:format(webp)/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/46635044/nduka-20091003fb-225w.0.0.jpg)
#68 UB Football Game
October 3, 2009 - UB 13, Central Michigan 20
In a game that was supposed to be a MAC Championship preview, the two teams combined for a MACtiony 845 yards of offense but only scored 33 points. Buffalo won the yardage battle, they won the turnover battle, but somehow lost the game.
After falling behind 13-0, UB went on a six and a half minute drive. They had the ball first and goal from the 9 and thanks to a pass interference call, UB had six chances to score a TD, they failed and settled for the short field goal. On their next drive, Zach Maynard found Naaman Roosevelt for a 24-yard TD pass making the score 13-10 at halftime.
Any momentum UB had from scoring the final 10 points of the first half was destroyed by CMU's confident TD drive to open the second half. Down 20-10, UB moved the ball but missed a field goal attempt. On the next drive (after a lightning delay), UB had the ball first and goal from the 9 and had four chances to score a TD, but again, came away with only three.
On UB's next drive they faced 4th and inches on the CMU 11-yard line. Down 7 late, a field goal wasn't an option. A QB sneak by Maynard was stopped and CMU took over. The game was basically over after that 4th down stand, CMU held on to the 20-13 win.
Buffalo lost because they left points on the field. With two short field goals, a missed field goal and a turnover on downs from the 11, they should have scored 14 to 18 more points and cruised to victory.
| Situation | Points/Trip | Trips | Points |
| CMU In Red Zone | 6.5 | 2 | 13 |
| CMU inside UB 30 | 5 | 4 | 20 |
| UB inside CMU 30 | 2.6 | 5 | 13 |
| UB in Red Zone | 2 | 3 | 6 |
Buffalo became less dangerous the closer they got to the goal line, which is never a winning formula. With the loss, the Bulls fell to 1-4, and notched their first four game losing streak since losing the final three games of 2006 and losing the opener in 2007.
The game featured future NFL star Antonio Brown (12 touches for 183 all purpose yards and 2 TDs) and MAC superstar Dan LeFevour (Passed for 268 and 2 TDs and ran for 98 yards), the star was Ike Nduka who ran for 172 yards on 22 carries, for an astronomical 7.8 yards per carry. Naaman Roosevelt was the most effective target in the passing game with 6 receptions for 114 yards.
On defense Richie smith Forced a fumble that was recovered by Scott Pettigrew, who also led the Bulls in tackles with 10. Davonte Shannon added an early interception.