Bulls Win MAC East Title With Win For The Ages

UB overcomes 20-point second half deficit for 40-34 double OT win; clinches bowl berth

Drew Willy

BOWLING GREEN, OH - The University at Buffalo football team wouldn’t have done it any other way while making school history.

The team that has seen six games decided on the final play and three previous overtime games couldn’t win their first Mid-American Conference championship with ease. They had to win it in the most improbable, stirring, heart-pounding fashion possible...and that’s exactly what they did in a pulsating 40-34 double overtime win at Bowling Green that not only clinched the school’s first MAC East Division title (in any sport), but also the first bowl berth since the school moved up to Division I-A football in 1999.

With the win the Bulls clinched a berth in the MAC Championship game in Detroit’s Ford Field on Friday, December 5th against the MAC West winner, but also a bowl berth to be determined. Fifty years after the 1958 team earned the school’s only other bowl bid, which the team turned down because of threatened segregation against African-American members of the team, the Bulls are going “bowling” for the first time

Buffalo did the unthinkable behind the right arm of senior quarterback Drew Willy who led the Bulls to the greatest comeback in school history. After throwing for just 30 yards in the first half, Willy led the Bulls back from a 20-point fourth quarter deficit by completing 22-of-26 passes for 219 yards and three touchdowns in the fourth quarter and overtime. The record-breaking quarterback finished 29-of-41 for 297 yards, ran for one score and threw for three others.

James Starks

The Bulls finally won the game in the second overtime when junior tailback James Starks summed up the game and the season by blasting through the middle of the Bowling Green defense, breaking two tackles while racing 25 yards for the game-winning score. It capped a comeback that will be talked about, and celebrated, for years.

“The offensive line made a huge hole, a big crease, and I just didn’t want to be stopped until I scored the touchdown,” said Starks of the final score.

“We just kept fighting,” said Willy. “Coach Gill told us to finish every snap, every play. We got some momentum going and the offensive line did great, receivers made plays, the defense had a huge stop...it was a total team victory for the staff, the coaches, everybody involved in the University. We bring it back to Buffalo for them.”

“I’m proud of our players, this season has been outstanding,” said head coach Turner Gill. “I have been involved in championship football teams, but I have never been exposed to a season like this. Our players have demonstrated the kind of chemistry we have, the kind of team unity we have, and love that they have for everybody. From equipment managers, to administrative assistants to everybody involved, everyone has had a direct impact on this football team. It’s great to see for the University at Buffalo, the whole University, the alumni, the student body...the 1958 team, this is a great day.”

Buffalo trailed 27-7 with 13:16 to go in the game when BG’s Anthony Turner scored from two yards out and the Bulls’ hopes of clinching the MAC East seemed all but lost. But no one told Willy and his teammates.

Brett Hamlin

The senior co-captain hit all six of his passes – three of them to junior Brett Hamlin for 61 yards to move the Bulls down the field. Starks went the final 12 yards for his school record 30th career rushing touchdown. It was Starks 13th touchdown of the season. The PAT was no good and Buffalo trailed 27-13 with 11:06 remaining.

After a Bowling Green punt, the Bulls last gasp of the game seemingly went awry as the Bulls were stopped on downs on an incompletion on fourth down. However, even though they took over at the UB 26-yard line, Buffalo held the Falcons without a score as on a field goal attempt, senior Adekunle Akingba broke through on a bobbled snap and threw Derek Brighton for a nine-yard loss with 4:05 remaining.

Willy wasted no time, connecting on 6-of-7 passes, to four different receivers, including a four-yard throw to Hamlin with 2:29 remaining to cap a 71-yard drive in just 1:36. Hamlin had all six of his catches for 74 yards in the fourth quarter and overtime.

The Bulls comeback really got legs when another senior took a turn in the spotlight. Placekicker A.J. Principe hit a perfect onside kick that senior special teams standout Alex Pierre recovered at the Bulls’ 42-yard line.

Buffalo was not about to be denied, as Willy connected on six passes, including an 18-yarder to flanker Naaman Roosevelt to the BG 22-yard line. Roosevelt finished the game with 10 receptions for 118 yards. Willy would connect with Roosevelt again from five yards out on a slant pattern with just :32 left in regulation and the Bulls were headed to their fourth overtime of the season.

In overtime, Buffalo got the ball first, and after a one-yard loss on first down, Willy threw a laser to Hamlin in the end zone where the junior receiver made an acrobatic leaping catch to put the Bulls ahead.

Of course, it wouldn’t be easy, as Bowling Green took three plays to score to force a second overtime.

In the second OT, with UB on defense first, the Falcons drove inside the Bulls’ 10-yard line. Facing a fourth-and-goal from the UB two-yard line, the Falcons chose not to kick a field goal. The UB defense rose up and forced an incompletion from Tyler Sheehan to take over with a chance to win. It took Starks just one play to end the game, sending the UB bench into delirium and launch UB nation into full-scale celebration.

The game wasn’t easy from the get-go for the Bulls, who were coming off a four-overtime win at Akron last week. For the first time since the Bulls played Army back on October 18th, Buffalo trailed in a football game when the Falcons opened the scoring early in the second quarter. Converting three third downs on the drive, Bowling Green got in the end zone on a five-yard touchdown run by quarterback Tyler Sheehan on third and goal with 14:126 remaining in the first half.

The Falcons kept the momentum on UB’s ensuing drive as on first down Willy was intercepted by Kenny Lewis at the BGSU 31-yard line and returned 22 yards to the Buffalo 47-yard line. The Bulls made a huge defensive play on first down as freshman linebacker Scott Pettigrew threw running back Jason Rice for a 16-yard loss that put the Falcons way behind the first down stick. However, on a fourth down, the Bulls were guilty of roughing the punter, giving the Falcons a first down.

However, defensive tackle Richie Smith recorded his first career sack to put the Falcons in long yardage. On fourth down and eight, Bowling Green went for it, but cornerback Josh Thomas, returning from missing two games with an injury, stopped Anthony Turner two yards shy of the first down.

The Bulls, however, could not take advantage of the turnover on downs and Bowling Green had great field position again at the Buffalo 49-yard line after a punt. The Falcons took advantage with a nine-play drive capped by a three-yard touchdown run by Sheehan.

Mike Newton

The Buffalo defense came up big at the end of the first half as it appeared the Falcons might extend the lead before intermission. Driving inside the UB 25-yard line, junior safety Mike Newton came up with his first interception of the season – and the tenth of his career – at the Bulls’ two-yard line. Newton finished the game with 10 tackles, while the UB defense was paced by linebacker Justin Winters who had 12 tackles. Pettigrew had a career-high eight tackles.

The Falcons would extend their lead to 21-0 on the first possession of the second half before the Bulls’ offense awoke. Willy led the Bulls down the field by connecting on 4-of-5 passes for 48 yards and then sneaking the final yard for the score. It was the first score the Bowling Green defense had given up in more than 101 minutes. It was Willy’s third rushing touchdown of the season. Willy was just beginning a night – and a UB win – for the ages.

BULL-etins: This was the sixth meeting between the two schools and the third time they have met at Doyt Perry Stadium in Bowling Green...it was Buffalo’s first win at the stadium where they lost in triple overtime in 2006...this has been the first time all season that neither UB nor its opponent scored in the first quarter...the Bulls were held scoreless in the first half for the first time since Sept. 29, 2007 against Ball State...the three sacks by the Bulls are a season high...the Bulls recorded their second successful onside kick of the season. The first was in the fourth quarter against Central Michigan...the sack by Mike Thompson was UB’s first sack since the Miami game. It was Thompson’s ninth tackle for loss...the sack by Richie Smith is the first of his career...the interception by Mike Newton was his first of the season and 10th of his career. That moves him into a tie for eighth place in school history for career interceptions with Craig Rohlfs (1998-00)...he 12-yard run by James Starks was the 30th rushing touchdown of his career, which is now a new school record...the passing touchdown by Drew Willy was his 19th of the season, which is a school record...the touchdown reception by Brett Hamlin in the first overtime was the second of the game for him. It was his first career multi touchdown game.