Most people outside of the University of Buffalo would have said the Bulls (0-4, MAC 0-0) had little chance of competing with the UConn Huskies (3-1) on Saturday at UB stadium. The 38-7 final score reflected that point of view. If it were not for an incredible athlete by the name of Terry Caulley, and another group of BIG EAST officials, the outcome may have been different.
Huskies sophomore tailback Terry Caulley ran for the best game of his young career with 234 yards rushing on 27 carries along with four touchdowns. His previous career high was 191 yards set against Iowa State last season.
What could be considered the point where UB was put out of reach was at 3:45 in the second quarter. Dominic Milano punted for the Bulls inside of the UConn 20-yard line. Connecticut's Brandon Young was all set to return the punt, when the ball sailed through his arms, bouncing under his legs into the end zone. It looked as though UB had recovered the ball in the end zone for a touchdown.
"That should have been a touchdown in my opinion and if I'm wrong when watching the video I'll admit that," said Buffalo head coach Jim Hofher.
Should have been. For the second time in as many games played against BIG EAST (UConn joins the conference next season) teams, UB was denied a touchdown on an officials ruling.
"The explanation we were given (on the field) was 'We made a mistake, we blew an inadvertent whistle and that makes the play null and void,'" continued Hofher.
Instead of the game being a 24-14 contest in which the Bulls are still very much in it, the game would become 31-7 after the ensuing re-kick and 89-yard Huskie drive. By halftime the game was over.
"Well, 24-14 is a ten point difference," said Hofher. "It's our job, in light of the mistake, to prevent it from going eighty yards the other way. That took more than one play."
The Huskie's first drive was a perfect summary of the game. Caulley's first three rushing attempts were for ten, twelve and ten yards. Caulley would fumble down near the Bulls six-yard line, but recovered it himself. That would be the only mistake he would make all night. Two plays later Caulley would take in his first score, to make it 7-0 Connecticut.
"He's a pretty darn good player. He's a good inside runner and a good outside runner," said Hofher. "Probably the thing that is most telling is his longest run is 27 (yards). So you're talking, he didn't rip off an eighty yarder or something like that that bloats it. He earned all those."
It looked promising early for the Bulls defense, though. Caulley was getting yards, but on the first drive of the second quarter and after a false start penalty made it first and fifteen, senior safety Mark Graham came unchecked off of the right corner to drill Huskies quarterback Dan Orlovsky for an eight yard sack.
The next two plays, Caulley rushed for 18 yards and Orlovsky passed to senior wide out Shaun Feldeisen for 17 yards.
"At some point, we got to make the play to stop a first down," said Hofher.
Feldeisen was Orlovsky's favorite target for the evening. Although he had no touchdowns, he caught six passes for 83 yards, several for first downs. Orlovsky himself had 236 yards passing on 15 completions, along with a touchdown.
UB sophomore quarterback P.J. Piskorik started the game in place of Randall Secky, disrupting Secky's streak of starting at 14 games.
"Naturally before the game you're a little nervous," said Piskorik. "It's the first time, and after that the jitters go away and it's just another game."
Piskorik made the option offense look as effective as it had been so far this year, leading the team with 72 yards rushing, although passing for only 70 with seven completions. The Bulls offense managed only 241 yards, as opposed to UConn's Caulley who had 234 yards.
"I think we have spurts where we move the ball," said senior offensive lineman Jeff Mills. "Whether it be a penalty or a loss of yardage, we stall out. I think that's the focus right now; to be more consistent."
"No, I don't," commented Hofher on why the offense is struggling so much. "We got a takeaway, on a punt play where we recovered a fumble. First time we got a takeaway, first time we got a short field, and that's what helped to contribute to us getting seven points."
Aaron Leeper, who was the MAC Freshman of the Year last season, has become more and more absent from the offense. Leeper only had three rushes attempted during the game. Dawson, with impressive play on special teams and tough running on offense, may have won the favor of the coaching staff. Hofher maintains it is about production.
"I don't think we necessarily have to force it with this guy or that guy at all," said Hofher. "We have to continue to work to execute this offense."
The Bulls next play the Akron Zips at home on Sept. 27.
Photo: Meredith Forrest Kulwicki
