
Bulls Head to Ohio on Wednesday in Search of MAC East Title
11/9/2018 12:00:00β―AM | Football
Buffalo (9-1, 6-0 MAC) at Ohio (6-4, 4-2 MAC)
November 14, 2018
Peden Stadium - 7:00 pm
Radio
Buffalo - ESPN 1520
Rochester - Fox Sports 1280
Television
ESPN2
Storylines
• Buffalo is 6-0 in MAC play for the first time in school history.
• Ohio leads the all-time series with Buffalo, 14-10.
• The home team has won each of the last eight meetings in the series.
• Since joining the MAC in 1999, the Bulls are 1-9 in games played at Peden Stadium. Buffalo's only win at Ohio came in 2008.
• Tyree Jackson's next touchdown pass will be his 25th of the season which would tie Drew Willy (2008) for second in school history for touchdown passes in a season. Joe Licata holds the school record with 29 in 2014.
• Khalil Hodge is 12 tackles shy of 400 for his career, making him just the fourth player in school history with 400 career tackles. He would be the first to do it in three seasons.
• Anthony Johnson has six touchdown catches over the last three games.
• The Bulls have won 12 of their last 13 games dating back to last season.
• A win over Ohio would give the Bulls their second outright MAC East Championship and their second trip to the MAC title game. The Bulls also won the East Division in 2008 and tied for the East title in 2007.
• The Bulls have won five straight road games dating back to last season.
The University at Buffalo football team will travel to Ohio on Tuesday night in hopes of clinching the Mid-American Conference East Division title. The Bulls are 9-1 overall, 6-0 in the MAC and are coming off a 48-14 win over Kent State last Tuesday night. Running back Jaret Patterson ran for 187 yards and two touchdowns to lead the Bulls.
What a Start!
The Bulls are 9-1 and off to their best start in school history. They have won nine games for the first time in their FBS history (since 1999) and just the second time in school history. Buffalo went 9-2 in 1986 as a Division III program. The previous best seasons for Buffalo football were 2008 (8-6) and 2013 (8-5).
The Bulls are building on their strong finish from a season ago when they won the final three games of the 2017 campaign. Overall, UB has won 12 of its last 13 games.
Not Standing Patt
Jaret Patterson rushed for a career-high 187 yards and two touchdowns against Kent State. He did so in only the first half and on only 18 carries (10.4 ypc). It was the most rushing yards in a game by a freshman running back in school history and was the second-best rushing total by any player in the MAC this season.
Running Down a Dream
The Bulls are having one of their finest seasons running the football in school history. UB is averaging 191.5 yards per game on the ground - its highest per game average as a FBS program. The Bulls have scored 26 rushing touchdowns on the year which is one shy of the school record of 27 set in 2008 (14 games).
Record-Breaking Night for AJ
Anthony Johnson had a record-breaking night in the Bulls' 51-42 win over Miami (OH). The senior receiver had eight catches for a school-record 238 yards against the RedHawks. He broke a 37-year-old record of 218 receiving yards set by Joe D'Amico against Cortland in 1981 when the Bulls were a Division III program.
Using His Legs
Tyree Jackson is using his legs more in recent games. Prior to UB's game at Central Michigan on October 6, Jackson ran the ball three times for eight yards and no scores over the previous nine games. Over the last five games, the junior signal-caller has carried the ball 35 times for 92 yards and six touchdowns. In Buffalo's win over Miami (OH), he became the first quarterback in the Bulls' FBS era (since 1999) to score three rushing touchdowns in a single game. Cliff Scott was the last UB quarterback with three rushing touchdowns against Maine in 1993.
Hodge Ball
Khalil Hodge has 111 tackles on the season, making him just the second player in school history to have three seasons of 100 tackles or more (Davonte Shannon, 2007-10, was the other). He is the first player in school history to post three straight seasons of 100+ tackles.
Mitch Perfect
In Buffalo's win over Miami (OH), kicker Adam Mitcheson drilled a 37-yarder to break the school record for career made field goals. He supplanted A.J. Principe (2007-10) whose 44 field goals were the previous mark.
T3
Quarterback Tyree Jackson is enjoying the best season of his career, having already thrown 24 touchdowns, 12 more than he did all of last season. He already ranks third in school history for single-season passing touchdowns, just five shy of the single-season mark.
Sack Lunch
Os-born to Run
Take Your Pick
The Bulls are tied for the MAC lead with 11 interceptions, their most since having 13 in 2015. Buffalo had a season-best four picks at Central Michigan. It was the most in a game since picking off four passes against Ohio in 2015.
Many Happy Returns
K.J. Osborn has been a game changer for the Bulls when it comes to punt returns. He has posted 24 returns for 257 yards - a 10.7 average. It is the most punt return yards by a UB player in its FBS era (since 1999).
Lance Wins A Lot
UB's win over Miami (OH) on Oct. 30 was the 21st of head coach Lance Leipold's career at Buffalo. It is the most wins by a head coach in the Bulls' FBS era (since 1999), surpassing Turner Gill and Jeff Quinn who both won 20 games. Over 45 games, Leipold became the second fastest coach to reach 21 wins in school history. Only Dick Offenhamer got there quicker, doing it in 34 games. Leipold currently holds a 22-24 record in his fourth season with the Bulls.
Let's Go Bowling
With a 7-1 record, the Bulls are bowl eligible for the fourth time in school history. Buffalo was also bowl eligible in 2008, 2013 and 2017. The Bulls have won six or more games in consecutive seasons for the first time since the 1983 and 1984 campaigns, when they won eight and six games, respectively.
Road Warriors
The Bulls have won all four road games this season (Temple Rutgers, CMU & Toledo) and have won five straight road games dating back to last year. The Bulls have won seven of their last nine road games. UB's win at Toledo was its fourth straight road win of the season, marking the first time since the 1986 season the Bulls have accomplished the feat.
Long Way Home
The Bulls have been using big plays to find the endzone this season. Buffalo has recorded 17 touchdowns of at least 22 yards. The Bulls have scored touchdowns of 22, 25, 27, 29, 32, 32, 33, 34, 42, 42, 53, 53, 64, 70, 70, 75 and 75 yards on the year.
Chuck Waggin
Chuck Harris continues to develop into a monster edge rusher for the Bulls. Over the last nine games, Harris has eight sacks and 11 tackles for loss. Not bad for a young man who only started playing football his junior year of high school.
The Kids Are Alright
While many will credit the Bulls' record to their seasoned veterans, you can't discredit the play of the youngsters. 22 of Buffalo's 46 touchdowns on the season have been scored by freshmen.
Cam Tough
Senior cornerback Cameron Lewis had a career-best two interceptions in the Bulls' win over Temple. He became the first UB player to intercept two passes in a game since Okezie Alozie had two picks against Ohio in 2015. Lewis has three interceptions on the season and five for his career.
Bulls Make History in Piscataway
Buffalo defeated Rutgers, 42-13, on Sept. 22 at HighPoint.com Stadium for its first-ever win over a team from the Big Ten Conference. The Bulls were 0-7 against Big Ten opponents prior to Saturday's win. It was also UB's first win over an opponent from a Power 5 conference. Buffalo's win over Rutgers was one of the largest by a MAC school over a Big Ten opponent in conference history.
Largest point differential in MAC win over Big 10 Opponent:
31 points - Toledo 38-7 win over Minnesota (8/30/01)
31 points - NIU 55-24 win at Purdue on (9/28/13)
30 points - Miami 44-14 win at Northwestern (9/13/03)
29 points – Buffalo 42-13 win at Rutgers on (9/22/18)
It's All Relative
The UB football team features a pair of players related to two of the top five picks in the 2014 NFL Draft. Senior wide receiver Anthony Johnson is the cousin of top pick Jadeveon Clowney. Junior defensive end Ledarius Mack is the younger brother of former UB All-American and fifth pick Khalil Mack.
10-Year Anniversary of MAC Championship
The 2018 season marks the 10-year anniversary of the Bulls' 2008 MAC Championship - UB's first and only football conference title. After a 7-5 regular season, the Bulls stunned 12th-ranked Ball State, 42-24, in the title game. Buffalo went on to play Connecticut in the International Bowl - its first-ever bowl game.
On The Airwaves
Again this season, University at Buffalo football can be heard locally on ESPN 1520, a 50,000-watt station with one of the strongest signals in the nation. The Bulls can also be heard on 1280 AM in Rochester.
Calling all the play-by-play action of Bulls football for his 19th year, and 11th consecutive, will be Paul Peck. Scott Wilson is back for his second season as analyst. Brad Riter also returns as game host.
Again this season, the UB Football postgame show will take place at Santora's on Millersport with host Bob Gaughan.
Peck will host the UB Football Insider with Lance Leipold on Monday nights at 5:00 pm. The show air on ESPN 1520 and will be taped at the Santora's Millersport location on Mondays at noon.