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Bulls Look to Bounce Back Against Ohio

Ramon Guzman

UB (1-5, 0-4 MAC) is coming off a tough defeat against Miami (OH), 38-31, last weekend. The Bulls led Miami, 21-14, early in the third quarter before a series of turnovers gave the RedHawks three short touchdown drives and control of the game. The Bulls were led offensively by redshirt freshman running back James Starks (Niagara Falls, NY/Niagara Falls) who ended the day with a career-high 113 yards on 19 carries including a career-long 38-yard touchdown run. Defensively, UB was led by senior linebacker Ramon Guzman (Bronx, NY/DeWitt Clinton) who had 11 tackles on the day including a sack.

Guzman talked about this season and the future of UB football at the Bulls' weekly press conference on Tuesday. “We're making sure that the younger guys know that they have improved athletically and they are doing better than they have in the past,” Guzman said. “Our leaders have stepped up and we're taking everything more personal - to win more games and get everybody in the workouts. I think that this will be the key to turn around the rest of this season and next year at UB.”

Ohio (4-3, 2-1 MAC) is coming off a dramatic win against Big Ten opponent Illinois by a score of 20-17. With five seconds remaining, senior kicker Matt Lasher booted a game-winning 32-yard field goal. Offensively, Ohio is led by junior tailback Kalvin McRae who leads the team in rushing yards with 470 and in receptions with 18 for 176 yards and eight total touchdowns so far this campaign.

Ohio is coached by Frank Solich, who is in his second season as head coach and has a career 66-29 overall collegiate record. Solich and UB head coach Turner Gill are quite familiar with each other. Solich coached as an assistant at Nebraska while Gill was a player for the Huskers and UB's coach was an assistant under Solich for six seasons. Gill talked about the reunion and the Ohio football team. “It'll be good to see Coach Solich and touch base with him,” Gill said. “We worked together for a long time. But, come Saturday afternoon, you're so focused on what you're trying to get done - all of those things are put behind you. I know they'll be well coached, they have a good football team and they're playing real well.”

Kickoff is slated for 2:00 pm on Saturday afternoon. The game can be heard on WGR 550 AM in Buffalo, WHTK 1280 AM in Rochester or on the web at www.buffalobulls.com.