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Postseason Meal 8.2: The Top 4 Games of the Year

By Conrad Mostiller
Otto Kitsinger III

The Postseason Meal will have to sustain us all until the Bulls return to Columbus, Ohio in 2013. The goal of the postseason meal is to Hydrate, Nutritionate and Reflect on the season that was.


In Part 6 & 7, I analyzed the worst games and performances of the season, to recap:
12) at Northern Illinois (45-3 loss)
11) Kent State (23-7 loss)
10) Pittsburgh (20-6 loss)
9) at Georgia (45-23 loss)
8) at Bowling Green (21-7 loss)
7) at UConn (24-17 loss)
6) Toledo (25-20 loss)
5) WMU (29-24 Win)

3 wins and the Ohio loss...obviously a game we should have won in Athens, how good was that game?
Let's find out as we reveal games 1-4.

#4 Game 5: Ohio (38-31 loss)
Offensive Performance: #2
Defensive Performance: #9
Overall Performance: #4

UB lost 3 games by a total of 19 points. 3 touchdowns away from a 7-5 season. The Ohio game especially was a game we had to win because it showcased Alex Zordich's best FBS game as leader of the offense.

Progress towards a 1st down:
Offense: 121.6% (2nd)
Defense: 68.9% (4th)

Buffalo almost doubles Ohio's progress to a first down.

Progress towards a 1st down adjusted:
Offense: 49.2% (4th)
Defense: 44.3% (10th)

But once you take out the big plays, Buffalo's numbers are less impressive, but still good on offense, on defense, the play was better than only better than the NIU and UGA games.

Progress towards a Touchdown:
Offense: 13.94% (4th)
Defense: 17.4% (11th)

In a game where the big plays and the progress towards a first down favored Buffalo, and both teams scored 31 points on offense, Ohio still somehow made more progress down the field than Buffalo. Stalling drives by Buffalo, and an inability to stop Ohio's offense once it gained momentum, allowed Ohio to go on a 38-10 run to clinch the victory.

High and Low Lights:
1st Quarter
4th Best Offensive Performance
14 Points Scored
PT1: 144.1%
PT1A: 61.3%
PTTD: 20.37%

Every year under Quinn we get a small glimpse of what life could be. This was that.

2nd Quarter
8th Worst Offensive Performance
0 Points Scored
PT1: 56.6%
PT1A: 31.2%
PTTD: 4.73%

We follow a truly great quarter of offense with 21 plays for 79 yards, 2 fumbles and 2 punts.

3rd Quarter
7th Best Offensive Performance
10 Points Scored
PT1: 232.8%
PT1A: 50.3%
PTTD: 13.15%

UB had amazing PT1 numbers indicating gaining twice as many yards each play than needed for a first down. However a 15 play drive only netted a filed goal, and a 7 play drive only gained 28 yards and ended in a punt. A good offensive performance but to be truly great you need to score TDs when your offense is clicking.

The top 3 games are 3 of the 4 wins of the year, which will be #1?

#3 Game 9: Miami (27-24 win)
Offensive Performance: #3
Defensive Performance #2
Overall Performance: #3

I think this game is the peoples choice for game of the year, but the bi-polar nature of the game hurts it. The first half was a stalled offense and a stalwart defense, the second half was a wild west shootout, the offense could not be stopped and the defense couldn't make a stop.

Progress towards a 1st down:
Offense: 111.4% (3rd)
Defense: 55.1% (2nd)

Progress towards a 1st down adjusted:
Offense: 49.7% (4th)
Defense: 35.2% (3rd)

Progress towards a Touchdown:
Offense: 13.78% (5th)
Defense: 12.4% (4th)

This game, where we allowed that long first down conversion in the 4th quarter that allowed Miami to tie the game, and the UConn game inspired me to create this measurement, you can only allow 200 yards a game, but if the opponent was able to move the ball easily for first downs and touchdowns then your defense isn't good, just really really efficient losers.

High and Low Lights:
1st Quarter
4th Best Defensive Performance:
0 Points Allowed
PT1: 10.1%
PT1A: 11.6%
PTTD: 2.68%

2nd Quarter
9th Best Defensive Performance:
3 Points Allowed
PT1: 36.1%
PT1A: 32.8%
PTTD: 6.56%

3rd Quarter
Best Offensive Performance:
14 Points Scored
PT1: 233.3%
PT1A: 81.5%
PTTD: 34.3%

4th Quarter
10th Best Offensive Performance
10 Points Scored
PT1: 102.2%
PT1A: 50.3%
PTTD: 13.51%

#2 Game 2: Morgan State (56-34 win)
Offensive Performance: #1
Defensive Performance #5
Overall Performance: #2

The sad part is we put up such an average defensive performance against a FCS team at home.

Progress towards a 1st down:
Offense: 131.2% (1st)
Defense: 87.5% (6th)

Progress towards a 1st down adjusted:
Offense: 60.9% (1st)
Defense: 41% (7th)

Progress towards a Touchdown:
Offense: 27.45% (1st)
Defense: 11.2% (2nd)

In one of the best offensive games in UB history, Buffalo played their best game. Neutz had 4 deep touchdown receptions, Potts scored on 1 long run, and Oliver had a moster day on the ground.

The stats show the defense was bend but not break. Morgan gained 1st down yardage fairly well, but despite scoring the 4th most points allowed, they made only 11% progress towards a TD per play. The other teams that scored over 34 points made 17.3%, 17.4%, and 24.6% progress.

High and Low Lights:
1st Quarter
3rd Best Offensive Performance:
14 Points Scored
PT1: 147.5%
PT1A: 60.1%
PTTD: 27.63%

Best Defensive Performance:
3 Points Allowed
PT1: 1.9%
PT1A: 7.7%
PTTD: -11.25%

2nd Quarter
Best Offensive Performance (Tied with Miami Q3):
21 Points Scored
PT1: 187.5%
PT1A: 90%
PTTD: 51.71%

3rd Quarter
6th Best Offensive Performance
21 Points Scored
PT1: 106.6%
PT1A: 50.8%
PTTD: 17.96%

4th Quarter
7th Worst Offensive Performance
0 Points Scored
PT1: 32.5%
PT1A: 32.5%
PTTD: 6.1%

Finally, the best game of the year the "close shave" at Gillette.

#1 Game 11: Massachusetts (29-19 win)
Offensive Performance: #4
Defensive Performance #1
Overall Performance: #1

Progress towards a 1st down:
Offense: 76.0% (7th)
Defense: 54.7% (1st)

Progress towards a 1st down adjusted:
Offense: 45.4% (2nd)
Defense: 30.9% (1st)

Progress towards a Touchdown:
Offense: 15.26% (6th)
Defense: 10.1% (1st)

Strip away the zone read, strip away the trick plays, take away the deep bombs and the hail marys and you have the UMass game. An opus from a team built to dominate the offensive and defensive lines with a powerful run game, run defense and a relentless pass rush.

High and Low Lights:
1st Quarter
2nd Worst Offensive Performance:
0 Points Scored
PT1: -53.2%
PT1A: 13.5%
PTTD: 2.33%

4th Quarter
5th Best Offensive Performance:
15 Points Scored
PT1: 95.6%
PT1A: 55.9%
PTTD: 25.55%

2nd Best Defensive Performance:
0 Points Allowed
PT1: 7.7%
PT1A: -0.2%
PTTD: -1.07%

UB answered the bell in the 4th, scoring enough to win and completely shutting down the UMass offense.

Who would have thought, the Harnish-less Huskies would be our toughest test, followed by Kent State at home and the 3 coaches in 3 years Panthers. I think we expected UMass and Morgan to be 2 of our easier games, but no one expected Ohio, Miami, WMU and Toledo to be so winnable.

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