Exam 4 - Minnesota 41, Buffalo 17
Running Game
With senior running back Marquis Dwarte out of commission, it was up to redshirt freshman Aaron Leeper again. Leeper had a fine game, but didn't get as many carries as he would have liked since the team fell behind early. In the end he picked up 73 yards on 20 carries as the only back the Bulls used in the game. There were no fumbles and the offensive line was decent.
Grade: B-
Passing Game
UB quarterback Randall Secky was 20 of 35 for 190 yards with one touchdown and no interceptions. The TD catch was one of Andre Forde's seven catches for 74 yards. Six different Bulls caught passes. Drops on critical third downs killed drives. Minnesota had five sacks as Secky's protection was inconsistent.
Grade: C+
Run Defense
This was the worst part of the game for the Bulls. Minnesota amassed 299 yards on the ground. Gophers' running back Terry Jackson II gained 124 yards on 14 carries, although most of those came on a 71-yard jaunt.
Grade: C-
Pass Defense
Don't let the score deceive you, it was another impressive showing by the Bulls secondary. Minnesota had two players that were 6'6", tight end Ben Utecht and receiver Aaron Hosack, while the Bulls corners are both under six feet tall. Yet they held their own against the Gophers - Utecht had four catches for 23 yards, and Hosack had just one for five. UM quarterback Asad Abdul-Khaliq threw for 189 yards with three touchdowns and was sacked three times.
Grade: B
Special Teams
The Bulls were fooled on a fake field goal that went for a touchdown on UM's first possession, but after that they were solid. Pelz made both extra points and had a 41-yard field goal. Kick coverage was good. Punter Scott McMahan averaged 44.8 yards per kick. Forde was not explosive on kick returns but usually gave the team decent field position.
Grade: B
Coaching
The entire team deserves a lot of credit for not giving up . it may sound corny, but it's true. Buffalo was down 31-0 midway through the second quarter; many teams would have mailed it in. The Bulls, however, made a game of it and outscored UM 17-10 the rest of the way - a credit to the coaching staff. The Bulls brain trust was, however, outfoxed on the fake field goal - a play that Minnesota Head Coach Glen Mason had planned all week after watching UB on film. Still, Buffalo was certainly overmatched, and it was a competitive game until about six minutes were left. The Bulls coaches did more with less.
Grade: B+
Comment: Exam was graded on a curve considering the talent level of the opposition; no, I'm not going soft. Incidentally, I was heckled from the stands again.
by Michael Scott, Sr. Sports editor
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