Miami (OH)
Bulls Start #MACtion on Tuesday Night at Miami (OH)
11/5/2021 10:08:00 AM | Football
Buffalo (4-5, 2-3 MAC) at Miami (OH) (4-5, 3-2 MAC)
November 9, 2021
Yager Stadium - 7:00 pm
Radio
Buffalo - ESPN 1520
Rochester - Fox Sports 1280
Television
ESPNU
Storylines
• Since joining the MAC in 1999, the Bulls are 3-8 in games played at Yager Stadium. Their last win at Miami (OH) came in 2015.
• The Bulls have been outscored 49-3 in the first quarter of the last four games, but have outscored opponents 67-3 in the third quarter of the same four games.
• Dylan McDuffie has rushed for 100+ yards in each of the last 3 games and has scored a touchdown in 6 of the last 7 games.
• Buffalo ranks seventh in the nation in sacks (32).
• Buffalo's 10 TD passes on the season have been caught by 9 different receivers.
• 27 of Buffalo's 37 offensive touchdowns this season have come on the ground. The Bulls lead the MAC and are tied for eighth in the nation in rushing touchdowns.
• Kyle Vantrease made his first career start at Miami (OH) on Oct. 21, 2017. Matt Myers made his last career start at Miami (OH) on Oct. 5, 2019.
• Buffalo ran a program-record 99 plays twice this season, including its last game against Bowling Green.
• Kevin Marks is one rushing touchdown shy of tying James Starks (2006-08) for second in school history with 34.
• Kevin Marks is 11 yards shy of becoming just the sixth player in program history to rush for 3,000 career yards.
Bulls Start #MACtion on Tuesday Night at Miami (OH)
The University at Buffalo football team starts the #MACtion portion of their schedule on Tuesday night when they travel to Miami (OH).
Buffalo is 4-5 overall, 2-3 in the MAC and is coming off a 56-44 loss to Bowling Green on October 30. Running back Dylan McDuffie led the Bulls with 166 yards rushing and two touchdowns.
Miami (OH) is 4-5 overall, 3-2 in MAC play and is coming off a 35-33 loss at Ohio last Tuesday. The RedHawks are led by quarterback Brett Gabbert who has thrown for 1,435 yards and 14 touchdowns on the season.
Miami leads the all-time series, 15-8. The Bulls won the last meeting, 42-10, at UB Stadium last season.
Balanced Bulls
The Bulls have used a balanced attack of rushing and passing this season. UB has rushed and passed for 200+ yards in the same game four times this season. Prior to this year, the Bulls have accomplished the feat six times over the previous six seasons.
The Bulls have run and thrown for 200+ yards in each of their last two games - Akron (231 r/253 p) and Bowling Green (222 r/277 p).
McDuffie Coming into his Own
Running back Dylan McDuffie is enjoying the best season of his career. The junior running back has rushed for 766 yards and 9 touchdowns on the season - both team highs. He has already surpassed his rushing total of his first three seasons combined (225). McDuffie has scored a rushing touchdown in 7 of the 9 games this season.
McDuffie has had three straight 100-yard rushing games (143 vs. Ohio, 108 at Akron, 166 vs. Bowling Green). He was named the MAC East Division Offensive Player of the Week following the Bulls win over Ohio.
Sack Party
The Bulls had a program-record 11 sacks against Akron on Oct. 23. It bested the previous record of 8 set against Massachusetts in 2012. Seven different Bulls registered a sack, led by Kyler Laing who had a team-record 3.5 sacks in the game. It was the most sacks in a game by any team in the nation this season.
The Bulls now have 29 sacks on the year to lead the MAC and their 3.6 sacks per game average ranks 7th in the nation.
Clubber Laing
Sophomore defensive end Kyler Laing had the best game of his career against Akron on Oct. 23. He broke the program record for sacks in a game with 3.5. The previous record of 3 sacks was held by 4 players including All-American linebacker Khalil Mack.
Laing is now tied for the team lead in sacks with 4.5 and ranks second in tackles for loss with 8. He has 6.5 sacks in 14 career games.
Stepping on the Gassett
Freshman wide receiver Jamari Gassett is stepping up to be a viable weapon in the Bulls' passing game. The young speedster had his best game at Akron on Oct. 23, hauling in 4 catches for 95 yards and his first career touchdown. He added an 8-yard rush.
He is coming into his own lately. After having only one catch over the first 4 games, he has 12 receptions over the last 5 games, including 3 catches against Ohio and 4 against Akron. He ranks third on the team in receiving with 13 catches for 206 yards.
Remember the Tight Ends
Tight ends have been utilized much more over the last 3 games. Over that span, UB's tight ends combined for 16 receptions and 2 touchdowns. Over the first 6 games of the season, UB tight ends had a total of 8 catches.
In addition, UB tight ends have registered 3 touchdown receptions in the last 4 games. Tyler Stephens and Trevor Borland each had one against Ohio and Jake Molinich had one at Kent State. The 3 touchdowns are one shy of the 4 touchdown grabs tight ends caught over the entire 2019 and 2020 campaigns.
Red Zone Defense
The Bulls have buckled down on defense once the opposition has gotten into the red zone. Opponents have scored only 26 of the 37 times they have entered the red zone. The 70.3 percent red zone defense not only leads the MAC, but ranks 10th in the nation.
Walk-Off Winners
UB kicker Alex McNulty drilled a 26-yard field goal, with no time left on the clock, to lift the Bulls to a 27-26 win over Ohio on Oct. 16. Buffalo trailed the entire game before McNulty made the game-winner.
It was Buffalo's first walk-off win since 2016 when Adam Mitcheson hit a 33-yard field goal in overtime to beat Army.
Utilizing the Running Backs in the Passing Game
This season, UB's running backs have been utilized much more in the passing game. Running backs have combined for 32 receptions for 224 yards. This is in stark contrast from a season ago when running backs combined for 5 catches the entire season.
Ron Cook ranks third on the team with 17 receptions.
Getting the Offense Going
Against Kent State, the Bulls rolled up 549 yards of total offense. They did so by running 99 plays, the most they've ever run as an FBS program (since 1999). UB kicked it into gear in the second half as they ran 56 plays for 402 yards. They scored touchdowns on each of their first four possessions of the second half against the Golden Flashes.
Neon Quian
There were a lot of question marks surrounding the wide receiver position entering the 2021 campaign. Enter Quian Williams - a graduate transfer from Eastern Michigan.
Williams ranks sixth in the MAC in receptions (49) and fourth in receiving yards (684).
He was the fastest UB receiver to reach 30 catches since Ron Willoughby had 30 catches in the first five games of the 2015 season.
He had back-to-back 100-yard receiving games with six catches for 119 yards against Western Michigan and nine grabs for 134 yards against Old Dominion.
In two seasons at Eastern Michigan, Williams had 76 catches for 983 yards and eight touchdowns.
Elite Eight
James Patterson continues to be a standout linebacker for the Bulls. He leads UB and ranks third in the MAC in tackles with 86. He is the fastest Bull to reach 50 tackles (5 games) in a season since Khalil Hodge had 67 tackles over the first five games of the 2018 campaign.
Patterson had a forced fumble against Old Dominion to bring his career total to seven - tied for second in program history. Former All-American Khalil Mack holds the program record as well as NCAA record with 16 career forced fumbles.
On Your Marks
UB running back Kevin Marks is in his first season as the Bulls' starting running back after splitting time with All-American Jaret Patterson over the last three seasons.
Despite only starting 10 games over his career, Marks ranks sixth in program history in career rushing yards with 2,989 - 34 yards shy of passing Alan Bell (1989-92) for fifth place. He ranks third in program history in career rushing touchdowns with 33 - one shy of tying James Starks for second. Marks was an All-MAC Third Team selection in 2020.
Johnson Stepping Up
Since making the move from quarterback to wide receiver prior to the 2019 season, Dominic Johnson is enjoying his best season at his new position. Johnson was originally recruited as a quarterback and played the position from 2016-18. But with a crowded quarterback room, the athletic Johnson was given the opportunity to get on the field as a wide receiver.
Against Coastal Carolina, the sixth-year senior had six catches for 66 yards - both career highs. His six receptions were one more than he had all of last season.
He is the Bulls' second leading receiver with 26 catches for 346 yards and 2 touchdowns. His 26 receptions are 16 more than the total from his first two seasons playing the position.
Winning Ways
Since the 2017 season, the Bulls have more wins than any other school in the Mid-American Conference. Buffalo has 34 wins over that span. Toledo is second with 32 followed by Western Michigan which has 29.
Linebacker U
UB has had a number of standout linebackers in recent years, most notably Khalil Mack who was an All-American and now an NFL All-Pro.
The Bulls have had 12 linebackers named All-MAC over the last 10 years, including each of the last 10 seasons. Buffalo has two All-MAC linebackers on its current roster. James Patterson was named to the first team in 2020 and Kadofi Wright was a second team selection in 2019.
Rounding out the list are Khalil Hodge (2018, 2017, 2016), Brandon Berry (2015), Okezie Alozie (2015), Lee Skinner (2014), Adam Redden (2014), Khalil Mack (2013, 2012, 2011).
Back for a Sixth Year
The Bulls have six players on the roster who took advantage of their extra year of eligibility due to Covid and are playing their sixth year.
Offensive linemen Jake Fuzak and Jack Klenk, tight end Jake Molinich, wide receiver Dominic Johnson, linebacker Kadofi Wright and defensive end Taylor Riggins are all in their sixth year.
To quote Fuzak; "We are playing under our third president."
International Flavor
The Bulls have six international players on this year's roster.
Buffalo has four players who hail from Canada, including Dominic Johnson (Ontario), Cole Burniston (Ontario), Gabe Wallace (BC) and Deondre Doiron (Ontario). In addition, the Bulls have two players from Europe, Fabian Weitz (Germany) and Alain Schaerer (Switzerland).
Klenk Named Campbell Trophy Semifinalist
Sixth-year offensive lineman Jack Klenk is a semifinalist for the William V. Campbell Trophy. Given annually to college football's top student-athlete, the Campbell Trophy is also known as the Academic Heisman.
Klenk graduated Summa Cum Laude with degrees in communication and social science interdisciplinary. He posted a 3.823 grade point average. He is a currently working towards a masters degree in real estate development.
He is a two-time Academic All-MAC selection and earned the Mid-American Conference Medal of Excellence in 2021.
On The Airwaves
Again this season, University at Buffalo football can be heard locally on ESPN 1520, a 50,000-watt station with one of the strongest signals in the nation. The Bulls can also be heard on 1280 AM in Rochester.
Calling all the play-by-play action of Bulls football for his 22nd year, and 14th consecutive, will be Paul Peck. Scott Wilson is back for his fifth season as analyst. Brad Riter also returns as game host.
New this season, the UB Football postgame show will take place at The Anchor Bar on Maple Road with host Bob Gaughan.
