Saturday, September 21
DeKalb, IL
3:30 pm
3-1 , 1-0
23
at
20
#23 Northern Illinois
2-1 , 0-1
1st
2nd
3rd
4th
OT
F
Buffalo
0
3
7
10
3
23
NIU
7
7
0
6
0
20
Bulls win OT Thriller over #23 Northern Illinois
9/21/2024 8:53:00 PM | Football
DEKALB, IL – The University at Buffalo football team went on the road and upset 23rd-ranked Northern Illinois, 23-20, at Huskie Stadium on a scorching Saturday afternoon to open Mid-American Conference play. It was the Bulls second win over a ranked opponent in program history.
Led by linebacker Shaun Dolac, the defense kept the Bulls in the game early until the offense got its footing. The Western New York native had one of the greatest games in program history, finishing with a career-high 19 tackles, 4.5 tackles for loss and a game-changing interception.
The Bulls trailed 14-3 at the half but quickly got back in the game early in the third quarter when C.J. Ogbonna connected with Victor Snow on a 46-yard touchdown pass that Snow miraculously caught between two defenders.
Following a field goal that extended the NIU lead to 17-10 early in the fourth quarter, Al-Jay Henderson busted a run up the middle for a 36-yard touchdown to tie the game, 17-17.
The Huskies marched down the field looking to regain the lead when Dolac flipped the script by intercepting an Ethan Hampton pass and returning it 53 yards to the NIU 20.
Upton Bellenfant gave the Bulls their first lead of the game, 20-17, on a 42-yard field goal with 3:28 left.
Northern Illinois took the ensuing kickoff and drove all the way down to the UB 10-yard line in the closing seconds, but the UB defense didn't break and held the Huskies to a field goal and the game went to overtime.
NIU got the ball first in OT and had to settle for a field goal attempt. Marquis Cooper sprinted off the edge and was able to block the attempt, giving the ball back to the Bulls with a chance to win.
After three run plays, Bellenfant drilled a 37-yard field goal, his third of the game, to secure the walk-off win for the Bulls.
The win was just the second ever for the Bulls at Huskie Stadium and it was the first time UB defeated a ranked opponent on the road.
It was another standout performance by the defense as they totaled 10 tackles for loss. Red Murdock tied his career high with 12 tackles and added 1.5 tackles for loss. Jalen McNair had a career-best eight tackles in the game.
Offensively, Ogbonna threw for 107 yards and a touchdown. His top target was Snow who finished with three catches for 72 yards and a score. Henderson was UB's top rusher with 56 yards on 11 carries and a touchdown.
The Bulls improved to 3-1 for the first time since 2020 and just the third time in their FBS era.
UB will next play at UConn next Saturday before returning home to host Toledo on October 12. Click here for ticket information.
Click here to see how you can contribute to the Blue and White Fund.
Led by linebacker Shaun Dolac, the defense kept the Bulls in the game early until the offense got its footing. The Western New York native had one of the greatest games in program history, finishing with a career-high 19 tackles, 4.5 tackles for loss and a game-changing interception.
The Bulls trailed 14-3 at the half but quickly got back in the game early in the third quarter when C.J. Ogbonna connected with Victor Snow on a 46-yard touchdown pass that Snow miraculously caught between two defenders.
Following a field goal that extended the NIU lead to 17-10 early in the fourth quarter, Al-Jay Henderson busted a run up the middle for a 36-yard touchdown to tie the game, 17-17.
The Huskies marched down the field looking to regain the lead when Dolac flipped the script by intercepting an Ethan Hampton pass and returning it 53 yards to the NIU 20.
Upton Bellenfant gave the Bulls their first lead of the game, 20-17, on a 42-yard field goal with 3:28 left.
Northern Illinois took the ensuing kickoff and drove all the way down to the UB 10-yard line in the closing seconds, but the UB defense didn't break and held the Huskies to a field goal and the game went to overtime.
NIU got the ball first in OT and had to settle for a field goal attempt. Marquis Cooper sprinted off the edge and was able to block the attempt, giving the ball back to the Bulls with a chance to win.
After three run plays, Bellenfant drilled a 37-yard field goal, his third of the game, to secure the walk-off win for the Bulls.
The win was just the second ever for the Bulls at Huskie Stadium and it was the first time UB defeated a ranked opponent on the road.
It was another standout performance by the defense as they totaled 10 tackles for loss. Red Murdock tied his career high with 12 tackles and added 1.5 tackles for loss. Jalen McNair had a career-best eight tackles in the game.
Offensively, Ogbonna threw for 107 yards and a touchdown. His top target was Snow who finished with three catches for 72 yards and a score. Henderson was UB's top rusher with 56 yards on 11 carries and a touchdown.
The Bulls improved to 3-1 for the first time since 2020 and just the third time in their FBS era.
UB will next play at UConn next Saturday before returning home to host Toledo on October 12. Click here for ticket information.
Click here to see how you can contribute to the Blue and White Fund.
Team Stats
BUF
NIU
Total Yards
184
359
Pass Yards
107
194
Rushing Yards
77
165
Penalty Yards
74
55
1st Downs
9
24
3rd Downs
2
9
4th Downs
2
2
TOP
23:47
36:13
1st Quarter
BUF 0, NIU 7
NIU - Brown,Antario 5 yd run (Woodill,Kanon kick), 13 plays, 66 yards, TOP 06:36
2nd Quarter
BUF 3, NIU 7
BUF - Bellenfant,Upton 42 yd field goal 11 plays, 54 yards, TOP 05:26
BUF 3, NIU 14
NIU - Brown,Antario 14 yd run (Woodill,Kanon kick), 2 plays, 36 yards, TOP 00:16
3rd Quarter
BUF 10, NIU 14
BUF - Snow,Victor 46 yd pass from Ogbonna,C.J. (Bellenfant,Upton kick) 6 plays, 59 yards, TOP 02:32
4th Quarter
BUF 10, NIU 17
NIU - Woodill,Kanon 30 yd field goal 11 plays, 57 yards, TOP 05:44
BUF 17, NIU 17
BUF - Henderson,Al-Jay 36 yd run (Bellenfant,Upton kick), 7 plays, 75 yards, TOP 02:49
BUF 20, NIU 17
BUF - Bellenfant,Upton 42 yd field goal 4 plays, -4 yards, TOP 02:11
BUF 20, NIU 20
NIU - Woodill,Kanon 27 yd field goal 13 plays, 66 yards, TOP 03:04
OT Quarter
BUF 23, NIU 20
BUF - Bellenfant,Upton 37 yd field goal 4 plays, 6 yards, TOP 00:00
Game Leaders
Passing Leaders
CMP
10
TD
1
YDS
107
INT
0
Players Mentioned
K
/ Football
CB
/ Football
LB
/ Football
RB
/ Football
NICK
/ Football
LB
/ FootballQB
/ Football
WR
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