Who is wearing #29 in 2015?
Technically Emmanuel Reed, but we'll get to him later.
#29 UB Football Game
October 28, 2008 - UB 32, Ohio 19
The 3-4 UB Bulls had the chance to go into November at .500. Despite being out-gained 417 to 393, Buffalo won thanks to James Starks and the opportunistic UB defense. Ohio lost 3 fumbles, threw an interception and turned the ball over on downs twice to give UB breathing room in Athens.
On UB's first drive, Starks ran four times for 18 yards including a 3 yard TD. Ohio's answer was stopped at the one when Andrae Smith forced a Chris Garrett fumble recovered by Mike Thompson for a touchback. After a Starks fumble, the next Ohio drive ended after a failed run on 4th and 3 on the UB 21. UB took a 14-0 lead on a 3 yard run by Brandon Thermilus.
Ohio answered with a 59-yard Boo Jackson TD pass. But UB answered that answer when James Starks ran 6 times for 28 yards before Drew Willy found Naaman Roosevelt for a 9-yard TD pass and a 21-7 UB lead. Ohio's next drive lasted 13 plays and traveled 61 yards but ended on the UB 16 on a failed field goal attempt. Late in the half, a Domonic Cook interception set up a half-ending A.J. Principe field goal to give UB a 24-7 halftime lead. The score could have been 24-21, or 24-13, but thanks to the defense bending and not breaking, the game was lopsided.
After trading punts in the third quarter, Ohio scored on an eight yard Boo Jackson scramble to make it a 24-13 two-score game. The momentum Ohio gained was instantly erased when Kendric Hawkins blocked the extra point and Andrae Smith rumbled 90 yards for a defensive two-point conversion. Now up 26-13, Ohio would need two TDs to win the game. Boo Jackson threw a TD pass to Riley Dunlop to make the score 26-19, Ohio missed the extra point so the lead stayed at 7.
On the next drive, James Starks gave UB some breathing room, with a 52-yard TD run. After a blocked extra point, UB led 32-19. With 7 minutes remaining, Ohio struck back with a 35-yard pass to Steven Goulet. Goulet ran to the 30-yard line before Chris Storr forced the ball loose and Davonte Shannon recovered the fumble. With 6:14 remaining, UB gave the ball to James Starks five consecutive times, he gained 29 yards and two first downs. Brandon Thermilus got the next 4 carries for 21 yards and a first down, allowing UB to end the game in the victory formation.
Starks ran 30 times for 185 yards and 2 TDs but the defense was the star. Domonic Cook had a fumble recovery and an interception while Andrae Smith recorded a sack, a forced fumble and a long defensive 2-point conversion. With the win, the Bulls moved to 4-4 and stayed alive in the hunt for a bowl game and the MAC East title.