Huskies maul Bulls

Here we go again.

UB football suffered another inauspicious opening Thursday night, losing 38-0 to the University of Connecticut Huskies in front of a sell-out crowd in Hartford.

Much like the way the season ended when the two teams met last year, the Huskies put on a home field spectacle, thoroughly trouncing the Bulls both on offense and defense.

"We didn't create enough first downs in the drives and we weren't consistent in our running game," said head coach Jim Hofher. "We are going to have to be an improving football team."

In the first half UConn scored early with a field goal about six minutes into the game, then blew open the game, scoring three touchdowns by halftime.

Heading into the second half leading 24-0, UConn continued their offensive assault while the Bulls failed to generate any offense of their own. Huskies' quarterback Matt Bonislawski finished the game with a total of five touchdowns and 112 yards, going 11 for 16 on the day.

"We have to make sure we to the ordinary things, extraordinarily well," said Bulls senior defensive tackle Kirk Berry, who had eight tackles on the day. "We didn't do that tonight."

Freshman quarterback Stewart Sampsel finished his first career start with six completions on ten attempts for a total of 51 yards. Sampsel's offense went just one for nine on third down conversions with his longest completion of the day coming when he connected with junior Jared Patterson for a career high 34 yards.

After the blow-out, Sampsel remained optimistic.

"I think we can improve and I look forward to next week's game," said Sampsel.

Also seeing limited time at quarterback for the Bulls was junior Tony Paoli. Paoli, who was in the running for the starting job late into the preseason before ultimately being beat out by Sampsel, went three for three on the day for a total of nine yards.

One highlight in an otherwise dim outing for Buffalo came when senior linebacker Bryan Cummings recorded his 200th career tackle, finishing the day with a team-leading nine tackles.

Adding injury to insult for the Bulls was a possible neck or back injury suffered by senior offensive lineman Zackary Love.

"Zack Love is a guy I would be concerned with," said Hofher at a post game press conference.

With more than a week to recover, the Bulls will travel to Syracuse on September 10 where they will face the Orange in a 3:30 p.m. game.