In past seasons, by the time mid-October came around, most Buffalo Bulls fans had already shifted their focus to the upcoming basketball season. However, this year the football team has given fans something to cheer about, as they control their own destiny in the Mid-American Conference (MAC) with four games left in the season.
This weekend, the Bulls (3-5, 3-1 MAC) have a crucial home game with MAC East foe Akron (3-4, 2-1 MAC). Buffalo is coming off a 20-12 loss to Syracuse, while the Zips had their bye week.
With the Bulls' remaining games against MAC East teams, it has become a four-game season for the Bulls. If they win out, they reserve a date in Detroit for the MAC Championship.
Head Coach Turner Gill is not worried about the Syracuse loss affecting the team's morale; it was not a MAC loss, and the Bulls know that.
"Obviously you want to win them all, but maybe it's good from the standpoint that our guys need to get their focus back," he said. "We got a little bit of bite left in us, and guys are eager to come back and get things going back in the right track and play better."
Against Syracuse, the offense was able to drive down the field with success, but was unable to get into the end zone. Four times the Bulls had to settle for field goals. Not concerned about the stalling offense, Gill is confident they will step up this weekend.
"It was one ballgame, and those things happen. There's nothing there that cannot be corrected," Gill said. "We're going to do the things we do, get together and play a great game."
Against Syracuse, the Bulls had a tough time establishing a running game. During the game, Gill got away from the run in favor for more passing plays.
"We were not able to get (the running game) going," he said. "But the receivers made plays. Drew Willy made plays as far as throwing the football. We're capable of throwing the ball. So we can take those things, build from it and be ready to go these next four games."
With Akron already saying they will commit to stopping sophomore running back James Starks and the Bulls running attack, there has been a question as to the Bull's game plan; will they continue to throw the ball more as they did against Syracuse?
With the knowledge that the next four MAC opponents will load the box to stop the run, Gill is committed to establishing a ground attack.
"We are going to run the football," Gill said. "We're not going to change our identity. We're still going to run the football and do what we do."
The Bulls' defense was able to hold Syracuse to 20 points and was able to force two turnovers. They will need to keep up their fine play when they take on the Zip offense, led by wide receiver Jabari Arthur, who leads the MAC in receptions.
"(Arthur) is a guy we're going to have to contain. You're not going to totally stop him. He makes plays," Gill said. "They have a quarterback in his first year as starter. He's done some good things for them. They're more of a throwing attack, but we always have to stop the run to make sure that doesn't get started."
One player who will try to contain Arthur is freshman safety Davonte Shannon. Shannon continued his fine play with nine tackles, two sacks and an interception against the Orange.
"We knew when we recruited (Shannon) that he was an outstanding player," Gill said. "He's done a tremendous job at coming in and making plays. He's a playmaker, we're proud of him, and he has helped our defense tremendously."
Gill has acknowledged that his team has played big receivers in the past couple of games, so Arthur does not present an unstoppable obstacle.
"The good thing about it is our guys have faced big receivers. It's not a shock or a surprise how big this guy is or how fast this guy is," he said.
The game is scheduled for 1 p.m. at UB Stadium.
Photo: Breadchastick / Wikimedia Commons
