UB football (3-9, 3-5 MAC) lost its final game of the season against the Eastern Michigan Eagles (6-6, 4-4 MAC) 24-11, at UB Stadium on Tuesday night. The game highlighted the Bulls’ lack of ball security with multiple fumbles and an inability to stop the run. They failed to put points on the board on multiple drives.
Again, the Bulls struggled to put together an effective balance of their passing attack with their heavily relied-on run game. The Bulls did not score until the second half, when Eastern Michigan was up 24-0.
The Bulls did not get a first down until their third possession of the game on a 39-yard pass to senior wide receiver Marlyn Johnson, when they were down 7-0. A fumble by junior running back Jacquez Barksdale in the red zone gave Eastern Michigan the ball. The Bulls’ defense could not stop the Eagles on their ensuing possession, which resulted in a touchdown, 14-0.
The Bulls’s passing attack continued to struggle into the second half, with senior quarterback Cole Snyder going 11-26 on the night, a 42.3% completion percentage. Many of Snyder’s incompletions were due to tight coverage by Eastern Michigan’s secondary. A reliance on workhorse graduate running back Ron Cook Jr. was apparent when he carried the rock four plays in a row at the end of a 11 play, 56-yard drive for a touchdown.
The Bulls defense did manage a forced fumble at the beginning of the fourth, but the Bulls did not complete their following possession due to two incompletions, then a nine-yard rush by sophomore Mike Washington, but failed to muster one yard on the fourth down rush attempt.
The Bulls ended the game with 163 yards on 30 rushing attempts. They went 12-28 on passing attempts with 174 yards. The defense allowed 367 yards to Eastern Michigan.
The sports desk can be reached at sports@ubspectrum.com
