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BUFFALO, NY - On paper the University at Buffalo football team found that they could play with future Mid-American opponent Ohio University on Saturday despite playing a Division I-A team for the first time in 27 years.

But each mistake the Bulls (2-2) made they paid for dearly in losing 50-0 to the Bobcats (3-1). Despite only being outgained 367-247, the Bulls turned the ball over four times in the first half and found themselves down 36-0 at halftime. The loss was the worst the Bulls have suffered since a 50-0 defeat at Ithaca College in 1991, the Bulls last season in Division III.

The game was lost in the first half when Ohio took advantage of all four of UB's turnovers to turn a slight advantage in yardage into a huge edge on the scoreboard. That fact wasn't lost on UB head coach Craig Cirbus. "It's an indication that in a football game when you're playing this kind of quality, when you're playing Division I-A level at this level it instantly reinforces that minor mistakes, a little thing that may be hidden against a Division I-AA opponent, is graphically enlarged in a game like this." said Cirbus. "Any minor, minor breakdown we had Ohio University capitalized on the way they should."

The Bulls got several good performances in the loss, including a strong performance from their offensive line. The Bulls, offensive line did not allow a sack against starting quarterback Chad Salisbury (Newell, PA/Frazier HS) and helped tailback Anthony Swan (Kingston, NY/Kingston HS) rush for a season-high 107 yards on 28 carries. It was the 13th 100-yard game of Swan's career and left him 229 yards away from the school's all-time record for rushing yards in a career and just 15 carries shy of becoming the school's all-time leader. Senior linebacker Londell Young (Brooklyn, NY/Boys and Girls HS) made 12 tackles while free safety Ted McDuffie (Buffalo, NY/Grover Cleveland HS) had 10 tackles.

"The players aren't ready to adjust to this because it's a big, tough loss and we've never been on this side of a loss."Cirbus. "It will be tough for them to understand and for them to learn the right things from a loss from this, but I'm confident we have the character on this team to respond to this."

The Bulls will host West Chester next Saturday at UB Stadium at 1:30 pm.