University at Buffalo
7-2 , 5-0
Ohio
6-3 , 3-2
Bulls Win Seventh Straight With Emphatic 30-3 Victory Over Ohio
11/5/2013 12:00:00 AM | Football
BUFFALO, NY – The University at Buffalo football team saved its best all-around performance of the season for the national stage as the Bulls defeated Ohio, 30-3, at UB Stadium on Tuesday night on ESPN2 in a showdown of two 6-2 teams. Branden Oliver set a Division I era school record with a career-best 249 yards rushing and two touchdowns to lead the Bulls to their seventh straight win.
Oliver outgained the entire Ohio team as the UB defense held the Bobcats to a season-low 233 yards of total offense. It was his fourth career 200-yard game.
"I just knew that these kids were ready to play, and they certainly showed that out on that football field for four quarters," head coach Jeff Quinn said. "I thought our defense again came up big, Bo (Oliver) had more yards rushing than they had in total offense, which says a lot about our football team. If you have a great defense, you have a chance to win a lot of football games, and that has been the formula for our success right now."
After a scoreless first quarter, the Bulls did what they've done all season – capitalized on a forced turnover. Khalil Mack forced and recovered a fumble and the Bulls drove 72 yards on just six plays for the game's first score. Oliver took the direct snap and scored from two yards out with 12:24 left in the second quarter to give the Bulls a 7-0 lead.
Ohio kicked a late field goal to make the score 7-3 and bring a quiet first half to an end.
On Ohio's first possession of the second half, Buffalo was awarded a safety after Mack and Jarrett Franklin forced an intentional grounding in the endzone. That play seemed to change the tone of the game, as on UB's ensuing possession, the Bulls marched 46 yards on eight plays and Oliver scampered the final 13 yards for his second touchdown of the game.
It opened the floodgates as the Bulls scored on their next two possessions. Joe Licata connected with Alex Neutz on scores of 25 and 24 yards to make the score 30-3. Neutz's second touchdown catch was the 28th of his career, tying Naaman Roosevelt for the school record.
Neutz finished with a team-high four catches for 79 yards. Oliver added three catches for 19 yards to total 268 all-purpose yards. Licata went 13-of-22 for 169 yards and two touchdowns.
The defense was led by Franklin who had a career-high eight tackles and 1.5 sacks. Blake Bean and Jake Stockman each added six tackles in the game. Mack finished with five tackles, a half sack, a forced fumble and a fumble recovery.
Buffalo improves to 7-2 overall and perfect 5-0 in the MAC. The Bulls will next play at Toledo next Tuesday night on ESPNU.
Team Stats
OHIO 0, UB 7
UB - OLIVER, Branden 2 yd run (CLARKE, Patrick kick), 6 plays, 72 yards, TOP 2:27
OHIO 3, UB 7
OHIO - YAZDANI, Josiah 23 yd field goal 13 plays, 39 yards, TOP 4:21
OHIO 3, UB 9
UB - TEAM 27 yd safety
OHIO 3, UB 16
UB - OLIVER, Branden 13 yd run (CLARKE, Patrick kick), 8 plays, 46 yards, TOP 4:01
OHIO 3, UB 23
UB - NEUTZ, Alex 25 yd pass from LICATA, Joe (CLARKE, Patrick kick) 7 plays, 71 yards, TOP 3:10
OHIO 3, UB 30
UB - NEUTZ, Alex 24 yd pass from LICATA, Joe (CLARKE, Patrick kick) 7 plays, 75 yards, TOP 4:02
