ALL-TIME SERIES: The Ithaca College football team plays its final home Liberty League game of the season against Buffalo State this Saturday. Ithaca is 21-10 all-time against the Bengals dating back to 1988 and has won each of the past six games. In the last five games, IC has scored at least 48 points, while Buffalo State has been held to fewer than 14.
SENIOR DAY/PARENTS WEEKEND: The IC athletic department and football program welcomes all parents and family members to Bertino Field at Butterfield Stadium this Saturday for Senior Day and Parents Weekend. Prior to the start of the game, all underclass parents will be recognized, and the senior parents will be honored at halftime.
66TH CORTACA JUG TICKETS: Tickets to the 66th Cortaca Jug game at Butterfield Stadium on November 15 go on sale next week. Tickets will be available during the following times, free of charge to IC students, faculty and staff: Monday, November 3: 5:00 – 7:00 p.m., Tuesday, November 4: 11:30 a.m. – 1:30 p.m., Wednesday, November 5: 6:00 – 8:00 p.m. at the A&E ticket window.
LIBERTY LEAGUE OUTLOOK: The Bombers will need some help over the next few weeks in order to secure the Liberty League title. With the loss to Union last Saturday, IC will now need to beat RPI next Saturday and the Engineers need to defeat the Garnet Chargers on November 15 to set up a three-way time. Tiebreaker scenarios would then determine the league's automatic bid.
LAST TIME OUT: Ithaca found itself in another tight contest last Saturday, but the Bombers wound up on the wrong end of a 19-14 outcome against Union. IC never led in the game, but knotted things up twice at 7-7 and 14-14, before Union kicked a game-winning field goal with three seconds left and then secured a safety on the ensuing kickoff to account for the final score.
The Bombers got off to an extremely slow start and possessed the ball for less than two minutes of the first quarter. IC was held to just 12 yards of offense in the first half until the Bombers put together a pair of drives late in the second quarter, but were unable to put any points on the board following a missed field goal and turnover on downs.
IC then turned the ball over on downs again at the Union 2-yard line to begin the fourth quarter, but held strong and tied the game at 14-14 with less than two minutes left in regulation, but the Bombers never got the ball back.
BRIGHT SPOTS: Michael Reed accounted for both touchdowns on the day with a 2-yard run and 17-yard pass to
Ryan Watson. Reed finished the day with 68 yards rushing and 147 yards passing.
Tian Murray had 92 yards on seven receptions and
Sam Tourangeau anchored the defense with 13 tackles and a forced fumble.
SCOUTING BUFFALO STATE: Buffalo State is 1-6 on the season and 1-3 in Liberty League play. The Bengals' lone win of the season came against Hilbert, 15-8.
Buffalo State averages 12.0 points and 271.4 yards per game, but allows 34.6 points and 344.3 yards, including 219.1 on the ground. Over the last three games, Buffalo State has been outscored, 108-22.
Jeadi Higdon is the top running back on the team with 367 yards and three touchdowns, while Amir Cameron has thrown for 704 yards and three touchdowns. The receiving corps has the ability to produce chunk plays as four players have hauled in receptions over 49 yards this season.
Otho Cox leads the way with 310 yards, while Keegan Whitfield has 300 yards on 17 catches.
Sincere Green is the Bengals' defensive player to watch with 55 total tackles, 8.0 tackles for loss and two fumble recoveries.
UP NEXT: Ithaca hits the road next Saturday, November 8 to take on RPI and then wraps up the regular season at home against Cortland on November 15.
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