Friday, December 25
Montgomery, AL
2:30 pm
6-1 , 5-0
17
vs
10
Marshall
7-3 , 4-1
1st
2nd
3rd
4th
F
Marshall
0
7
3
0
10
Buffalo
0
10
0
7
17
Camellia Bowl Champions!
12/25/2020 7:46:00 PM | Football
MONTGOMERY, AL – Kevin Marks, Jr. scored on a 2-yard touchdown run with just over one minute to play and the defense withstood a late rally to lift the University at Buffalo football team to a 17-10 win over Marshall in the 2020 Camellia Bowl on Friday afternoon in Montgomery, AL. It was the second straight year the Bulls were victorious in a bowl game.
While the offense got the headlines all season, it was the UB defense that had its finest performance of the year to hold off the Thundering Herd. The Bulls held Marshall to 248 yards of total offense.
Marks was named the game's MVP after rushing for 138 yards and a touchdown in the game. The junior running back was effective early rushing for 117 yards in the first half. This against a Marshall squad that was ranked second in the nation in rushing defense.
The Bulls opened the scoring on a 1-yard touchdown run by Vantrease early in the second quarter. Alex McNulty added a 25-yard field goal with 5:33 left in the half to extend the UB lead to 10-0.
Marshall got a spark late in second quarter by scoring a touchdown with just 42 seconds on the clock to cut the UB lead to 10-7 at the half. The Thundering Herd came out and kicked a short field goal on their first possession of the second half and suddenly the game was tied, 10-10.
The score would remain tied until late in the contest. After Eric Black came up with a sack on third down, the Thundering Herd punted the ball back to the Bulls. UB started its game-winning drive at its own 12-yard line with 7:27 left on the clock.
The Bulls methodically marched down the field behind the arm of quarterback Kyle Vantrease. The junior signal-caller first connected with Jovany Ruiz to pick up a 3rd-and-7 at the UB 44. The key play on the drive was a 26-yard completion to Antonio Nunn, setting up the Bulls at the Marshall 18. After two short runs, the Bulls were faced with another third down. Vantrease threaded the needle to Nunn for a 12-yard completion and UB had the ball at the Marshall 1-yard line. Two plays later, Marks waltzed into the endzone for the game winning score.
On Marshall's ensuing possession, it drove all the way down to the UB 20. However, Kadofi Wright broke through the line for a sack. Two plays later, on fourth down, Black thwarted the comeback attempt with his second sack of the game.
James Patterson had a team-high nine tackles in the game and Cory Gross, Jr. finished with eight. Max Michel had the best game of his career, finishing with six tackles, a sack, 1.5 tackles for loss and a forced fumble.
Vantrease finished 16-of-27 for 140 yards. Ruiz, who was just awarded a scholarship the night before, was his favorite target. The Fredonia native finished with seven catches for 61 yards, both career highs. Nunn had four catches for 49 yards.
The Bulls finished the season 6-1 and bowl champions for the second straight season. It was the second bowl win in program history.
While the offense got the headlines all season, it was the UB defense that had its finest performance of the year to hold off the Thundering Herd. The Bulls held Marshall to 248 yards of total offense.
Marks was named the game's MVP after rushing for 138 yards and a touchdown in the game. The junior running back was effective early rushing for 117 yards in the first half. This against a Marshall squad that was ranked second in the nation in rushing defense.
The Bulls opened the scoring on a 1-yard touchdown run by Vantrease early in the second quarter. Alex McNulty added a 25-yard field goal with 5:33 left in the half to extend the UB lead to 10-0.
Marshall got a spark late in second quarter by scoring a touchdown with just 42 seconds on the clock to cut the UB lead to 10-7 at the half. The Thundering Herd came out and kicked a short field goal on their first possession of the second half and suddenly the game was tied, 10-10.
The score would remain tied until late in the contest. After Eric Black came up with a sack on third down, the Thundering Herd punted the ball back to the Bulls. UB started its game-winning drive at its own 12-yard line with 7:27 left on the clock.
The Bulls methodically marched down the field behind the arm of quarterback Kyle Vantrease. The junior signal-caller first connected with Jovany Ruiz to pick up a 3rd-and-7 at the UB 44. The key play on the drive was a 26-yard completion to Antonio Nunn, setting up the Bulls at the Marshall 18. After two short runs, the Bulls were faced with another third down. Vantrease threaded the needle to Nunn for a 12-yard completion and UB had the ball at the Marshall 1-yard line. Two plays later, Marks waltzed into the endzone for the game winning score.
On Marshall's ensuing possession, it drove all the way down to the UB 20. However, Kadofi Wright broke through the line for a sack. Two plays later, on fourth down, Black thwarted the comeback attempt with his second sack of the game.
James Patterson had a team-high nine tackles in the game and Cory Gross, Jr. finished with eight. Max Michel had the best game of his career, finishing with six tackles, a sack, 1.5 tackles for loss and a forced fumble.
Vantrease finished 16-of-27 for 140 yards. Ruiz, who was just awarded a scholarship the night before, was his favorite target. The Fredonia native finished with seven catches for 61 yards, both career highs. Nunn had four catches for 49 yards.
The Bulls finished the season 6-1 and bowl champions for the second straight season. It was the second bowl win in program history.
Team Stats
MAR
UB
Total Yards
248
295
Pass Yards
114
140
Rushing Yards
134
155
Penalty Yards
81
32
1st Downs
16
21
3rd Downs
3
8
4th Downs
1
2
TOP
24:33
35:27
2nd Quarter
MAR 0, UB 7
UB - VANTREASE, Kyle 1 yd run (McNULTY, Alex kick), 11 plays, 80 yards, TOP 5:31
MAR 0, UB 10
UB - McNULTY, Alex 25 yd field goal 10 plays, 37 yards, TOP 4:20
MAR 7, UB 10
MAR - MCDANIEL, K. 2 yd run (CIUCCI, Shane kick), 12 plays, 75 yards, TOP 4:51
3rd Quarter
MAR 10, UB 10
MAR - CIUCCI, Shane 21 yd field goal 15 plays, 60 yards, TOP 6:12
4th Quarter
MAR 10, UB 17
UB - MARKS, Kevin 2 yd run (McNULTY, Alex kick), 13 plays, 88 yards, TOP 6:18
Game Leaders
CMP
16
TD
0
YDS
140
INT
1
Players Mentioned
DE
/ Football
RB
/ Football
K
/ Football
DE
/ Football
WR
/ Football
LB
/ Football
WR
/ FootballQB
/ Football
LB
/ FootballUB Bulls celebrate tough win over Eastern Michigan
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Head Coach Pete Lembo on young players stepping up and what to expect from Easter Michigan
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