The Bulls (2-2, 1-0 MAC) hosted the Troy Trojans (2-2, 0-0 SBC) in UB Stadium at 3:30 p.m. this past Saturday. The Bulls came into the day as 6.5 point favorites in the matchup, fully expected to win this game. Buffalo controlled the game early, but when it really mattered, Troy rattled off 21 unanswered points in the fourth quarter after scoring zero points in the previous three. The game ended in a stunning come from behind defeat with a final score of 21-17. The Bulls dropped to 2-2 on the season after this loss.
The Bulls looked to be in solid control of this game from the very beginning, though no points were scored by either team until late into the first quarter. The Bulls strung together a seven-play drive covering 71 yards of the field. They used a mix of deep completions, like the 39-yard pass from senior quarterback Ta’Quan Roberson to senior wide receiver Jasaiah Gathings that kickstarted the drive, mixed in with runs from the strong running back duo of senior Al-Jay Henderson and freshman James McNeil, who eventually scored a touchdown on a 1-yard carry.
That was the last scoring drive that either team would put together until after halftime. After the Bulls were able to force a turnover after a failed fourth-down conversion for the Trojans with 2:59 left in the third quarter, Buffalo was able to lead another scoring drive before the 4th quarter with a 22-yard run for a touchdown by Al-Jay Henderson, making the score 14-0 Buffalo.
Buffalo scored one more time this game, after junior quarterback Tucker Kilcrease threw an interception that was brought in by senior cornerback Jalne McNair. After this, the Bulls went on a 14-play drive, but were only able to come away with a field goal to show for it. After this final score, the Trojans went on a scoring tear. The field goal was scored with 6:28 remaining in the fourth quarter. In the remaining time, Troy’s offense came alive for the first time all game. The team was able to manufacture 3 touchdown scoring drives. When Buffalo needed just one score to keep pace, they were unable to come up with one, punting twice in a row, then turning it over on downs to ice the game for Troy, resulting in the final score of 21-17.
Buffalo will close up their non-conference play next week with their game against the University of Connecticut (2-2, 0-0 Big East) at 3:30 p.m. in the UB stadium. The Bulls will look to get right before they face off against their slate of conference opponents.
