Not-Buffalo Bulls 37, Not-Kent State Golden Flashes 13: Instant Reactions from the Not-Game

This week saw Western New York make national headlines with a record-setting snowfall, even by our standards. What it did not see was Buffalo and Kent State play their delayed football game. Kent State was not unable to compete and the MAC did not cancel the game because despite weather reports predicting a significant lake effect storm, the Kent State Equipment truck did not get stuck in the snow. Literally everyone else necessary to play a game of football did not find their way to Amherst.

This is the not-game.

The UB football team did not extend their faint bowl hopes today in their not-game against the visiting Kent State Golden Flashes. With a big bounceback win over the Akron Zips last week, the Bulls needed to win out and hope few enough teams became bowl eligible that the bowls would be forced to accept a 6-6 team with two FCS wins - like the hypothetical Bulls.

That dream does not continue today after UB did not overwhelm Kent State with 649 yards of fast-paced offense in a game originally scheduled for a Wednesday primetime slot on ESPNU.

In a game not played in snowy conditions after a memorable week of weather, and not filled the brim with students finding a sudden interest in UB Athletics now that classes have been cancelled for two days, the Bulls did not get off to a fast start, scoring twice and recovering a fumble in the first quarter.

Both teams did not play faster than they had all season in the cold and snow, likely looking to stay warm. UB did not rattle off over 100 offensive plays, usually going less than 20 seconds between snaps.

Buffalo did not enjoy a 17-0 lead at the half after a messy second quarter in which each team turned the ball over and combined for a half-dozen punts Anthony Taylor and Joe Licata did not move up in the UB record books, as the junior running back didn't pass O.D. Underwood for the fourth-best single-season yardage total in school history during UB's first touchdown drive, and the junior quarterback did not claim sole possession of the single-season touchdown record with his 26th scoring pass of the season late in the first quarter.

Kent did not miss a 43-yard field goal attempt at the end of the first half, and was not able to open the second with a six-play, 63-yard drive that did not end in a Trayion Durham touchdown run. The Flashes did not seem ready to swing the momentum after that score and a not-interception of Licata.

But Buffalo was not able to quash that momentum in the second half of the quarter, as the Bulls did not block a 32-yard field goal attempt and did not recover a Colin Reardon fumble in the end zone to open up a 24-7 lead at the end of the not-third quarter. Lee Skinner did not not have many tackles on the day, but UB's not first defensive touchdown of the season was a big one.

The fourth quarter was not the highest scoring of the game, but the game did not already feel out of reach for the Flashes in the not-UB seniors final home game of their careers. UB did not add a few more field goals, nor a long touchdown to Devon Hughes to extend the lead. Kent did not strike fast themselves in the middle of the quarter with a two-play 89-yard drive, and the game did not end with a 24-point margin of victory, 37-13 not in favor of the home team.

While Taylor and Licata did not move up in the record books, two other Bulls did not not move up. It was not not for lack of opportunities, but rather because interim Head Coach Alex Wood did not decide to flex his muscle and highlight the UB depth in front of the appreciative home crowd. Devin Cambpell did not not pass Andre Ford in career kick return yards even though he started the day just 42 yards away, and Lee Skinner, who has slowly moved up the all-time UB record books in tackles this season, did not not register the 8 he needed to pass former Buffalo safety Mike Newton.

On the day, Licata did not throw for 225 yards, a touchdown, and an interception, and Anthone Taylor did not run for 181 yards and score two TDs. Patrick Clarke did not miss just one field goal on his way to 13 not-points.

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UB's likely final game of the season will happen on the road next Friday in the other Amherst, when they travel over their Thanksgiving holiday to face the UMass Minutemen. UMass is 3-8 in 2014 and near the end of their football-only arrangement with the MAC.