The Bulls (3-3, 2-0 MAC) traveled to Amherst, Mass. on Saturday for an in-conference battle against the UMass Minutemen (0-6, 0-2 MAC). UMass was still searching for their first win since their recent return to the Mid-American Conference (MAC). The Minutemen came in as 16.5 point underdogs, but they still gave the Bulls all that they could handle. It took a strong defensive series and a 22 second touchdown drive for the Bulls to put them away and secure a 28-21 point win.
The game got off to a sluggish start in the first quarter, with a lone field goal being scored by the Bulls with 4:39 left in the first quarter. The drive started with Buffalo pinned on their own 10 yard line. The Bulls put together a 10 play, 85 yard drive in order to get into field goal range. Senior quarterback Ta’Quan Roberson completed four passes for 68 yards to several different targets to pick up a large portion of these yards. The drive stalled after two incompletions on second and third down, and Buffalo settled for the field goal.
The second quarter saw far more scoring from both teams. UMass scored a pair of touchdowns to pull ahead 14-3. The first touchdown was off of a seven play, 87-yard drive by the Minutemen. A mix of both the run and the pass allowed them to establish a rhythm, and eventually find the endzone on a 27-yard connection. UMass got the ball back on their own 10 yard line. They handed the ball off to their running back who took it the distance for a 90-yard touchdown drive. Buffalo answered back with a touchdown of their own, scored on a 23 yard touchdown strike from Roberson to junior wide receiver Victor Snow. The game entered half with a score of 14-10 UMass.
The third quarter saw both teams scoring a touchdown, both of 75+ yards. UMass was holding on to a 21-17 lead before Buffalo’s defense was able to come up with a great stop to give their offense great field position after an intentional grounding foul. Buffalo started their drive on their own 43-yard line, but weren’t able to take the lead, and settled for a field goal to make the score 21-20 UMass with 18 seconds left in the third quarter.
The fourth quarter was characterized by both team’s inability to score. UMass held the lead, so Buffalo had to find a way to score with only 39 seconds left after a crucial three and out forced by the Bulls defense. Roberson was able to find Snow with only 19 seconds left on the clock to score the go-ahead touchdown pass, followed by a two point conversion from junior wide receiver Nik McMillan. Buffalo left no time for a comeback, and made it out with a 28-21 lead.
Roberson had an outstanding performance for the Bulls. His 403 passing yards were a career high for him, as well as the most passing yards by a Buffalo quarterback since Tyree Jackson in 2017.
Buffalo improved to 4-3 on the year, with a 3-0 conference record, placing them at the top of the MAC standings. Buffalo will return home this Saturday to face the University of Akron (2-6, 1-3 MAC) at 1 p.m. in UB stadium.
Drew Heckman is an assistant sports editor and can be reached at sports@ubspectrum.com
