PITTSBURGH — The Pittsburgh Blitzkrieg beat the Buffalo Skull Crushers 9-7 in the Conference Championship, using three John Bentley field goals to erase an early seven-point deficit. Buffalo scored the game’s only touchdown, but Pittsburgh’s defense held the Skull Crushers scoreless after the first quarter.

Buffalo took possession after William Cipriano intercepted Cornelius Camp’s opening pass. Cipriano returned it two yards to the Pittsburgh 25, and the Skull Crushers converted the turnover into a touchdown moments later. James Miller completed a 13-yard pass to Cary Samons for the score, and Richard Dailey’s extra point made it 7-0.

Pittsburgh got on the board late in the second quarter. Bentley made a 35-yard field goal with 3:32 remaining, cutting Buffalo’s lead to 7-3. He added a 45-yarder in the third quarter to make it 7-6, then put Pittsburgh ahead with a 34-yard field goal early in the fourth. That kick, with 13:16 remaining, set the final score at 9-7.

The Buffalo defense intercepted Camp once, with Cipriano credited for the pick. Pittsburgh finished with 110 passing yards and 85 rushing yards, while Buffalo had 111 passing yards and 93 rushing yards. Neither team had a rushing touchdown, and Pittsburgh’s only scores came on Bentley’s three field goals.

Pittsburgh’s pass rush recorded six sacks. William Martin, Russell Hambright and Larry Luna each had two. The pressure came as Buffalo completed 14 of 29 passes; the Skull Crushers converted four of 20 third downs. Pittsburgh completed 16 of 36 passes and converted two of 17 third downs.

Samons led Buffalo’s listed individual contributions with a receiving touchdown, 29 receiving yards and 35 rushing yards. His first-quarter catch accounted for the home team’s only touchdown. Buffalo did not attempt a field goal, while Bentley made all three of his attempts for Pittsburgh.

The narrow result left Buffalo one point short in a game where its opening interception and touchdown produced the only lead it held. Pittsburgh’s three successful kicks supplied the difference in the championship game.