Football (3-8, 3-4 MAC) lost a Mid-American Conference (MAC) matchup against the Miami (OH) RedHawks (9-2, 6-1 MAC) 23-10, at Yager Stadium on Wednesday night. They failed to spoil the RedHawks’ senior night, instead allowing Miami to clinch the MAC-East title.
The game showcased the Bulls’ lack of an effective passing attack, as well as their periodic offensive line struggles. The Bulls were eliminated from bowl contention last week.
The Bulls struggled once again, a trend for them this season.
The Bulls could not complete a pass for a gain until right before the two-minute warning in the first half. The running back committee, graduate Ron Cook Jr. and junior Jacquez Barksdale, in addition to a balanced rushing attack from both UB quarterbacks, senior Cole Snyder and junior CJ Ogbonna, carried nearly the entire Bulls offensive load.
The Bulls’ defense held the RedHawks to only 13 yards of offense in the first quarter.
The Bulls continued the back-and-forth of their quarterbacks the rest of the game. After what seemed to be another short drive by the Bulls, Linguist called a successful fake punt, the longest Bulls play of the game, a 27-yard catch and run by senior wide receiver Darrell Harding Jr. The Bulls capitalized off a clutch offside penalty on a field goal attempt with three rushes and Ogbonna with the score, 13-10 Miami (OH). The Bulls had a chance to capitalize again after a defensive stop, but stalled once again on offense. Miami (OH) stretched its lead with a huge reception, and a plug-in short rush touchdown, 20-10.
A strange play involving a 80-yard pass from Snyder to senior Marlyn Johnson for a touchdown was overturned as a touchback because the receiver fumbled the ball around the two, and it was recovered by a Bull who was out of bounds, effectively sealing the victory for the RedHawks, 23-10.
The Bulls ended the game with 140 yards on 43 rushing attempts. They went 7-17 on passing attempts with 147 yards. The defense allowed 334 yards to Miami (OH).
The Bulls head back home to UB Stadium to play their final game of the season, another MAC showdown, against the Eastern Michigan Eagles (5-6, 3-4 MAC) on Tuesday. The game can be streamed live on ESPN+.
The sports desk can be reached at sports@ubspectrum.com
Photo: Ryan Hagen | UB Athletics
