BROCKPORT, N.Y. --- The Brockport Golden Eagles hosted the 20th I-90 bowl against the Buffalo State Bengals this Saturday. This would be the 40th time these two teams have ever faced off, which Brockport owns a slight edge over with a 22-17 all-time record against the Bengals.
Brockport's defense managed to secure eight turnovers during the game, which four of those turnovers were returned for a touchdown. Standout players on that Golden Eagles defense during this game would include Ben Marshall, Giovanni Frisenda, Raylens Boutin, Jordan Harris and more!
The first score of the game was thanks to a 37-yard punt return by Brockport's dangerous special teams returner Derrick Change, after Buffalo State's punt on the first drive of the game. This return would set up a 9-yard touchdown run by Gino Fontanarosa to take an early 6-0 lead, after Brockport's kicker Noah Panepinto missed the extra point.
During the Bengals second drive, they succeeded to get into Brockport's 48-yard line thanks to a pass interference call. This would set up an interception by Brockport's zone hawk safety Ben Marshall. Marshall would take Brockport's first turnover of the game for a touchdown, putting Brockport up 13-0 with 7:49 left in the first quarter.
During Buffalo State's next drive, quarterback Thomas Delgado would commit his second turnover of the quarter by throwing an interception to Sophomore safety Giovanni Frisenda, returning the ball to the opponent's 22-yard line, which ended in the Brockport offense missing a 30-yard field goal.
Frisenda wasn't done, so during Buffalo States next drive, Frisenda would intercept Delgado again, this time he would take it 29-yards into the end zone for a pick six, giving Brockport a 20-0 lead with two defensive touchdowns in the first quarter.
The Golden Eagles would force their fourth turnover of the quarter after a three minute drive from the Bengals offense that resulted in a Thomas Delgado fumble that was caused by a strip sack by Brockport Senior linebacker Vicient Daviero, and recovered by fellow Senior linebacker Dylan Mann, which would result in Delgado's fourth turnover to end the first quarter.
At the start of the second, Brockport would turn the ball over on downs, giving Buffalo State a chance to get back into the game. Though Ben Marshall had other plans, picking off Delgado on his team's 11-yard line, resulting in Marshall's second interception of the day, which also resulted in Marshall being sidelined with a knee injury for the remainder of the game.
The turnover would then result in a high snap by Brockport's center Demitri Swann, which went out of the back of the end zone resulting in a safety.
No teams were able to score again before half, after the next drive by both teams would result in a turnover on downs, a punt by the Bengals, and another turnover on downs on Brockport's next possession. This would result in a 24-yard drive by the Bengals offense ending in field goal attempt that was missed short by Nick Sciandra.
Brockport would receive the ball at the start of the third quarter, which they would come out hot thanks to Gino Fontanarosa rushing for 69 total yards that drive. The drive would result in an injured Todd Simonds completing a jump pass to his tight end James Altenburger for a 1-yard touchdown!
Down by 25, Delgado had to answer, though he would fail by throwing an interception to Brockport's shutdown corner Raylens Boutin, who would have a magnificent 36-yard return to toe end zone, resulting in the Golden Eagles defense's third score of the game!
The Bengals would only respond with a three and out on their next drive, giving the ball back to the red hot Brockport offense. This would result in Simonds completing two passes for 16-yards and Gino Fontanarosa rushing for 17, 12 of those yards coming by his second touchdown run of the game, putting Brockport up 41-2.
The rest of the fourth quarter resulted in Brockport causing two more turnovers, one of them being Delgado's sixth interception of the game by Vincent Daviero and a fumble recovery by Ismael Doumbai for a touchdown. This would give the Golden Eagle's defense their fourth score of the day!
54-2 was the final score, which Brockport would win their sixth straight matchup against Buffalo State, which would advance Brockport to a 5-3 record. Brockport will now have to prepare to host a tough 6-2 Morresville Team, who is eager to look for a win after their loss against Utica.
On the other hand, Buffalo State would lose their 22nd consecutive game, giving them a 0-8 record. The Bengals now have to host against a tough 5-3 Hobart College team next week.
