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RedHawks Slip Past Bulls, 38-31

James Starks

The Bulls led Miami, 21-14, early in the third quarter before a series of turnovers and breakdowns gave the RedHawks three short touchdown drives and control of the game. The Bulls rallied late in the game but a final onside kick with just over one minute remaining went out of bounds allowing the RedHawks to escape with the victory.

“I’m disappointed,” said head coach Turner Gill. “I thought we played with a lot of energy and a lot of heart today. We played very hard, but I think at some points we even played a little too aggressive.

“I think our coaches put together a great game plan for today's game and we did some good things on both ends of the ball. With that said, there are things we need to work on – we can’t have four turnovers and 13 penalties in a football game and expect to win – and we will address those and be ready next weekend to play Ohio.”

The Bulls opened the game with a 46-yard kickoff return by freshman Naaman Roosevelt (Buffalo, NY/St. Joseph’s Collegiate) to the Miami 45-yard line. However, the Bulls drive stalled after a sack.

The Bulls got on the board first on their second possession. Redshirt freshman James Starks (Niagara Falls, NY/Niagara Falls) capped an eight play, 75-yard drive with a career-long 38-yard touchdown run. Starks ran around right end and went untouched the distance. The score marked the first time that the Bulls have opened the scoring in a game since the opener versus Temple.

The RedHawks, however, responded with a drive of their own on the ensuing possession, tying the game on the second play of the second quarter on a one yard touchdown run by Austin Sykes.

After another Miami score to put the visitors up 14-7, UB’s defense came up with a huge play late in the first half and registered a touchdown for the second straight week. Senior linebacker Jeff Bublavi (Interboro, PA/Norwood) forced a fumble by Andre Bratton that was scooped up by defensive end Trevor Scott (Potsdam, NY/Potsdam) and returned to the Miami five yard line, where he fumbled, however teammate James Judges (Pickering, Ontario/St. Marys Secondary) fell on it in the end zone. After the PAT by senior Adam Tanalski (Bellrose Village, NY/St. Francis Prep) the game was tied at halftime.

Ramon Guzman

UB had a quick start to the second half, stopping Miami on downs before striking with a short field of their own. UB overcame a second and 20 as quarterback Drew Willy (Randolph, NJ/Randolph) hit Terrance Breaux (Randallstown, MD/Randallstown) with a clutch 18-yard catch and run. Willy would eventually hook up with redshirt freshman Jesse Rack (Maspeth, NY/Christ the King) for an eight-yard touchdown toss. It was Rack’s first touchdown in his career.

After that, however, the Bulls’ mistakes caught up with them. After an interception on a deflected pass late in the third quarter, the RedHawks had to travel just 22 yards to tie the score on a Sykes touchdown run. Then, on the last play of the third quarter, punter Ben Woods (Hermitage, PA/Hickory) had his kick blocked and recovered at the Bulls’ five yard line. The RedHawks wasted little time in taking the lead two plays later on a pass from quarterback Mike Kokal to Jake O’Connell.

The RedHawks extended the lead to 38-21 after two more Buffalo interceptions, before UB would rally once more to make things interesting. Trailing by 17 points, strong safety Kareem Byrom (New Brunswick, NJ/New Brunswick) forced a fumble that teammate Kendric Hawkins (Upper Marlboro, MD/DeMatha Catholic) recovered at the Miami 45-yard line.

One play later Willy connected with Roosevelt for a 45-yard touchdown pass down the right sideline. After the Tanalski PAT, the Bulls trailed 38-28 with 1:50 remaining. It got more interesting when the Bulls recovered Woods’ onside kick. Buffalo moved into field goal range on a 30-yard hookup from Willy to Starks, eventually settling on a 32-yard field goal from Tanalski to make it 38-31 with 1:06 left.

However, Woods’ final onside kick bounced out of bounds and the RedHawks were able to run out the clock and secure the win.

The Bulls were severely hampered in the game by a total of 13 penalties for 117 yards, including two calls on third and fourth down that kept Miami touchdown drives alive. Buffalo had entered the game as the least penalized team in the MAC and ranked 21st in the nation in fewest penalty yards per game.

Individually, redshirt frosh James Starks had a career-best 113 yards on 19 carries, averaging 5.9 yards per carry. He also contributed career-bests with five receptions for 68 yards, for a total of 181 all-purpose yards. Drew Willy finished 13-of-23 for 174 yards and a pair of touchdowns. Naaman Roosevelt totaled 145 yards of all-purpose yardage on the day with three receptions for 60 yards, three kickoff returns for 80 yards and a punt return for 11 yards.

Defensively, senior linebacker Ramon Guzman (Bronx, NY/DeWitt Clinton) led the Bulls with 11 tackles – including a half-sack. Fellow senior Jeff Bublavi added seven tackles and a forced fumble. Trevor Scott had 1.5 sacks and a fumble recovery and sophomore David Hubbard (Rancho Cucamonga, CA/Etiwanda) had six tackles and 1.5 sacks.

BULL-etins: Tailback James Starks became UB’s first freshman to go over 100 yards rushing since Aaron Leeper accomplished the feat late in the 2002 season versus Central Florida. On Sunday, Starks established new career highs in rushing (113), receptions (5), receiving yards (68) and all-purpose yardage (181)...free safety Mike Newton (Pasadena, MD/Calvert Hall) recorded his second interception of the season in the third quarter. The Bulls have now recorded at least one interception in all six games this year...the Bulls racked up a season-best four sacks on the afternoon. The previous high had been two. In addition, the UB defense allowed just 260 yards to the RedHawks, the lowest total against a MAC opponent this year. The Bulls allowed a low of 183 yards to Temple in the season opener...the freshman combination of James Starks and Naaman Roosevelt accounted for 75% of the Bulls all-purpose yards in the game. Starks (181) and Roosevelt (145) accounted for 332 of UB’s grand total of 433 yards gained through rushing, passing and kick returns...David Hubbard racked up a career-best six tackles in his most extensive play of the season...the Bulls recorded three turnovers on the day, two fumble recoveries and an interception...redshirt freshman defensive end Dane Robinson (Baltimore, MD/Calvert Hall) recorded a career-best two tackles for loss.