BUFFALO, NY - The University at Buffalo football team found out how tight the margin for error is against a Top 25 team.

A few crucial turnovers and too many big plays by No. 23 Northern Illinois spelled the difference in a closer-than-the-final score appears, 40-9, win by the Huskies at UB Stadium.

The two teams played a spirited first two quarters with the Bulls seemingly ready to cut into a 17-9 NIU lead when freshman tailback Jared Patterson (Belvidere, NJ/Belvidere) fumbled inside the Huskies' five-yard line with 6:26 to go in the first half. The Huskies, having regained the momentum, went on to score the final 14 points of the half and wen on to improve to 9-1 overall and 5-1 in the Mid-American Conference. The Bulls fell to 1-10 and 1-6 in conference play.

Tailback Michael Turner and quarterback Josh Haldi were a lethal one-two punch for the Huskies. Turner, the fourth-leading rusher in the nation coming into the game, had 163 yards on 19 carries, while Haldi was 14-of-25 for 261 yards and three touchdowns.

"Anytime you get those touchdowns (at the end of a half), it's tough for the other side,"said NIU coach Joe Novak. "That really knocks the wind out of your opponent. The thing I've been pleased with about our team the last couple of weeks is that when we've gotten turnovers, we've capitalized. That's what you have to do.

"We had too many turnovers and you can't have that against a good football team," said UB coach Jim Hofher. "We didn't play as well today like we have against other good teams. We've got to go back and figure out how we can play better."

Turner got the Huskies jump-started on the first play from scrimmage, scooting 60 yards around left end to take the ball to the Buffalo 13. Three plays later Haldi connected with Shatone Powers from 13 yards out for the opening score. Buffalo, responded, however with a touchdown drive of its own behind junior quarterback Randall Secky (Bemus Point, NY/Maple Grove). Secky hit all three passes, including a third-down connection

Gabe McClover

to sophomore Gabe McClover (Fort Lauderdale, FL/Coconut Creek), before Patterson scored his third touchdown in two games from four yards out. Senior kicker Dallas Pelz (Holland, NY/St. Francis) missed Buffalo's first PAT of the season when the kick was blocked to keep the score, 7-6.

After a pair of punts, the Huskies struck again as Steve Azar - who would become the MAC's career leader in field goals on the day - connected from 23 yards out to up the lead to 10-6. The Bulls would answer again on a nine-play, 52-yard drive capped by Pelz hitting his school-record 10th straight field goal from 23 yards away to make it 10-9.

Northern pushed the lead to 17-9 on the ensuing possession as Haldi converted two key third down and long situations. Turner scored on a pitch play from 20 yards to cap the drive. Once again, however, it appeared the Bulls would have an answer as sophomore safety

Gemara Williams

Gemara Williams (Oak Park, MI/Brother Rice) would intercept Haldi - after a deflection by cornerback Delando Bradford (Franklin, MI/Groves) - at the UB 45. Williams would finish with a career-best 10 tackles (seven solos).

Buffalo moved inside the NIU 10-yard line via a 19-yard connection from Secky to McClover and a 30-yard burst by tailback Aaron Leeper (Jamestown, NY/Jamestown), before the fumble seemed to derail the Bulls' upset hopes. Although Buffalo would stop Northern's next drive, they wouldn't be as fortunate on its next turnover.

Secky was intercepted by Ray Smith, when his receiver fell down on the play, that gave NIU the ball at the Buffalo 44. Four plays later, Haldi hit Turner for a 13-yard touchdown pass and the Huskies were on their way. They would extend the lead to 31-9 a few minutes later - after stopping the Bulls in three plays - when Powers made a great catch in the back corner of the end zone with :19 left in the first half.

The Bulls, who reeled off 12 first downs in the first half, were shut down by the Huskies in the second half, managing just five first downs as the physical Huskies wore down Buffalo.

Secky finished the game 19-of-37 for 176 yards for Buffalo with flanker

Matt Knueven

Matt Knueven (Cincinnati, OH/LaSalle) recording another solid game with six catches for 75 yards. McClover added a carer-best three receptions for 32 yards. Dave Dawson (Camp Hill, PA/Bishop McDevitt) led a balanced ground game with nine carries for 47 yards, while Leeper had 41 carries on eight totes.

The Bulls, despite giving up a few big plays, had a season-best 12 tackles for loss on the day. Williams had 10 tackles and a career-best three passes defended to pace the UB defense, while J.J. Gibson (Amherst, NY/Sweet Home) had eight tackles, three quarterback hurries and 1¹/₂ tackles for loss.

Lamar Wilcher

Senior Lamar Wilcher (Ossining, NY/Ossining) had a sensational game in his final home game, recording eight tackles, and a career-best 3¹/₂ tackles for loss, including his second career sack. Safety Ryan Sherwood-Ericcson (Erie, PA/McDowell) had a career-high eight tackles, while senior Chris Clifton (Amherst, NY/Amherst Central) had seven stops, including 2¹/₂ tackles for loss.

BULL-etins: Senior free safety Mark Graham (Monroe, MI/Monroe) had his consecutive streak of 38 straight games snapped when he couldn't go with a hip injury...Gemara Williams now has three career interceptions, including picks in back-to-back weeks...senior linebacker Lamar Wilcher moved into the career top ten in tackles for loss with his performance on Saturday. Wilcher's 3¹/₂ tackles for loss give him 27¹/₂ for his career, which ranks ninth in Bulls' history to move past Gary Brown (1979-82) and Cosmo Nestola (1979-82)...defensive tackle Rob Schroeder (East Rochester, NY/East Rochester) blocked his fourth kick of the season when he blocked a second-half Huskie punt. Schroeder now has four blocks this season (two PATs, one field goal, one punt) and six in his career. The blocked punt was the first since Dan Lindsay had one at Akron last year...tight end Brian Miller (Santa Clarita, CA/Valencia) had a career-best two catches...defensive tackle Kirk Berry (Norrisville, PA/Norristown) had a career-high three tackles, his first-ever fumble recovery and 1¹/₂ tackles for loss...Delando Bradford had a career-best two pass breakups...tailback Aaron Leeper moved into sixth-place all-time in career carries (349) and is now 10th all-time in career rushing with 1,353 yards...J.J. Gibson moved into fourth place in career solos (155)...quarterback Randall Secky with 19 completions now has 289 moving into sixth place all-time...kicker Dallas Pelz moved into fourth place by himself with 141 career points past O.D. Underwood (1986-87).