Dysert Leads RedHawks to 41-13 win over Buffalo

Saturday, October 29

3:30 pm

2-7 , 1-4

Miami (OH)

3-5 , 2-2

1st

2nd

3rd

4th

Buffalo

Miami

Dysert Leads RedHawks to 41-13 win over Buffalo

10/29/2011 12:00:00 AM | Football

Box Score

OXFORD, OH – Miami quarterback Zac Dysert helped the RedHawks claim a Mid-American Conference championship last season.

On a day when he moved into the Top 20 career MAC passers in yardage, he played like one of the MAC's all-time best, riddling the UB defense by completing 20-of-25 passes for 313 yards and a school-record five touchdowns to lead Miami to a 41-13 Homecoming win over Buffalo.

Dysert started the game on fire, completing his first nine passes, and leading Miami on three scoring drives which set the tone for the game.

The Bulls would get no closer than 14-13 after matching the RedHawks first two scores. However, the usually reliable UB running game struggled all afternoon, accounting for a season-low 77 yards on 34 carries.

Quarterback Chazz Anderson had another solid outing for UB, completing 24-of-41 passes for 281 yards and accounting for both touchdowns, a one-yard run and a 60-yard strike to Alex Neutz, who had four receptions for 110 yards before being injured. Neutz hurt his wrist and left the game in the second quarter and did not return.

Senior receiver Marcus Rivers added seven receptions for 69 yards for Buffalo, while Devon Hughes had a career-high four receptions for 33 yards.

The UB defense was led by senior linebacker Fred Branch who racked up 10 tackles, including eight solo stops. Lee Skinner added a pair of tackles for loss for the Bulls.

The first quarter of the game turned into a track meet as the two teams combined for 34 points and scored on each of their possessions.

The RedHawks pounced on the Bulls early, marking the third straight week that UB's opponent has scored first. Dawan Scott caught a 71-yard touchdown pass from Zac Dysert on the game's second play as Miami led 7-0 with 14:22 left in the first quarter.

The Bulls did not wait long to respond. On UB's first drive, after a first down connection on third down from Anderson to Neutz kept the the drive alive, Anderson dialed Neutz up long distance for a 60-yard strike down the left sideline. After the PAT by Pete Fardon, the game was tied at 7-7 with 11:34 left in the first.

After another Miami score, the Bulls again used the Anderson to Neutz connection to get into scoring range. First, Anderson hit Marcus Rivers on a pretty 29-yard completion down the right sideline, before finding Neutz on the other side of the field for a 34-yard connection to the Miami three-yard line. Three plays later, Anderson snuck in from the one-yard line. However, a missed PAT left the score at 14-13.

The RedHawks would take the lead for good with a score on their third straight possession late in the first half when Dysert threw his third score of the game and finished the first quarter 9-for-9 through the air.

The RedHawks would go to halftime with a 28-13 lead and never allowed the Bulls to get any closer.

"Miami did a great job," said Buffalo head coach Jeff Quinn. "I'm disappointed in myself, the coaches, and our players in terms of what we saw on film is what we got on the field today. We certainly didn't respond mentally, physically, and emotionally today and that's what is so disappointing."

BULL-etins: Buffalo's captains were Isaac Baugh, Lee Skinner, Chazz Anderson and Aaron Connacher…Skinner and Anderon both grew up about an hour from Oxford…Chazz Anderson has accounted for Buffalo's last six touchdowns either throwing or running…Alex Neutz had a touchdown catch for the second straight week and the 60-yard strike was the longest of his career, topping a 47-yard grab vs. Eastern Michigan last year…Neutz also eclipsed the century mark in receiving yards for the second straight game, the third time this season and the fourth time in his career…he became the first UB receiver to go over 100 yards in back-to-back games since Naaman Roosevelt did it against Temple and Central Michigan in back-to-back weeks in 2009…safety Isaac Baugh recorded his first career fumble recovery in the fourth quarter, returning it 32 yards…safety Okoye Houston recorded his first career interception in the second quarter…sophomore linebacker Khalil Mack recorded another tackle for loss in the game. That moved the Fort Pierece, FL native into a 10^th place tie in career tackles for loss with current Oakland Raider Trevor Scott with 28.5. It also gave Mack 15 on the season, which puts him into seventh place for a single season in the record book.