The football team went out with a whimper Saturday in a shutout loss at Connecticut.
Though the defense and special teams units managed a few big plays, the UConn defense stifled the offense time and time again when it tried to convert.
The Bulls (2-9 overall, 2-6 Mid-American Conference) were able to block a punt with just over six minutes left in the first quarter, giving them the ball on the Connecticut 22-yard line.
But they were unable to turn that into any points, as Connecticut (6-4 overall, 2-3 Big East) defeated the Bulls by a final score of 29-0.
"We didn't convert on opportunities we have to," said Jim Hofher, the team's head coach. "Shame on us for having first and goal on the nine yard line, and having a penalty and missing the field goal, shame on us for blocking a punt and not really punching it in."
Hofher said he believed that the final statistics did not represent the level at which the Buffalo defense played.
"We played good 'D' against a team that I think is very good on offense," he said. "But we needed to play better against really, a talented team."
The Bulls gave up 192 yards on the ground, including 136 yards to sophomore running back Cornell Brockington, who averaged 5.4 yards per carry and had two touchdowns.
Buffalo's offense had another stagnant outing as the Huskies out-gained the Bulls by 391 yards.
UConn's defense stifled the Bulls for the entire game. Right out of the gate, the Huskies' defense was able to stop the Bulls, allowing only 26 yards in the entire first half.
The third quarter was the only one in which the Bulls got over the 20-yard mark. They gained 52 yards in that quarter.
"Clearly we did not compete as well as we have at other times," said Hofher.
Hofher pulled quarterback P.J. Piskorik in favor of Datwan Hemingway for the fourth quarter.
"After three quarters of no points, Datwan Hemingway has been a guy who has played in the middle and latter half of the season for us," he said.
Hemingway wasn't able to jolt the Bulls' offense, as he went 1-3 for just eight yards.
Overall, the Bulls were totally unable to generate any offense, as not one player in their running back committee topped 40 yards on the day.
"We obviously had opportunities, we just didn't convert," said senior flanker Matt Knueven. "Like Coach said, first and nine inside the 10 yard line."
Hofher held that the Bulls are remaining consistent in certain areas, while not yet improving in others.
"We've done a real good job with our protection, but we just haven't been able to get completions behind that good protection," he said.
Hofher also stressed the caliber of the players on teams the Bulls have been facing, as well as the experience, or lack thereof, for the Bulls.
"We faced a 10,000-yard total offense quarterback six weeks ago, we faced a 10,000-yard total offense quarterback two weeks ago, we faced a 10,000 total offense quarterback today," said Hofher. "God knows, how many more of these are we going to face? We faced two first rounders in the last two weeks."
Experience is another large factor for the Bulls' lack of execution in key situations, according to Hofher. He said, the Bulls will be more mature next year, and their execution will show it.
"There's a level of maturity that you reach," he said. "We'll be more mature than we've ever been since I've been here, with 17 fifth-year seniors next year."
The Bulls had a lack of senior leadership this year, Hofher said, and that was reflected especially in this game, which was senior day for the UConn Huskies.
"UConn introduced 24 seniors, and they all play," said Hofher. "We introduced 13."
Buffalo will not have a chance to redeem themselves this year, as their 13 seniors will all end their careers at UB with a loss. But the rest of the Bulls will face UConn to start the season next year.
Hofher said he will shift his focus to recruiting.
"In terms of recruiting, first it's get the right people, and then you figure out what to do with them," said Hofher.
