Akron
Bulls Finally Back Home to Host Akron on Saturday
11/15/2022 1:51:00 PM | Football
Buffalo (5-5, 4-2 MAC) vs. Akron (1-9, 0-6 MAC)
November 19, 2022
UB Stadium - 3:30 pm
Radio
Buffalo - ESPN 1520
Rochester - Fox Sports 1280
Television
CBS Sports Network
Storylines
• The Bulls have won seven of the last nine meetings against Akron, including four straight.
• Buffalo has won seven straight against the Zips at home. The last Akron win at UB Stadium came in 2005.
• This will be just the fourth home game of the season for the Bulls.
• A win would make the Bulls bowl eligible for the seventh time in program history and the fifth time in the last six seasons. UB played in bowl games in 2008, 2013, 2018, 2019 and 2020.
• Linebacker Shaun Dolac leads the nation in solo tackles with 77, 11 more than any other player. He has the second-most single-season solo tackles in program history, trailing only Craig Guest who had 80 in 1996.
• Linebacker James Patterson is 11 tackles shy of becoming the fifth player in program history to amass 400 career tackles. He'll join Davonte Shannon (461), Craig Guest (455), Khalil Hodge (421) and Mike Laipple (402).
• Kicker Alex McNulty's next field goal will move him into a tie for second place in program history in career field goals. A.J. Principe (2007-10) currently holds the spot with 44.
• Nickelback Keyshawn Cobb has forced four turnovers over the last three games. He forced a fumble that was returned for a touchdown against Toledo; had a forced fumble and a pick six at Ohio and forced a fumble which led to a field goal at Central Michigan.
• Running back Ron Cook has rushed for 100 yards in two of the last three games.
• The Bulls lead the Mid-American Conference in time of possession, averaging 33:05 of possession time per game.
Bulls Finally Back Home to Host Akron on Saturday
After playing seven of their first 10 games on the road, the University at Buffalo football team will host Akron on Saturday afternoon at UB Stadium.
Buffalo is 5-5 overall, 4-2 in the MAC and is coming off a 31-27 loss at Central Michigan last Wednesday. The Bulls were led by running back Ron Cook who rushed for 100 yards and a touchdown against the Chippewas.
Akron is 1-9 overall, 0-6 in the MAC and is coming off a 34-28 loss to Eastern Michigan last Tuesday. The Zips are led by quarterback DJ Irons who has thrown for 2,605 yards and 10 touchdowns on the season.
Akron leads the all-time series, 11-10. The Bulls won the last meeting, 45-10, at Akron last season.
Dolac Dominance
Junior linebacker Shaun Dolac has put on a tackling clinic in recent weeks. He has registered double-digit tackles in six of the last seven games.
Against Bowling Green, all of his 14 tackles were solo and in the previous game against Miami (OH), 12 of his 14 tackles were solo. He currently leads the nation in solo tackles with 77 and ranks second in the MAC in total tackles with 108.
He was named the MAC East Division Defensive Player of the Week on Oct. 3.
Originally a walk-on, Dolac entered the starting lineup late last season. In his 11 total games as a starter, he has averaged 11 tackles per game and totaled 12 tackles for loss.
It was recently announced that Dolac is a semifinalist for the Burlsworth Trophy, an award given annually to the best player in the country who started his career as a walk-on.
McNulty Named Semifinalist for Lou Groza Award
Alex McNulty is having the finest season of any kicker in program history and recently became the first UB kicker named a semifinalist for the Lou Groza Award. His MAC-best 18 field goals are the most in program history for a single season.
Against Coastal Carolina, he was a perfect 4-of-4 on field goal attempts, becoming the first UB kicker since A.J. Principe in 2007 to make four field goals in a game.
McNulty kicked a 54-yard field goal at Central Michigan. It was his fourth career 50-yarder. He also kicked a 52-yarder earlier this season against Holy Cross, a 50-yard field against Bowling Green last season, and a school-record 55-yarder against Northern Illinois last year as well.
He is the first Buffalo kicker in its FBS era (since 1999) to make four 50-yard field goals in a career. Gerald Carlson made four 50-yarders in the mid-90s when the Bulls were an FCS program.
McNulty currently ranks third in program history in career field goals (43), first in extra points (156) and career points scored by a kicker (285).
Let Ron Cook
Running back Ron Cook seems to be getting stronger as the season progresses. The senior back has enjoyed two of his best career games over the last three outings.
In the Bulls last game against Central Michigan, Cook rushed for 100 yards and a touchdown and added a 39-yard reception.
He was named to the Paul Hornung Award Honor Roll following his performance against Toledo. Cook touched the ball 25 times three different ways for 233 all-purpose yards and the winning score in the Bulls' 34-27 come-from-behind home win over conference foe Toledo. Cook carried the ball 18 times for 118 yards, including a 30-yard touchdown run mid-fourth quarter. He caught three passes for 40 yards, accounted for nine first downs from scrimmage and returned four kickoffs.
Cook has rushed for 600 yards on the season and has scored four touchdowns. He is also fourth on the team in receiving with 16 catches for 207 yards.
Moving the Chains
Buffalo has run more plays than its opponents in seven of the ten games this season. Against Central Michigan, the Bulls ran 89 plays to the Chippewas' 53 plays (+36). UB ran 40 more plays than Coastal Carolina (93-53) and against Eastern Michigan, UB ran 84 plays to the Eagles' 50 (+34).
Long Way Home
Buffalo has taken the long way to the endzone in each of their first ten games.
The Bulls offense has scored 32 touchdowns on the season and 22 drives have been 69 yards or longer. UB has had touchdown drives of 99, 92, 91, 90, 85, 84, 82, 81, 80, 80, 75, 75, 75, 75, 75, 75, 74, 71, 71, 70, 70 and 69 yards.
Give Me That!
Buffalo forced six turnovers against Toledo - the most by a UB team in its FBS era. The previous record was five set against Central Michigan (2019), Western Michigan (2012), Bowling Green (2010) and Kent State (2006). The Bulls' four interceptions tied an FBS era record as well. UB previously had four interceptions against Central Michigan (2018), Ohio (2015) and Western Michigan (2012).
Buffalo has forced 20 turnovers on the year, eight more than they forced all of last season. The Bulls' lead the MAC with a +7 turnover margin. The program record for turnovers forced in a season is 32 back in the 2008 season.
TDefense
The defense has been taking matters into their own hands in recent weeks as the Bulls have scored a defensive touchdown in three of the last five games.
James Patterson had a 97-yard fumble recovery for a touchdown at Bowling Green, Jahmin Muse had a 72-yard fumble recovery against Toledo and Keyshawn Cobb had a 26-yard pick six at Ohio.
Big Play Bulls
The Bulls have had a number of different players make big plays on offense this season. Six different Bulls have registered a play of 40 yards or longer. Wide receiver Jamari Gassett leads the way with three such plays - a 65, 47 and 44-yard reception. Wide receiver Justin Marshall has a 69 and 49-yard TD catch and fellow wideout Quian Williams has a pair of 59-yard touchdown receptions. On the ground, Mike Washington has a 92-yard TD run, Al-Jay Henderson has an 84-yard touchdown run and Ron Cook has a 49-yard run.
Big Game James
Back for a fifth season, linebacker James Patterson continues to cement himself as one of the best linebackers in program history.
He had six tackles at Maryland in the opener to bring his career total to 303. He's the 12th player in program history to reach the 300 tackle mark and currently ranks 5th in school history in career tackles with 389. He moved past all-time great Khalil Mack on UB's career tackle list.
A team captain since his sophomore season, Patterson was named All-MAC First Team in 2020 and 2021. He made his 53rd career start against Central Michigan, the most starts by any player in program history. James O'Hagan (2015-18) and Peter Bittner (2007-10) are the only other players to start 50 games at UB.
Fuqua Named Bronko Nagurski National Player of the Week
Safety Marcus Fuqua was named the Bronko Nagurski National Defensive Player of the Week following his standout performance against Toledo. He's the first UB player to ever earn the honor. The junior had a career-high three interceptions against the Rockets to become just the fourth UB player to record three interceptions in a game. The last UB player with three picks was Cortney Lester against Western Michigan in 2012. Steven Nappo had three interceptions against Frostburg State in 1986 and Pete Rao had a school-record four interceptions in a game against Cortland State in 1953.
Fuqua leads the MAC and is tied for second in the nation with five interceptions. He was named the MAC East Defensive Player of the Week for the second time this season following his performance against Toledo.
Dynamic Duo
The Bulls feature two of the best wide receivers in the Mid-American Conference in Quian Williams and Justin Marshall. Williams has 50 receptions for 550 yards and four touchdowns. Marshall has 45 receptions for 614 yards and six touchdowns.
Williams and Marshall each had eight catches against Coastal Carolina, marking the first time since 2015, two UB players had eight or more receptions in the same game. Matt Weiser, Marcus McGill and Ron Willoughby each had eight catches against Bowling Green on Oct. 3, 2015.
Against Holy Cross, both players (Williams 105/Marshall 116) went over 100 yards receiving in the same game for the first time since Antonio Nunn (182) and Trevor Wilson (118) each had 100-yard games against Ball State in the 2020 MAC Championship Game.
All Gassett, No Brakes
Slot receiver Jamari Gassett has emerged as a serious threat, complimenting outside receivers Quian Williams and Justin Marshall. He ranks third on the team in receiving with 27 catches for 348 yards and two touchdowns.
He has had the knack of making big plays lately with five receptions of 32 yards or more in the last six games, including a 32-yard TD catch against Toledo and a 65-yard touchdown reception at Eastern Michigan.
New Faces
Looking to bolster the roster, the Bulls welcomed 25 transfers this offseason, including 11 from power five programs.
UB's power five program transfers include WR Justin Marshall (Louisville), CB Elijah Blades (Florida), WR Boobie Curry (Arizona), CB Caleb Offord (Notre Dame), S Solomon Brown (Minnesota), S Jahmin Muse (Boston College), QB Cole Snyder (Rutgers), DE Ibrahim Kante (NC State), DE Damian Jackson (Nebraska), S James Ziglor (Vanderbilt) and OL Isaiah Wright (Rutgers).
Of the 60 players on the depth chart, 24 are in their first year with the program.
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 at least one linebacker named All-MAC each of the last 11 seasons. James Patterson was named to the first team in 2020 and 2021.
Rounding out the list are Kadofi Wright (2019), Khalil Hodge (2018, 2017, 2016), Brandon Berry (2015), Okezie Alozie (2015), Lee Skinner (2014), Adam Redden (2014) and Khalil Mack (2013, 2012, 2011).
International Flavor
The Bulls have four international players on this year's roster.
Buffalo has two players who hail from Canada, including Gabe Wallace (BC) and Anthony Venneri (Ontario). In addition, the Bulls have two players from Europe, Fabian Weitz (Germany) and Alain Schaerer (Switzerland).
New Faces
Looking to bolster the roster, the Bulls welcomed 25 transfers this offseason, including 11 from power five programs.
UB's power five program transfers include WR Justin Marshall (Louisville), CB Elijah Blades (Florida), WR Boobie Curry (Arizona), CB Caleb Offord (Notre Dame), S Solomon Brown (Minnesota), S Jahmin Muse (Boston College), QB Cole Snyder (Rutgers), DE Ibrahim Kante (NC State), DE Damian Jackson (Nebraska), S James Ziglor (Vanderbilt) and OL Isaiah Wright (Rutgers).
Of the 60 players on the depth chart, 24 are in their first year with the program.
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 at least one linebacker named All-MAC each of the last 11 seasons. James Patterson was named to the first team in 2020 and 2021.
Rounding out the list are Kadofi Wright (2019), Khalil Hodge (2018, 2017, 2016), Brandon Berry (2015), Okezie Alozie (2015), Lee Skinner (2014), Adam Redden (2014) and Khalil Mack (2013, 2012, 2011).
Bulls Picked Third in MAC East
Buffalo was picked to finish third in the Mid-American Conference East Division according to the MAC media.
Miami (OH) was picked first with 139 points, followed by Kent State (116), Buffalo (78), Ohio (72), Bowling Green (71) and Akron (28).
Northern Illinois was picked to win the West Division, followed by Toledo, Central Michigan, Western Michigan, Eastern Michigan and Ball State.
Northern Illinois was selected as the preseason favorite to win the MAC Championship.
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 23rd year, and 15th consecutive, will be Paul Peck. Scott Wilson is back for his sixth season as analyst. Brad Riter also returns as game host.
The UB Football postgame show will once again take place at The Anchor Bar on Maple Road with host Bob Gaughan.
