When senior linebacker Khalil Mack watched senior running back Branden Oliver muff a punt for the White team, giving the Blue squad the ball on the White 20-yard line, one thought went through his head:
He wanted to fight Oliver, his training partner and one of his closest friends.
"He told me it's kind of difficult being back there and seeing the wind and all that type of stuff taking effect, and it was a windy day," Mack said. "He knows that I won't accept him dropping the punt."
Saturday's annual Blue-White Game, which the Blue team won 17-3, featured some unique situations for the Bulls. Aside from competing against their own teammates, players switched sides mid-game, creating confusion and some odd conditions.
The weather was also less than ideal at UB Stadium, with temperatures in the high 30s, strong winds and even snow at times. It felt more like November than April.
Head coach Jeff Quinn had Oliver and sophomore running back Devin Campbell return the majority of the punts throughout the game for both teams, despite their taking offensive snaps with the Blue team.
The stat sheet featured some other anomalies, as multiple players racked up stats for both sides.
Sophomore running back Anthone Taylor played the entire first half with the White team, before coming out in the second half in a blue jersey.
Senior quarterback Alex Zordich took snaps for both teams and freshman tight end Mason Schreck caught passes for both sides as well.
Sophomore punter Tyler Grassman was among the players who saw the most playing time. Grassman was the punter for both teams, punting the ball 14 times for a total of 580 yards.
Because the Bulls were competing against each other, there was at least one prideful confrontation after the game.
In the second half, sophomore tight end Matt Weiser broke away from junior Blake Bean on a route up the middle and sophomore quarterback Joe Licata led Weiser perfectly down the field for a 42-yard touchdown.
"Blake Bean was in the locker room yelling at me for picking on him for the touchdown to Matt Weiser," Licata said. "I had to apologize to him because he is my teammate, but we were going against him."
Some unexpected players owned the day. Taylor, who redshirted last season while recovering from a knee injury, was the second-leading rusher for both sides, totaling 68 yards.
Weiser and Schreck also had impressive performances. Weiser had three catches for 71 yards, including the touchdown reception. Schrek had three catches for 20 yards.
Missing from the action were senior wide receiver Fred Lee and senior tight end Alex Dennison. Lee is recovering from a concussion. Dennison has been nursing a knee injury all spring and has been limited in his practice reps.
The Bulls only graduated three starters last season and have found a plethora of weapons to fight for playing time on both the offensive and defensive sides of the ball.
Buffalo can now begin the countdown to the first game of the season, which will be at Ohio State - likely to be ranked No. 1 in the country - on Aug. 31. Kickoff time has yet to be announced.
Email: sports@ubspectrum.com
Photo: Courtesy of UB Athletics
