FOOTBALL

Roster  |  Coaches  |  Schedule / Results  |  News

BUFFALO, NY - The University at Buffalo was dominated in all phases of the game by Miami University in a Mid-American Conference clash on Saturday afternoon at UB Stadium.

The RedHawks evenly-distributed attack featured 236 yards on the ground and 251 yards through the air as Buffalo was whitewashed, 49-0. It was the first time that Buffalo has been shutout since a 35-0 loss in week two last year at Bowling Green. The Bulls managed just 175 yards of offense and turned the ball over three times on the afternoon.

"This was a very, very disappointing performance by our team and a very good performance by Miami. It's just disappointing to do many of things that we try to do and not perform well. Anyway you slice it, was poor football on our part and it was excellent football on their part."

Miami jumped to a 28-0 lead at halftime and took advantage of many miscues by the Bulls throughout the afternoon. Even when Buffalo did good things, they didn't work out on this afternoon.

Trailing 21-0, the Bulls executed a fake field goal for a 17-yard gain to take the ball to the Miami 41-yard line. However, the Bulls were called for an illegal formation. On the next play, punter Scott McMahan (Huntington Beach, CA/Oceanview) mishandled the snap and the RedHawks recovered at the Buffalo 26.

Three plays later Miami quarterback Ben Roethlisberger hit Jason Branch from four yards out to make it 28-0. Buffalo responded with an 18-play drive after receiving the kickoff, however, it resulted in no points.

After driving from their own 20, the Bulls had a pass dropped in the end zone and kicker Dallas Pelz (Holland, NY/St. Francis) missed a 24-yard field goal with :29 left in the half.

It never got competitive in the second half, as after Buffalo was stopped on a 4th-and-6 at the Miami 35, Roethlisberger hit Michael Larkin for a 39-yard touchdown completion down the left sideline to put the game away. Roethlisberger, the MAC Freshman of the Year last season, hit 16-of-24 passes for 228 yards in the game.

Buffalo had no answers on either side of the ball for Miami. The Bulls managed just 50 yards rushing after piling up a season-high 239 at Marshall last week. Tight end

Azzaam Stallsworth

Chad Bartoszek (Salamanca, NY/Salamanca) led the UB offense with six catches for 39 yards, while junior Azzaam Stallsworth (Gardena, CA/Gardena) had four catches for 30 yards.

Defensively, junior free safety Mark Graham (Monroe, MI/Monroe) had 11 tackles (10 solos), two pass breakups and two interceptions. Sophomore linebacker Rodney Morris (Pahokee, FL/Pahokee) also had 11 stops for the Bulls. Redshirt freshman safety Gemara Williams (Oak Park, MI/Brother Rice) added two pass breakups for Buffalo.

The Bulls failed to record a sack for the first time this season. It was a matter of domination on both sides of the line of scrimmage, according to Bartoszek.

"Offensively, we have to get push off the ball," he said. "You have to run the ball and we couldn't run the ball at all. That's how you play physical. Nothing Miami did surprised us, we just didn't play up to our potential."

Bull-etins: Mark Graham became UB's career leader in passes defensed with his performance on Saturday. Graham had four passes defensed (two interceptions, two pass breakups) to bring his career total to 30, one more than Terrence Fisher (1993-95)

Mark Graham

accumulated in his career. Graham's two interceptions bring his career total to 10, tying him with seventh all-time with former teammate Craig Rohlfs (1998-2001). It was the second time this season Graham has had two interceptions this season, He previously accomplished the feat versus Lehigh in the season opener. His 10 solo tackles were also a career best...Buffalo played without leading receiver Andre Forde (Penfield, NY/Penfield), who missed the game with a foot injury...senior linebacker Deonne McClelland (Mesa, AZ/West Wood) also did not play with a knee injury that may force him to miss the rest of the season...freshman linebacker Bryan Cummings (Cincinnati, OH/Madeira) returned after missing the last three games with a shoulder separation. Cummings had six tackles, one for loss...for the second straight week, Buffalo recovered a muffed punt by its opponent as Chad Bartoszek fell on the loose ball in the third quarter...Bartoszek match a career-high with six receptions, while Gabe McClover (Fort Lauderdale, FL/Coconut Creek) set a career-best with three catches for 28 yards...freshman safety Joe DiGiorgio

Joe DiGiorgio

had a career-best five tackles...junior guard Alex Alvarez (Los Angeles, CA/Bell-Jefferson) made his first career start at left guard... senior Mike Lambert moved into a tie for fourth place in career passes defensed (with Kareem Stroman and Robert Harris) with 25...senior outside linbacker Jason Coley (Rochester, NY/Greece-Athena) also returned from a shoulder injury and recorded two tackles.