Huddle up

UB's defense has proven this season that it has the experience and talent to match up with some of the top guns on the gridiron.

But as UB has discovered, only so much can be accomplished with the defensive unit.

The Bulls hope to get its fountain of youth on offense springing to life Saturday going into a conference match-up against Ohio University. UB's dismal 0-7 overall record (0-4 Mid-American Conference) could really use the help of anyone willing to contribute, though the struggling Bulls are forced to continue to lean on its inexperienced quarterback Drew Willy.

The freshman QB has started the past four games and, according to junior tight end Chad Upshaw, is showing improvement and poise as the man under center.

"Drew just has done a great job overall, just stepping in and taking the reigns of the offense and really being a consistent guy out there for us, which we really haven't had, since I've been here at least," Upshaw said.

Willy's most successful game came against Western Michigan, where he completed 30 of 38 attempts for 288 yards. That performance was four games ago and since then Willy has gone 40 for 80 with four interceptions and just 425 yards.

"If you look at it from just a numbers perspective, he started off a little bit stronger," Upshaw said. "His numbers have been down a little bit since his one really strong game against Western Michigan but I don't think that's necessarily reflective of his play.

Upshaw also commended Willy's leadership.

"Every week he just surprises me more and more how poised he is," he said. "He's not shy in the huddle. He's not getting in the guys' faces but he's always in there."

Willy has become good at finding another freshman downfield. Wide receiver Brett Hamlin leads the Bulls in receptions with 25 catches for 275 yards, ranking in the top three for receiving in every game but one.

"Brett has been a terrific worker and a very mature football player for his age," head coach Jim Hofher said. "He's been a very consistent catcher. He's played a lot more like an upperclassman than he has like a freshman but he's had his moments too and those are to be expected."

"He's really gone out there and made some terrific catches and maybe some catches in which the ball shouldn't have even been thrown to him," Hofher added. "Once it's in the air, he's been a guy to go fight for it."

Another dominant freshman is fullback Philip Warren, a 270-pound beast who has pummeled his way through defenses and racked up 173 yards rushing on 35 attempts.

UB's freshman-laced offense will have its chances to make an impact on Saturday, hosting the Ohio Bobcats, the team that was on the losing side of the last shutout the Bulls served. Back in 2001, Buffalo downed the Bobcats 44-0 at UB Stadium in the second win of Hofher's head coaching career at UB.

The Bulls have amassed just five wins since that shutout, and the Bobcats have hired former Nebraska head coach Frank Solich, who led Ohio to an overtime defeat of Pittsburgh earlier this season.

With a big-name coach and a win over a big team, Ohio is also home to linebacker Matt Muncy, MAC East Defensive Player of the Week, and the MAC East Offensive Player of the Week, running back Kalvin McRae, the team's leading rusher who averages over 100 yards per game.

"They're coming off a game where (McRae) had the highest amount of rushing yards of anybody in the country so far this season," Hofher said. "He had 264 yards rushing and he's the MAC East player of the week, as he should be. They have a linebacker who is the MAC East player of the week on defense, who last week forced a fumble, recovered two fumbles and had his way with us a year ago."

The Bobcats' offense is under the command of quarterback Austen Everson, who combines with McRae for 872 yards rushing this season in 196 attempts.

"They are a football team that I think is running the ball very well on offense," Hofher continued. "I think they are doing an excellent job certainly on how aggressive they are playing on defense. I think it's a tremendous challenge for our football team in facing OU."

UB's challenge begins at 1:30 on Saturday with the gates of UB Stadium opening at 12:30 p.m.