Former UB football standout Chad Bartoszek played a significant role in Team USA's defeat of Team Florida, 20-17, Saturday afternoon in the Rotary Gridiron Classic at the Citrus Bowl.
The game, televised live on ESPN2, came down to the final minute with in. Bartoszek caught a 28-yard pass across the middle from Grand Valley State's Curt Anes to set up the 49-yard game-winning field goal by Cincinnati's Jonathan Ruffin with 13 seconds left.
"At the end of the game, I was really excited to get back on the field," said Bartoszek. "I was glad we called that play again. Coach had probably called it three times when I was in the game, but that was the first time the QB looked at me. It was a perfect pass and I was working on a linebacker from Florida. I had been trying to set him up all game."
Team Florida had returned from a 17-3 deficit in the second half to tie the game before Team USA got the ball with just over a minute remaining and drove for the winning score.
Bartoszek, who had three catches for 43 yards in the game, caught a nine-yard touchdown pass from Wisconsin's Brooks Bollinger to give his team a 14-3 lead in the second quarter.
"I was very nervous at the beginning of the game, but after I caught the touchdown pass I settled down. That was something I hadn't done in a long time," said Bartoszek, who was held out of the end zone during his senior season. "It was different playing against the biggest schools in the country. During the week it felt more businesslike with the pressure from the scouts and trying to adjust to playing again, but everything turned out great with the fact that we won and I was able to contribute."
Bartoszek, a Salamanca native, was Buffalo's first senior to participate in a post-season All-Star game since Gerry Philbin in 1964 prior to being drafted by the New York Jets.
Photo: Courtesy of Laron Fomby
