Dean was 0-11 on 3rd down conversions. (Photo Courtesy: Deanbulldogs.com)
FRANKLIN- Dean College football fell to Buffalo State 41-7 on a rainy and windy Saturday afternoon at Dale Lippert Field.
The Bengals scored seven minutes into the game when Cody Phillips had a 5-yard run into the end zone to make it 7-0. That score was set up by a 45-yard run by Ale Wilson on the first play of the drive.
Buffalo State added onto their lead in the beginning of the second quarter when quarterback Noah Kimble found Tyler Mills for a 26-yard reception for a touchdown to make it 14-0.
After recovering an onside kick, the Bengals were tasked with fourth down when Wilson ran into a pile but went to the outside for a 36-yard sprint into the end zone to make it 21-0.
With 27 seconds remaining until halftime, Wilson scored his second touchdown of the game on a 4-yard run. The score was set up two plays earlier thanks to 29-yard reception by Nicholas Bruce that went all the way to the seven-yard line.
Wilson kept this impressive day going in the third quarter with a 55-yard run into the end zone to make it 35-0.
Dean finally put their first and only points on the board thanks to a one-yard reception by Jordan Mason for a touchdown. The scoring opportunity was set up by running back Fontabian Donaldson Jr who had a 38-yard run on that drive.
The Bengals quickly answered back with a 41-yard touchdown reception by Tariq Nelson to make it 41-7, Buffalo State went on to miss the extra point.
The big story in the game was that Buffalo State had 348 rushing yards to the Bulldogs 73. In addition, the Bengals went 10-17 on third down conversions. On the other hand, the Dean went 0-11 on third down.
Dean quarterback Nathan Cisco exited the game in the third quarter and did not return. Dean brought in freshman Isaac Sisneros who finished 4-6 for 42 passing yards. Cisco finished the day 8-13 for 40 passing yards. The Bulldogs also had Paul Hammond see some action as he finished 7-15 for 38 passing yards and a touchdown.
The Bulldogs rotated Cisco and Hammond into the game before Cisco left with an injury.
“Cisco and Hammond bring different things to the table, and we wanted to try to exploit the defense by utilizing their different skills,” coach Murphy mentioned after the game.
Cisco walked off the field and took a seat with his head down. He was brought over to the locker room area to be further evaluated and later returned to the sidelines wearing sunglasses and was without his helmet. Coach Murphy had no update on Cisco’s status after the game.
“We didn’t perform to our level of expectations. We made mistakes on defense that led to Buffalo State points, struggled to get anything going on offense and didn’t execute on special teams. The guys played hard but when you’re not making routine plays you make it hard on yourself,” Dean head coach Andrae Murphy said after the game.
Jordan Mason led the Dean receivers with six receptions for 41 yards and a touchdown.
On the defensive side, Kai Reeves finished with a game-high 11 tackles. Andrew Liverman was next with nine tackles, including seven solo. Austin Roy and JJ Carrion both forced a fumble and Ryan Tigges had an interception.
For Buffalo State, Ale Wilson led all running backs with 199 rushing yards and three touchdowns.
The Bengals rotated in two different quarterbacks in Noah Kimble and Amir Cameron. Kimble finished 3-7 for 59 yards, one touchdown and one interception. Cameron went 2-2 for 32 yards and a touchdown.
Dean, 1-2, will be on the road next Saturday at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute in Troy, New York with kickoff set for 5pm when they will look to snap a two-game losing streak.