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This Day in History: D’Amico’s Record Debut Leads Bulls to Win Over Cortland State
9/12/2020 12:00:00 PM | Football
BUFFALO, NY - The UB football team opened the 1981 season with a convincing 34-7 win over Cortland State in front of 3,465 fans at Rotary Field. Marty Barrett tossed four touchdown passes, three to Joe D'Amico, to account for most of the scoring.
D'Amico, playing in his first career game for the Bulls, need only five catches to amass 218 yards, a then school record for a single game. The Lewiston, NY native scored the game's first three touchdowns – a 66-yard reception on the first play of the game, a 33-yard reception and a 49-yard reception – all in the first half.
Cortland scored in the final seconds of the second quarter to cut the UB lead to 21-7 at the half.
The UB offense went right back to work early in the second half, scoring on its opening possession. Barrett connected with Brad Frank for a 17-yard touchdown to extend the Buffalo lead to 28-7.
Freshman linebacker Jim Karnes sealed the victory with a 48-yard interception return in the closing minutes of the fourth quarter.
The Bulls outgained the Red Dragons, 434-312, in total offense. Barrett finished 10-of-18 for 297 yards and four touchdowns. At the time, his four TD passes were a single-game school record. Pat Whitehead was UB's top rusher, finishing with 47 yards on 15 carries.
Linebacker Gerry Quinlivan paced the Bulls' defense with a pair of interceptions to go along with eight tackles and two other pass breakups. Defensive tackle Mike Rossi had a team-high 10 tackles in the game. Team captain Frank Berrafato, Shane Curry and Gary Brown each tallied nine stops for the Bulls
After a promising 5-1 start, the Bulls finished the 1981 campaign with a record of 5-5.
D'Amico, playing in his first career game for the Bulls, need only five catches to amass 218 yards, a then school record for a single game. The Lewiston, NY native scored the game's first three touchdowns – a 66-yard reception on the first play of the game, a 33-yard reception and a 49-yard reception – all in the first half.
Cortland scored in the final seconds of the second quarter to cut the UB lead to 21-7 at the half.
The UB offense went right back to work early in the second half, scoring on its opening possession. Barrett connected with Brad Frank for a 17-yard touchdown to extend the Buffalo lead to 28-7.
Freshman linebacker Jim Karnes sealed the victory with a 48-yard interception return in the closing minutes of the fourth quarter.
The Bulls outgained the Red Dragons, 434-312, in total offense. Barrett finished 10-of-18 for 297 yards and four touchdowns. At the time, his four TD passes were a single-game school record. Pat Whitehead was UB's top rusher, finishing with 47 yards on 15 carries.
Linebacker Gerry Quinlivan paced the Bulls' defense with a pair of interceptions to go along with eight tackles and two other pass breakups. Defensive tackle Mike Rossi had a team-high 10 tackles in the game. Team captain Frank Berrafato, Shane Curry and Gary Brown each tallied nine stops for the Bulls
After a promising 5-1 start, the Bulls finished the 1981 campaign with a record of 5-5.
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