ORLANDO, FL - A few plays can make the difference in a football game. A few plays denied the University at Buffalo from a major upset and its first victory of the 2003 season.

Central Florida used a heavy dose of the ground game and a ball control offense to defeat Buffalo, 19-10, at the Citrus Bowl on Saturday night in a Mid-American Conference clash. Without star quarterback Ryan Schneider in the lineup, the Golden Knights relied on their running backs to carry the load and they responded, gobbling up 298 yards on the ground. UCF running back Alex Haynes led the way with a career-high 169 yards on 30 carries as UCF held the ball for over seven minutes more than the Bulls.

"For two weeks in a row we've been in a very competitive MAC game," said Buffalo head coach Jim Hofher. "We didn't win them but the more we're knocking on the door, we will bang through that door. We fought valiantly in terms of red zone defense (allowing just two scores in six trips by UCF) - we forced field goals and we blocked one. I thought our guys really fought like crazy from a defensive perspective."

Early on, it looked like things were going to go UB's way. UCF running back Dontavius Wilcox

Jeff Bublavi

was headed for the endzone in search of the game's first score when he was met just shy of the goal line by redshirt freshman Jeff Bublavi (Norwood, PA/Interboro) who delivered a bone-rattling hit that jarred the ball loose. The ball was pounced on in the endzone by senior free safety Mark Graham (Monroe, MI/Monroe) for a touchback. The Bulls capitalized on the turnover by driving down the field and taking the lead on a 43-yard field goal off the toe of Dallas Pelz (Holland, NY/St. Francis). It was Pelz's first field goal of the season and his longest since a 45-yard field goal at Rutgers last year.

The Knights responded late in the first quarter with a six-play, 83-yard drive capped by a 26-yard touchdown run by Dee Brown. However, sophomore Rob Schroeder (East Rochester, NY/East Rochester) broke through the UCF offensive line to block the extra point attempt.

On the first play from scrimmage following the UCF touchdown,

Dave Dawson

Dave Dawson (Camp Hill, PA/Bishop McDevitt) broke off a 62-yard run to give the Bulls a first-and-10 at the UCF 18-yard line. Sophomore quarterback P.J. Piskorik (Swoyersville, PA/Wyoming Valley West) - making his third straight start - capitalized on the Dawson scamper by scoring on a one-yard plunge. It was Piskorik's first career rushing touchdown and gave the Bulls a 10-6 advantage early in the second quarter.

On the ensuing kickoff, Central Florida's Luther Huggins ripped off a 68-yard return to put the Knights right back in UB territory. The Bulls' defense came up big -as they did three other times later in the game - in the red zone, forcing UCF to settle for a 27-yard field goal by Matt Prater to cut the UB lead to 10-9 with 11:27 remaining in the second quarter.

With 1:58 remaining in the half, UB committed a costly turnover. Redshirt frosh Chad Upshaw (Southport, CT/St. Joseph's) fumbled while trying to gain extra yardage after a completion with UCF's James Cook pouncing on the loose ball at the Buffalo 34 yard line. Once again, however, the Buffalo defense stiffened and Prater would kick a 38-yard field goal as time expired in the first half to give the Knights a 12-10 halftime advantage. It kept the Bulls from having the lead at intermission for the first time this season.

The third quarter proved to be domination by UCF everywhere but on the scoreboard as the Golden Knights would shut down the UB offense throughout. However, UB's defense did not allow a second-half point giving the Bulls a chance to win. The first big defensive play came after UCF drove the Buffalo 10-yard line. On fourth-and-one, sophomore linebacker Bryan Cummings (Cincinnati, OH/Madeira) stuffed Haynes short of the first down.

The Bulls, however, went backwards on their possession and for the third time this season the Bulls were bit by the punt return bug as Tavaris Capers returned a punt 52 yards to give the Knights a 19-10 lead with 5:58 remained in the third quarter. The play seemed to ignite UCF, especially on defense, as they forced UB into three-straight three-and-outs. "That one touchdown was as much a difference as anything else in the game," Hofher said referring to the Capers' touchdown.

Rob Schroeder

With 7:29 remaining in the fourth quarter, Schroeder came up big on special teams again as he blocked a 33-yard field goal to keep the score at 19-10 after UCF had driven to the Buffalo four-yard line. On third down, Haynes was thrown for a 12-yard loss to set up the field goal attempt.

The Bulls then marched 35 yards in 12 plays -converting a fourth-and-12 play on a 15-yard hookup from Piskorik to freshman DeSean Larmond (Brooklyn, NY/Midwood) - only to see the drive stall inside the UCF 30. Piskorik was thrown for a four-yard loss on third-and-two and sacked on fourth down to end UB's hopes.

The UB defense allowed a season-low 357 yards in the game and held UCF without a point in the second half. However, the Bulls' offense, which amassed 216 yards in a productive first half, accumulated just 55 yards after intermission. Piskorik rushed for 36 yards, but hit just 12-of-25 passes for 93 yards. Dawson finished with 83 yards on eight carries. Flanker Matt Knueven (Cincinnati, OH/LaSalle) had three catches for 35 yards and had a run for 14 yards as well.

The defense was paced by safety Gemara Williams (Oak Park, MI/Brother Rice) who matched his career high with 10 tackles, including a career-best nine solo stops. Graham added eight tackles, one for loss, the fumble recovery and a quarterback hurry. Native Floridians Rich Sanders (Miami, FL/Coral Reef) - who matched his career best with seven tackles -and Brandon Smith (Miami, FL/Coral Reef) - who had two tackles for loss - also played well for the Bulls.

BULL-etins: Senior free safety Mark Graham recovered a fumble recovery for the second straight week and has now contributed 14 turnovers in his UB career - combined with his 12 career interceptions. His seven solo tackles moved him into third place on the career list with 157, moving past former teammate Craig Rohlfs (1998-2001)...Rob Schroeder's blocked field goal was the first by the Bulls since Schroeder blocked a field goal attempt versus Connecticut (9/14/02) last season...the Bulls were held

Dallas Pelz

without a sack for the first time in three weeks...senior kicker Dallas Pelz tied Mark Mozrall (1991-94) for second place in career field goals (22) with his first of the season in the first quarter. Gerald Carlson (1993-96) is the career leader with 28. Pelz now has 100 career points, alone in 17th place in career scoring. In addition, Pelz punted consistently for the first time since his freshman season with the injury to Dominic Milano, averaging 38 yards on five punts...Buffalo limited UCF to just 3-of-13 on third down conversions and stopped the Knights once on fourth down as well...Buffalo fell to 0-20 under Jim Hofher when losing the time of possession and 3-4 when scoring first.