Kent State
Bulls Travel to Kent State on Saturday
10/17/2023 1:42:00 PM | Football
Buffalo (2-5, 2-1 MAC) at Kent State (1-6, 0-3 MAC)
October 21, 2023
Dix Stadium - 3:30 pm
Bulls on the Air
Buffalo - ESPN 1520
Rochester - Fox Sports 1280
Television
ESPN+
Storylines
• The all-time series between Buffalo and Kent State is tied, 14-14.
• Buffalo has won six of the last eight meetings at Kent State, with the last two going to the Golden Flashes.
• Since joining the Mid-American Conference in 1999, Buffalo has more wins against Kent State (10) than any other conference foe.
• The Bulls have forced 11 turnovers over the last four games, including seven in the last two outings.
• Buffalo has four multi-interception games this season, including each of the last two games. The last time the Bulls picked off 2+ passes in four different games was 2015.
• UB's defense is allowing 13.3 points and an average of 303 yards of total offense through three MAC games this season.
• 11 different players have scored touchdowns for the Bulls this season.
• Ron Cook, Jr. (1,614) is six yards shy of catching Terrell Jackson (1,620) for second place in program history in career kick return yardage.
• Alex McNulty has recorded 13 straight touchbacks on his kickoffs. 79 percent of his 33 kickoffs on the season have gone for touchbacks.
• This is the last Saturday game Buffalo will play this season.
Bulls Travels to Kent State on Saturday
The University at Buffalo football team will play at Kent State on Saturday in the first of two straight road games.
Buffalo is 2-5 overall, 2-1 in the MAC and is coming off a 24-14 loss to Bowling Green last Saturday. Devin Grant had 11 tackles, including a tackle for loss to lead the UB defense.
Kent State is 1-6 overall, 0-3 in the MAC and is coming off a 28-14 loss at Eastern Michigan last Saturday. The Golden Flashes are led by running back Gavin Garcia who has rushed for 397 yards and two touchdowns on the season.
The all-time series is tied, 14-14. Kent State won the last meeting, 30-27 in overtime, at UB Stadium last season.
Second Half Adjustments
Not only has Buffalo's defense been much improved since MAC play has started, but it has been especially stout in the second half of those games. Through three conference games, the Bulls have only allowed six points and have shut out two of their first three MAC opponents in the second half. A Central Michigan touchdown is the only second-half points the Bulls have allowed in MAC play this season.
Devin Almighty
Not too many players in the MAC have had a better start to conference play than Devin Grant. In the first three MAC games, the Bulls safety had 25 tackles, three interceptions and a blocked kick.
He tied an FBS-era school record with three interceptions and became the first player in program history to return two picks for touchdowns against Central Michigan.
Against Akron in the MAC-opener, Grant had a career-high 10 tackles and blocked a potential game-tying field goal in overtime to secure the win for the Bulls.
Grant was named the Bronko Nagurski National Defensive Player of the Week following his performance against CMU. It marked the second straight year a UB player won the award. Fellow safety Marcus Fuqua earned the distinction last year.
Improving Defense
After struggling on the defensive side of the ball in nonconference play, the Bulls seemed to have righted the ship through three conference games.
In four nonconference games, Buffalo allowed 44.5 points per game while give up 512 yards per game. However, through two conference games, the Bulls only allowed 13.3 points per game while allowing 303 yards per game.
The Kids Are Alright
The defensive turnaround could be attributed to young players being inserted into the lineup.
Sophomore safety Devin Grant has 45 tackles, four interceptions, two pass breakups and a forced fumble.
Redshirt-freshman linebacker Red Murdock has 25 tackles, a team-best 6.5 tackles for loss, two sacks and two forced fumbles on the season.
True freshman cornerback Charles McCartherens has 21 tackles, three interceptions, two pass breakups and a forced fumble.
True freshman linebacker Dion Crawford has started two of the last three games and has 10 tackles and a tackle for loss in those three contests.
You Get a TD, You Get a TD...
Eleven different players have scored touchdowns for the Bulls this season. Ron Cook leads the way with five touchdowns followed by Marlyn Johnson (4), Darrell Harding (2), Cole Harrity (2), Mike Washington (2), Devin Grant (2), Jacqez Barksdale (1), Bobbie Curry (1), Nik McMillan (1), CJ Ogbonna (1) and Cole Snyder (1).
Special Teams Honors
In recent weeks a member of UB's special teams has been honored by the Mid-American Conference.
Following UBs' win over Central Michigan, Alex McNulty was named MAC East Special Teams Player of the Week. He made three field goals and all four extra points against the Chippewas.
Punter Anthony Venneri was named MAC East Special Teams Player of the Week following the Bulls win over Akron. He averaged 49.8 yards on six punts with four of his six punts traveling at least 50 yards, including a game-long 63-yarder. Three of his punts were downed inside the 20-yard line.
Working Overtime
Buffalo's 13-10 overtime win over Akron was its first OT win since beating Army in overtime in 2016. It was the Bulls' first road overtime win since defeating Bowling Green in two overtimes at Doyt Perry Stadium in 2008. Before their win at Akron, the Bulls were just 2-5 in overtime games dating back to 2009.
PickCartherens
Freshman cornerback Charles McCartherens had the best game of his young career at Louisiana. He had two interceptions in the game, making him the first true freshman in the program's 25-year history as an FBS program to have multiple interceptions in a game. Mike Newton (2 vs. Kent State in 2006) and John Syty (2 vs. UTEP in 2008) had two picks as redshirt-freshmen.
McCartherens has started the last five games and has totaled 21 tackles, three interceptions, two pass breakups and a forced fumble since being inserted into the starting lineup.
Sterling Marlyn
Wide receiver Marlyn Johnson is having breakout season for the Bulls. Through six games, he has 24 receptions for 234 yards and four touchdowns. Over his first four seasons combined, he totaled 23 catches for 234 yards and one touchdown.
He had the best game of his UB career against Fordham, finishing with seven receptions for 105 yards and two touchdowns - all career highs.
Johnson has had a touchdown catch in three different games this season.
Cole Powered
In his second season as the Bulls' starter, quarterback Cole Snyder is off to a tremendous start. The graduate signal-caller ranks second in the MAC in passing yards per game (191.0) and is third in touchdown passes (11). Snyder became the first quarterback in program history to complete 24 or more passes in each of the first three games of the season. In addition, he became the first UB quarterback since Tyree Jackson in 2018 to throw multiple touchdown passes in each of the first three games of the season.
He had a career-best four touchdown passes against Fordham.
With 4,367 career passing yards, Snyder is just the 10th quarterback in program history to throw for 4,000 yards.
Spreading the Wealth
A number of different receivers have recorder receptions this season - 13 to be exact. An average of nearly 10 different receivers per game have made a catch this year.
A program-record 12 different Bulls caught passes in the opener at Wisconsin. 10 different players registered a catch against Liberty.
12 players have at least four receptions on the season, led by Cole Harrity (26), Marlyn Johnson (24) and Ron Cook (19).
Agent Zero
Cole Harrity has become a favorite target of quarterback Cole Snyder. Over the first six games, he has a team-best 26 catches for 196 yards and two touchdowns. He made the most of his first career start at Wisconsin. The UB grad had five catches for 47 yards and two touchdowns against the Badgers.
In his second year with the program, the New Mexico State transfer appeared in all 13 games last season and finished with 13 catches for 170 yards and a touchdown.
Hinesight
A season ago, Clevester Hines was playing wide receiver. In fact, he remained at that position until a week before the Bulls played George Southern in the Camellia Bowl and Coach Linguist asked him to move to cornerback due to injuries at the position.
Hines started in the Camellia Bowl and, in his first game at the position, totaled seven tackles and three pass breakups. He has remained at cornerback for 2023 and started the first two games of the season. He has 17 tackles and two tackles for loss on the year
Max Michel Earns 1-MAC Award
University at Buffalo defensive end Max Michel earned The Mid-American Conference (MAC) 1-MAC Award - given annually to the student-athlete who has a tremendous impact and excellence in inclusion efforts.
A native of New Jersey, Michel quickly embraced the Queen City. Last December, he held his second annual coat drive. Through his efforts, he was able to collect numerous coats, jackets, gloves and hats and donate them to the Buffalo City Mission.
He also donates his time volunteering at the Buffalo City Mission's kitchen, helping prepare and serve food, emptying the garbage and whatever else he can do to help.
In addition, Michel volunteers his time with Harrison's Playmakers, a non-profit organization that promotes social inclusion and kindness with year-round sports programs and activities for kids with developmental differences and special needs.
Among his numerous other volunteer ventures, Michel organized a group of teammates to work with WNY Peacemakers to distribute free groceries in East Buffalo.
In addition, Michel is on the watch list for the Wuerffel Trophy.
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 12 seasons. Shaun Dolac was named to the first team in 2022.
Rounding out the list are James Patterson (2022, 2021, 2020), 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).
McNulty Named Campbell Trophy Semifinalist
Graduate kicker Alex McNulty 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.
McNulty graduated with degrees in biology for pre-veterinary science and physics. He carries a 3.7 grade point average and is a four-time Academic All-MAC selection.
McNulty is a two-time All-MAC selection and was the 2022 MAC Special Teams Player of the Year. He is the program record holder in career field goals (56), extra points (183) and points scored (351).
He has made five 50+ yard field goals over his career and is the first kicker in program history to make 100 consecutive extra points.
Bulls Picked Third in MAC East
Buffalo was picked to finish third in the Mid-American Conference East Division according to the MAC head coaches.
Ohio was picked first with 63 points, followed by Miami (OH) (52), Buffalo (51), Bowling Green (35), Akron (26) and Kent State (19).
Toledo was picked to win the West Division, followed by Eastern Michigan, Northern Illinois, Central Michigan, Ball State and Western Michigan.
Toledo 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 24th year, and 16th consecutive, will be Paul Peck. Scott Wilson is back for his seventh 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.
