The football team defeated UMass, 32-3, for its fifth straight victory. UB is now 5-2 (3-0 Mid-American Conference).
Passing Game: B
The Good: Sophomore quarterback Joe Licata did exactly what he needed to do, complementing the dominant run game with mid-range passes and taking care of the ball.
The Bad: There were no long pass completions, but that can be chalked up to playing the majority of the game without senior receiver Alex Neutz.
Run Game: A
The Good: The run game looked stellar again this week. Senior running back Branden Oliver ran for 216 yards on a school record 43 attempts. He passed James Starks as the Bulls' all-time leader in career rushing yards.
The Bad: Sophomore Devin Campbell was the only other back to have a rushing attempt - it went for one yard.
Receiving: B
The Good: Six different receivers had at least one catch and almost everything that was catchable was caught.
The Bad: Neutz left the game early in the second quarter after taking a hit to the head. At halftime, it was announced that he was suffering a concussion. After the game, head coach Jeff Quinn said he expects to have Neutz back soon.
Offensive Line: A-
The Good: The running game had no problem getting going, with Oliver approaching 100 yards in the first half. Licata was given a lot of time in the pocket all game.
The Bad: Senior Jasen Carlson left with a leg injury on the play before Neutz left. Quinn later announced Carlson is out for the season.
Run Defense: B+
The Good: The Minutemen struggled immensely, with every player who attempted a rush averaging under three yards per carry.
The Bad: There were some long rushes allowed, namely quarterback A.J. Doyle's 18-yard rush.
Pass Rush: A
The Good: The Bulls forced Doyle to scramble on nearly every pass play and consistently collapsed the pocket around him.
The Bad: They had trouble getting to Doyle when he escaped the pocket, allowing him to extend plays.
Pass Defense: B+
The Good: Senior linebacker Khalil Mack had his second pick-six of the season, and the Bulls held Doyle to 14-of-28 passing for 162 yards and an interception.
The Bad: There were huge holes in coverage on some plays, allowing the Minutemen to move down the field with ease at times.
Special Teams: B+
The Good: Junior kicker Pat Clarke tied a career high with three field goals.
The Bad: Kick coverage allowed a few big returns and an average of over 25 yards per run back.
Coaching: B+
The Good: The Bulls stuck with their run-first game plan again, and it paid dividends as Oliver ran for over 200 yards and a touchdown.
The Bad: Oliver had 43 rushes - a school record. In a game that was basically over after three quarters, Quinn risked injuring Oliver.
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Photo: Paul Hokanson/UB Athletics
