BUFFALO — The University at Buffalo football team rallied from a 14-point fourth quarter deficit to defeat Army, 23-20, in overtime at UB Stadium on Saturday night. After Army missed a go-ahead field goal in the first overtime, Adam Mitcheson connected on a 33-yard field goal for the game winner.
Army took its opening possession and drove 71 yards on nine plays. Jordan Asberry took an option pitch and ran it into the endzone from 15 yards out. Army drove 80 yards to the UB 4-yard line, but the Bulls defense stuffed the Army rush attack and forced the Black Knights to settle for a 21-yard field goal. After Buffalo forced and recovered a fumble at the Army 23-yard line, it took the Bulls eight plays before Tyree Jackson scored on a 1-yard quarterback sneak. On the ensuing possession, Army drove to the UB 21-yard line but had to settle for a Blake Wilson 38-yard field goal.
Army scored on its second straight possession after driving 62 yards on 11 plays. Ahmad Bradshaw ran it in from five yards out to extend the Black Knight lead. Jackson connected with Kamathi Holsey for a 5-yard touchdown pass to pull the Bulls to within a touchdown. The key play on the drive was a 49-yard pass from Jackson to Marcus McGill. After the UB defense forced a 3-and-out on Army’s next possession, the Bulls drove 62 yards on 13 plays, including a 4th-and-9 conversion. Jackson scored his second 1-yard rushing touchdown of the game to tie the contest. After Army missed a 43-yard field goal in the first overtime, the Bulls got the ball and drove to the 15-yard line before Mitcheson drilled the game-winning 33-yard field goal.
It was the second time Buffalo beat Army in overtime at UB Stadium. The Bulls also defeated the Black Knights, 27-24, in overtime in 2008 – the only other meeting in Buffalo.
UB Head Coach Lance Leipold said, “I am very proud of the team. I think a lot of people counted this group out and we had our backs against the wall. We battled hard and had a great second half effort. When you look at what has happened over the first two weeks, things haven’t looked as good as we would have hoped. To see us battle back and put it into overtime and find a way to win, made me very proud of these players and assistant coaches.”
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