3 days to kickoff: Okezie Alozie

Who is wearing #3 in 2015?

Okezie Alozie

Hometown: Bethlehem, Pennsylvania

Year: Senior

Position: Linebacker

High School: Freedom

Freshman: (2012): Alozie played in 10 games recording 5 tackles.

Sophomore (2013): Alozie played in all 13 games starting against Miami. Alozie recorded 45 tackles, a sack against Miami and a fumble recovery against BGSU.

Junior (2014): Alozie played in all 11 games starting 8 games. He recorded 49 tackles 3 sacks and a forced fumble.

Outlook: Okezie moves from hard hitting safety to starting linebacker this year. He is comfortable in coverage and at getting to the QB, but his test will be shedding blocks and sustaining high energy play while doubling his tackling output. Was a High School team captain and will be a team captain this year, his leadership and perseverance will be a great example for all the men in the locker room.

#3 UB Football Game

October 4, 2014 - UB 35, BGSU 36

In a battle between UB's lumbering run game and #FalconFast, UB's strategy seemed to be superior. UB opened with a 15 play 75-yard 9 minute drive that ended with a 1 yard Joe Licata sneak on 4th and goal. BGSU countered with a  11-play 3 minute touchdown drive.

As the teams went back and forth, BGSU's defense seemed to be struggling. UB went up 21-17 in the second quarter on a Ron Willoughby TD pass and a Anthone Taylor TD run. On the ensuing kickoff, Adam Redden forced a fumble and UB recovered at the 21. BGSU's tired defense lumbered back on the field and UB had the chance to open up an 11 point lead. Instead, Licata was intercepted at the 6. The defense bailed him out however, Brandon Crawford with a strip sack gave the offense the ball back on the 39 and 6 plays later UB had their 11 point lead on Anthone Taylor's 2nd TD run. After a late BGSU field goal, UB led at the half 28-20.

BGSU scored 10 points quickly in the 2nd half before both teams cooled off on offense. On the first drive of the 4th quarter up 30-28, BGSU had a field goal attempt blocked by Dalton Barksdale. With the shift in momentum, UB drove down the field and Anthone Taylor scored his 3rd TD to put UB up 35-30.

After a quick BGSU three and out, UB had the ball with 7:26 remaining and a 5 point lead. UB ran the ball 7 times to the 15-yard line where they faced 3rd and 1 with 3 minutes and 26 seconds remaining. The Bulls handed it to Taylor who was stuffed for a loss of 1. On 4th and 2, with 3 minutes remaining, UB went for a 33 yard field goal, that would have given the Bulls an 8 point lead. The field goal was missed, and BGSU was able to march down the field in 4 plays and score the game winning touchdown.

A win would have put UB at 4-2 (2-0) heading into a gimme game against EMU. UB finished 2014 1.5 games behind BGSU for the MAC title. A win in this game, would have moved UB to 4-3, and BGSU down to 4-4. That would have made UB the MAC East champs even with losses against Ohio, CMU, EMU and Army. It could have been a signature win for Quinn, but instead he was fired a week later. That said it was a great game with a lot of action and a great finish even if it wasn't the finish UB fans wanted.