After taking a 21-0 lead over Football Championship Subdivision (FCS) Duquesne in its season opener last week, the football team allowed the Dukes to rally back into the game with turnovers and mental mistakes.
Buffalo recovered to win 38-28, but the Bulls know they might not get away with such mistakes against a Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) team at Army this Saturday.
“We need to do a better job communicating and making better decisions,” said head coach Jeff Quinn. “That was certainly something [last week] that we can’t afford to let happen [against Army].”
The Bulls (1-0) look to get their first 2-0 start since 1983 – and their first in the Division I era, which began in 1999 – when they go on the road Saturday to face the Black Knights. Army hasn’t played this season but finished in 2013 with a 3-9 record.
Buffalo held the Dukes to just 51 rushing yards last week. The Bulls’ run defense will be challenged by first-year Army head coach Jeff Monken’s triple-option offense, which features three different players posing a threat of running the ball on a given play.
Monken was FCS Georgia Southern’s head coach last year. The Eagles upset Florida 26-20 in the final game of the season without completing a single pass.
Army’s offense features Terry Baggett and Larry Dixon, two senior running backs that ran for more than 700 yards and averaged more than 6 yards a carry last season.
“Army is very unique – the way they run the ball is different from just about any other school,” said Kristjan Sokoli, a senior defensive lineman. “Their offensive line plays a lot lower, they come off almost like defensive linemen – but it’s a new challenge and we just have to respond.”
The Knights’ senior quarterback, Angel Santiago, is also a threat to run. Santiago threw for 597 yards and two touchdowns last season and ran for 598 yards and had a team-high 10 rushing touchdowns.
Buffalo might welcome Army’s lack of a pass offense, as it allowed 322 passing yards to Duquesne last week.
The Bulls’ pass offense was aided last week by the emergence of junior wide receiver Ron Willoughby. The 6-foot-4 receiver was able to overpower Duquesne’s smaller cornerbacks, setting a personal record of 10 catches for 132 yards and two touchdowns.
Buffalo might have to rely on its other receivers to have a more balanced offense.
The Bulls go into the game without much scouting knowledge of the Black Knights.
“We don’t know much about Army,” Quinn said. “We’ve seen their players from last year, but it’s a brand new coaching staff and they didn’t play last week. So we’ve been piecing where each coach comes from.”
Sokoli looks forward to sharing the field with Army, as the players on the other side are training for a much different career than most at UB.
“I’m very thankful for what [the U.S. army] does for our country,” Sokoli said. “I appreciate their support very much and it’s an honor to be on the field with them. Those guys are great competitors – it will be an honor.”
In 2005, while coaching for Central Michigan, Quinn played West Point.
Quinn said competing against our armed forces was “more than just football – it went beyond the field."
The game kicks off at noon in West Point, New York and will be shown on CBS Sports Network.
email: sports@ubspectrum.com
BUFFALO VS. ARMY (-3.5): Staff predictions
Owen O’brien, Managing Editor
@owenobri (1-0): Army
Buffalo won’t have enough possession to make up for stalls like last week. Army will control the clock enough for a one-score victory.
Tom Dinki, Senior Sports Editor
@tomdinki (1-0): Army
Buffalo held the Dukes to 51 yards rushing last week. They won’t do the same against Army’s triple-option. Can’t trust the Bulls after last week.
Andy Koniuch, Sports Editor
@andykoniuch (1-0): Buffalo
Last week was frightening, but the Bulls did dominate early. I think the team will be more focused going into Saturday. I’m calling a three-point game in Buffalo’s favor.
Jordan Grossman, Asst. Sports Editor
@jordangrossman (1-0): Army
It comes down to vulnerable defenses. The Bulls are going to have more trouble handling Army’s unique triple-option attack.
Photo: Courtesy of UB Athletics
