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 BUFFALO, NY – Tight end Alex Dennison hauled in a perfectly thrown 57-yard touchdown pass from Chazz Anderson on UB's first play from scrimmage, and the Bulls never looked back in a 35-7 win over Stony Brook Saturday before 21,933 fans, the seventh largest home crowd in school history.
“We've been waiting to make that call and we did a great job getting that play dialed up and a 57-yard touchdown. There's nothing better than to start a game and seven points on the board,” Buffalo head coach Jeff Quinn said. "It was a great night for UB football, certainly long overdue. As I told the players, we were going to end a streak and start a new one.”
Sophomore tailback Branden Oliver continued his tremendous early-season play by rushing for a career-best 126 yards and three long touchdowns (22, 43 and 49 yards) as the Bulls featured a balanced attack that averaged 7.4 yards per play.
Branden did a great job, he had a real solid night," said Quinn, adding,”"The offensive line did a tremendous job competing up front. The defense hung in there; they had the ball for 40 minutes tonight, so I liked what I saw on that side of the ball. Really all in all it was a great win, a great night, well -deserved but it's one of many. Next week we have to get ready for Ball State."
Khalil Mack was a one-man wrecking crew for the UB defense. Mack finished with eight tackles, one sack, 3.5 tackles for loss, two forced fumbles, an interception and three quarterback hurries.
Anderson, meanwhile, connected on 15-of-22 passes for 164 yards and two touchdowns on the day, including the first career TD catch by redshirt-freshman Devon Hughes, who led the Bulls with four receptions for 33 yards.
Things started well for the Bulls as Terrell Jackson returned the opening kickoff 53 yards to set up the touchdown throw to Dennison.
However, the Seawolves came back back to tie the score at 7-7 before the Bulls reeled off the game's final 28 points. Oliver got it started by bursting 22 yards for his first score of the game to cap a 13-play, 74-yard drive immediately after Stony Brook had tied the game.
Oliver found the end zone again late in the second quarter on a third-and-seven draw play, which he bounced to the outside and took 49 yards to paydirt.
The Bulls went into halftime up 21-7 and then dominated the second half, holding the Seawolves off the board. Hughes caught a 15-yard pass from Anderson on a post pattern and Oliver capped a terrific night with a 43-yard burst that finished his night and put away Stony Brook.
The Seawolves threatened one more time midway through the fourth quarter, driving to the Bulls three-yard line. However, Mack snuffed that drive out with a sack and forced fumble that was recovered by teammate Fred Branch at the UB 20-yard line.
The Bulls had three sacks on the night and nine tackles for loss for 31 yards. Colby Way and Steven Means added sacks for the Bulls, while cornerback Najja Johnson had a career-best six tackles.
The Bulls leveled their record at 1-1 and will play at MAC-foe Ball State next Saturday.
Coutesy of Buffalo Athletics
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