BUFFALO, N.Y. – Hilbert College Football scored a season-high 27 points and held the lead on three separate occasions, but ultimately fell to Buffalo State 39-27 in Liberty League play Saturday afternoon at Coyer Field.
The Hawks wasted little time getting on the board, using an eight-play, 44-yard drive capped by a 12-yard touchdown pass from
Noah Workman to
Christian Hamilton Jr. for a 7-0 lead. Buffalo State answered quickly, but Hilbert regained the advantage late in the first quarter when Workman connected with
Nicholas West on a seven-yard touchdown pass before adding the two-point conversion for a 15-7 edge.
Buffalo State tied the game early in the second quarter, but the Hawks responded with their longest scoring drive of the afternoon. Hilbert marched 70 yards on nine plays, highlighted by key completions from Workman and a 10-yard touchdown run by
Jeremy Ganska, giving the Hawks a 21-15 lead with 8:19 remaining in the half. Buffalo State added a field goal on the final play of the second quarter to trim the deficit to 21-18 at halftime.
The Bengals took their first lead of the game midway through the third quarter on a 13-play touchdown drive and carried a 25-21 advantage into the fourth. Buffalo State extended its lead with a touchdown pass early in the final quarter and added another rushing score with 6:24 remaining to make it 39-21.
Hilbert answered with one final scoring drive, covering 88 yards in 10 plays. Workman completed four passes on the possession before finding West for a five-yard touchdown pass with 3:14 left in regulation. The score was Workman's third touchdown pass of the afternoon and West's second receiving touchdown.
Workman finished 13-for-19 passing for 130 yards and three touchdowns while adding 70 rushing yards on eight carries. Hamilton Jr. hauled in six receptions for 71 yards and a touchdown, while West caught three passes for 20 yards and two scores. Ganska added 59 rushing yards and a touchdown as the Hawks totaled 287 yards of offense and 19 first downs.
Defensively,
Scotty Winchell led Hilbert with 12 tackles, including 2.0 tackles for loss.
Zach Brown added 10 tackles, while
Sherrad Patterson II recorded nine stops.
Anthony Theiss finished with five tackles, 2.0 tackles for loss, and a sack.
UP NEXT:
The Hawks return home when the team hosts Union College on Saturday, October 31
st at 12 pm.
