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Bulls Crank Up Offense to Defeat Morgan State
10/10/2020 10:00:00 AM | Football
BUFFALO, NY - The University at Buffalo football team used a balanced offensive attack to defeat visiting Morgan State, 35-17, in front of a homecoming crowd of 19,854 at UB Stadium on October 10, 1998.
The Bulls rolled up 500 total offensive yards (270 passing and 230 rushing) led by the potent connection of senior wide receiver Kali Watkins and senior quarterback Chad Salisbury.
The two combined for three passes that resulted in touchdowns, including a 52-yard bomb at 4:35 in the first quarter. Watkins' three TD catches were a career high for the Bulls' tri-captain. He also caught a 21-yard pass for the go-ahead touchdown late in the second quarter and a 30-yard score in the second half.
Salisbury, meanwhile, had one of his finest days as a collegian, with a near-flawless 13-of-14 passing performance for 270 yards and three touchdowns.
Running back Derrick Gordon, the Bulls' rushing leader (nine carries for 91 yards), struck first for the Bulls with a one-yard TD run 2:42 into the game.
Morgan State only had the lead once in the game after Jay Hinton scored to make it 14-13, following a seven-yard run at 12:47 in the second quarter.
Freshman running back David Schmidli earned his first career TD on a 13-yard run in the third quarter. Schmidli finished with 35 yards rushing while fullback Josh Roth added 63 yards on 10 carries.
Junior linebacker Josh Trexler led the UB defense with 14 tackles, included eight solo stops and four tackles for loss. His stop on 4th-and-3 late in the third quarter ended the Bears comeback bid.
Cornerback Carlos Spencer and linebackers Antonio Perry and Chris Shelly had nine stops apiece while defensive lineman Bob Dzvonick added eight tackles and a quarterback sack.
The Bulls finished the 1998 season with a record of 4-7. It would be their final year as a Division I-AA program. UB joined the Mid-American Conference and the FBS ranks in 1999.
The Bulls rolled up 500 total offensive yards (270 passing and 230 rushing) led by the potent connection of senior wide receiver Kali Watkins and senior quarterback Chad Salisbury.
The two combined for three passes that resulted in touchdowns, including a 52-yard bomb at 4:35 in the first quarter. Watkins' three TD catches were a career high for the Bulls' tri-captain. He also caught a 21-yard pass for the go-ahead touchdown late in the second quarter and a 30-yard score in the second half.
Salisbury, meanwhile, had one of his finest days as a collegian, with a near-flawless 13-of-14 passing performance for 270 yards and three touchdowns.
Running back Derrick Gordon, the Bulls' rushing leader (nine carries for 91 yards), struck first for the Bulls with a one-yard TD run 2:42 into the game.
Morgan State only had the lead once in the game after Jay Hinton scored to make it 14-13, following a seven-yard run at 12:47 in the second quarter.
Freshman running back David Schmidli earned his first career TD on a 13-yard run in the third quarter. Schmidli finished with 35 yards rushing while fullback Josh Roth added 63 yards on 10 carries.
Junior linebacker Josh Trexler led the UB defense with 14 tackles, included eight solo stops and four tackles for loss. His stop on 4th-and-3 late in the third quarter ended the Bears comeback bid.
Cornerback Carlos Spencer and linebackers Antonio Perry and Chris Shelly had nine stops apiece while defensive lineman Bob Dzvonick added eight tackles and a quarterback sack.
The Bulls finished the 1998 season with a record of 4-7. It would be their final year as a Division I-AA program. UB joined the Mid-American Conference and the FBS ranks in 1999.
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