Upstate NY Starts with Big Game

It was all about tries and bonus points this weekend as the Upstate NY Men’s DII college conference got underway.

The game of the weekend was likely Buffalo State against SUNY Oswego, two teams who were among the contenders last season. A relatively young Buff State team held off Oswego 29-27. 

“We basically held them off,” said Buffalo State Head Coach Rob Jenkinson, whose team was deadlocked with Oswego 12-12 at halftime.

“It seemed like every time one team scored, the other would score,” added Jenkinson. “I was pleased with out ability to put phases together. If there was a difference between the teams is was how we worked as a unit, and used the phases to suck in the defense and use our backs.”

Buffalo State hooker Jason Fuentes was outstanding for the Bengals, working hard in the breakdown to produce ball and in general doing the dirty work needed to keep the team going.

Also winning on Saturday was Niagara, which edged LeMoyne 31-25. Coach Gene Adams said the UpState NY league has been raising its level of play, and his team has struggled to keep up. But a strong game from Matt Coles at flyhalf helped spark Niagara to an early victory. 

“It was a good result for us,” said Adams. “But we’re still building.”

Last year’s champs SUNY Cortland won comfortably 39-15 over newcomers RIT, while Ithaca won 36-26 over Frednia.

So that starts the season with Buffalo State having made something of a statement, but it’s a long season, with nine teams playing eight games.