Bart Mazzara anchors the defense with 84 total tackles, while nine other Bengals have recorded more than 22 tackles. Cliff Brown and Billy Carroll apply the most pressure in the opponents' backfield with a combined 18.5 tackles for loss and 8.5 sacks.

Up Next:

Ithaca closes out its regular season next Saturday, November 12, in the 58^th Annual Cortaca Jug Game at SUNY Cortland at 12 p.m. The Bombers are 34-23 in Jug games dating back to the first-ever contest in 1959. The game will be broadcast live on Time Warner Cable channel 325.

Empire 8 Schedule:

Hartwick at No. 23 St. John Fisher – 12 p.m.
Brockport at Morrisville – 1 p.m.
No. 15 Alfred at Utica – 1 p.m.
Buffalo State at Ithaca – 1 p.m.
Off: Cortland

Statistics:

Ithaca | Buffalo State | Empire 8