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Bryan Cummings

BUFFALO, NY - A week after defeating Central Michigan, 36-6, the University at Buffalo football team hopes to continue its solid play on Saturday against BIG EAST opponent Connecticut. Playing their final game of the season, the Bulls will look for a repeat performance from the 2001 season when they travelled to Connecticut and defeated the Huskies, 37-20.

Buffalo (2-8 overall, 2-6 MAC) will look to utilize their tenacious defense and strong special teams play. In the win against the Chippewas, the Bulls recorded eight sacks and a blocked punt. Senior safety J.J. Gibson (Buffalo, NY/Sweet Home), who is ranked 25th in the country averaging 9.9 tackles per game, led the unit with nine tackles. Gibson needs only one tackle to become the first Bulls' player since Craig Guest (1993-96) to record a pair of 100-tackle seasons in his career.

Junior linebacker Rich Sanders (Miami, FL/Coral Reef) and junior defensive end Phil Jacques (Farmington Hills, MI/Brother Rice) each had two sacks against Central Michigan. As a team, the Bulls recorded 14 tackles for a loss. Junior linebacker Bryan Cummings (Cincinnati, OH/Madeira) blocked a punt and Gabe McClover (Fort Lauderdale, FL/Coconut Creek) grabbed it and ran 24 yards for the touchdown.

On offense, the Bulls are led by junior quarterback P.J. Piskorik (Swoyersville, PA/Wyoming Valley West), who rushed for a career-high 85 yards, threw for 122 yards and had a 4-yard touchdown run last week. Sophomore running back Chris McDuffie (Amherst, NY/Williamsville North) led the team with two touchdowns. UB also received solid play from Terrance Breaux (Randallstown, MD/Randallstown) with 3 receptions for 49 yards and Steven King (Hempstead, NY/Uniondale) who rushed for 74 yards and a score.

Connecticut (5-4 overall, 2-3 BIG EAST) is led by senior quarterback Dan Orlovsky who has passed for 2,568 yards and 17 touchdowns this season. The UConn signal caller ranks 11th in the nation in total offense at 277.1 yards per game. Defensively, the Huskies are led by senior linebacker Alfred Fincher, who is tops in the BIG EAST in tackles with 103 and averages 12.1 tackles per game.

Kickoff is at 12:00pm on Saturday at Rentschler Field and all of the action can be heard on WGR 550 AM or on the web at www.buffalobulls.com.