BUFFALO, NY - Miami University's Josh Betts threw for 306 yards and the RedHawks rebounded from a halftime deficit to defeat Buffalo, 25-7, in a Mid-American Conference battle at UB Stadium.

The RedHawks (4-3, 3-1 in the MAC) used a 12-point fourth quarter to pull away after Buffalo had a chance to retake the lead early in the fourth quarter. The Bulls (1-6, 1-4 MAC) missed a pair of field goals in the game and Miami converted on 10-of-17 third down conversions to make the difference in a very competitive game.

"Kudos to Coach Hofher and his staff, obviously he had them ready to play," said Miami coach Terry Hoeppner afterwards. "This is the best Buffalo team that we've seen in a while and they played like it, especially in the first half."

The Bulls used an opportunistic defense and some key plays to take a 7-6 lead to intermission.

Buffalo stopped an early Miami drive deep in the Bulls' territory for the first turnover of the game.

Ryan Sherwood-Ericsson

After driving to the UB 25, safety Ryan Sherwood-Ericsson (Erie, PA/McDowell) sacked Betts and forced a fumble that was recovered by Aaron Sanders (Clarence, NY/St. Joseph's).

Buffalo than moved into its first scoring position of the afternoon, driving 56 yards in 13 plays with the key play being a 19-yard hookup from junior quarterback P.J. Piskorik (Swoyersville, PA/Wyoming Valley West) to senior Matt Knueven (Cincinnati, OH/LaSalle). However, a key unsportsmanlike conduct penalty on the Bulls inside Miami's 10-yard line helped stall the drive and eventually junior placekicker Mike Baker (Jamestown, NY/Jamestown) missed a 34-yard field goal. It was Baker's first miss after five straight successful kick.

Miami struck first on a 25-yard pass from Betts to tailback Luke Clemens to take the lead with 10:34 remaining in the first half. However, UB defensive tackle Rob Schroeder (East Rochester, NY/East Rochester) blocked the extra point to keep the score at 6-0.

The Bulls responded immediately with a 70-yard drive on 10 plays to take the lead. Tailback Steven King (Hempstead, NY/Uniondale) capped it with his team-leading sixth touchdown from one yard out. It was the third straight week King has found paydirt. Again Knueven had the big play, a 13-yard hookup to set the Bulls up at the one-yard line.

James Evans

The score stayed that way at the half when cornerback James Evans (Irvington, NJ/Irvington) made one of his several huge plays in the game. The freshman got the first sack of his career and forced his second fumble of the season which led to a 22-yard loss after Miami had moved to the Buffalo 20-yard line. Junior safety Sherwan Saaty (San Diego, CA/Rancho Bernardo) broke up a fourth down pass to end the drive.

Miami retook the lead midway through the third quarter when Betts hit Ryne Robinson on a three-yard pass to cap an 11-play, 64-yard drive. The Bulls, however, again responded as King took back the kickoff for a career-long 39 yard return to the RedHawks 46-yard line. Buffalo looked poised to take the lead after getting another key Piskorik-to-Knueven hookup for 14 yards to set Buffalo up first and goal at the Miami nine.

Matt Knueven

However, on third down Piskorik was sacked and Baker's 26-yard field goal was wide right ending the Bulls' last, best hope of the game. The RedHawks would go on to add a touchdown, field goal and safety to make the final score less reflective of the overall competitiveness of the game.

"It's games like these that make me believe our day is coming," said Buffalo head coach Jim Hofher. "Miami is an elite MAC program and I think our guys competed toe-to-toe. We have to cover a little bit more ground to take advantage of the opportunities that we create, but our day is coming."

Sherwood-Ericcson, junior linebacker Rich Sanders (Miami, FL/Coral Reef), senior safety J.J. Gibson (Amherst, NY/Sweet Home) and Evans paced a strong defensive effort by the Bulls. Sherwood-Ericcson had 11 tackles, two for losses, forced a fumble and had a sack. Sanders matched his career-high with 11 tackles

Rich Sanders

and forced a fumble, while Gibson had 11 tackles, one for loss, and broke up a pass. Evans had a career-game with eight solo tackles, a forced fumble, his team-leading third interception, two pass breakups and a sack.

Piskorik went the whole way at quarterback for the Bulls after being reinstated from suspension this week. He completed 10-of-19 passes for 98 yards with an interception. Knueven was his favorite target all day, finishing with four receptions for 55 yards. The UB running game was held under 100 yards for the first time since November of 2002, a stretch of 19 games. Sophomore Chris McDuffie (Amherst, NY/Williamsville North) had 10 carries for 36 yards to pace Buffalo.

BULL-etins: The Bulls lost for the first time under head coach Jim Hofher when they held a lead

J.J. Gibson

at halftime...senior safety J.J. Gibson moved into second place all-time in career solo tackles with seven on Saturday, bringing his total to 195. He moved past Pete Conley (1992-95) who had 191 and now trails only all-time leader Craig Guest (1993-96) who had 236. Gibson also moved into fourth place by himself with 311 total tackles...James Evans set career-highs in total tackles with eight and passes defended in a game (3)...Aaron Sanders had one tackle for loss, raising his team-high total to 6.5 on the season...Saturday marked just the second time this season that the Bulls have not had a 100-yard rusher.