UB football (3-2, 1-0 MAC) were beaten decisively by the UConn Huskies (3-2, 0-0 FBS I) by a one-sided score of 47-3 this Saturday at Pratt & Whitney Stadium. In what was their first match on a natural grass field since 2019, the Bulls were unable to reach the endzone, and their defense succumbed to the Huskies’ relentless offensive pressure.
Both teams were coming off impressive showings in their last appearances, with the Bulls upsetting NIU (2-2, 0-1 MAC) and UConn beating Florida Atlantic (1-3, 0-1 AAC). UB couldn’t manage to replicate their performance from last week against the Huskies.
The first half saw the Huskies pull ahead with four scoring drives produced from their six possessions. After scoring an opening drive field goal, UConn proceeded to score two touchdowns and two more field goals to give them a 23-0 lead. UB’s only points of the game came just before the end of the second quarter, when redshirt sophomore kicker Upton Bellefant scored a field goal from 47 yards; the longest conversion of his collegiate career.
In the second half of the match, UConn continued their offensive assault, reaching the end zone three times and scoring their fourth field goal of the game. Buffalo’s offense, meanwhile, struggled to form a rhythm against the Huskie defense. The Bulls only managed to record 198 yards total compared to the Huskies 537.
Buffalo’s defense was once again led by graduate linebacker Shaun Dolac, who recorded 10 total tackles and a sack. He has had tackles reach the double digits and had a tackle for loss every game so far this season. Redshirt sophomore linebacker Red Murdock also had a solid performance, he set his UB career high in tackles at 14 and recorded a sack.
Buffalo will now have a bye week, but will return to Mid-American Conference play to take on the Toledo Rockets (3-1, 0-0 MAC) on October 12th at UB Stadium.
Rodrigo Feijão is the senior sports editor and can be reached at rodrigo.feijao@ubspectrum.com
Photo: Paul Hokanson / UB Athletics
