One month into the 2017 season, few people envisioned “great things” out of the Buffalo Bulls. They had just rallied past Florida Atlantic, raising UB’s record to 2-2 following Conference play. That was something for a team that went 1-4 over the same stretch last year and finished at 2-10.
A 2017 preseason media poll remained pessimistic on the Bulls, picking them for fifth in the MAC East. That still may happen, but there is now a sense that just maybe UB is capable of much more.
The new optimism comes . . .
A 2017 preseason media poll remained pessimistic on the Bulls, picking them for fifth in the MAC East. That still may happen, but there is now a sense that just maybe UB is capable of much more.
The new optimism comes . . .
. . . in spite of another Bulls loss last Saturday. However, even a cursory look at HOW they lost shows why Buffalo is likely to be a very dangerous opponent as teams move into the heart of their MAC schedules.
Buffalo and Western Michigan made national headlines Saturday as they battled through seven overtimes before the Broncos pulled out a 71-68 victory. It was just the fourth time in FBS history that two teams reached seven overtimes, while the Bulls and Broncos combined for a record-breaking 139 total points – all from a game was tied at 31-all at the end of regulation.
Among the records established on the evening was a 597 passing yards from Buffalo junior QB Drew Anderson, who tossed seven TD passes and also rushed for one score.
It all came from a player who threw one pass (incomplete) in 2016 and none in 2017 until the second half of game four. That is when he replaced injured starter Tyree Jackson.
Anderson and the Bulls broke a 17-17 tie to pull out a 34-31 win in that one and followed up with a 27-13 victory at Kent State the following week. He was a modest 11 of 18 (61.1%) for 142 yards with one TD and one interception in that one, but completed 35 of 61 in the marathon against Western Michigan.
Buffalo will face another West Division challenge this week. It’s a particularly interesting battle since Northern Illinois leads the MAC in scoring defense (17.4 ppg). In fact, the Huskies are No. 1 in both rushing defense, pass defense and pass defense efficiency.
Last week’s 24-3 win over Kent State was the third win in Northern’s last four outings. The only loss in that stretch was two weeks ago at No. 19 San Diego State, 34-28.
Here’s more on the two teams.
Buffalo and Western Michigan made national headlines Saturday as they battled through seven overtimes before the Broncos pulled out a 71-68 victory. It was just the fourth time in FBS history that two teams reached seven overtimes, while the Bulls and Broncos combined for a record-breaking 139 total points – all from a game was tied at 31-all at the end of regulation.
Among the records established on the evening was a 597 passing yards from Buffalo junior QB Drew Anderson, who tossed seven TD passes and also rushed for one score.
It all came from a player who threw one pass (incomplete) in 2016 and none in 2017 until the second half of game four. That is when he replaced injured starter Tyree Jackson.
Anderson and the Bulls broke a 17-17 tie to pull out a 34-31 win in that one and followed up with a 27-13 victory at Kent State the following week. He was a modest 11 of 18 (61.1%) for 142 yards with one TD and one interception in that one, but completed 35 of 61 in the marathon against Western Michigan.
Buffalo will face another West Division challenge this week. It’s a particularly interesting battle since Northern Illinois leads the MAC in scoring defense (17.4 ppg). In fact, the Huskies are No. 1 in both rushing defense, pass defense and pass defense efficiency.
Last week’s 24-3 win over Kent State was the third win in Northern’s last four outings. The only loss in that stretch was two weeks ago at No. 19 San Diego State, 34-28.
Here’s more on the two teams.
NORTHERN ILLINOIS (3-2, 1-0 MAC)
● In a battle featuring two strong defenses, the Huskies out-gained Kent State 266-131, with each team holding the ball exactly 30 minutes.
● Kent State managed just 29 yards passing and was intercepted three times by the NIU defense.
● Northern had three turnovers, while Kent State turned the ball over four times.
● Freshman QB Marcus Childers completed 13 of 21 passes for 114 yards, with three TDs and one interception against KSU. He had two previous passing attempts prior to Saturday.
● Sophomore Daniel Santacatarina was a starter in games two through four. He has completed 64.9 percent of his passes, good for 642 yards with six TDs and five interceptions. He has been sacked eight times.
● NIU is 10-1 all-time against Buffalo, its least frequent MAC opponent. However, the two teams will have played six times since 2010.
● The Huskies rank among the Top 10 nationally in 10 statistical categories.
● Sophomore DE Sutton Smith leads the country in both tackles for loss ;(14.5) and quarterback sacks (7). He registered three sacks and four TFL versus Kent State.
● Shawun Lurry picked off his second pass of the season and 14th of his career against KSU. The pick stopped Kent State at the Huskies three-yard line.
● Senior Jordan Huff is NIU’s leading rusher. He is averaging 5.4 ypc on 22 carries for 408 yards. He has one of four Huskie rushing touchdowns.
● NIU COACH ROAD CAREY ON BUFFALO OFFENSE -- "Offensively, quarterback is playing at an outstanding level. The wide out is playing great along with the running back and O-line are playing good too. The tight ends are always a threat for Buffalo."
● CAREY ON HAVING MULTIPLE QB OPTIONS - “This is the good news about this is that you always talk about above the line or below the line with guys that you think you can win with and guys that aren’t ready to contribute that way. All three of our quarterbacks are way above the line. I have great confidence in all of them. The issue to me is not their play-making ability. The issue is the negative plays."
BUFFALO BULLS (3-3. 1-1 MAC)
● Sophomore Emmanuel Reed (5-8, 190) tops UB rushers with 94 carries for 402 yards and five TDs.
● The Bulls have 12 rushing TDs and 12 receiving touchdowns.
● Junior wideout Anthony Johnson owns 37 receptions for 631 yards and five scores. Sophomore K.J. Osborn has 16 catches for 250 yards and three TDs.
● Adam Mitcheson has connected on 19 of 21 PATs and 7 of 12 field goals, with a long of 40.
● Kyle DeWeen averaged 50.0 yards per punt against WMU.
● Three players had double digit tackles versus Western: Khalil Hodge (18), Ryan
Williamson (15) and Ishmael Hargrove (10).
● Hodge not only leads the MAC in tackles. At 13.7 per game, he is 4.0 tackles better than the second place defender.
● The University at Buffalo offensive line has been having an excellent season and the unit was recognized on Monday by being named to the 2017 Joe Moore Award Mid-Season Honor Roll. The honor roll identifies notable performances by offensive line units in games through October 7.The Bulls were one of 16 units honored. The Joe Moore Award Mid-Season Honor Roll includes units that display a high level of toughness, effort, teamwork, consistency, technique, and "finishing".
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