Quarterback: B+
The Good: If the players around junior quarterback Joe Licata were able to finish plays, the grade would be higher. Licata played a commendable game, going 25 for 36 with 298 yards and three touchdowns. The quarterback led two fourth-quarter scoring drives, both ending with touchdown passes to junior wide receiver Ron Willoughby to take the lead and seal the victory.
The Bad: With the Bulls on the Dukes’ 27-yard line at the end of the first half, Licata completed just two four-yard passes and then was sacked on third down after being flushed out of the pocket. Buffalo had to settle for a 44-yard field goal attempt – which was missed – to end the half.
He also had a few mental errors – including an interception in the red zone in the second quarter. With the way the receivers, beside Willoughby, played there was only so much Licata could do.
Running Backs: B
The Good: The Bulls worked all three running backs into the game and the backfield consistently looked sharp. Junior running back Anthone Taylor got most of the workload, as he carried the ball 30 times for 115 yards and two touchdowns.
The Bulls were efficient in running out the clock in the fourth quarter. Taylor and sophomore running back Jordan Johnson were effective on a 16-play, 76-yard drive that lasted 6:34 and gave Duquesne the ball back with just 1:24 remaining.
The Bad: Despite rushing for 174 yards, Buffalo averaged just 3.6 yards a carry. That number is even more concerning when you take into account that Duquesne is a Football Championship Subdivision (FCS) school and Buffalo’s offensive line should have manhandled them at the line of scrimmage. Taylor fumbled near the end of the first quarter, but luckily for him, senior left tackle Jake Silas recovered the ball.
Wide Receivers and tight ends: C+
The Good: Had it not been for the production of Willoughby, the receivers would have severely suffered. But there were bright spots. Willoughby went off for 10 receptions and 132 yards and two touchdowns, all career-highs. The 6-foot-4 receiver dominated Dukes’ 5-foot-9 cornerback.
The Bad: Wide receivers Marcus McGill, Devon Hughes, Boise Ross and Jacob Martinez combined for a meager nine receptions for 88 yards, including dropped passes and poor routes. They may not be able to rely Willoughby every week, so Licata will have to develop more chemistry with the other receivers on the team.
Tight Matt Weiser only had one reception after his 41-yard touchdown in the first drive. The 6-foot-5 weapon should be better utilized throughout the game.
Offensive Line: B+
The Good: With the exception of two sacks, the offensive line did not give up much room up front. The team was hoping the line would be a mainstay that continued from last season. They were right.
They gave plenty of room for Licata to step up into the pocket and it was a rarity to see him get pressured. The offense line created opportunities in the running game, resulting in 174 rushing yards for the team on the day.
The Bad: There wasn’t much to criticize, but there were some mental mistakes. Senior left guard Andre Davis had a holding penalty early in the second half and the line gave up a crucial sack while Buffalo was driving at the end of the first half. As long as they rid the mental mistakes, the line should be the least of the teams’ problems.
Rush Defense: A-
The Good: There’s a reason why the Dukes only ran for 51 yards and averaged only 1.5 yards a carry. The big men up front did exactly what they were supposed to do: Stop the run.
One of defense’s best moments came in the second quarter when the Dukes were driving into Buffalo territory. Senior defensive lineman Kristjan Sokoli had tackle for a loss, followed up by back-to-back sacks from senior defensive end Tedroy Lynch and senior safety Adam Redden that forced a punt. Senior linebacker Lee Skinner made some nice plays and finished with seven tackles.
The Bad: The front seven needs to step up in goal-line situations, as they allowed an easy 3-yard touchdown run by the Dukes’ fullback to begin the second half.
Pass Defense: D-
The Good: Senior cornerback Courtney Lester had moments where he made some nice plays in one-on-one coverage. Redden had a great game as well, culminating with seven tackles, two sacks and two-and-a-half tackles for loss.
The Bad: It appeared the pass defense forgot to return to the field to begin the second half as Duquesne receivers ran uncovered down the field throughout the final 30 minutes. Buffalo allowed wide receiver Chris King to catch eight passes for 199 yards and two touchdowns, including an 88-yard score that tied the game at 21.
The secondary made Duquesne quarterback Dillon Buechel look like a star, as he threw for 322 yards and three touchdowns. Lester did not look like the shutdown corner he was supposed to be and defensive backs Witney Sherry and Dwellie Striggles were virtually non-existent. Teams are going to look to exploit this weakness and will torch the defensive backs for the rest of the season if things do not change.
Special Teams: D
The Good: Junior punter Tyler Grassman punted the ball five times with a 45.8-yard average, including a long of 51 yards and senior kicker Patrick Clarke had three touchbacks.
The Bad: The special teams were not ready for this game. The unit made too many mental mistakes, including a fumble on a punt by McGill that was recovered by Duquesne. The Bulls had an opportunity to block a botched punt midway through the fourth quarter, but to no avail. Clarke missed a 44-yard field goal to end the first half. Buffalo’s special teams need to prepare much better if they expect success against better talent.
Coaching: C
The Good: If the game ended in the first quarter, coaching would have received an ‘A.’ Unfortunately for head coach Jeff Quinn, football games have four quarters. The Bulls were torching the Dukes in every way possible, taking an early 21-0 lead in the second quarter.
After falling behind 28-24, Quinn did keep the team together to rally for the win. When the Bulls retook the lead and possessed the ball, Quinn listened to Licata and Davis’ suggestion to try a quarterback sneak on fourth-and-one rather than punting the ball. Licata picked up the first down and the Bulls were able to run out a good portion of the clock in the fourth quarter.
The Bad: The Bulls should have never been in the position to have to come back. Going up against an FCS team in its first-ever game against an FBS school, Buffalo should have been able to pull its starters out and start thinking about Army at halftime. With the way Buffalo was dominating in the second quarter, it’s clear the team got complacent with the lead. Quinn said after the game that his players are not coached to get comfortable with a lead. But that’s how they played.
email: sports@ubspectrum.com
Photo: Courtesy of UB Athletics
