Fifteen years (and one day) ago: Hofstra 34, Buffalo 21

If Buffalo's logo was this bad-ass in 1994, maybe the Bulls would have beaten the Flying Dutchmen.

Editor’s note: “Fifteen years ago today…” is a feature we’ll be running all fall at Defiantly Dutch as we look back on how the unforgettable 1994 football season unfolded. I’ll add quotes to note and other random memories of the games as well. The first four entries are as follows:

Wins over Butler, Bucknell and Fordham

Win over Lafayette

Win over New Hampshire

Win over Central Connecticut

Today: A recap of the 34-21 win over Buffalo Oct. 22.

Oct. 22, 1994: Hofstra 34, Buffalo 21

QB Carlos Garay rushed for 128 yards despite an offensive line weakened by the absence of the ill Dave Fiore, accounted for more than 300 yards in total offense and directed three scoring drives in the first quarter as the Flying Dutchmen made it a perfect 12 months by beating Buffalo. The win extended the Dutchmen’s winning streak to 10 games and their unbeaten streak to 11 games dating back to a tie against Lafayette Oct. 16, 1993. It also catapulted Hofstra to 20th in the I-AA rankings.

Garay was sacked six times but threw for 194 yards and three TDs—two to Wayne Chrebet and one to Michael Wright—and rushed for another score. Two of his scoring strikes and his 12-yard scramble for a TD occurred in the first quarter as the Dutchmen—who had gone four games without scoring in the first quarter until two weeks earlier against Central Connecticut—raced out to a 21-0 lead.

Buffalo closed within 24-15 in the third quarter, when the Bulls returned a Garay interception for a touchdown and booted a field goal, but David Ettinger kicked a 34-yard field goal and Garay tossed an 18-yard TD pass to Chrebet within the first seven minutes of the fourth quarter as the Dutchmen put the game out of reach.

Chrebet had six catches for 90 yards while Wright had four grabs for 43 yards. Led by Garay, the Dutchmen rushed for 226 yards on 49 carries. Hayward Cromartie had 63 yards on 13 carries despite a sore ankle. Defensively, the Dutchmen limited Buffalo to just 34 yards rushing on 32 carries.

Quotable: “We had a two-week layoff. There’s a lot of variables. We were worried about winning.”—Joe Gardi

Other random memories: Not many, alas. I didn’t cover the game in Buffalo (Nick Renzetti did), apparently because I had a phobia about going to Buffalo dating back to the ECC Tournament seven months earlier. Glancing at The Chronicle from Oct. 27, though, reminds me that Gardi had a clairvoyant streak to him: In my short preview of the upcoming game against Towson State, Gardi mentions the Tigers “…will be looking for revenge” after Hofstra ended their playoff hopes with an upset win a year earlier. Not to play spoiler here, but Oct. 28, 1994 wasn’t a good day to be a fan of the Dutchmen.

Next game: vs. Towson State, Oct. 28 (duh)

Email Jerry at defiantlydutch@yahoo.com or follow Defiantly Dutch at http://twitter.com/defiantlydutch.