BUFFALO — Jamestown got off to a fast start Friday night at Bennett High School, scoring a touchdown on its very first possession.

The Red & Green had an even better fourth quarter, putting 16 points on the board, but it was what happened in the middle two periods that did them in.

Behind a potent aerial attack and an opportunistic defense that forced four turnovers, the Tigers held off Jamestown 27-23 in a Class AA contest at All High Stadium. The loss evened the Red & Green’s record at 2-2 overall and 1-1 in the division, while Bennett improved to 3-1 and 3-0.

Quarterback Jordan Freeman tossed touchdown passes of 58 and 66 yards to Jack Eskridge IV, and one for 30 yards to E’Ryan Lawrence to highlight the Tigers’ offensive attack. Jimmy Valentine accounted for Bennett’s other TD, courtesy of a 16-yard run.

Jamestown’s early score was courtesy of a 13-yard quarterback keeper by Dominic Gonzalez. Carson Panebianco tacked on the extra-point kick, giving the Red & Green a 7-0 lead less than three minutes into the first quarter.

From that point on, however, Bennett dominated, scoring TDs on three of its next four possessions of the first half, two of which came on passes of 30 and 58 yards, the latter coming with 7.3 seconds remaining in the second quarter.

That turned out to be the difference in the game.

Armed with a 21-7 lead, the Tigers found the end zone again on the first possession after the break on another long touchdown pass, this time from 66 yards.

The Red & Green finally found paydirt again at the 7:22 mark of the fourth quarter when Chase Bonta bulled in from the 4 and Gonzalez connected with Josiah Cruz on the 2-point conversion pass to pull within 27-15.

The Tigers had a drive deep into Jamestown territory late in the final period, but Gonzalez intercepted a pass in the end zone, setting up his 58-yard touchdown strike to Ayden Samuelson. Gonzalez tacked on the 2-point conversion run to pull the Red & Green to within four points with 2:16 remaining.

But Bennett ripped off gains of 15 and 30 yards on its ensuing possession to help run out the clock and preserve the victory.

NOTES: Gonzalez completed 6 of 10 passes for 147 yards and was intercepted once. … Adam Kubera was his favorite target with three catches for 67 yards. … On the ground, Bonta rushed for 98 yards on 19 carries and a TD. … Bonta and Cole Bloomquist both registered 19 tackles, while Tommy Pratton added 14, including a sack. … Lawrence picked off a pair of passes and Jason Hargrove and Bilal McMasters recovered a fumble apiece. … Jamestown will be back in action at 7 p.m. next Friday when it entertains Orchard Park at Strider Field.

Jamestown 7 0 0 16 — 23

Bennett 7 14 6 0 — 27

Jam–Gonzalez 13 run (Panebianco kick)

Ben–Lawrence 30 pass from Freeman (Matheri kick)

Ben–Valentine 16 run (run failed)

Ben–Eskridge IV 58 pass from Freeman (McDuffie run)

Ben–Eskridge IV 66 pass from Freeman (run failed)

Jam–Bonta 4 run (Cruz pass from Gonazalez)

Jam–Samuelson 58 pass from Gonzalez (Gonzalez run)