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Bulls Drop Season Finale to Eastern Michigan

The Bulls held a large statistical edge over the visiting Eastern Michigan Eagles on Saturday, but five costly turnovers allowed the visitors to spoil the Bulls’ senior day and the final game of Jim Hofher’s coaching career at Buffalo. Eastern Michigan turned three interceptions into 21 points en route to a 38-14 win.

"It's very difficult to win a game with five turnovers and with some of the penalties that were drive killers as well," said Hofher. "That was probably as much the tale of the tape as anything, and so many of the turnovers that we had offensively happened down in a potential scoring territory."

"Five years ago I signed on to a job with great expectations, personally and professionally.  I am extremely grateful for the coaches that have been here and I want to thank them, as well as this group of fifth-year seniors, for all that they have done to try to advance this program. I don't have a single regret. In this business you need to take a chance all the time and every day. The fact that it has not worked out doesn't mean that it's been a lost five years."

Despite holding a 441-316 advantage in total offense, Buffalo never led in the game and ended the 2005 season with a 1-10 record, 1-7 in the Mid-American Conference.

The Eagles began the scoring on their opening drive when Anthony Sherrell burst 47 yards around left end. Eastern converted a pair of third downs on the drive prior to the touchdown.

The Bulls wasted a scoring opportunity later in the first quarter when they drove to the EMU 11-yard line, however, Michael Baker (Jamestown, NY/Jamestown) missed a 28-yard field goal.

The Bulls tied the score early in the second quarter on a 57-yard drive covering nine plays. The payoff was a one-yard toss from freshman Drew Willy (Randolph, NJ/Randolph) to tight end Chad Upshaw (Southport, CT/St. Joseph's). The key play in the drive was another connection between Willy and Upshaw for 28 yards which moved the ball inside the Eagle 10. It was Willy's fifth touchdown pass of the season and Upshaw's third TD catch.

Chad Upshaw

The Eagles, however, had an immediate response, driving 73 yards for the go-ahead score. Eric Deslauriers provided the capper with an 18-yard touchdown reception from quarterback Matt Bohnet.

The Eagles then took control of the game open with a trio of big plays. Kicker Andrew Wellock tied a school-record with a 52-yard field goal to put Eastern up 17-7. Linebacker Daniel Holtzclaw then intercepted Willy and Bohnet capitalized by connecting with Deslaurier again from 16 yards out to put the Eagles up 24-7.

The Bulls had another scoring strike left in them in the first half. Buffalo moved 79 yards in just seven plays with Willy hitting several big passes. He hit fellow true freshman Ernest Jackson (Rochester, NY/Gates-Chili) for a gain of 39 yards, then connected with sophomore Jeff Green (Fairport, NY/Fairport) for 15- and 12-yard connections, the second ending with Green's first career touchdown.

However, turnovers would begin to unravel UB's hopes of winning early in the second half. Willy was intercepted on UB's opening possession, which led to Sherrell's second touchdown of the game from eight yards out to make it 31-14.

The backbreaker came two possessions later, when a screen pass by Willy deflected off of a UB player's hands right into Michael Richardson's arms, who raced 43 yards for the final score of the game.

Willy had an up and down day, connecting on 18-of-30 passes for 186 yards and a pair of scores, but suffering through a career-high four interceptions. Junior Tony Paoli (Fort Lauderdale, FL/Aquinas) would come on to hit 7-of-11 passes for 83 yards, but also threw an interception.

Senior Derrick Dyer (Rocheseter, NY/Marshall) led Buffalo with a career-best seven receptions for 61 yards.  Also setting career-highs in the receiving department for Buffalo, were Jackson (three catches for 51 yards) and Green (three catches for 44 yards). Upshaw finished with three catches for 35 yards.

The Bulls’ ground game was paced by junior Steven King (Hempstead, NY/Uniondale) who had nine carries for 58 yards. Willy also added a career-best 33 yards rushing on nine carries.

Gemara Williams

The Buffalo defense was paced again by sophomore safety Kareem Byrom (New Brunswick, NJ/New Brunswick) with seven tackles. Senior Gemara Williams (Oak Park, MI/Brother Rice) also had seven tackles. Williams finished the season with 14 passes defended, tied for third best in a single season in UB history.

BULL-etins: Senior defensive end Aaron Sanders (Clarence, NY/St. Joseph's) recorded a sack in his final game to move into the top ten all-time in tackles for loss with 27. Sanders’ sack gave him a team-best 6.5 for the season, matching his 2004 total - and left his career total at 14 - good for seventh best all-time in UB history...Drew Willy threw for two touchdowns for the second time this season...senior Dave Dawson (Camp Hill, PA/Bishop McDevitt) had a career-long 17-yard punt return in the game...prior to the game, the Bulls honored 21 seniors who participated in their final home games at UB Stadium...both Sanders and senior defensive tackle Rob Schroeder (East Rochester, NY/East Rochester) each finished the season with 13 tackles for loss, tied for tenth best in a single season.