3-2 , 1-0
Eastern Michigan
1-4 , 0-2
Bulls Earn Decisive Win Over Eastern Michigan in Conference Opener
10/5/2013 12:00:00 AM | Football
BUFFALO, NY – For the second straight week, the University at Buffalo football team cruised to a victory – defeating Eastern Michigan, 42-14, in its Mid-American Conference opener at UB Stadium on Saturday afternoon. A homecoming crowd of 23,602 witnessed the Bulls improve to 3-2 and extend their home winning streak to five – their longest since the 1983 season.
"The effort was excellent today in all three phases," head coach Jeff Quinn said. "Our coaching job did a tremendous job in preparation. To beat this team was just another important step for us to accomplish the goals that we set for ourselves this season."
Branden Oliver rushed for a season-high 150 yards and two touchdowns. The senior running back set the tone early when, on the Bulls' sixth offensive play, he broke off a 60-yard touchdown run to give UB a 7-0 lead. It was Oliver's 13th career 100-yard game – tying the school record held by Anthony Swan (1994-97).
After the teams traded punts, Jake Stockman forced the game's first turnover. The junior linebacker forced and recovered a fumble at the EMU 18-yard line. Oliver scored his second touchdown of the game on a 2-yard plunge to give UB a 14-0 lead late in the first quarter.
The next time the Eagles had possession of the ball, Cortney Lester abruptly brought an end to a scoring drive when he intercepted a pass at the UB 1-yard line. The Bulls capitalized by marching 99 yards on 14 plays and capped it off with a 1-yard quarterback sneak by Joe Licata to give UB a 21-0 lead.
Eastern Michigan responded with a touchdown drive to cut the lead to 21-7. But the good feelings on the Eagles sideline were short-lived as Devin Campbell returned the ensuing kickoff 96 yards for a touchdown. It was the first kick return for a touchdown by a UB player since Ernest Jackson returned a kick 97 yards against Missouri in 2008.
Buffalo led 28-7 at the half.
The Bulls added a pair of touchdowns in the third quarter to extend the lead. Campbell had a one-yard touchdown run and Licata connected on a 27-yard touchdown pass with Alex Neutz.
Neutz finished with five catches for 104 yards. It was his ninth career 100-yard receiving game. The Grand Island, NY native now has a touchdown catch in all five games this season and 24 for his career – four shy of the school record held by Naaman Roosevelt.
Licata finished 15-for-22 for 224 yards and a touchdown. Six different UB receivers had receptions in the game. Oliver and Campbell had three apiece.
Blake Bean led the defensive effort with seven tackles, including a tackle for loss. Stockman and Adam Redden each chipped in with five tackles. Witney Sherry added his first career interception in the game.
"Another tremendous effort by our front seven," Quinn said. "We knew Eastern Michigan was going to come in and run the ball and move the chains, but I thought we did a tremendous job of playing gap-sound defense and disengaging from blocks and making plays."
After playing three straight home games, the Bulls will head back on the road and play at Western Michigan next Saturday at 2 pm.
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Team Stats
EMU 0, UB 7
UB - OLIVER, Branden 60 yd run (CLARKE, Patrick kick), 6 plays, 77 yards, TOP 2:36
EMU 0, UB 14
UB - OLIVER, Branden 2 yd run (CLARKE, Patrick kick), 5 plays, 16 yards, TOP 1:57
EMU 0, UB 21
UB - LICATA, Joe 1 yd run (CLARKE, Patrick kick), 11 plays, 99 yards, TOP 6:10
EMU 7, UB 21
EMU - JONES, Jay 15 yd pass from BENZ, Tyler (MULDER, Dylan kick) 5 plays, 72 yards, TOP 2:16
EMU 7, UB 28
UB - CAMPBELL, Devin 96 yd kickoff return (CLARKE, Patrick kick)
EMU 7, UB 35
UB - CAMPBELL, Devin 1 yd run (CLARKE, Patrick kick), 11 plays, 69 yards, TOP 5:21
EMU 7, UB 42
UB - NEUTZ, Alex 27 yd pass from LICATA, Joe (CLARKE, Patrick kick) 7 plays, 72 yards, TOP 2:58
EMU 14, UB 42
EMU - BRUMFIELD, Ryan 75 yd run (MULDER, Dylan kick), 2 plays, 79 yards, TOP 0:53
