UNIVERSITY AT BUFFALO ATHLETICS
BUFFALO, NY – The University at Buffalo football team scored a season-high 51 points in a 51-42 win over Miami (OH) at UB Stadium on Tuesday night. It was the Bulls fourth straight win to keep them atop the Mid-American Conference East Division standings at 5-0 and 8-1 overall.
The Bulls rolled up a season-high 505 yards of total offense, mostly through the air thanks to a record-breaking performance by Anthony Johnson. The senior wideout finished with a single-game school record 238 receiving yards on eight catches and had three touchdowns grabs.
Quarterback Tyree Jackson accounted for six touchdowns in the game. The junior signal-caller threw for three touchdowns and ran for a career-best three more. Jackson threw for a season-high 358 yards in the game.
Trailing 7-0, the Bulls struck quickly, as Jackson connected with Johnson on a 75-yard touchdown pass on the Bulls’ second play of the game to quickly tie the contest at 7-7. Following a Miami touchdown on its next possession, Jackson used his feet to score on a 7-yard touchdown run to once again tie the game at 14-14.
Following a blocked punt, Miami took its third lead of the game early in the second quarter to once again go ahead, 21-14. However, the Bulls struck back when, on 3rd-and-17, Jackson connected with Johnson again for a 20-yard score to tie the game.
Jackson’s second touchdown run of the game came with just 38 seconds left in the half when he scored from five yards out to give Buffalo its first lead of the game, 28-21.
Capped by another Jackson touchdown run, this time from four yards out, the Bulls took the opening kickoff of the second half and drove 75 yards down the field to take a 35-21 lead in the game.
Johnson caught his third touchdown of the game on a 10-yard pass from Jackson to put the Bulls ahead, 42-28. However, in typical #MACtion fashion, Buffalo’s 14-point lead didn’t last long.
Following a 59-yard touchdown play from Miami, the RedHawks surprised the Bulls with an onside kick and recovered it. Miami capitalized and scored a touchdown in the closing seconds of the third quarter to tie the game at 42-42.
Midway through the fourth quarter, Jaret Patterson scored on a 4-yard run to give the Bulls the lead for good, 48-42. Patterson finished the game with 96 yards on a career-high 23 carries.
With 3:54 left, Adam Mitcheson drilled a 37-yard field goal to extend the Buffalo lead to 51-42 and put the game on ice. It was the senior kicker’s 45th career field goal, setting a new school record.
“I’m really proud of the way we answered their scores, especially quickly,” head coach Lance Leipold said. “These guys know they’re just going to keep battling. There’s nothing really magical said before we take the field other than expect it to be a 60-minute battle and we’re going to play it out and do whatever it takes to win.”
Despite giving up 42 points, the Bulls played good defense down the stretch, when it mattered most. Kadofi Wright had a strip sack that was recovered by James Patterson to helped seal the win. Khalil Hodge had 11 tackles, a sack and two tackles for loss to lead the Bulls. Buffalo tied a season high with six sacks in the game.
Buffalo will host Kent State next Tuesday night in the home finale.
