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Buffalo Loses Heartbreaker at LibertyThe University at Buffalo football team saw a tremendous second-half rally go awry as host Liberty University tied the game in the final minute of regulation before pulling out a 27-24 overtime win over the Bulls before 10,831 fans at Williams Stadium. The Bulls trailed 21-3 in the third quarter before rallying with 21 straight points to take a 24-21 lead with under five minutes to go in regulation. However, the Flames drove 34 yards in six plays as Phil Harrelson kicked a 26-yard field goal with :42 left in regulation to force UB's first overtime in school history. In overtime, the Bulls (4-4) were stopped on a 4th-and-inches play at the Liberty 16 on their first possession. The Flames (4-3), meanwhile drove to the UB five before Harrelson kicked the game-winner from 22 yards out. Liberty took a 7-3 lead to halftime with the difference a 51-yard touchdown scamper by Stacy Nobles (30 carries, 229 yards) in the second quarter. UB's only points of the half came on a 26-yard field goal by freshman Burton Aldrich (Eden, NY/Eden). Things would change quickly in the second half, however, as Liberty took advantage of two UB miscues to jump to a commanding lead. Nobles with 52 yards for his second score on the second play after halftime to put Liberty up 14-3. On UB's next possession punter Mike Masucci (Syracuse, NY/Christian Brothers Academy) had his punt blocked inside the 10-yard line. The Flames capitalized one play later as Brian Nash caught a three-yard scoring strike from quarterback Christian Newsome. The Bulls, however, were far from done. All-American candidate Drew Haddad (Westlake, OH/St. Ignaius) jump started UB's comeback with an electrifying 82-yard punt return for a touchdown with 7:39 to go in the third quarter. It was Haddad's school-record second punt return for a score this season and the second-longest in UB history (behind Haddad's 94-yard return for a score against Cornell this year). Haddad became UB's all-time leader in punt return yardage in a career in the game and also went over the 2,000-yard mark in receiving with 10 catches for 166 yards. The Bulls pulled to within three points when flanker Enrico Pierre (Montreal, QUE/Vieux) caught his first career touchdown on a 8-yard hookup with quarterback Chad Salisbury (Newell, PA/Frazier). Salisbury finished the day 14-of-27 for 203 yards. Salisbury hit freshman David Schmidli (Ransomville, NY/Wilson) with a two-point conversion pass to cut the Liberty lead to 21-18. That drive was set up by an interception by sophomore Carlos Spencer (Buffalo, NY/South Park) at the UB 10-yard line. Salisbury hit Haddad for a 78-yard pass and run play UB's longest of the season) to set up the score. The Bulls took the lead on their next possession after senior Dan Poulsen (North Tonawanda, NY/N. Tonawanda) knocked the ball loose from Newsome and it was recovered by Andre Thomas (Rochester, NY/Rush-Henrietta) at the Flames' 38-yard line. Seven plays later Theron Walker (Pickering, ONT/Dunbarton) bowled into the end zone from eight yards out to give UB the lead. The Bulls' extra point attempt, however, which would have given UB a four-point lead, was missed by Aldrich leaving the door open for Liberty's comeback. The UB defense got a huge game from freshman Chris Shelly (Pittsburgh, PA/Shaler). Shelly had a career-high 16 tackles and his first career interception. Another freshman, safety Craig Rohlfs (Cincinnati, OH/Moeller) had a career-high eight tackles, a pass breakup and a sack. The Bulls host #3-ranked Western Illinois this Saturday at UB Stadium with
kickoff set for 1:30 pm.
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