BUFFALO, NY - The University at Buffalo put together a total team performance to blitz the University of Central Florida, 48-20, in a Mid-American Conference clash in front of 12,173 fans at UB Stadium.

Steven King

The win was the first of the season for the Bulls (1-4, 1-2 MAC), was the highest point total for a Buffalo team since moving up to Division I-A in 1999 and was the first win over the Golden Knights in six tries. The Bulls rode a dominating effort by its offensive line -which helped the Bulls roll up 440 yards on just 52 plays (8.5 yards per play) - while the defense forced three turnovers.

"I couldn't be more proud of a group of guys," said Buffalo head coach Jim Hofher. "I thought it was very complete in terms of our defense, our special teams and our offensive play. I am very proud of our sustained effort and the will that our guys showed.

"Our offensive line did a terrific job," said Hofher. "You can't have the running game performance that we had, you cannot have the production in the passing game that we had, without having those guys do their job."

The offensive line imposed its will on UCF on the very first drive of the game. The Bulls got the opening kickoff - which junior Dave Dawson (Camp Hill, PA/Bishop McDevitt) returned 45 yards to midfield. There, with redshirt freshman Chris Moore (Highland Village, TX/Flower Mound Marcus) getting his first start, the Bulls ran five straight running plays, capped by a 30-yard touchdown burst by sophomore Steven King (Hempstead, NY/Uniondale) to take a 7-0 lead. King had a career-high 110 yards on 15 carries and scored twice.

The Golden Knights came right back, however, tying the score at 7-7 before Buffalo regained the lead on a 22-yard field goal by Mike Baker (Jamestown, NY/Jamestown). UCF took its only lead of the game at 13-10 when quarterback Steven Moffett hit Tavaris Capers for an eight-yard score with 10:08 remaining in the first half. The PAT was missed.

Datwan Hemingway

That's when Buffalo's other freshman quarterback, Datwan Hemingway (Albany, NY/Christian Brothers Academy) entered the game for his first collegiate action. Buffalo promptly went on a 69-yard drive on five plays with Hemingway opening his career with a 15-yard run. King would add a 43-yard burst and sophomore Jared Patterson (Belvidere, NJ/Belvidere) would slam in from two yards out to give Buffalo the lead for good at 17-13.

After a defensive stop, Buffalo would get great field position after an 11-yard punt and cashed in on a 42-yard field goal by Baker to make it 20-13. It was Baker's fifth straight made field goal.

The Buffalo defense then got the first of three interceptions on the night, as junior linebacker Rich Sanders (Miami, FL/Coral Reef) intercepted a Moffett aerial and returned it to the UCF 49. It was Sanders' second interception of the season.

After a 20-yard Hemingway run, Dawson burst in from seven yards out to make it 27-13 Buffalo with :48 left in

Dave Dawson

the half. Buffalo would end the half on a high note as well as freshman cornerback James Evans (Irvington, NJ/Irvington) got his second interception of the season in the UB end zone to thwart a last-minute UCF drive.

The second half was domination by the Buffalo offensive front as well as some timely passing from Moore.

After stopping UCF on the opening drive of the second half, Moore connected with fellow redshirt frosh Terrance Breaux (Randallstown, MD/Randallstown) on a game-changing play. On a third-and-11, Moore threw a long ball up the left sideline which Breaux outfought a UCF defender and than broke away from to finish an 86-yard score to make it 34-13 Bulls.

Chris Moore

After the Golden Knights responded with an 80-yard drive to make it 34-20, Moore and Breaux connected again for a huge play. Breaux caught a 37-yard pass on a second-down play and Dawson would then go for 14 and 20 yards before racing in from one yard out to make it 41-20.

The next UCF drive senior safety J.J. Gibson (Amherst, NY/Sweet Home) continued his stellar season by getting his first interception of the season at the UCF 39.

Moore then connected with sophomore Chad Upshaw (Southport, CT/St. Joseph's) for a 28-yard completion to set Buffalo up inside the UCF five-yard line. From there, King would bang in for his second touchdown of the night from one yard out to make the final 48-20.

The Bulls defense may have given up a lot of yards on this night (473), but time and again thwarted the Golden Knights after they got into scoring range. The defense was led by the play of junior linebacker

Bryan Cummings

Bryan Cummings (Cincinnati, OH/Madeira), who had a career-high 12 tackles, two pass breakups and 1.5 tackles for loss. Gibson added 10 tackles, while sophomore James Vann (Downingtown, PA/Downingtown) had a career-best eight tackles and his first career sack. For the game, the Bulls recorded five sacks, including 1.5 each by juniors Aaron Sanders (Clarence, NY/St. Joseph's) and Anthony Andriano (Howard Beach, NY/Christ the King).

Offensively, the Bulls were nearly flawless. They did not commit a turnover and Moore connected on 5-of-7 passes for 195 yards. Breaux had two catches for 123 yards, while senior Matt Knueven (Cincinnati, OH/LaSalle) had two grabs for 44 yards.

Aaron Sanders

Dawson added 53 yards on 11 carries, while Patterson had 44 yards on 10 carries. Hemingway did not attempt a pass, but ran for 38 yards on seven carries. In all the Bulls had 245 yards rushing and five rushing touchdowns, the most since joining the MAC.

Buffalo travels to MAC East rival Akron next Saturday for a 6 pm kickoff.