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BUFFALO, NY - The Buffalo defense set a Division I-A mark with eight quarterback sacks and the Bulls sent its seniors out in grand style, throttling visiting Central Michigan, 36-6, in the final home game of the season at UB Stadium. The Bulls improved to 2-8 overall and 2-6 in Mid-American Conference play - tying its high in wins in its six-year MAC association.

P.J. Piskorik

Junior quarterback P.J. Piskorik (Swoyersville, PA/Wyoming Valley West) rushed for a career-best 85 yards on 10 carries with a touchdown and threw for 122 yards to pace the Buffalo offense. The Bulls' defense was dominating, holding the Chippewas to 56 yards rushing, 121 yards below their average on the season and forcing a pair of turnovers. Senior safety J.J. Gibson (Amherst, NY/Sweet Home) led the unit with nine tackles and the Bulls recorded 14 tackles for loss on the afternoon.

"I am really proud of how our guys bounced back and played a terrific football game," said Buffalo head coach Jim Hofher, whose team bounced back from a 33-7 defeat by Kent State last week. "We had to play terrific to win today and we did. We know we will have plenty of work to do and I think our guys are willing to do the work to get it done."

After a scoreless first quarter, in which CMU dominated field position - with drive starts from their own 47, 42 and midfield but could not score - the Bulls reversed their second quarter trend this year. Buffalo, which had been outscored, 124-55 this year in the second stanza, exploded for 28 unanswered points.

Steven King

The Bulls opened the scoring on a nine-yard run by sophomore Steven King (Hempstead, NY/Uniondale) - who rushed for 74 yards on 16 carries - capping a 70-yard drive in five plays. The big play of the drive was a 34-yard dash by Piskorik. The extra point by Mike Baker (Jamestown, NY/Jamestown), made it 7-0 with 14:06 left in the second quarter.

After stopping CMU in a three-and-out, the Bulls struck again. Sophomore tailback Chris McDuffie (Amherst, NY/North Tonawanda) scored the first of his two touchdowns on the day from 11 yards out. Piskorik had a key 10-yard run on third down to keep the drive alive and hit senior flanker Matt Knueven (Cincinnati, OH/LaSalle) with a 17-yard completion to set up the score with 9:32 left before half.

The Bulls' defense set up the next score, forcing the Chips' back to their own five-yard line before a 20-yard punt set UB up in great field position. Buffalo took advantage as Piskorik had a 14-yard run and the final four yards to paydirt. The very next possession, the Bulls forced another three-and-out and made a huge special teams play. Junior linebacker Bryan Cummings (Cincinnati, OH/Madeira) blocked the punt and Gabe McClover (Fort Lauderdale, FL/Coconut Creek) scooped it up and ran 24 yards for a score. Baker's extra point made it 28-0 at halftime.

Rich Sanders celebrates after safety

After CMU struck for a touchdown to make it 28-6 in the third quarter, Buffalo's defense got in on the scoring. Junior linebacker Rich Sanders (Miami, FL/Coral Reef), who had two sacks and a pass breakup in the game, sacked CMU quarterback Kent Smith in the end zone for a safety. The Bulls' closed out the scoring with senior quarterback Randall Secky (Bemus Point, NY/Maple Grove) at the controls. Secky had a 34-yard strike to redshirt frosh Trevor Scott (Potsdam, NY/Potsdam) to set up a two-yard touchdown run by McDuffie to close the scoring. Scott also had a pair of tackles on special teams.

UB also got a solid outing from wide receiver Terrance Breaux (Randallstown, MD/Randallstown), who had three receptions for 49 yards, while Bryan Kisabeth (Plymouth, MI/Divine Child) had two catches for 56 yards, including a career-best 51-yard grab.

Defensively the stars were many for the Bulls as Buffalo limited Central Michigan to 2-of-18 on third downs and just 1-of-4 in the red zone. Sophomore linebacker Jeff Bublavi (Norwood, PA/Interboro) had seven tackles, while true freshman

Jamal Chisam

Jamal Chisam (Glendale, MD/DeMatha Catholic) had six tackles, one for loss, and recorded his first career interception in the end zone to thwart one CMU drive. Cummings also had six tackles, a block, a quarterback hurry and 1.5 sacks, while defensive end Phil Jacques (Farmington Hills, MI/Brother Rice) had a carer-best two sacks, a forced fumble and a pass breakup. Defensive tackle Rob Schroeder (East Rochester, NY/East Rochester) also had 1.5 sacks, four tackles and a quarterback hurry as Buffalo's front seven dominated.

BULL-etins: Buffalo had twice recorded seven sacks in a game (vs. Bowling Green in 2000 and Western Michigan in 2002) before accumulating eight today...the win by the Bulls was the first over a West Division opponent since joining the MAC in 1999. The Bulls have defeated current West member Bowling Green, however, in 2000 the Falcons were in the

Chris McDuffie

East...Chris McDuffie set a career-high with his two rushing touchdowns...defensive tackle Kirk Berry (Norristown, PA/Norristown) recorded his second career fumble recovery in the first quarter after a sack by Phil Jacques, who with that play moved into a tie for ninth in career forced fumbles with three...the safety the Bulls recorded was the first since Sept. 7, 2002 in a win at Rutgers...the blocked punt by Bryan Cummings was the first since the home opener vs. Syracuse...the 28 first-half points were the most the Bulls have scored this year...kicker Mike Baker had his streak of 33 straight successful PATs end after Buffalo's last score...it was the first time Buffalo has sent a senior class out with a win in its final home game since 1996.