MORRISVILLE, N.Y. – The Morrisville State College football team compiled 562 yards total offense Saturday afternoon, taming visiting Buffalo State College, as the Mustangs collected the 37-23 conference win on Drake Field during homecoming weekend in Morrisville.

The win is the first for the Mustangs in the Empire 8, boosting their record to 2-1 overall and pulling even within the conference at 1-1. Buffalo State drops to 1-2 overall, 0-2 within E8 play.

Morrisville State took to the field from the get-go and dominated the running game, netting 277 yards to the Bengals 43. Edwin Soto (Liberty, N.Y.) led the Mustang charge, netting 138 yards on nine carries for three touchdown scores, of which 126 yards and two scores came in the final quarter. Cristian Pena (Ridgewood, N.Y.) added another 91 on 20 carries, also posting a touchdown scoring run.

Mustang quarterback Cory Benedetto (Rochester, N.Y.) collected 285 yards through the air in the passing game, completing 12-of-30 attempts for a touchdown, a 70-yard scoring strike to Pena midway through the opening quarter.

Pena had 83 yards receiving on two receptions. Marcus Jackson-Conner (Sodus, N.Y.) added 77-yards on four receptions, as five additional Mustangs were part of the air assault on the day.

Defensively, Julian Serrano (Bronx, N.Y.) had a huge game for Morrisville State, making 15 stops, including six solo tackles and four for a loss of nine yards. Colton Evans (West Winfield, N.Y.) also posted double figures in tackles, four solo en route to 13 total stops on the afternoon.

Normally a high powered offensive unit, Buffalo State was limited to just 255 yards total offense for the game, recording a season low 43 in the running game. Tre Jones led the efforts with a net 48-yards on 16 carries for two touchdown scores.

Aaron Ertel replaced starter Dan Serignese midway through the second quarter, completing 16-of-30 passes for 199 yards, 73 to wide receiver Dale Stewart who caught five passes.

Will Cheshire led the defensive efforts, registering 11 total tackles in the contest, seven solo stops, including three that were for a loss of 14 yards. Cheshire also posted an interception that was returned 50 yards, and had a blocked kick.

Morrisville State was first to get on the board with 5:25 remaining in the first quarter, as Benedetto connected with a wide open Pena along the left sideline for the 70-yard scoring strike on just the third play of the drive. Pena walked into the end zone to complete the three play, 87 yard drive in just over a minute's time. Kicker Jesse Astudillo (Wheeling, Ill.) completed the point after for the 7-0 Mustang lead. Astudillo was 4-for-5 in PAT's on the day.

Early in the second Benedetto tried to force the ball into the center, but Cheshire stepped in front of the pass for the interception and returned the ball for a defensive touchdown score, putting the visitors on the board seconds into the quarter.

On the ensuing Morrisville State drive, the Mustangs were halted at the Buffalo 14 yard line, but Astudillo put the ball through the uprights to on a 31-yard field goal attempt to extend the lead to 10-6 with 13 to go in the quarter.

Morrisville State capitalized on their next offensive opportunity, as a 30-yard pass play from Benedetto to Joseph Faniel (Clyde, N.Y.) setting up a one yard carry by Soto up center for the 17-6 Mustang advantage at the half.

The Mustangs continued their scoring strike in the third quarter, increasing their lead to 23-6 on a four yard rushing score from Pena that was set up by a double reverse play that resulted in a 42-yard gain on the ground from Anthony Mella (Brooklyn, N.Y.) down the Buffalo four yard line.

The Bengals lone score of the third quarter came as time expired, a 35-yard field goal from Marc Montana, cutting the Mustang lead to 23-9.

In the fourth quarter, Soto made it a 30-9 ball game as he scrambled 60 yards for a touchdown early in the final frame on just the second play of the drive.

Buffalo State responded on the ensuing kickoff, as Stewart returned the ball 77-yards to the Morrisville two, before Jones pushed up center for the rushing score.

Midway through the quarter, Buffalo State turned the ball over on downs deep in Mustang territory as Garrett Planty (Tupper Lake, N.Y.) and Evans made a huge stop on fourth and one. After a 28-yard scramble by Pena to bring the ball out to the 34, Soto got the call, broke six tackles, and scrambled for 66-yards for his third touchdown score of the day, giving the hosts the 37-16 advantage.

The final score of the game came at the 5:31 mark, as Jones posted the six yard rushing score to cut the lead to 14.

Buffalo State had a chance to edge closer late in the game, but a botched snap was recovered by Morrisville State at midfield where with they finished the game in victory formation.

Morrisville State is on the road next Saturday at Alfred University.

Morrisville State's curricula are enriched with applied learning and pave the way for opportunity at both the Morrisville and Norwich campuses. An action-oriented, interactive learning lab, the college is a national leader in technology and has been lauded for its exemplary, innovative and effective community service programs.

In addition to being named to the 2014 President's Higher Community Education Service Honor Roll, the college was recognized by U.S. News and World Report as an institution in the top tier of the Best Regional Colleges list and ranked second among regional colleges nationwide for outperforming its anticipated graduation rate. For more information visit www.morrisville.edu.

#30#