BUFF | EMU | |
---|---|---|
1st Downs | 22 | 18 |
3rd down efficiency | 10-20 | 5-13 |
4th down efficiency | 0-2 | 0-1 |
Total Yards | 537 | 484 |
Passing | 383 | 147 |
Comp-Att | 27-45 | 10-18 |
Yards per pass | 8.5 | 8.2 |
Rushing | 154 | 337 |
Rushing Attempts | 36 | 49 |
Yards per rush | 4.3 | 6.9 |
Penalties | 7-60 | 7-62 |
Turnovers | 3 | 1 |
Fumbles lost | 1 | 1 |
Interceptions thrown | 2 | 0 |
Possession | 34:29 | 25:31 |
Any pretense that UB had a shot at the east or a bowl game may have gone up in flames on the ash gray field of Rynearson Stadium. The Buffalo Bulls came out strong with Anthone Taylor putting up 100 yards rushing in the first quarter but the team who made the adjustments, and won the game, was the Eastern Michigan Eagles.
Joe Licata had his worst game of the season. Despite nearly 400 yards passing and three touchdowns the Juniors two interceptions came at critical junctures and cost the Bulls precious points. One interception came as UB was driving in for a score at the 10 yard line and the otehr came around mid field as the Bulls were trying to mount a comeback.
After letting Taylor run wild early in the game, more than 100 yads in the first quarter, the eagles bottled up Anthone. UB's leading rusher finished with just 128 yards.
The star today was Reginald Bell Jr. The EMU quarterback threw for 144 yards and demolished UB's defense with 202 running yards borne out of an effective read option play which EMU ran time and time again.
And then there was the special teams. Once again UB's kicking game was terrible and those early mistakes may have set the tone which put UB over a barrel.
There was a missed field goal from 29 and a blocked field goal. There was the kick return unit giving up an average return of 30+ yards to Tyler Allen.
Despite owning the yards, time of possession, penalties, and third down efficiency UB's mistakes handed EMU a win in a game that seemed key to a potential UB Bowl Run.
The game was EMU's first FBS win of the year, sending the Eagles to a 2-4 record while Buffalo fell to 3-4.
UB now has two weeks to prepare for Central Michigan.