Penalties outweigh points in 14th straight loss for football

Once again, one good half of football wasn't enough on Saturday as the Bulls fell in a conference match to Ohio University by a final score of 34-20.

Despite a valiant second-half effort, the UB football team could not overcome a 20-0 Bobcat halftime lead. Saturday's win was Ohio's first in UB Stadium since the Bulls joined the Mid-American Conference seven years ago.

Mental mistakes were a major factor for both sides in the game. On top of each team missing an extra point and UB failing to kick a field goal, there were a collective 29 penalties for 291 yards. The flags came out frequently in the fourth quarter, when heated emotions led to personal fouls four plays in a row, including a call that got senior offensive lineman Zachary Love thrown out of the game.

"We had guys that were trying to battle for their teammates," said UB head coach Jim Hofher. "Brett Hamlin had his helmet torn off, and there was a player that our player interpreted was still trying to hit him and frankly he was defending him. Our guy got the penalty and if that's what the film shows, then I'm not going to lose sleep over it. I think it's noble when a guy stands up for his own teammate."

Quarterback Drew Willy came out gunning after halftime going 16 of 22 for 236 yards on the day, including a touchdown in the second half.

The freshman found an open target often in tight end Chad Upshaw, who finished with eight catches for 116 yards.

UB (0-8 overall, 0-5 MAC) was able to cut the lead to 27-20 in the fourth quarter before a fumbled option-pitch by halfback Steven King deep in Bulls territory. The turnover led to another score by Ohio (4-4, 3-2 MAC), sealing the Bobcats' first road victory of the season.

King put forth a solid performance outside of his costly fumble as he rushed for 70 yards and two touchdowns. The second of which came after the junior disappeared into a sea of blue and green jerseys and willed himself four yards for six points.

The Bobcats ran up and down the length of the field on the legs of standout sophomore tailback Kalvin McRae. McRae finished the day 224 yards on 31 carries with 7.2 yards per carry average and two touchdowns.

"(McRae) has just been great for us," said Ohio head coach Frank Solich. "He's been able to keep drives alive by getting an extra three or four yards on some cuts and then just strong running at the end."

Ohio's win marks the third week in a row that the Bobcats have compiled over 200 yards on the ground and the second 200 mark achieved by McRae in as many weeks.

"They've got a really good running football team, that's for sure," Hofher said. "Kalvin McRae really did a job. McRae was really a very strong runner. He's tough, built low to the ground, has good speed, good second effort and secured the ball really well."

Scott Mayle also helped spur the Bobcat offense with a 50-yard run in the fourth quarter.

The Bulls head to Miami (Ohio) next Saturday to take on the RedHawks.