HEMPSTEAD, NY - The University at Buffalo nearly staged the most improbable and miraculous comeback in the program's 80-plus years of football. In the end, however, they fell six inches shy and dropped a heartbreaking, 44-36, decision to #22 Hofstra University at Hofstra Stadium.

The Bulls trailed 38-7 in the second half before making an incredible comeback that ended when David Schmidli (Ransomville, NY/Wilson) was stopped inches shy of a first down at the Hofstra 48-yard line with :25 to play.

Buffalo (4-7) fell behind 38-7 with 12:37 remaining in the third quarter on Vaughan Sanders' second touchdown of the day. It was all Bulls' after that, however, starting with a 19-yard touchdown burst by sophomore Theron Walker (Pickerington, ONT/Dunbarton), who finished with 86 yards on 17 carries. After a 34-yard touchdown pass from Giovanni Carmazzi to Wayne Yearwood had seemingly put the game away for the Flying Dutchmen (8-3) with a 44-13 lead, seniors Chad Salisbury (Newell, PA/Frazier) and Kali Watkins (Rochester, NY/W. Irondequoit) went to work.

Salisbury and Watkins hooked up for three straight touchdown strikes from 32, 25 and five yards, the last with 3:19 remaining to pull the Bulls to within eight points. After the kickoff, the Bulls stopped Hofstra on three straight plays and took over at their own 47 with 1:22 left before Schmidli was stopped inches shy of a first down.

Watkins finished the game with seven receptions for 144 yards and the three scores. His performance was his 11th 100-yard game of his career, an all-time school record. He also finished second all-time in receptions in a career (145) and yardage (2,260). Salisbury completed 19-of-34 passes for 270 yards. Junior fullback Josh Roth (Conewango Valley, NY/Pine Valley) led the Bulls in rushing for the game with 88 yards on 18 carries. The Bulls' offense established new school records in yards rushing, first downs and total offense for the season.

Junior flanker Drew Haddad (Westlake, OH/St. Ignatius) had four receptions for 52 yards and tied his own school record for receptions in a season with 67.

Senior linebacker Antonio Perry (Elmira, NY/Elmira Free Academy) led the Bulls' defense with 11 tackles while Josh Trexler (Elmira, NY/Elmira Free Academy) added nine tackles and a pass breakup. Sophomore strong safety Eric Pipkins (Pittsburgh, PA/Valley) had eight tackles (four solos) and returned an interception 56 yards for his first career touchdown to open the scoring.