MONTGOMERY, AL -- Evidence of the Buffalo Bulls 2020 football accomplishments might typically feature footprints from the Bulls dominating run game. Friday’s 17-10 Camellia Bowl victory over Marshall, however, showed the value of many other Buffalo contributors -- particularly UB defenders and passing game weapons.
Marshall, which ranked second nationally in defending the run, limited UB to . . .
It was the Buffalo defense, forcing a Marshall three-and-out, that set up the Bulls decisive drive. UB covered 88 yards in 13 plays. Six of those plays were passes, with junior quarterback Kyle Vantrease completing five-of-six passes along the way. Antonio Nunn hauled in the last two catches, which covered 26 and 12 yards, respectively.
Kevin Marks finished the drive with a two-yard blast up the middle, and Alex McNulty added the PAT kick to move UB in front, 17-10.
The Thundering Herd struggled on offense early, but MU moved the ball better starting late in the first half and squeezed in a Knowledge McDaniel 2-yard touchdown run just before intermission. Later, with just 1:09 remaining in the contest, Marshall needed another late score. Buffalo’s defense stood in the way.
Marshall freshman quarterback Grant Wells completed three-of -four passes and UB was flagged with a pass interference penalty as the Green and White moved to Buffalo’s 20-yard line with 30 seconds remaining. One play later, Kakofi Wright caught Wells from behind for a nine-yard sack.
Wells got eight of the yards back with a completion to Sheldon Evans, but with nine ticks left, Buffalo’s Eric Black sacked Wells on fourth down to end the threat.
Black, a 6-5 junior, notched two big sacks for a defense that registered 6.0 tackles for loss and held Marshall to 10 points -- just three in the second half. On a day when Buffalo totaled 295 yards of offense, the Bulls limited MU to 248 yards. UB was particularly effective on third down, with the Herd converting just 3-of-12 third down opportunities. Buffalo, meanwhile, converted 8-of-15 third down chances.
Marshall (7-3) started the season with seven straight wins, but was coming off a pair of losses - most recently a 22-13 setback to Alabama-Birmingham in the Conference USA Championship game. With a nationally ranked defense, the Herd were an interesting matchup against Buffalo’s prolific offense.
Although UB moved the ball early, Marshall’s defense stiffened in the red zone. Buffalo missed one field goal attempt and neither team scored through the first quarter.
Buffalo finally broke through early in the second period. Kevin Marks, taking over the primary back role for injured Jaret Patterson, got the drive started with a 25-yard burst. He carried five more times on the trip and VanTrease completed three passes to reach the Marshall one. Facing fourth-and-one, Vantrease faked a handoff up the middle and went untouched around the right side for the game’s first score.
Marks finished the day with 35 carries for 138 yards and his game-winning score. Vantrease had 16 yards rushing and completed 16-of-27 passes for 140 yards and one interception. That was the game’s only turnover, as Marshall fumbled twice but recovered both. Jovany Ruiz caught seven balls for 61 yards, while Nunn had four for 49 yards.
Buffalo upped its lead to 10-0 with 5:33 left in the second quarter when McNulty booted a 25-yard field goal. Although the Bulls have kept him busy with extra points in 2020, he attempted just two field goals prior to Friday.
Marshall’s best drive of the day started with 5:33 left in the second period. Well’s 31-yard pass to Corey Gammage was the big play and moved MU to the Buffalo three-yard line. Two plays later, McDaniel threaded his way into the end zone.
McDaniel and Sheldon Evans combined for 28 carries and 133 yards with one score to lead Marshall’s ground game. Wells, meanwhile, completed 13-of-20 for 114 yards. Gammage topped Herd receivers with six catches for 88 yards.