Buffalo will have one more chance to show its fans what the 2004 edition of the Bulls can do when they take to the field at UB Stadium on Saturday for their final home match-up of the season against the Central Michigan Chippewas.
However, they will have to improve on their play from last week's home debacle. The Bulls were manhandled by Kent State, which dominated them in every aspect of the game.
"They made virtually all of the plays, we made virtually none," said Buffalo head coach Jim Hofher following last Saturday's loss. "We were very ineffective in all of our areas. We certainly have to give credit where credit is due to Kent, but we didn't play remotely good enough football."
No truer words have ever been spoken. The impressive rushing attack the Bulls have had the luxury of relying on for offense this year was almost completely shut out, gaining a season low four net yards rushing on 31 rushes.
Stephen King led all six UB runners with 13 yards on four carries. The next leading rusher was backup quarterback Datwan Hemmingway (9 yards) who only saw time when the game was out of reach in the fourth quarter.
The Bulls must get production from their running game against Central Michigan to have a chance to win. If the ground game again fails to get going, UB will have to turn to an inept passing game that ranks last in the Mid-American Conference with 126.3 yards passing per game.
UB has only managed 1,137 yards and scored just five touchdowns through the air as opposed to the 1,345 yards gained and thirteen touchdowns on the ground.
P.J. Piskorik has been under center for the majority of the snaps since Randall Secky was pulled from the starting position, but has been unable to settle in. On the season, Piskorik has completed 52 of 98 passes for 467 yards, two touchdowns, and six interceptions.
The struggles of the offense may have started to affect the defensive effort put forth by the Bulls in the past two games. Both Marshall and Kent State moved the ball fairly easily against the Buffalo defense.
Much of the opposing teams' success is coming against UB's rush defense. The defense is giving up 202.8 yards on the ground per game and has let the opposition run the ball into the end zone twenty times.
If the Bulls don't tighten up in this area, CMU may take full advantage of it. The Chippewas have the MAC's second most potent rushing attack and one of its more reliable backs.
Jerry Seymour is the workhorse in the backfield for Central Michigan. On the season, he has carried the ball 213 times for 1,059 yards and two touchdowns. Not only is Seymour CMU's primary option on the ground but Seymour has also gained 336 yards receiving, with a team-leading 39 receptions.
It is the job of CMU quarterback Kent Smith to get the ball to the team's playmaker, Seymour. The effective and versatile QB has completed 155 out of 273 passes for 1,892 yards and thirteen touchdowns.
Smith showed that he is another weapon the Bulls will have to keep their eye on last week. In a 61-58 four overtime loss to Eastern Michigan, Smith accounted for seven touchdowns by throwing five and rushing for two.
Smith uses his feet as much as his arm to get the job done. Smith's two rushing scores against EMU gave him a team leading nine rushing touchdowns on the year and the accolades of his coach.
"Kent (Smith) is really doing some good things for us," said CMU head coach Brian Kelly, "He's one of the bright spots we have entering next season. He's become a playmaker for us."
The UB defense will look to combat the recently explosive Chippewa offense by rallying around senior J.J. Gibson and freshman James Evans.
Evans is putting together a solid campaign for MAC Freshman of the Year honors. He is currently among the leaders in interceptions, passes deflected, and forced fumbles in the MAC.
Gibson, the leader of an impressive UB secondary, is currently ranked third in the MAC in tackles. He is also ranked 22nd in the nation in tackling, with 90 tackles this season. The senior will be playing in his last home game at UB, capping off a terrific career that may lead to All-MAC honors.
Gibson included, the Bulls and their fans will be saying their thanks and farewells to the thirteen seniors on the roster. The Bulls have not been able to send off their seniors with a victory on senior day since 1996.
The seniors will be honored in a ceremony before the game, which will postpone kickoff until 1:30 pm.
