Kent State
Bulls Host Kent State on Saturday in Battle of the Undefeated
11/24/2020 1:14:00 PM | Football
Buffalo (3-0, 3-0 MAC) vs. Kent State (3-0, 3-0 MAC)
November 28, 2020
UB Stadium - 12:00 pm
Radio
Buffalo - ESPN 1520
Rochester - Fox Sports 1280
Television
CBS Sports Network
Storylines
• Buffalo leads the all-time series, 13-12.
• The Bulls are looking to start 4-0 in MAC play for the third time in program history. They started 6-0 in 2018 and 5-0 in 2013.
• Jaret Patterson rushed for a school-record 301 yards and scored four touchdowns in the Bulls' last game at Bowling Green.
• The Bulls have outscored their opponents, 56-0, in the third quarter of games this season.
• The Bulls have not allowed a sack on the season and now haven't allowed a sack in seven straight games dating back to last year.
• This game will feature two of the top rushing offenses in the nation. Kent State leads the country is rushing, averaging 299 rushing yards per game and Buffalo is fifth in the nation, averaging 260 rushing yards per game.
• The Bulls are averaging 44.3 points over the first three games of the season. They have scored 40+ points in seven of their last eight conference games dating back to last season.
• Antonio Nunn had 5+ catches in each of the first three games and posted 100-yard receiving games against Northern Illinois (6/102) and Miami (5/137).
• The Bulls have won 10 of their last 11 MAC games played at UB Stadium.
Bulls Host Kent State in Battle of the Undefeated
The University at Buffalo football team will host Kent State on Saturday in a battle of two 3-0 teams. The Bulls are coming off a 42-17 win at Bowling Green on Nov. 17. The Bulls were led by running back Jaret Patterson who rushed for a school-record 301 yards and four touchdowns against the Falcons.
Kent State is coming off a 69-35 win over Akron on Nov. 17. The Golden Flashes are led by quarterback Dustin Crum who has thrown for 838 yards and nine touchdowns on the season.
Buffalo leads the all-time series, 13-12. The Flashes won the last meeting, 30-27, at Dix Stadium last season.
Oh What a Night
Jaret Patterson rushed for more yards than any back in school history in UB's last outing, posting 301 yards and four touchdowns at Bowling Green. He broke his own school record of 298 yards set against BG in 2019. In this last two games against Bowling Green, Patterson rushed for 599 yards and 10 touchdowns.
Patterson became just the 13th player in MAC history to rush for 300 yards in a game. He currently leads the nation in rushing yards per game, averaging 170.3 yards per contest.
This is 40
The Bulls are averaging 44.3 points per game this season. UB has scored 40+ points in each of the first three games of the season for the first time in program history. It is also the first time they have ever scored 40+ points in their first three MAC games. The Bulls have now scored 40 or mores points in seven of their last eight conference games dating back to last season.
Second Half Adjustments
The third quarter has been the best quarter for the Bulls this season. UB has outscored its opponents 56-0 in the third quarter so far this season. The Bulls scored 21 third-quarter points in each of their first two games. In fact, in Buffalo's win over Miami (OH), the Bulls scored on its first four possessions of the second half, with scoring drives of 81, 82, 62 and 84 yards.
Koonce Invited to Senior Bowl
Senior defensive end Malcolm Koonce has accepted an invitation to the Reese's Senior Bowl. He will be the fourth player in school history to play in the prestigious all-star game, joining DT Gerry Philbin (1964), WR Anthony Johnson (2019) and QB Tyree Jackson (2019).
A first-team All-MAC selection in 2019 after leading the conference in sacks, Koonce has 17 tackles, four tackles for loss and three sacks through three games this season.
Breakout Game for Vantrease
Kyle Vantrease had the best game of his career against Miami (OH) on Nov. 10. The junior signal-caller threw for 353 yards and four touchdowns against the RedHawks - both career highs. He was perfect in the second half, going 9-for-9 for 229 yards and three touchdowns. He had touchdown passes of 82, 78, 25 and 5 yards. His previous longest career pass was a 61 yarder against Ohio last season.
Vantrease was the first UB quarterback to throw for 300 yards in a game since Tyree Jackson posted 358 yards passing against Miami (OH) in 2018.
Vantrease is 36 for 57 for 605 yards with five touchdowns and one interception on the season.
Mr. 3,000
Against Miami (OH) on Nov. 10, running back Jaret Patterson went over 3,000 yards for his career, becoming the fastest player in school history to reach the milestone (29 games). He is currently second in school history in career rushing yards. Patterson needed 138 less carries to pass Starks for second in school history in career rushing.
Player, Yards, Att, Years
1. Branden Oliver, 4,049, 866, 2010-13
2. Jaret Patterson, 3,323, 566, 2018-
3. James Starks, 3,140, 698, 2006-08
4. Anthony Swan, 3,103, 812, 1994-97
5. Alan Bell, 3,022, 682, 1989-92
Big Play Bulls
The Bulls have used big plays to find the endzone so far this season. They have already scored seven touchdowns of 40 yards or more. Against Miami (OH), Kyle Vantrease had a 78-yard touchdown pass to Trevor Wilson and an 82-yard touchdown pass to Antonio Nunn. It marked the first time in UB's FBS era (since 1999) that it had two touchdown passes of 78 or more yards in the same game.
Running back Jaret Patterson has touchdown runs of 56 and 57 yards this season.
Long touchdown plays aren't limited to the offense as the Bulls scored on a 42-yard and 46-yard fumble recovery and a 65-yard pick six in the opener at Northern Illinois.
Nunn Better
Senior wide receiver Antonio Nunn continues to develop into one of the best receivers in the Mid-American Conference. He currently ranks third in the conference in receiving, averaging 103 yards per game.
Nunn posted 100-yard performances in each of his first two games. He had six catches for 102 yards and a touchdown at Northern Illinois and five catches for 137 yards and a score against Miami.
Nunn has recorded at least two catches in 13 straight games and has at least four grabs in six straight outings.
Taking Matters into their Own Hands
UB scored three defensive touchdowns in its 49-30 win at Northern Illinois on Wednesday. Tim Terry returned a fumble 46 yards for the first defensive score. On the Huskies very next possession, Isaiah King scooped up another fumble and dashed 42 yards for a touchdown. Kadofi Wright added a 65-yard pick six for the Bulls' third defensive score.
It was the first time the Bulls scored three defensive touchdowns in a game since 2015 when the defense also scored three times at FAU.
With three defensive touchdowns in the opener UB was already tied for first in the nation in defensive touchdowns.
Record-Breaking Night for Patterson
Jaret Patterson scored two rushing touchdowns in the opener at Northern Illinois to bring his career total to 35, breaking the school record for career rushing touchdowns. He broke the record of former All-MAC running back James Starks who rushed for 34 scores from 2006-08.
What's more impressive about Patterson's record is how quickly he got there. Patterson scored his 35th touchdown in only his 28th career game. Starks rushed for his 34th career touchdown in his 36th career game and Branden Oliver, UB's all-time leader rusher, scored his 33rd touchdown in his 40th game.
Patterson leads the MAC with eight rushing touchdowns to bring his career total to 41. He currently ranks 17th in MAC history in career rushing touchdowns.
Building a Consistent Winner
Head Coach Lance Leipold has been able to build a consistent winning program since being hired prior to the 2015 season. The Bulls have won 27 games since the start of the 2017 season - going 6-6 in 2017, 10-4 in 2018 and 8-5 last year. The 27 wins are the most by any MAC team since the start of the 2017 campaign.
Wright Place, Wright Time
Senior linebacker Kadofi Wright scored on a 65-yard interception return against Northern Illinois. It was his third career defensive score that have all come over the last two seasons. Wright forced and recovered a fumble for a touchdown at Akron on Oct. 19, 2019 and then, a week later, scored on a 40-yard interception return against Central Michigan. Wright was an All-MAC Second Team selection last season.
On Your Marks
While Jaret Patterson got most of the headlines last season, running back Kevin Marks also had a breakout season for the Bulls in 2019. As a sophomore, The Virginia native rushed for a career-best 1,035 yards and eight touchdowns last year. It marked the first time in school history the Bulls had two 1,000-yard rushers in the same season. Marks had a rushing touchdown in each of the last six games of the regular season.
Marks has eight career 100-yard rushing games, including a 109-yard performance against Miami on Nov. 10.
Marks joins Patterson on the Doak Walker Award watch list. Buffalo is one of just nine schools in the country to have multiple candidates on the Doak Walker list.
Movement on the Offensive Line
The Bulls will be replacing three starters on the offensive line, but fortunately they have experienced players ready to move into starting roles. The Bulls will be replacing LT Evin Ksiezarczyk, RG Tomas Jack-Kurdyla and LG Paul Nosworthy.
Kayode Awosika has been the starting right tackle for the past two seasons and will make the move to left tackle in 2020. An All-MAC Second Team selection in 2019, Awosika is on the Outland Trophy watch list.
Mike Novitsky started all 13 games at center last season and is on the 2020 Rimington Trophy watch list.
Jake Fuzak will likely start at right tackle after starting the final two games of the 2019 season.
Jacob Gall started the final five games at right guard in 2018 and had one start in 2019. He will likely start at left guard this season.
Senior Jack Klenk made his first career start at the other guard spot against Northern Illinois. Sophomore Gabe Wallace and graduate transfer Ray Thomas-Ishman will also likely be in the rotation at guard.
Last season, UB's line blocked for an offense that rushed for a school-record 3,256 yards and allowed a program-low eight sacks, second fewest in the country.
International Flavor
The Bulls have five international players from three different countries on this year's roster.
Buffalo has three players who hail from Canada, including Dominic Johnson (Ontario), Cole Burniston (Ontario) and Gabe Wallace (BC). In addition, the Bulls have two players from Europe, Alain Schaerer (Switzerland) and Jordan Avissey (France).
Lefebvre Named Campbell Trophy Semifinalist
Senior tight end Zac Lefebvre was named a William V. Campbell Trophy semifinalist. Given annually to college football's top student-athlete, the Campbell Trophy is also known as the Academic Heisman.
Lefebvre is a health and human services major with a 3.37 cumulative grade point average and is a three-time Academic All-MAC selection.
A native of Victor, NY, Lefebvre has started 17 games at tight end. He has 42 catches for 479 yards and four touchdowns over his career.
Pallotti Boys
The Bulls have five players from Maryland's Saint Vincent Pallotti High School on this year's team. Running back Jaret Patterson, linebackers James Patterson and Justin Mulbah, wide receiver Jelani Foster and cornerback Dylan Powell all played together for the Panthers.
Justin Winters, a former All-MAC linebacker for the Bulls, was a coach at Pallotti when the players were there.
