The Bulls’ (1-3, 1-0 MAC) offense was on fire at Rynearson Stadium Saturday, as UB defeated the Eastern Michigan Eagles (2-2, 0-1 MAC), 50-31, to secure its first win this season. After a tough loss last week at Coastal Carolina and a major upset the week prior against FCS opponent Holy Cross, the in-conference win is a breath of fresh air for the UB football team.
Buffalo now stands at first place in the MAC with a 1-0 conference record. Head coach Maurice Linguist will look to build upon Saturday’s strong offensive attack as the Bulls dive into their conference schedule this season.
The Bulls offense is hot
Sophomore quarterback Cole Snyder recorded four total touchdowns in UB’s victory: two passing and two rushing, along with 297 passing yards. Snyder completed 69% of his passes, going 20-for-29.
Graduate wide receiver Quian Williams had a solid performance with six receptions for 99 yards and a touchdown. Williams has shined with Snyder at the helm in this Bulls offense, scoring at least one touchdown in the past three games.
Another bright spot for UB was sophomore wide receiver Jamari Gassett, who took a dart from Snyder to the house for a 65-yard touchdown.
The Bulls’ rushing attack was just as dominant as their passing game. Redshirt freshman running back Mike Washington ran for 71 yards and two touchdowns, while senior running back Ron Cook Jr. rushed 19 times for a total of 92 yards.
Despite UB’s explosive offensive against Eastern Michigan, graduate wide receiver Justin Marshall had a rather quiet day, securing only three receptions for 45 yards.
UB defense does enough
UB’s defense wasn’t perfect, but did enough to help the Bulls secure the victory on Saturday. The defense forced EMU sophomore quarterback Austin Smith to go 12-for-19 with 190 yards, one touchdown and one interception.
The Eagles’ offensive line struggled, which resulted in increased pressure on Smith, leaving him with little pocket mobility and no opportunity to make any massive plays.
Junior linebacker Shaun Dolac led the Bulls with 13 tackles while fifth-year linebacker James Patterson intercepted Smith in the fourth quarter. Senior defensive tackle Daymond Williams generated pressure all game and got on the stat sheet with a sack.
The Eagles couldn’t keep up with the Bulls on offense, but graduate wide receiver Tanner Knue shined with three catches for 106 yards and a touchdown.
The EMU special teams also contributed, as junior running back Jaylon Jackson who exploded for an 89-yard kick return touchdown.
Going forward
Saturday’s win is a confidence boost for a UB team that’s seeing its first victory in seven consecutive games dating back to last season. If the Bulls are to continue this success, they’ll need their defense to play better against Miami (OH) next week, as they are letting up an average of 34.25 points per game. UB comes home to play Miami (OH) Saturday at 3:30 p.m. The game will be streamed on ESPN+.
Dylan Greco is the assistant sports editor and can be reached at dylan.greco@ubspectrum.com
Photo: Ryan Hagen | UB Athletics
