Friday, December 18
Detroit, MI
7:30 pm
5-1
28
vs
38
Ball State
6-1
1st
2nd
3rd
4th
F
Ball State
7
28
3
0
38
Buffalo
14
7
7
0
28
Missed Opportunities Cost Bulls in MAC Title Game
12/19/2020 12:52:00 AM | Football
DETROIT, MI – The University at Buffalo football team couldn't overcome missed opportunities and fell to Ball State, 38-28, in the Rocket Mortgage Mid-American Conference Championship held at Ford Field on Friday night. It was the Bulls first loss of the season.
Things started well for the Bulls as they marched right down the field on their opening possession and scored on a 3-yard touchdown run by Jaret Patterson to take a 7-0 lead. The key play on the drive was a 54-yard pass play from Kyle Vantrease to Antonio Nunn. It would be the beginning of a big night for the senior wide receiver.
After Ball State scored a touchdown on its opening possession, The Bulls marched right back down the field and took a 14-7 lead on a 24-yard pass from Vantrease to Trevor Wilson. After Ball State tied the game at 14-14 midway through the second quarter, Vantrease connected with Wilson again, this time on a 57-yard pass, to set up the Bulls at the Ball State 1-yard line. Vantrease called his own number on the next play to put UB back in front, 21-14, with 7:31 left in the half.
However, the rest of the second quarter was all Ball State. After tying the game at 21-21, the Cardinals got the ball back and on third-and-long connected on a 56-yard touchdown pass to take a 28-21 lead with 1:30 left in the half.
What happened on the Bulls' ensuing possession really changed the complexion of the game. A strip sack of Vantrease was scooped up by Ball State and returned 34 yards for a touchdown. It was the first sack allowed by Buffalo in nine games dated back to last season.
Suddenly, Ball State led 35-21 at the half.
The UB defense stood tall in the second half, allowing only three points. However, the Bulls just couldn't capitalize on opportunities. With 1:16 left in the third quarter Kevin Marks, Jr. ripped off a 67-yard run to cut the lead to 38-28, but the Bulls would get no closer. UB crossed midfield a couple times in the fourth quarter, but just couldn't score again.
Ball State did an excellent job neutralizing Jaret Patterson, the nation's leading rusher. They held the junior running back to just 47 yards on 18 carries. Marks finished with 93 yards on just nine carries.
The Bulls had their finest passing performance of the season. Vantrease threw for a career-high 365 yards and a touchdown. Nunn was his favorite target, finishing with career-highs of 13 catches and 182 receiving yards. His 13 grabs tied James Starks (2008) and Chaz Ahmed (1990) for the single-game school record.
Wilson was the second UB receiver to go over the century mark with 118 yards on six catches, both career highs. Lefebvre also had a career-best five catches in the game.
Defensively, the Bulls were led by James Patterson who had 11 tackles and an interception in the game. Cory Gross, Jr. and Tyrone Hill each added nine tackles. Detroit native Tyrece Woods, Jr. had the best game of his career, finishing with six tackles, three tackles for loss and two sacks. Malcolm Koonce and George Wolo also added sacks for the Bulls.
The Bulls dropped to 5-1 with the loss and will now wait to see which bowl game they will be selected to participate in.
Things started well for the Bulls as they marched right down the field on their opening possession and scored on a 3-yard touchdown run by Jaret Patterson to take a 7-0 lead. The key play on the drive was a 54-yard pass play from Kyle Vantrease to Antonio Nunn. It would be the beginning of a big night for the senior wide receiver.
After Ball State scored a touchdown on its opening possession, The Bulls marched right back down the field and took a 14-7 lead on a 24-yard pass from Vantrease to Trevor Wilson. After Ball State tied the game at 14-14 midway through the second quarter, Vantrease connected with Wilson again, this time on a 57-yard pass, to set up the Bulls at the Ball State 1-yard line. Vantrease called his own number on the next play to put UB back in front, 21-14, with 7:31 left in the half.
However, the rest of the second quarter was all Ball State. After tying the game at 21-21, the Cardinals got the ball back and on third-and-long connected on a 56-yard touchdown pass to take a 28-21 lead with 1:30 left in the half.
What happened on the Bulls' ensuing possession really changed the complexion of the game. A strip sack of Vantrease was scooped up by Ball State and returned 34 yards for a touchdown. It was the first sack allowed by Buffalo in nine games dated back to last season.
Suddenly, Ball State led 35-21 at the half.
The UB defense stood tall in the second half, allowing only three points. However, the Bulls just couldn't capitalize on opportunities. With 1:16 left in the third quarter Kevin Marks, Jr. ripped off a 67-yard run to cut the lead to 38-28, but the Bulls would get no closer. UB crossed midfield a couple times in the fourth quarter, but just couldn't score again.
Ball State did an excellent job neutralizing Jaret Patterson, the nation's leading rusher. They held the junior running back to just 47 yards on 18 carries. Marks finished with 93 yards on just nine carries.
The Bulls had their finest passing performance of the season. Vantrease threw for a career-high 365 yards and a touchdown. Nunn was his favorite target, finishing with career-highs of 13 catches and 182 receiving yards. His 13 grabs tied James Starks (2008) and Chaz Ahmed (1990) for the single-game school record.
Wilson was the second UB receiver to go over the century mark with 118 yards on six catches, both career highs. Lefebvre also had a career-best five catches in the game.
Defensively, the Bulls were led by James Patterson who had 11 tackles and an interception in the game. Cory Gross, Jr. and Tyrone Hill each added nine tackles. Detroit native Tyrece Woods, Jr. had the best game of his career, finishing with six tackles, three tackles for loss and two sacks. Malcolm Koonce and George Wolo also added sacks for the Bulls.
The Bulls dropped to 5-1 with the loss and will now wait to see which bowl game they will be selected to participate in.
Team Stats
BALL
UB
Total Yards
439
499
Pass Yards
273
365
Rushing Yards
166
134
Penalty Yards
25
20
1st Downs
22
24
3rd Downs
7
4
4th Downs
1
0
TOP
32:39
27:14
1st Quarter
BALL 0, UB 7
UB - Patterson,Jaret 3 yd run (McNulty,Alex kick), 6 plays, 71 yards, TOP 2:56
BALL 7, UB 7
BALL - TYLER, Yo'Heinz 10 yd pass from PLITT, Drew (KNIGHT, Jack kick) 11 plays, 75 yards, TOP 4:12
BALL 7, UB 14
UB - Wilson,Trevor 24 yd pass from Vantrease,Kyle (McNulty,Alex kick) 8 plays, 69 yards, TOP 3:59
2nd Quarter
BALL 14, UB 14
BALL - PLITT, Drew 1 yd run (LEWIS, Jacob kick), 10 plays, 90 yards, TOP 3:03
BALL 14, UB 21
UB - Vantrease,Kyle 1 yd run (McNulty,Alex kick), 3 plays, 76 yards, TOP 1:11
BALL 21, UB 21
BALL - HALL, Justin 9 yd pass from PLITT, Drew (LEWIS, Jacob kick) 6 plays, 75 yards, TOP 1:36
BALL 28, UB 21
BALL - MCGAUGHY, Jalen 56 yd pass from PLITT, Drew (LEWIS, Jacob kick) 6 plays, 83 yards, TOP 2:42
BALL 35, UB 21
BALL - ALBRIGHT, C. 34 yd fumble recovery (LEWIS, Jacob kick)
3rd Quarter
BALL 38, UB 21
BALL - LEWIS, Jacob 21 yd field goal 16 plays, 76 yards, TOP 5:45
BALL 38, UB 28
UB - Marks,Kevin 67 yd run (McNulty,Alex kick), 2 plays, 78 yards, TOP 0:25
Game Leaders
Passing Leaders
CMP
29
TD
1
YDS
365
INT
1
Players Mentioned
S
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DE
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RB
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WR
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LB
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RB
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WR
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DT
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DT
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