Trailing by a single touchdown late in the fourth quarter, Buffalo (4-3, 2-1 MAC) were denied a chance to complete a comeback against the Western Michigan Broncos (4-3, 3-0 MAC).
After graduate linebacker Shaun Dolac had stopped the Broncos on 4th down with less than a minute in the game remaining, the Bulls were ready to push forward to potentially take the lead. But the referees deemed the ball to have crossed the marker; effectively putting the game out of reach for UB.
In what was the highest scoring game of the season so far for them, the Bulls were defeated on Saturday evening by Western Michigan in their homecoming game by a score of 48-41. The result handed Buffalo their first home loss this season, as well as their first defeat in Mid-American Conference (MAC) play, leaving the Broncos as the sole undefeated team in the conference.
The match started off with a bang, as junior edge Kobe Stewart recovered a fumble from the Broncos in just the second play of the game. Both teams would then trade scoring drives but the first quarter ended with UB in the lead as redshirt sophomore kicker Upton Bellenfant gave the Bulls a three-point edge.
The second quarter was more one-sided.
The Broncos scored three straight touchdowns before UB could muster a scoring drive of their own, with the second touchdown coming after a botched kickoff recovery gave possession right back to Western Michigan. With the Broncos appearing to be in full control of the game, the Bulls now found themselves facing an uphill battle.
After splitting a touchdown each in the third quarter, Buffalo began to put the pressure on in the fourth. Both redshirt sophomore wide receiver Victor Snow and junior running back Al-Jay Henderson scored rushing touchdowns; with Henderson scoring from 68 yards out. Western Michigan’s lead was now gone and the game was tied for the first time since the opening quarter at 38.
Although the Broncos regained a seemingly comfortable 10-point lead with less than three minutes left in the game, Buffalo were on their way to turn the tides yet again; but were stopped on a 3rd down try at the four-yard line. Rather than risk a turnover on downs, the Bulls opted to go for the field-goal and secure the three points. Bellenfant kept his perfect run of field-goal conversions alive this game, he is now nine-for-nine overall this season.
UB then decided to go for a normal kickoff and try to regain possession with just over a minute of playtime remaining. Having forced the Broncos into a 4th & 1 situation, UB then presumably halted the Broncos short of the first down, but after a controversial spot by the officials, the Broncos were awarded the first down, ending any hopes of a comeback for Buffalo.
Buffalo will look to recuperate in their next conference matchup next Saturday at Ohio (4-3, 2-1 MAC). Kickoff is set for noon.
Rodrigo Feijão is the senior sports editor and can be reached at rodrigo.feijao@ubspectrum.com
Photo: Ryan Hagen | UB Athletics
