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Nick Harwell, below, is one of the top receivers in the MAC. Photo by Mike Smith.

Both teams are coming off disappointing losses in which they  trailed by large deficits. Buffalo stormed back from a 31-10 disadvantage in the third quarter to all-but-catch the Huskies. After scoring three touchdowns in the final stanza – the last with 14 seconds left – UB missed a PAT to tie.

Miami never got closer than 21 points after a 28-point Toledo blitz over the first 18:02 of the game. UT, the only team without a conference loss, was coming off a big rivalry win over Bowling Green and found Miami on the schedule just ahead of the anticipated showdown with defending West champ Northern Illinois. If the Rockets were looking ahead, it didn’t show.

Toledo did much of its damage on the ground, gaining much of its 269 yards rushing during the early onslaught. The Rockets first three touchdowns came via the run.

“Their offensive line, if I’m not mistaken, averaged 300-plus pounds, and they all look like they are 6-5 or taller. So it’s without question the largest offensive line, I think, we’ve faced to date, other than maybe Minnesota,” Miami coach Don Treadwell said. “I was also impressed with the speed of their skill players, across the board, but certainly at running back, in particular.”

While crediting UT, Treadwell also noted a couple other “T”s – tackling troubles and turnovers - during early possessions. “It wasn’t one of our better days tackling early in the game. Once we got that first quarter out of our system, I thought we settled down very well and performed much better as the game went on. … That (poor tackling early) was uncharacteristic (of us), and our kids know that.”

Toledo’s fourth TD came on a 55-yard Robert Bell fumble recovery and return – one of three MU turnovers in the game.

“The continued lesson … that becomes glaring when you are playing a very good team is that you can’t turn the ball over,” Treadwell said. “We had an interception early … and then, of course, we had a fumble, which they returned for a touchdown. … We’ve got to continue to clean those up, which we can.”

“Cleaning up” some of the problem areas might also help address another problem for the Red and White. A scoring-by-quarters breakdown shows they have been outscored in all four quarters during this campaign. But the deficit is particularly acute in the first quarter. Opponents have a 54-17 advantage in the first stanza.  After that, the disparity drops off (54-38, second quarter; 38-26, third quarter; 44-43, fourth quarter).

“We do talk about that constantly, in terms of working to get a quick start,” Treadwell said. “Better execution will produce a better start.”

Like the RedHawks, Buffalo was in the giving mood at times Saturday. The Bulls ultimately committed five turnovers. On most days, that would easily qualify as a recipe for disaster, given the potent Northern Illinois attack. Still, the Bulls and Huskies were tied at 10-10 late in the second quarter.

NIU scored a TD just before the half and added two more in the third quarter before Buffalo mounted its monumental comeback.

“To come back like they did, that says a lot about what they are capable of,” Treadwell said.

Quarterback Chazz Anderson led the way, throwing three touchdown passes in the final quarter. Anderson, who also ran for one score, accounted for 460 yards of total offense. He completed 35-of-53 passes for 406 yards, the most for a Buffalo quarterback since the school joined the MAC.

After serving as a backup for University of Cincinnati quarterbacks Tony Pike and Zach Collaros, Anderson shuffled off to Buffalo to join former UC coach (and now Buffalo head coach) Jeff Quinn.  As a graduate (May, 2011) with one year of eligibility remaining, he was immediately available for duty at UB.

With each passing week, Anderson’s impact seems to grow. Part of it is adapting to his new situation. Part of it is trying to get everything he can out of his last opportunity to be a starter.

“I’m a senior. I’ve got four games left, and my career is done,” Anderson said earlier this week. “I continue to prepare each week like it is my last week.”

A former Ohio high school standout (Division II Player of the Year from Pickerington) and UC Bearcat, Anderson will likely play before more than a few family members and friends when the Bulls invade Yager Stadium (about an hour north of Cincinnati). “I’m really excited about being close to home,” he said. “I’ve got a bunch of family coming. So for me, it’s kind of like a home game.”

“I know the Big Ten school I was at (Michigan State), we looked at him (in recruiting),” Treadwell said. “He’s a very talented young man, and he has really energized them.”

Treadwell continued. “You see him (Anderson) growing more comfortable with what they are asking him to do. He is so dynamic, that … (he) not only has the ability to throw it, but he’s a dangerous runner.”

Joining the 6-1, 222-pound Anderson in the Bulls backfield is 5-8, 200-pound running back Branden Oliver. The sophomore picked up 112 yards on 28 carries (4.0 ypc) last week and has gone over the century mark in five of eight contests. His best outing was 179 yards on 34 carries (5.3 ypc) with three touchdowns in a big 38-37 Buffalo win over Ohio.

Like the contest with NIU, Buffalo’s win over Ohio was at home. Playing on the road has been a little tougher. The only  absolute “egg” UB has laid through eight games is a 34-0 shutout loss at Temple Oct. 15.

After a 2-10 record (1-7 MAC) that included a season-ending seven-game losing streak last year, Quinn’s Bulls are showing signs of rounding the corner.

“”Effort and talent get you started, but it’s still about executing the base fundamentals of the game,” Quinn said. “That’s been the case forever. We know it’s about blocking and tackling and kicking and throwing.”

Looking at his opponent Saturday, Quinn quickly pointed to MU quarterback Zac Dysert.

“He’s got a good arm. He throws some nice tight throws in some tight windows, and he can escape,” Quinn said. “Zac’s going to try to beat you with his eyes downfield, by keeping the play alive.”

Quinn also noted the production of wide receiver Nick Harwell. The sophomore is averaging a league-best 16.8 ypc. and is second in yards per game with 123.0.  However, he has just two touchdown receptions on the year.

Dawan Scott, a 6-1, 175-pound freshman out of Columbia, South Carolina, showed up last week as another target, pulling in seven receptions for 140 yards.

“Defensively, (they’re) another solid 4-3,” Quinn said. “They play a little bit tighter coverage than maybe some of these zone teams that we’ve faced. But they try to put an extra hat in the box to keep the running game (in) check.”

While the Bulls have been “relatively healthy,” according to Quinn. Miami has not.  The injury bug hit MU’s offensive line first, but moved on to the defensive line during the Army game.

“We are still without two defensive ends,” Treadwell said. Diaz is out. Wes Williams is out. This past game, we lost (safety) Bryson Burris.”

Among those returning is Austin Brown, who saw action last week. Cornerbacks D.J. Brown and Jerrell Jones may also be available.

One plus for MU, on most days, is the secondary. Miami ranks second in pass defense, allowing 178.1 ypg. However, it drops to seventh in pass defense efficiency with a ranking of 135.8.

While the Bulls are aware of Miami’s ability to pass the ball, MU has yet to show an effective running attack. Miami, which ranks last (MAC) in rushing (58.9 ypg, 1.9 ypc),  is 11th in scoring at 16.1 ppg. As in previous games, the RedHawks are still running “by committee.”