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BUFFALO, NY - After four games against non-conference opponents, the Bulls begin Mid-American Conference play this Saturday at 6 pm when the Akron Zips visit UB Stadium. Buffalo has an all-time mark of 1-3 in MAC openers - the lone victory coming in 2000 over Bowling Green by a 20-17 score.

UB will look to pick up its first victory of the season, while Akron is in search of its third straight win. The Zips have already played a pair of MAC games this season - a 41-38 loss to Kent State and a 24-17 victory over Eastern Michigan.

"It's our start of MAC play - we can easily say it's a clean slate," said Bulls' head coach Jim Hofher at Tuesday's weekly UB press conference. "We also, quite honestly, will be going into MAC play with perhaps as many questions as we have answers after four games of non-conference play.

"We have to continue to work at a variety of different things on our team. The only way to gain confidence is to do something well, repeatedly."

P.J. Piskorik

Hofher also indicated that sophomore quarterback P.J. Piskorik (Swoyersville, PA/Wyoming Valley West) would likely receive his second straight start, although Randall Secky (Bemus Point, NY/Maple Grove) would once again see some playing time.

Piskorik ran for 72 yards last week against Connecticut in his first collegiate start. That total was the highest for a Bulls' quarterback since UB Hall of Famer Cliff Scott ran for 121 yards in the final game at Old UB Stadium in October of 1992. On the season, Piskorik has 129 rushing yards and is averaging 4.4 yards per carry.

"I think there was a little bit of a spark infused in the team," said Hofher when speaking about Piskorik's first start. "He did a very credible job with the things we need our quarterback to do at the line of scrimmage. He had his share of mistakes that a first-game starter might have, but I think he did a really solid job. He's going to have to do better with his ball security and with some of the decisions that a quarterback faces, but I would expect him to improve from one game to the next."

Steven King

Another new face making an impact for the Bulls is redshirt freshman Steven King (Hempstead, NY/Uniondale). He has scored touchdowns in consecutive weeks, which is good for 40 percent of UB's touchdown total this season. Freshmen scoring is something that is not all that uncommon at UB, though. Last season, 15 of the Bulls' 27 touchdowns (55.6 %) were scored by freshmen.

"Steven had a couple of really strong runs versus Connecticut," Hofher said. "He gives us good depth in our backfield and starter-level play, depending on the personnel group we have on the field. As a freshman, he is getting valuable work and putting on a positive performance for us."

Akron meanwhile, is getting quality production from familiar faces. Junior quarterback Charlie Frye is fourth in the nation with 1,301 passing yards this season. Despite playing only the first half in Akron's 65-7 trouncing of Howard last week, Frye still compiled 219 passing yards.

"Charlie Frye has really been an outstanding performer so far this year," said Hofher. "I think he's got an excellent command of the offense that they run. He's mobile - a good runner and a good thrower on the run."

But Hofher is quick to point out that the Zips have a number of offensive weapons.

"The Akron running game cannot be overlooked. Bob Hendry has played very solid this season. He is a tough runner."

Hendry ranks 29th in the nation with 93.0 rushing yards per game. Dating back to last season - including a 119-yard afternoon versus Buffalo - Hendry has rushed for over 100 yards in eight of his last 10 games.

"Bob is a no nonsense runner," said Zips' coach Lee Owens in Monday's MAC teleconference. "He goes hard and runs straight upfield. He breaks tackles, is strong and has deceptive speed."

Owens went on to emphasize that Akron will not take the Bulls lightly, despite holding a 4-0 edge in the all-time series.

"When you get back into conference play, you have to be focused," Owens said. "There is not a problem with focus - it's a MAC game and it's a MAC game on the road. We have respect for Buffalo. They're on the verge of breaking out and doing some great things. Before long, that team is going to get some wins."