AMHERST — The University at Buffalo football team dropped its season opener, 22-16, to Albany at UB Stadium on Friday night. Despite outgaining the Great Danes, 403-238, in total offense, the Bulls couldn’t recover from turning the ball over four times.
Albany capitalized on an interception return to the 7-yard line on the Bulls opening possession and scored two plays later on a 5-yard pass from Nevin Sussman to Anthony Manza-Lewis. Adam Mitcheson connected on a 32-yard field goal for UB, capping a 12-play, 65-yard drive. He made a second from 37 yards, cutting Albany’s lead to a single point. Albany roared back, however, returning a kickoff to the 47-yard line, and scoring three plays later. But the Bulls bounced back as
Tyree Jackson led a flawless 2-minute drill, marching the Bulls 75 yards on 10 plays. Jackson hit Mason Schreck on a 17-yard touchdown pass to cut the lead back to one.
In the third, Mitcheson made his third field goal of the game, a 45-yarder, to give the Bulls their first lead of the game at 16-14. Albany regained the lead, however, early in the fourth quarter when Sussman hit Brad Harris for a 35-yard touchdown. The Great Danes made the two-point conversion to take a six-point lead at 22-16, a lead they carried to the end.
Grant Rohach and Tyree Jackson split time at quarterback for the Bulls with Rohach starting the game and going 3-for-9 for 52 yards and two interceptions. Jackson entered the game in the second quarter and played the rest of the way, going 14-of-25 for 125 yards, a touchdown and an interception. Jackson added 60 yards rushing on 10 carries.
Notes:
- Buffalo dropped its home opener for the first time since the 2009 season.
- Jordan Johnson recorded his third career 100 yard game. He has now eclipsed the 100-yard plateau in three of his four career starts.
- The Bulls had nine players make their first career starts for the Bulls.
- Linebackers Ishmael Hargrove and Jordan Collier each recorded their first career sacks in the game.
- Mitcheson tied his career high with three field goals.
- UB’s 226 rushing yards were its most since rushing for 293 yards at Massachusetts on Nov. 28, 2014.
- The 113 yards passing allowed by the Bulls was their fewest since giving up only 90 yards to Nevada on Sept. 26, 2015.
Following a bye, the Bulls will travel to Nevada to take on the Wolf Pack on Sept. 17.
