Paul Peck's Bull Session: Kent State
11/4/2015 12:00:00β―AM | Football
Buffalo (4-4, 2-2 MAC) vs. Kent State (3-5, 2-2 MAC)
It's going to be 65 degrees and partly cloudy when the Bulls and the Golden Flashes kick it off in Kent, OH on Thursday night. A bit different than last November 19th, when the Snowvember Storm forced this divisional rivalry to be cancelled. I know that UB equipment truck driver Jim Bratek and his slick-looking van will have no trouble making it west to Ohio. But it's strange that these two teams, who have played 20 times before, have gone two years without matching up. A lot's different from that 41-21 Bulls win at Dix Stadium. Khalil Mack, Branden Oliver and Dri Archer are playing in the NFL, and UB has a new head coach. But the significance is the same. That 2013 Buffalo win made the Bulls bowl eligible. This game will go a long way towards that. UB has won two in a row, and is gaining the kind of momentum that could roll them right into a December game. But they face a big challenge in one of the MAC's best defensive teams.
Bullseye on: Buffalo Offense
The Bulls have already matched up against the MAC's top-ranked defense in Central Michigan. But the Golden Flashes are #2, and may be better. Kent State is number two in stopping the run, number four against the pass, number one stopping third downs, number one in takeaways and number one in sacks. Defensive end Terence Waugh leads the MAC with nine sacks, and cornerback Demetrius Monday is second with five interceptions.
The Flashes will mix a 4-3 alignment with a 3-4, and use a number of LB/safety hybrids to confuse the Bulls offense. They are very athletic on defense, and feature some of the MAC's top players. Their top 11 tacklers from last year returned, so they are also very experienced.
Waugh not only leads the conference in sacks, the 262 pound defensive end is second in tackles for loss. Fellow defensive end Nate Terhune has four sacks, to rank fourth in the MAC. Outstanding safety Nate Holley is Kent's leading tackler. His 83 stops are good for 3rd in the conference.
For all of their defensive prowess, Kent has given up 36 points to Marshall, 38 to Toledo and 48 to Bowling Green. The Bulls will want to run the ball, and Jordan Johnson is hot. The junior running back has back-to-back 100 yards games. He joins Anthone Taylor as the only Bulls to run for 100 or more in their first two career starts. Johnson gutted out 123 yards against Miami, but his big play ability is starting to shine. After a 39-yard run against Ohio, he had a 48-yarder at Oxford.
The Bulls offensive line will be missing a starter. Right guard Dillon Guy was hurt early in the Miami game, and he will not play. Roubbens Joseph will make his first start. The 6-4, 310 pounder is a transfer from Hudson Valley Community College. It's the first time this season the Bulls will not start the same five offensive linemen.
Tight end Matt Weiser is now the Bulls leading receiver with 39 catches. He is just six away from the UB FBS record for tight end receptions. Chad Bartoszek had 45 in 2002. Thanks to his career long 78 yard touchdown, Ron Willoughby has now caught a pass in 19 straight games. With a big game, Joe Licata could own the Bulls all-time record for passing yards. He trails Drew Willy by 356 yards. Licata connected with a season-high 10 receivers against Miami (OH)
Bullseye on: Buffalo Defense
As good as the Kent State defense has played, their offense has really struggled. They are last in the MAC in total offense, passing offense, first downs and third down conversions. In four of their eight games, they have failed to score an offensive touchdown. Some of that is the product of a quarterback switch. Colin Reardon started the first six games, and completed only 45 percent of his passes. Now, redshirt freshman George Bollas will start his third straight game. Bollas is a runner and a scrambler, who is third on the team with 161 yards rushing. He ran for 48 yards against Toledo and 79 against UMass. Bollas had good day throwing against the Minutemen, completing 20 of 25 passes. He is completing 61percent. But he's thrown just one touchdown, along with 4 interceptions.
Looking to spark the offense, head coach Paul Haynes has turned to freshmen. The team's top three receivers are young players. Running back Raekwon James leads the team with 20 catches. P.J. Simmons has 16 catches, and Antwon Dixon has 14. James is also second in rushing with 174 yards.
The Flashes top ground gainer is 248 pound senior Trayion Durham. Early in his career he teamed with Dri Archer to dominate MAC defenses. Durham had 112 yards against the Bulls in 2012. But injuries, and a drop-of on the offensive line have impacted his career. He has just one 100 yard game this season.
Left tackle Reno Reda wears number 54, in honor of teammate Jason Bitsko, who passed away last year during training camp. Bitsko was a high school teammate of Bulls running back Anthone Taylor, who wore a Bulls #54 during practice last season.
With 73 tackles, linebacker Nick Gilbo is now UB's leader in tackles. He ranks fifth in the MAC. Brandon Berry is right behind, with 72 tackles. His streak of five straight games with 10 tackles came to an end at Miami. Okezie Alozie took over the team lead with four sacks. Marqus Baker had five pass breakups against the Red Hawks, for a total of 10 on the season. Boise Ross has 18, tied for the lead in the MAC and the NCAA. It's already a new UB single season record. Solomon Jackson started at defensive end for the second straight game. He came up with the game-clinching sack on the final play against Miami. With 19 sacks, the Bulls are up to third in the MAC.
Bullseye on: Defensive Touchdowns Record
I promised an update on the Bulls chase for the defensive touchdowns record. Jon Fuller and Brian Wolff from the UB Athletic Communications office did the research and came up with what's believed to be the record. In 2012, the SMU Mustangs scored 11 defensive touchdowns. They had 8 interception returns and 3 fumble returns. With four games left, the Bulls have six, scored by six different players. UB leads the NCAA in this category, two ahead of five other teams, including Alabama and USC.
Please join me, color analyst Jim Kubiak, sideline reporter Scott Wilson, game host Brad Riter and postgame host Bob Gaughan for the broadcast on the Bulls Football Network. Our pregame show starts at 6:00pm. You can hear it in Buffalo on ESPN 1520 (www.espn1520.com), in Rochester on Sports 1280 WHTK (www.foxsports1280.com).
