Brockport soars past the Bengals

By: Joey Campbell

BROCKPORT, N.Y.--- The SUNY Brockport Golden Eagles Football Team hosted the annual I90 Bowl against the Buffalo State Bengals, a series they have won nine out of the last ten times. Brockport continued on that trend by dismantling the Bengals 68-0.

Blackout theme for Brockport fans packing out Bob Boozer Field on Sept. 3. 2026. (Photo: Nicole Bowland, Brockport Athletics/89.1 The Point)

"Obviously in game 1 you are looking to execute as best as you can regardless of the opponent," SUNY Brockport Head Coach Jason Mangone said. "I think for the most part we did a pretty good job".

This marks the largest margin of victory in SUNY Brockports football team's history.

The Brockport quarterback room was nearly flawless tonight. Ben Gocella went 10/10 on passes for 124 yards and two passing touchdowns. Zymier Jackson went 2-2 for 18 yards through the air and picked up 14 yards on the ground with two rushing tochdowns. Anthony Vino checked into the game as well going 1-2 for 19 yards.

The runningback room was argubaly even more impressive. Freshman Derrion Battle rushed for 106 yards on ten carries with a touchdown. Freshman Madison Murrell had 65 yards on 7 carries and Freshman tailback Allan Paul had 45 yards on 8 carries. While there is no longer an Isaiah Simmons in the backfield, three freshman showcased themselves as the strong committee.

Brockports star wideout Nolan Slywka was the featured guy in the receiving core after transferring to Stony Brook University for a season. Slywka tallied two touchdowns with 82 yards on six receptions.

"He provides a massive huge play at any point," Mangone said. "It's going to be hard for teams to bracket him... but if you don't he's going to do what he did today."

The Brockport defense was all over the Bengal backfield all night. Freshman Defensive Lineman Ari Gefell tallied nine total tackles which led the team. Linebacker Sal Montaperto Jr led the team in sacks with Austyn Gollnitz and Nelson Frias each picking up a sack of their own. Defensive Back Malik Kelly had the only interception for either defense. The defense also forced a blocked punt as well as a forced fumble.

Brady Winter (56) taking down Amir Cameron (9) as he fumbles the football on Sept. 3. 2026. (Photo: Nicole Bowland, Brockport Athletics/89.1 The Point)

Buffalo State never got anything going. The offense picked up only three first downs while rushing for a total of 32 yards and passing for 28. The defense let up 326 yards on the ground and 161 yards through the air.

The Golden Eagles started with the football and in eight plays got in the end zone. Allan took a goal line rush to give Brockport an early 7-0 lead.

After a blocked punt by Brockport they really got things going. Gocella ripped a 42 yard bomb to the left sideline with Slywka making a highlight reel one-handed catch to get Brockport in the red zone. A RPO would leave Slywka wide open in the end zone to increase the lead to 14-0.

Nolan Slywka (6) hauls in a one-handed catch for a 43 yard pickup to set up his touchdown on Sept. 3. 2026. (Photo: Nicole Bowland, Brockport Athletics/89.1 The Point)

Brockport added two more touchdowns in a span of four minutes. Slywka hauled in a nine yard catch in the end zone on a dig route to increase the lead to 21. After a Bengals three and out Jackson would rush in his first touchdown of the game to make it 28-0.

Brockport continued to add onto their lead before half. Battle scored his first career touchdown on a four yard rush, shortly after Jackson would get his second of the game on a QB power run up the middle to make it 42-0 going into halftime.

Zymier Jackson (5) reaching for the goal line while being wrapped up by two Bengals on Sept. 3. 2026. (Photo: Nicole Bowland, Brockport Athletics/89.1 The Point)

Extra delay due to storms would give the Bengals extra time to gameplan their next drive which turned upside down quick. On third down, Amir Cameron tried to hit a dig route that was jumped by Kelly and housed 35 yards to the endzone. 49-0.

Christopher Bascetta made his first career field goal from 27 yards out to make it 52-0 in the third quarter.

The fourth quarter saw two more touchdowns and a safety for the Golden Eagles. Sameer Thomas had a three yard rush up the middle to make it 59-0. Bengals kicker Jason Gatti-Ezard could not handle the snap and had to fall on the ball in the endzone making it 61-0. Brockport running back Micah Harry would add one more touchdown for good measure late in the fourth quarter to make it 68-0.

This marks the first time Brockport has scored more than 65 points in a game since 2018, when they beat Buffalo State 65-7.