Nov. 4, 2008

Box Score

 

BUFFALO, N.Y. -- Buffalo engineered three scoring drives of more than 70 yards in the first half to open an 21-10 lead by intermission and made the advantage stick in a 37-17 victory over Miami Tuesday night at UB Stadium. The win by the Bulls was their first in 11 tries all-time against the RedHawks.

Buffalo (5-4, 3-2 MAC) rolled up 476 yards of total offense against Miami, including 177 yards and two touchdowns by running back James Starks. Both of those totals were season highs by an RedHawk opponent. Miami (2-7, 1-4) finished with 383 yards of offense (241 passing, 142 rushing), but lost a pair of fumbles.

The key to the game was Buffalo's ability to answer Miami each time it scored. The RedHawks tallied a field goal and two touchdowns during the contest, but the Bulls responded with touchdown drives of 75, 73 and 72 yards immediately following.

Buffalo jumped out to a 7-0 lead on their first possession of the game, covering 72 yards on 13 plays. Quarterback Drew Willy completed four of seven passes for 57 yards on the drive, but reverted to a one-yard sneak for the score. It appeared UB had opened a lead two plays earlier on a 36-yard pass to Naaman Roosevelt, but television replays ruled the receiver's elbow hit the ground inside the one.

Miami answered the first time it got the ball, covering 47 yards on eight plays, but was forced to settle for a 39-yard field goal by Nathan Parseghian with 5:56 left in the opening period. Roosevelt put the Bulls up 14-3 when he hauled in a 34-yard touchdown pass from Willy with 1:18 left in the first quarter. The completion culminated a 10-play, 75-yard drive that included a 15-yard fake punt on 4th-and-7 at the Buffalo 32. Punter Peter Fardon hit Mike Newton, who had slipped off left tackle, on the pass play.

The RedHawks clawed back on their next drive, covering 88 yards on 13 plays. Clay Belton completed four passes for 62 yards, but called his own number on third-and goal from the seven. He went untouched on a draw play, cutting the lead to 14-10.

Buffalo rallied right away with an eight-play, 73-yard drive to paydirt. Willy threw a 25-yard strike on a post route to Brett Hamlin to put the Bulls up 21-10 with 3:59 left in the intermission.

Miami had a chance to close the gap before halftime, but Parshegian just missed a 40-yard field goal attempt 12 seconds before intermission. However, the RedHawks opened the second half on a much more positive note. A 44-yard kickoff return by Dustin Woods plus 15-yard personal foul penalty gave Miami a short field to work with. The RedHawks covered all 36 yards on the ground, the final three by J.R. Taylor to close the gap to within four, 21-17.

Starks added to the lead on a one-yard run on the next drive.The Bulls covered 72 yards on nine play for the 27-17 advantage. A fumble by Belton set up a Buffalo field goal early in the fourth quarter. The freshman quarterback was hit while attempting to pass and the loose ball was recovered by the Bulls at the RedHawk 42. Willy and Roosevelt connected again for a 22-yarder, but A.J. Principe was forced into a 34-yard kick later in the drive. The three-pointer put UB ahead by a touchdown, 30-17, just 49 seconds into the final period.

Buffalo ended any doubt of the victory when Starks broke through the defensive line for a 62-yard scamper with just over two minutes remaining.

Willy finished the contest with 245 yards and two touchdowns through the air. Belton answered by completing 17 of 30 passes for 178 yards before leaving the game in the fourth quarter. Taylor was the RedHawks' leading rusher with 69 yards on 16 carries.

Miami returns to action one week from tonight with another nationally-televised game. The RedHawks entertain undefeated and nationally-ranked Ball State at Yager Stadium next Tuesday.

--- MURedHawks.com --

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