Bulls knock off Lafayette to open football season

The UB football team (1-0, 0-0 MAC) defeated the Lafayette Leopards (0-1, 0-0 PAT) by a score of 30-13 at UB Stadium on Thursday night, marking their first win under new head coach Pete Lembo. The Bulls demonstrated a new and improved outfit after a disappointing 3-9 campaign last season. They frustrated the Leopards’ offense and made the most of their redzone opportunities, resulting in a comfortable 17-point victory over the reigning Patriot League champs.

After former head coach Maurice Linguist resigned on Jan. 16, all eyes were on Lembo to turn things around for the Bulls. Lembo, who was most recently the special teams coordinator for the South Carolina Gamecocks, was named Buffalo’s head coach just five days later. Bringing an impressive resume to the table, Lembo coached his way to an outstanding 79-36 record during his 10 years in the Football Championship Subdivision (FCS). 

The Bulls came out firing in front of their home crowd, as their second drive of the game was capped off by a touchdown from junior running back Al-Jay Henderson. The Bulls struck again on their following drive, as senior Quarterback C.J. Ogbonna threw a 31-yard pass into the arms of redshirt sophomore wide receiver Nik McMillan for six. All the while, Lafayette’s offense was stifled by the relentless Bulls defense, which allowed just 223 yards of total offense on the night.

The Bulls carried a 16-0 lead into the half, which would be cut to 10 shortly into the third quarter. Ogbonna wasn’t done, this time dropping a deep ball into the hands of graduate wide receiver Taji Johnson, who impressively kept his feet in bounds for the touchdown. The Leopards scored a touchdown for a second time in the fourth, but it proved to be too little too late. An interception from graduate linebacker Shuan Dolac set up senior running back Jacqez Barksdale for another score, giving the Bulls the 17-point cushion and pushing the game out of reach.

Pete Lembo’s version of the Buffalo Bulls will look to continue their winning ways next week on the road against the University of Missouri Tigers, a team currently ranked No. 11 in the nation. The two will meet on Saturday, Sept. 7 at 7 p.m., at Faurot Field in Missouri.

The sports desk can be reached at sports@ubspectrum.com