Less than three minutes remained in the fourth quarter of Buffalo State’s opening game against Cortland.

The Bengals were clinging to 35-28 lead, after giving up 14 unanswered points. Cortland had the ball, third and goal from the 8-yard line, seemingly poised to tie the game.

Red Dragons’ quarterback Tyler Augliano dropped back and heaved a pass toward the left side of the end zone, just as Bengals’ cornerback Chris Hall broke on the ball.

“I had to make the play,” Hall said. “It was a clutch moment, so I saw the ball in the air, and I just went to go up and get it.”

Hall came down with the interception, giving the Bengals the ball back and essentially ensuring victory. The interception was crucial for a defense that had given up big chunks of yards through the air all day.

“I think our defense played good, they just got us on a couple big plays, that’s it,” Hall said. “… We just have to get off the big plays, execute (better) on those.”

The game started off with one of those big plays, as Cortland running back Dylan Peebles ran for a 67-yard touchdown on the first play from scrimmage.

Buffalo State answered back with a touchdown on a pass that was deflected twice before finally falling into wide receiver Caesarae Lewis’ arms in the end zone. The Bengals added on two more touchdowns to make the score 21-7 in the second quarter.

But right before halftime, the Bengals gave up another big play, this time in the form of a 58-yard touchdown pass from Augliano to John Babin with 15 seconds left in the half.

“Its disappointing,” head coach Jerry Boyes said. “You can’t give up those big plays. They had big plays, that’s why I say we kind of weathered the storm, you might say, on Saturday.”

Buffalo State increased its lead to 35-14 before Cortland scored two touchdowns to make the game close again. When Hall made his interception with 2:39 to play, the game appeared to be over.

The Red Dragons were still not done, however, as they forced a Buffalo State punt on the ensuing drive and got the ball back at their own 15-yard line with five seconds to go in the game.

On the last play of the game, Cortland completed a pass and began to run a hook-and-ladder play. They gained about 30 yards before fumbling, and the loose ball was recovered and returned for a touchdown by Buffalo State’s Shaq Frederick as time ran out to make the final score 41-28 in favor of the Bengals.

Despite the win, Boyes said the team still has plenty to work on in preparation for its next game.

“We have to correct some of the mental errors we had this week. That’s the first thing,” Boyes said.

Quarterback Casey Kacz finished the game with 344 total yards and five touchdowns, including a career-high 118 rushing yards and three rushing touchdowns.

He said that the team is confident heading into next week, but is also trying to make sure they don’t get too far ahead of themselves.

“It definitely gives us more confidence,” he said. “We don’t want to make the same mistake as last year, though, and get too confident and overlook anyone.

Wide receiver Mike Doherty led the team with five receptions for 104 yards and a touchdown in his first game back from a knee injury that cost him the entire 2012 season.

Defensively, Scott Koen had 8 tackles, 2.5 tackles for a loss, a sack and a fumble recovered for the Bengals.

Buffalo State’s next game is at home against Brockport on Saturday. Kickoff at Coyer Field is scheduled for 2 p.m.

Chris Dierken can be reached by email at [email protected]. You can follow him on Twitter @cdierken.