| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
|
Keller's Kick Lifts Bulls To VictoryScott Keller (Amherst, NY/Amherst Central) did his part and then hoped he wouldn't be outdone. Keller kicked a 29-yard field goal with 1:11 left in the fourth quarter and then watched as Lafayette's Brian Menecola missed a 41-yard field goal with :02 left in regulation as the University at Buffalo held on for a 16-14 come-from-behind victory on the road. The win moved the Bulls to 2-1 on the season and snapped a six-game road losing streak. Keller kicked a career-high three field goals in the game (from 23, 34 and 29 yards), helping the Bulls overcome a 14-7 deficit. The Bulls did not allow a point in the second half to the host Leopards (0-2), the first time they have shut a team out in the second half since a 14-10 win at Hofstra on Nov. 2, 1996. The game-winning drive was set up when senior defensive end Dan Poulsen (North Tonawanda, NY/North Tonawanda) forced an incompletion on third- and-three from the Lafayette 10-yard line. The Leopards were pinned deep after a 34-yard punt by Mike Masucci (Syracuse, NY/Christian Brothers Academy) was downed at the three. Drew Haddad (Westlake, OH/St. Ignatius) returned the ensuing Lafayette punt 20 yards to the Leopards' 29-yard line. Six plays later, Keller trotted on and made the 29-yard game winner. Keller has made all four of his field goal attempts this season and 14 straight PATs. "I felt very confident going out there to kick because we had practiced the same situation in practice all week," said Keller. "It's all mental and once I got out there I knew it was going through." The Bulls got a big second-half performance from their defense, which allowed 209 yards in the first half but only 122 after intermission. The defense was led by senior linebacker Antonio Perry (Elmira, NY/Elmira Free Academy) with 13 tackles and a sack. Strong safety Eric Pipkins (Pittsburgh, PA/Valley) added 12 tackles, a pass breakup and a fumble recovery while junior linebacker Dan Curcione (Brick, NJ/Brick Memorial) had 10 tackles. Other defensive stars included sophomore cornerback Tory Smith (East Patchogue, NY/Half Hollow Hills) and freshman linebacker Chris Shelly (Pittsburgh, PA/Shaler). Smith had eight tackles and four pass breakups while Shelly had eight tackles (two for loss), a sack and two forced fumbles. The Bulls recovered three fumbles in the game and only gave the ball up once. Offensively, the Bulls showed good balance. Senior running back David Hinson (Jamestown, NY/Jamestown) had a team-high 52 yards on 11 carries and the game's first touchdown from five yards out. Fullback Josh Roth (Conewango Valley, NY/Pine Valley) added 46 yards on 11 carries. Drew Haddad led the passing attack with eight catches for 71 yards. "Last year we were forced to learn through losing," said head coach Craig Cirbus afterwards. "Today we're fortunate that we can learn a lot from this game but we ended up on the winning side." The Bulls travel to Massachusetts next weekend to take on the Minutemen. |
|
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Accessibility Statement
Privacy Policy
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
|
|
| |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||