99 for 99 - #49 - Gerry LaFountain's Record Return

99 for 99 takes a look at the 99 biggest moments in UB Football history in anticipation of the 99^th Season of UB Football which begins on September 1^st, 2012. These moments are not in any order, however the top 10 moments have been saved for last.

November 6, 1965 - Buffalo 22, Delaware 0 - Gerry LaFountain's 90-Yard INT return.

The 1965 UB defense had been stellar: allowing 10pts/game with two shutouts. Despite the defense, the Bulls were only 2-3-2 on the season. Possibly discouraged by the lack of offense in a 0-0 tie against Dayton, the defense allowed a season high 20 points to Holy Cross the following week. As they entered the Delaware game, one had to wonder if the Bulls defense would continue to crumble.

After a period of play, the defense was playing strong again, but the offense continued to struggled. Delaware threatened to score, driving down to the 10 when the defense decided to take matters into their own hands with a UB record 90-yard interception return. The defense coming up big was no surprise, the surprise was that UB's longest interception return was not Dan Sella or Tim Hurd (both finished their careers with 12 interceptions, a UB record at the time) but Gerry LaFountain, UB's All-American defensive end. LaFountain snatched the pass and thundered down field for the touchdown.

Buffalo took that 7-0 lead into halftime and added to it when Tom Hurd intercepted a Delaware pass and returned it back to the 30. UB scored their second touchdown shortly after and led 14-0. The defense held strong, shutting out Delaware for their third shutout of the year. Buffalo would win 22-0, including a strange two-point conversation after the final touchdown just for good measure. Buffalo would win their next two games to finish the season 5-3-2. The '65 defense was one of UB's best, in 5 UB wins, they allowed only 13 points. To this day, none of the great UB defenders has been able to break LaFountain's interception return record.