On the football team’s first drive of its game against No. 8 Baylor Friday night, junior wide receiver Marcus McGill ran past the Bears’ coverage and was wide open down the sideline.
Junior quarterback Joe Licata hit McGill in the hands, but the receiver dropped the would-be touchdown that could have tied the game at seven.
Three plays later, Baylor freshman wide receiver KD Cannon beat the Buffalo coverage and ran open down the sideline as well.
Cannon caught his pass, resulting in an 89-yard touchdown and a 14-0 Baylor lead.
"We didn’t convert on it, they did,” said head coach Jeff Quinn. “They come right back and bam, they make the play, we don’t and there you go, there’s a 14-point swing before you know it.”
The touchdown was a part of Baylor’s 35 unanswered points to begin the game. The Bears (3-0) defeated the Bulls (1-2), 63-21 at UB Stadium in front of an announced crowd of 24,741. Baylor is the highest ranked opponent to play in UB Stadium and it was the first game in UB Stadium to be broadcast on ESPN. The game was a ‘blackout’ as Buffalo wore black jerseys and unveiled new black helmets.
Baylor led 35-0 and outgained Buffalo 432-78 in the first half. The Bears finished the first half with more touchdowns (five) than Buffalo had first downs (four).
Baylor senior quarterback Bryce Petty, who missed the Bears’ previous game with a back injury, finished the game 23 of 34 for 416 yards and four touchdowns. Petty was pulled at the end of the third quarter with Baylor leading 49-14.
Petty led four straight Baylor touchdown drives to the start the game, which gave the Bears a 28-0 advantage in the second quarter. Baylor’s first punt was due to a drop by wide receiver Devion Hall on third down.
“[Baylor’s offense] comes out fast and they give you some different formations and some different personnel groupings,” Quinn said. “The matchups were obviously something we were concerned going into this game. And they took advantage of it and we got exposed on a couple plays.”
Licata and the rest of the Bulls’ offense never got into a rhythm in the first half. Licata was under constant pressure and Buffalo crossed midfield just once.
The Bulls’ best opportunity to score in the first half came when McGill beat the Baylor coverage on the first drive of the game.
“Those are things that you can’t miss in this game,” Quinn said. “Our players are accountable; we’re all accountable. And when we put you into position to make a play and it’s that wide open, there’s no excuse for us not to convert. None. Zero.”
Buffalo scored on its second and third drives of the second half. It was the first two touchdowns Baylor allowed this season.
Senior wide receiver Devon Hughes took a short pass up the middle of the Bears’ defense for a 41-yard touchdown.
Junior wide receiver Ron Willoughby caught a 35-yard pass on a flea-flicker from Licata on the next drive. The Bulls quickly snapped the ball on the next play and junior running back Anthone Taylor ran for a 41-yard touchdown.
Petty responded to both Buffalo touchdowns with his third and fourth touchdown passes of the game.
Cannon caught six passes for 189 yards, including his 89-yard touchdown reception. Baylor wide receiver Jay Lee had nine catches for 136 yards and two touchdowns, while running back Shock Linwood led the Bears with 97 rushing yards and two touchdowns.
Licata finished 14 of 25 for 171 yards and a touchdown before junior quarterback Tony Daniel replaced him in the fourth quarter when the game seemed out of Buffalo’s reach. Hughes was Buffalo’s leading receiver with six catches for 72 yards and a touchdown.
Although Buffalo was 35-point underdogs against the reining Big 12 champions, Licata didn’t doubt Buffalo could win.
“I wasn’t dreaming about [winning the game], I expected to win this game,” Licata said. “You don’t play a game to just play it. As Herm Edwards would say, “You play to win the game.’”
Quinn said Buffalo needs to capitalize on being on the national stage in the future.
“[The athletic department] is trying to establish a big-time college environment here,” Quinn said. “[And to do that] you have to be able to attract a big-time opponent to come in. And then obviously to have ESPN, the mother ship, to come in here, our kids, they were excited about this whole atmosphere and what it represents. Now what we have to do is capitalize on it.”
The Bulls host Norfolk State (0-2) next Saturday at UB Stadium. Kickoff is set for 3:30 p.m.
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Photo: Courtesy of UB Athletics
