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This Day in History: Bulls Rally for 1970 Homecoming Win over UMass
10/3/2020 10:00:00 AM | Football
BUFFALO, NY – Behind a 45-yard touchdown drive in the closing minutes, the University at Buffalo football team rallied to defeat Massachusetts, 16-13, in front of a homecoming crowd of 6,206 fans at Rotary field on October 3, 1970.
UMass took a 13-9 lead with six minutes to play in the game and it looked like the Bulls might lose another close game. However, Joe Hudson took advantage of a short kick off and returned it to the UMass 45-yard line. Three straight passes from Kirk Barton to Joe Moresco set the Bulls up at the 19-yard line. After Mike Sharrow caught a pass at the eight and Joe Zelmanski barreled down to the three-yard line, John Faller rambled around the right end for the game-winning score.
Along with the game-winning touchdown, Faller finished the contest with 83 yards on 21 carries and had three catches for 42 yards. On a very windy afternoon, Barton was able to complete 12-of-23 passes for 125 yards. He connected with Sharrow on a 10-yard touchdown pass with just 15 seconds left in the second quarter to give the Bulls a 9-7 lead at the half.
Facing a potent UMass rushing attacked, the UB defense was up to the challenge. The Bulls held the Redmen (they changed their nickname to Minutemen in 1972) to 111 yards on the ground thanks to the standout play of defensive end Prestis Henly and outside linebacker Ted Butler. In addition, Buffalo held UMass to only 66 yards in the air.
At the time, no one knew it would be the last homecoming football game the Bulls would play for some time. Citing financial issues, the UB football program was dropped at the conclusion of the 1970 season. The program was resurrected in 1977.
UMass took a 13-9 lead with six minutes to play in the game and it looked like the Bulls might lose another close game. However, Joe Hudson took advantage of a short kick off and returned it to the UMass 45-yard line. Three straight passes from Kirk Barton to Joe Moresco set the Bulls up at the 19-yard line. After Mike Sharrow caught a pass at the eight and Joe Zelmanski barreled down to the three-yard line, John Faller rambled around the right end for the game-winning score.
Along with the game-winning touchdown, Faller finished the contest with 83 yards on 21 carries and had three catches for 42 yards. On a very windy afternoon, Barton was able to complete 12-of-23 passes for 125 yards. He connected with Sharrow on a 10-yard touchdown pass with just 15 seconds left in the second quarter to give the Bulls a 9-7 lead at the half.
Facing a potent UMass rushing attacked, the UB defense was up to the challenge. The Bulls held the Redmen (they changed their nickname to Minutemen in 1972) to 111 yards on the ground thanks to the standout play of defensive end Prestis Henly and outside linebacker Ted Butler. In addition, Buffalo held UMass to only 66 yards in the air.
At the time, no one knew it would be the last homecoming football game the Bulls would play for some time. Citing financial issues, the UB football program was dropped at the conclusion of the 1970 season. The program was resurrected in 1977.
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