Rushing Offense
Only 72 yards on 24 carries (three yards per carry) for Buffalo's freshmen running back tandem, Aaron Leeper and Dave Dawson. Leeper carried 18 times for 50 yards while Dawson had 22 yards on six attempts. As a team the Bulls had 73 yards on 31 attempts, although the statistic is skewed somewhat because quarterback Randall Secky had to rush seven times to avoid the pass rush and gained only one net yard.
Grade: C
Secky looked solid with 19 completions in 39 attempts for 160 yards and two touchdown throws to freshman wide receiver Tim Dance, whose nine receptions for 92 yards led the Bulls. Secky was sacked three times and continues to show great resiliency and toughness at a position where you need it most. Offensive line was average, pass protection was once again better than run blocking.
Grade: B+
I warned that I may have to give a separate grade this week. Aside from Dance, the Bulls' wide receivers had another disappointing performance against Kent State. Four dropped balls stand out in my mind in particular, and there may have been more. The most frustrating drop was by senior tight end Chad Bartoszek, who could have scored a touchdown at the beginning of the second quarter if he had decided to catch the ball before he ran into the end zone. Two plays later a tipped pass was returned for a touchdown. Ugh.
Grade: F
The numbers may not look good, but the Bulls defense held Kent State to a mere fourth quarter field goal. UB gave up 206 yards on 46 carries (4.5 yards per carry). All of this and the Golden Flashes were without quarterback Joshua Cribbs, the team's leading rusher. Mark Graham led all defenders with 12 tackles, ten solo. Linebacker Lamar Wilcher was second with six total.
Grade: B-
It didn't have much to do as Kent State threw only 12 passes. However, only four of those passes were completed for 44 yards, and the Bulls had two interceptions, one each from Graham - his sixth of the year - and Dahnel Singfield (his first). Buffalo also had two sacks.
Grade: A
Another punt blocked - this time for a touchdown - and another PAT missed by Dallas Pelz hurts this grade. On the block, Kent State was not even lined up to block the kick, but a breakdown in protection allowed the defender to break through. Punter Scott McMahan had another good game, averaging 40.5 yards per kick on six punts, two of which were inside the 20-yard line.
Grade: C+
First-half scoring woes continue for the offensive coaches. The Bulls have not scored a first quarter touchdown since the home opener against Lehigh. They always make good adjustments at halftime though. Hard to argue with the coaching when a tipped ball interception and a blocked punt lead to your demise. The Bulls were prepared, but had some breakdowns in execution, especially with the dropped passes.
Grade: A-
Photo: Meredith Forrest Kulwicki
