By EVAN MEYER
KENT, Ohio – The Buffalo Bulls used a 99-yard third quarter scoring drive to pull away from Kent State in a 27-13 decision Saturday at Dix Stadium.
It was the third straight win for UB, which also broke a four-game MAC-play losing streak in the Mid-American Conference opener for both schools.
Buffalo (3-2, 1-0 MAC) also . . .
KENT, Ohio – The Buffalo Bulls used a 99-yard third quarter scoring drive to pull away from Kent State in a 27-13 decision Saturday at Dix Stadium.
It was the third straight win for UB, which also broke a four-game MAC-play losing streak in the Mid-American Conference opener for both schools.
Buffalo (3-2, 1-0 MAC) also . . .
. . . collected its first conference road win since 20-13, when they defeated the Flashes 41-21.
Sophomore RB Emmanuel Reed rushed for 144 yards and scored three touchdowns. Junior QB Drew Anderson, in his first collegiate start, completed 11-of-18 passes for 142 yards and a touchdown. He also rushed for 76 yards.
The defense was led by LB Khalil Hodge with 11 total tackles (seven solo)
While UB's fortunes have been on the uptick, Kent State (1-4, 0-1 MAC) has been scrambling to get back into the win column following a Week Two decision over Howard. The Flashes have now lost it their last four MAC games, dating back to last season and have dropped their last 10 MAC games at home.
“A disappointing loss” KSU head coach Paul Haynes said. “We did some good things offensively; however, we did ourselves in defensively.”
Junior QB George Bollas completed 17-of-26 passes for 242 yards. Sophomore WR Trey Harrell had a career high six receptions for 122 yards, while fellow sophomore, DB Manny Lawrence-Burke, had seven tackles (five solo) and an interception in the first quarter
UB opened a 14-0 lead early in the second quarter on a pair of touchdowns by Reed. The first came when he broke through the middle of the Flashes defense for a 55-yard gain before running around the left side for the score. The second was a one-yard blast through the line.
The Golden Flashes moved the ball marginally in the opening 15 minutes. KSU, however, hit Buffalo with a big second quarter play -- a 75-yard touchdown pass by true freshman QB Dustin Crum to WR Kavious Price in stride over the middle to make the score 14-7.
After the Bulls extended their lead to 20-7 midway through the period on Reed’s third touchdown of the game -- a five-yard run up the middle, KSU added a pair of field goals (33 & 20) by Shane Hynes to make the halftime score 20-13.
The game then turned in favor of the visitors on the first possession of the third quarter when KSU took the kickoff and marched from its own 25-yard line down to the Bulls one.
On fourth down, Haynes decided to pass on a third field goal attempt by Hynes, opting to go for a TD with Bollas on the quarterback sneak up the middle. Buffalo rose to the moment, stopping him cold.
The visitors took over and went the 99-yards in eight plays, UB finished with Anderson hitting redshirt freshman TE Zac Lefebvre in the back of the end zone from five yards out to make the score 27-13.
The key play on the drive was a 62-yard run by Anderson off the read option. Anderson then connected with Anthony Johnson for 15 yards. KSU appeared to hold the Bulls to a field goal at one point, but a five-yard running into the kicker penalty let the drive to continue, and it ended with the Anderson touchdown pass to Lefebvre.
While the Bulls capitalized on their opportunites, the Flashes did not.
They failed to convert the Lawrence-Burke interception into points in the first quarter. Later, in the second quarter when they moved the ball effectively against the UB defense, Kent State settled for a pair of field goals. The final big opportunity ended with UB's goal line stand.
Both teams return to action next Saturday against Western Division competition. UB heads home to face Western Michigan while KSU goes on the road at Northern Illinois.
Sophomore RB Emmanuel Reed rushed for 144 yards and scored three touchdowns. Junior QB Drew Anderson, in his first collegiate start, completed 11-of-18 passes for 142 yards and a touchdown. He also rushed for 76 yards.
The defense was led by LB Khalil Hodge with 11 total tackles (seven solo)
While UB's fortunes have been on the uptick, Kent State (1-4, 0-1 MAC) has been scrambling to get back into the win column following a Week Two decision over Howard. The Flashes have now lost it their last four MAC games, dating back to last season and have dropped their last 10 MAC games at home.
“A disappointing loss” KSU head coach Paul Haynes said. “We did some good things offensively; however, we did ourselves in defensively.”
Junior QB George Bollas completed 17-of-26 passes for 242 yards. Sophomore WR Trey Harrell had a career high six receptions for 122 yards, while fellow sophomore, DB Manny Lawrence-Burke, had seven tackles (five solo) and an interception in the first quarter
UB opened a 14-0 lead early in the second quarter on a pair of touchdowns by Reed. The first came when he broke through the middle of the Flashes defense for a 55-yard gain before running around the left side for the score. The second was a one-yard blast through the line.
The Golden Flashes moved the ball marginally in the opening 15 minutes. KSU, however, hit Buffalo with a big second quarter play -- a 75-yard touchdown pass by true freshman QB Dustin Crum to WR Kavious Price in stride over the middle to make the score 14-7.
After the Bulls extended their lead to 20-7 midway through the period on Reed’s third touchdown of the game -- a five-yard run up the middle, KSU added a pair of field goals (33 & 20) by Shane Hynes to make the halftime score 20-13.
The game then turned in favor of the visitors on the first possession of the third quarter when KSU took the kickoff and marched from its own 25-yard line down to the Bulls one.
On fourth down, Haynes decided to pass on a third field goal attempt by Hynes, opting to go for a TD with Bollas on the quarterback sneak up the middle. Buffalo rose to the moment, stopping him cold.
The visitors took over and went the 99-yards in eight plays, UB finished with Anderson hitting redshirt freshman TE Zac Lefebvre in the back of the end zone from five yards out to make the score 27-13.
The key play on the drive was a 62-yard run by Anderson off the read option. Anderson then connected with Anthony Johnson for 15 yards. KSU appeared to hold the Bulls to a field goal at one point, but a five-yard running into the kicker penalty let the drive to continue, and it ended with the Anderson touchdown pass to Lefebvre.
While the Bulls capitalized on their opportunites, the Flashes did not.
They failed to convert the Lawrence-Burke interception into points in the first quarter. Later, in the second quarter when they moved the ball effectively against the UB defense, Kent State settled for a pair of field goals. The final big opportunity ended with UB's goal line stand.
Both teams return to action next Saturday against Western Division competition. UB heads home to face Western Michigan while KSU goes on the road at Northern Illinois.
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