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Wednesday, May 08, 2024
The independent student publication of The University at Buffalo, since 1950

Gridiron Report Card

The Spectrum grades the Bulls following 26-23 win vs. Stony Brook

Passing game: C+

The Good: Sophomore quarterback Joe Licata was efficient in completing 56.25 percent of his passes. He was finally able to get other receivers besides senior Alex Neutz involved.

The Bad: A lot of the passes were scripted - screens and short routes - that didn't result in much yardage. Licata's interception in the fourth overtime was inexcusable.

Run game: B+

The Good: In the absence of senior running back Branden Oliver, sophomore Anthone Taylor was finally able to give the Bulls' rushing attack some productivity. Taylor had career-highs of 118 yards on 24 carries and a pair of touchdowns. His 32-yard run was the Bulls' longest of the season.

The Bad: Licata and Taylor fumbled a handoff in the third overtime that almost cost the Bulls the game.

Receiving: B

The Good: Receivers not named 'Alex Neutz' made an appearance. Seven different Bulls caught passes, and senior wideout Fred Lee had a season-high seven catches.

The Bad: After notching 197 yards on six catches last week against Baylor, Neutz managed only 43 yards on 10 catches, though he did have a touchdown in overtime.

Offensive line: B-

The Good: The pass protection was solid. Licata stood in the pocket with plenty of time to pick his targets.

The Bad: The run game was certainly an improvement from the first two games of the season, but it took a whole half for it to develop.

Run defense: A

The Good: The Seawolves struggled to find any holes as the Bulls' defensive front limited them to 3.1 yards per carry on the day.

The Bad: Stony Brook was still able to compile 140 yards on the ground.

Pass rush: B+

The Good: Senior safety Okoye Houston had a hammering sack in the third quarter. As a team, the Bulls had five hits on quarterback Lyle Negron.

The Bad: As disruptive as they appeared, two sacks on the day seems a bit lackluster.

Pass defense: B+

The Good: Senior cornerback Najja Johnson made a great play on the ball in the first quarter to record his first interception on the season. Johnson also had a few key breakups late in the game and in overtime.

The Bad: The Seawolves' passing was more efficient than an FCS opponent should be. The Bulls allowed 300 yards and a 52 percent completion rate.

Special teams: B-

The Good: Junior kicker Patrick Clarke drilled a 42-yard field goal in the first overtime to tie the game and keep the Bulls' hopes alive.

The Bad: Clarke missed two field goals - one from 34 yards out near the end of the fourth quarter that would have given the Bulls a two-possession lead.

Coaching: F

The Good: The Bulls never gave up. Even with their backs up against the wall in overtime, head coach Jeff Quinn and his staff found a way to motivate the team to keep fighting.

The Bad: This game was far too close. The defense was phenomenal in regulation, but the offense was lackluster, mainly because of the play calling. The first half was almost completely passing and the second half was almost exclusively rushing attempts. Stony Brook had no problem stopping Quinn's game plan.

Email: sports@ubspectrum.com


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