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Western Michigan
Bulls Host Western Michigan in MAC Opener on Saturday
9/29/2021 9:04:00 AM | Football
Buffalo (2-2, 0-0 MAC) vs. Western Michigan (3-1, 0-0 MAC)
October 2, 2021
UB Stadium - 12:00 pm
Radio
Buffalo - ESPN 1520
Rochester - Fox Sports 1280
Television
CBS Sports Network
Storylines
• Buffalo is 9-13 all-time in MAC openers.
• Saturday's game will feature the top two receivers in the MAC. UB's Quian Williams leads the MAC in receiving with 24 catches for 346 yards. Western Michigan's Corey Crooms ranks second with 20 catches for 334 yards.
• Taylor Riggins has 17.5 career sacks, good for seventh in program history. He is a half sack behind Dave May (1983-86) and Malcolm Koonce (2017-20) for sixth place and a full sack behind Steven Means (2009-12) for fifth place.
• Kevin Marks is two rushing touchdowns shy of tying Branden Oliver (2010-13) for third in school history with 33.
• Alex McNulty (144) is three points shy of Dallas Pelz (2000-03) for fourth place in program history in career scoring by a kicker.
• UB is one of only two teams in the country to not allow a sack this season (SMU). Quarterback Kyle Vantrease has only been sacked twice in the last 18 games.
• Kevin Marks is 125 yards shy of becoming just the sixth player in program history to rush for 3,000 career yards.
• The last time Buffalo and Western Michigan played (10/7/17) the teams battled through seven overtimes - tying the record for longest game in NCAA history. Western Michigan won the game 71-68.
• The Bulls are 10-1 in their last 11 home games against MAC opponents.
Bulls Host Western Michigan in MAC Opener
The University at Buffalo football team will open Mid-American Conference play on Saturday when it hosts Western Michigan at UB Stadium.
Buffalo is coming off a 35-34 win at Old Dominion last Saturday. Wide receiver Quian Williams led the Bulls with nine receptions for 134 yards and a touchdown in the game.
Western Michigan is 3-1 on the season and is coming off a 23-3 win over San Jose State last Saturday. The Broncos are led by quarterback Kaleb Eleby who has passed for 902 yards and seven touchdowns on the season - both tops in the MAC.
Western Michigan leads the all-time series, 7-2. The Broncos won the last meeting, 71-68, in seven overtimes at UB Stadium in 2017.
A Rematch of an Historic Game
The last time UB and Western Michigan met the teams played one of the longest games in NCAA history. The Broncos defeated the Bulls, 71-68, in seven overtimes - tying the longest game in NCAA history.
Of the current roster, 19 players were also on that 2017 team and four players saw the field that day. Offensive lineman Jake Fuzak, linebacker Kadofi Wright, tight end Jake Molinich and long snapper Jeremiah Riordan all saw action in the historic game.
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 leads the MAC in receiving with 24 catches for 346 yards. He is coming off the best game of his career, a nine-catch, 134-yard performance with a touchdown at Old Dominion on Sept. 25.
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 second in the MAC in tackles with 36. He 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.
Welcome Back Taylor
After a breakout season in 2019, Taylor Riggins missed the entire 2020 campaign with an injury. The Bulls' defensive end is now healthy and returning to his All-MAC form.
Riggins was a first-team All-MAC selection in 2019 after posting 50 tackles, 10.5 tackles for loss and 8.5 sacks. He ranked second in the conference in sacks in 2019.
Riggins has four sacks through three games. He now has 17.5 career sacks - good for seventh in school history. He was named the MAC East Defensive Player of the Week following his standout performance against Coastal Carolina.
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 15 catches for 158 yards. His 15 receptions are five more than the total from his first two seasons playing the position.
Coming into his Own
Running back Dylan McDuffie is enjoying the best season of his career. The junior running back has rushed for 224 yards and a team-best four touchdowns on the season. Through four games, he has nearly matched his rushing total of his first three seasons combined (225). McDuffie has scored a rushing touchdown in three of the four games this season.
Moving the Chains
The Bulls lead the MAC and rank 15th nationally in third down conversions at 53 percent (35-of-66). Buffalo was 8-of-13 against Wagner, 11-of-22 against a Nebraska, 9-of-16 against Coastal Carolina and 7-of-15 against Old Dominion.
Bulls Win Big in Linguist Debut
It was an impressive debut for head coach Maurice Linguist on September 2 as the Bulls easily disposed of Wagner, 69-7.
UB scored on each of its first 11 possessions of the game. The Bulls were in victory formation on their 12th possession. It was the third most points ever scored by a UB team and the most ever in a season opener.
The Bulls rolled up 569 yards of offense - 320 yards rushing and 257 yards passing. It was first time since 2014 against Akron that the Bulls rushed for 300 yards and passed for 200 yards in the same game.
Defensively, UB only allowed 97 yards of total offense, its fewest allowed since giving up only 84 yards against Hofstra on Oct. 24, 1992.
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 eight games over his career, Marks ranks fifth in program history in career rushing yards with 2,875 and fourth in program history in career rushing touchdowns with 31. An All-MAC Third Team selection in 2020, Marks is 1,176 yards shy of breaking Branden Oliver's school record of 4,049 career rushing yards.
Marks was on the preseason watch list for the Maxwell and Doak Walker Awards.
Home Sweet Home
The Bulls have built quite the home field advantage over the last few seasons. UB is 16-3 in its last 19 games played at UB Stadium. In addition, the Bulls are 10-1 in their last 11 home MAC games.
Vantrease Using His Arm and Leg
In UB's game at Nebraska, quarterback Kyle Vantrease lined up in the shotgun formation and surprised the Huskers by punting the ball. All he did was boot the ball 81 yards - tying the second longest punt in program history. It was three yards shy of the program record. It was also the fourth longest punt in the history of Memorial Stadium.
Winning Ways
Since the 2017 season, the Bulls have more wins than any other school in the Mid-American Conference. Buffalo has 32 wins over that span. Toledo is second with 30 followed by Ohio which has 27.
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).
Nice to Meet You
The Bulls have three opponents on their schedule this season they are playing for the first time. Following the opener against Wagner, an opponent they haven't faced since 1987, the Bulls will play Nebraska, Coastal Carolina and Old Dominion - all first-time matchups.
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."
Vantrease Back Under Center
The Bulls will have a veteran presence under center again this season as Kyle Vantrease will be the Bulls' starting quarterback for the third straight season. After entering the starting lineup midway through the 2019 campaign, Vantrease has started the last 15 games at quarterback for UB.
The Stow, OH native threw for 1,193 yards and eight touchdowns in 2019 and 1,326 yards and seven touchdowns in a Covid-shortened 2020.
Last season, he threw for 353 yards against Miami (OH) and 365 yards against Ball State, becoming just the second quarterback in UB's FBS era (since 1999) to throw for 350+ yards twice in the same season (Joe Licata was the other in 2014).
In the opener against Wagner, Vantrease was 15-for-19 for 231 yards and a touchdown and was named the MAC East Offensive Player of the Week.
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 Nominee
Sixth-year offensive lineman Jack Klenk is a nominee 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.
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