For as long as the Buffalo Bulls (1-9, 0-6 MAC) can hang with a talented team like the one they encountered on Saturday at UB Stadium, they simply don't have the talent, experience or guns to put themselves up and over for a victory against a well-oiled and established team.
The Bulls played admirably for most of the first three quarters against the University of Central Florida (4-5, 3-2 MAC); in fact they held a 21-14 lead in the third quarter after trailing 14-7 at halftime. UCF, however, ended the game by scoring 31-straight points after Buffalo held that 21-14 lead, and took the win 45-21.
"If you watched the same game I watched, which I'm sure you did, you noticed they were bigger and stronger, like most of the teams we played," said Bulls' Head Coach Jim Hofher. "They get more reps in the weight room and more reps on the practice field. And I think it showed clearly in the fourth quarter for us."
"We set the tempo in the second half," said a slightly arrogant UCF Head Coach Mike Kruczek. "We didn't start out well but obviously the more dominant team prevailed in the football game."
Trailing 21-14, the Golden Knights acted as cool as they possibly could, making it seem as if the game had just begun. Quickly marching down 66 yards in less than two minutes, they scored when quarterback Ryan Schneider hit wide receiver Luther Huggins on an 8-yard touchdown strike, and the game was tied after the extra-point.
"You saw what happened, we were down and our offense put it together," said UCF wide receiver Jimmy Fryzel. "What you can't do is start letting a team hang around."
The Schneider touchdown pass was just one of his five through the air on the day. He passed for 360 yards on 25-43 passing and also ran in one touchdown.
"You can't be a bad quarterback and throw five touchdowns," said Hofher. "Their QB is exceptional and they found some ways to attack."
Buffalo, however, was still very much alive and could have taken the lead if they were successful on their next drive. Unfortunately for UB, quarterback Randall Secky was picked off by Peter Sands at the UCF 38, and the ball was run back to the Buffalo 12-yard line.
Momentum shift, game over.
"Huge play," said Kruczek. "And again it starts on defense, great football teams can't win without them."
"Tough one, yeah I'm sure that he'd love to have that one back," said Hofher. "They made a good play and broke on it."
Schneider then connected with Michael Gaines for a 14-yard touchdown, giving the Knights a 28-21 lead that they would not relinquish as they were in the midst of their game-breaking and finishing, 31-0 run. Schneider connected for a TD with Doug Gabriel, and ran in another to close out the scoring.
"After the initial emotional onset by Buffalo, I thought the defense did a remarkable job of shutting those guys down," said Kruczek.
Secky struggled, passing for 106 yards on 14-29 with two interceptions and no touchdowns.
Buffalo's freshman tailback Aaron Leeper provided much of the muscle for the Bulls, tallying 123 yards on 27 carries with three touchdowns. The three touchdowns gave him a total of nine on the season, which snapped the record for touchdowns by a freshman in a season, previously six.
"I guess I played well today, but I really look forward to winning," said Leeper. "I think winning is better than anything else, breaking all the records is nothing."
Leeper's second touchdown came after UB's Kevin Concepcion picked off Schneider and ran it back 48 yards to the Knights three-yard line. After Leeper scored, the game was tied at 14 and the outcome was still very much in doubt.
UCF's Alex Haynes, who picked up 78 yards on the day, fumbled on the Golden Knights' next possession and the Bulls recovered it at the UCF 43-yard line, giving UB a chance to take the lead.
Buffalo went on an 8-play, 43-yard drive that culminated in Leeper's third touchdown of the day, coming on a 10-yard dash into the endzone.
"We were really fired up," said UB wideout Andre Forde, who had two catches for 26 yards on the day. "The momentum was going our way."
Fate was not on the Bulls' side though, as they would not score a point the rest of the way after leading 21-14.
"We had a better football team," said Kruczek. "It just wasn't apparent at that time, but I never lost confidence in either side of the ball that we couldn't overcome the deficit and win the game the way we had to."
"I'm certainly disappointed in the outcome," said Hofher. "But I thought our kids played with an awful lot of energy, heart, and toughness for all of the game. Our effort was certainly there."
Buffalo will go on the road for the next two games, as they have finished up the home portion of the season. Akron is up next, Saturday at 1 p.m.
Photo: Meredith Forrest Kulwicki
