Toledo
Bulls Back Home to Host Toledo on Saturday
10/8/2024 3:52:00 PM | Football
Buffalo (3-2, 1-0 MAC) vs. Toledo (4-1, 1-0 MAC)
October 12, 2024
UB Stadium - 12:00 pm
Bulls on the Air
Buffalo - ESPN 1520
Rochester - Fox Sports 1280
Television
ESPNU
Storylines
• The Bulls are looking to start 2-0 in MAC play for the third straight season.
• Buffalo is looking to improve to 3-0 at home this season. The last time the Bulls started the season 3-0 at home was 2020. 2013 was the only other season UB started 3-0 at home as an FBS program (since 1999).
• UB has won three of the last four meetings with Toledo.
• This will be only the fifth time Toledo will play at UB Stadium since Buffalo joined the MAC in 1999. The Bulls have won three of the previous four meetings at UB Stadium.
• The Bulls are averaging 32 points per game at home compared to 8.7 points per game on the road.
• Linebacker Shaun Dolac leads the nation in total tackles (72) and tackles per game (14.4).
• Shaun Dolac ranks second in the nation in tackles for loss per game (2.1) while Red Murdock ranks third in the nation in tackles for loss per game (2.0).
• Shaun Dolac is five tackles shy of 300 for his career. He would become the 13th player in progam history to reach the milestone.
• Toledo and Buffalo lead the MAC in interceptions. The Rockets have six on the year while the Bulls have 5.
Bulls Back Home to Host Toledo on Saturday
After playing two straight games on the road, the University at Buffalo football team returns to host Toledo at UB Stadium on Saturday afternoon.
Buffalo is 3-2 overall, 1-0 in MAC play and is coming off a 47-3 loss at Connecticut on Sept. 28. Linebacker Red Murdock led the Bulls with 14 tackles, two tackles for loss and a sack in the game.
Toledo is 4-1 overall, 1-0 in the MAC and is coming off a 30-20 win over Miami (OH) last Saturday. The Rockets are led by quarterback Tucker Gleason who has thrown for 1,180 yards and 13 touchdowns on the season.
Toledo leads the all-time series, 8-5. The Rockets won the last meeting, 31-13, at the Glass Bowl last season.
Dolac Off to Historic Start
Through five games, Shaun Dolac has 72 tackles and 10.5 tackles for loss. He leads the nation in tackles and ranks second in tackles for loss. He is averaging 14.4 tackles per game. He has had double-digit tackles and at least one tackle for loss in every game this season.
In UB's win at Northern Illinois, he had the best game of his career and arguably one of the best outings in program history. He finished with 19 tackles, 4.5 tackles for loss and a game-changing interception. Dolac's 72 tackles through five games are the most to start a season in program history.
He has twice been named MAC Defensive Player of the Week already this season earning the award after his performances against Lafayette and Northern Illinois.
Dolac had a record-breaking season for the Bulls in 2022. A first-team All-MAC selection, he ranked second in the nation in tackles with 147 which were the third-most in program history for a single season. Even more impressive was that he led the nation in solo tackles with 97 - 17 more than any UB player in program history.
A local product, Dolac came to UB as a walk-on in 2020. He was a 2022 semifinalist for the Burlsworth Trophy, given annually to the best player in the country who started their career as a walk-on.
TFLs
Buffalo has made a living in opponent's backfields this season. The Bulls lead the MAC and rank sixth in the nation in tackles for loss, averaging 8.4 TFLs per game. Linebackers Shaun Dolac and Red Murdock are one-two in the MAC. In fact, Dolac ranks second in the nation with 10.5 tackles (2.1 per game) for loss while Murdock ranks third with 10 (2. per game).
Dolac and Murdock have combined for 20.5 tackles for loss. The pair has combined for more TFLs than 11 FBS programs.
Upton Funk
Upton Bellenfant earned the starting kicker job in week three and all he has done since is make every one of his kicks. He had the best game of his young career in Buffalo's win at Northern Illinois as he made all three of his field goal attempts, including a 37-yarder to win the game in overtime.
On the year, the redshirt-sophomore is 6-for-6 on field goals and 6-for-6 on extra points.
Seeing Red
After a solid season for the Bulls in 2023, linebacker Red Murdock is taking his game to new heights in 2024. The redshirt-sophomore had the best game of his career against UMass, totaling 12 tackles and three tackles for loss. He earned MAC Defensive Player of the Week honors for his efforts.
Murdock ranks second in the MAC to only teammate Shaun Dolac in tackles (55) and tackles for loss (10).
In 2023, he appeared in 12 games and started the final six. He ranked third on the team in tackles with 60 and added 9.5 tackles for loss, two sacks and four forced fumbles. His four forced fumbles were two shy of the single-season school record.
He is equally impressive in the classroom as he was named Academic All-MAC and Academic All-District last season.
Bulls Take Down Ranked Huskies
For just the second time in program history, Buffalo defeated a nationally ranked opponent when it topped 23rd-ranked Northern Illinois on Sept. 21.
The Bulls defeated 14th-ranked Ball State in the 2008 MAC Championship for the only other win against a ranked opponent.
Take Your Pick
The UB defense ranks second in the Mid-American Conference with five interceptions through five games this season. The five interceptions have come from four different players as Shaun Dolac has two and Jalen McNair, Charles McCartherens and Marquis Cooper each have one.
Hanging with Mr. Cooper
Former walk-on Marquis Cooper earned the starting cornerback job out of camp and has been impressive this season. In fact, he seems to one-up himself every game. After registering a career-high 12 tackles, including eight solo stops and a TFL at Missouri, the Colgate transfer had eight tackles, 1.5 tackles for loss and an interception against UMass. He returned the interception 100 yards for a touchdown to break the record for longest interception return in program history. The previous record was 90 yards set by Gerry LaFountain against Delaware in 1965.
In UB's win at Northern Illinois, Cooper blocked the potential go-ahead field goal in overtime.
Cooper was awarded a scholarship prior to the start of the season.
Let it Snow
Wide receiver Victor Snow has become a reliable target for the Bulls so far this season. His 14 receptions lead the team. He caught his first career touchdown against Northern Illinois. In 12 games a season ago, Snow only registered one catch for 12 yards.
Snow is a native of Webster, NY and transferred to Buffalo from Nevada prior to the 2023 campaign.
Running Back Depth
Buffalo's depth at running back has paid off so far this season as different backs have stepped up for the Bulls.
In the first two games, it was Jacqez Barksdale who came off the bench to lead UB in rushing. He rushed for 166 yards and a touchdown on 29 carries against Lafayette and Missouri, averaging 5.7 yards per carry. In UB's win over UMass, Lamar Sperling rushed for a career-best 86 yards and a touchdown to lead the Bulls. In UB's win at Northern Illinois, Al-Jay Henderson led the way with 56 yards on the ground, including a 36-yard touchdown.
Duane Oh!
New punter Ethan Duane has been a nice addition to the Bulls' special teams unit. The Old Dominion transfer is averaging 43.6 yards per punt to rank third in the Mid-American Conference. Six of his punts have sailed over 50 yards. Against UMass, four of his five punts were downed inside the 20-yard line, with two touched down at the 1-yard line.
7 Up
C.J. Ogbonna has settled in as Buffalo's starting quarterback this season, his first as the Bulls' starter. He threw for 195 yards and two touchdowns in the opener against Lafayette, his first career start. On the season, Ogbonna has thrown for 624 yards, four touchdowns and an interception.
Now in his second year with the program, the senior signal-caller appeared in eight games in 2023, but was used primarily in running situations. He rushed for 214 yards and three touchdowns on the season. He passed for 87 yards and a touchdown.
Obgonna began his career at Hutchinson Community College where he helped lead the Blue Dragons to a national title in 2020. From there, he transferred to Southeast Missouri State where he was a two-year starter for the Redhawks. His best season came in 2021 when he threw for 1,521 yards and 21 touchdowns and rushed for 357 yards and another three scores en route to being named to the Ohio Valley Conference All-Newcomer Team.
Taji Johnson Wins 1-MAC Award
Wide receiver Taji Johnson has won the Mid-American Conference's 1-MAC Award - given annually to those that have shown tremendous impact & excellence in inclusion efforts.
Johnson, who joined the Bulls in Spring 2024 for his final year of eligibility, quickly made a lasting impact by organizing the "A Day in the Life" event for at-risk middle school students. Through his partnership with TheTeam.org, a nonprofit focused on civic engagement and voter participation in college athletics, Johnson helped provide critical resources and support to students and their families. His efforts included arranging school supplies and connecting families with local services, addressing the diverse needs of the community.
In addition to organizing the event, Johnson fostered collaboration among student-athletes from various sports, creating a network that shared strategies and experiences to collectively support at-risk students. By emphasizing unity and teamwork, Johnson and his fellow student-athletes inspired resilience, leadership, and academic excellence among the students they mentored.
Johnson has also been nominated for the 2024 Allstate AFCA Good Works Team.
Experience on the Offensive Line
While the Bulls will have many new faces in the lineup entering this season, one area they do return experience is the offensive line. UB returns four offensive linemen who have seen time in the starting lineup.
Guard Tyler Doty started 22 games over the last two seasons and was an All-MAC Third Team selection in 2023.
Trevor Brock will start at the other guard spot after starting the final seven games of last season.
Caelan Shepard started all 12 games at right tackle last season.
In his sixth year with the program, Dom Polizzi has made four starts at center for the Bulls.
International Flavor
The Bulls have five international players on this year's roster.
Buffalo has three players who hail from Canada, including offensive lineman Jackson Bellamy (Ontario), defensive tackle Jordan Poyser (Ontario) and edge Nick Roy (Quebec). In addition, punter Ethan Duane is from Australia and edge Luke Yau Gayle hails from England.
New Look MAC
2024 will mark the first time the Mid-American Conference will not be divided into divisions for football. In years past, the 12 teams were divided into two six-team divisions, with the Bulls playing in the East Division. Moving forward, the top two overall teams in the standings will play for the MAC title as opposed to division winners.
Miami (OH) 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 25th year, and 17th consecutive, will be Paul Peck. Scott Wilson is back for his eighth 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.
