Buffalo Bulls Don't Let ESPNU Scare Them in Edging Ohio

If you thought Buffalo would be frazzled by the Tuesday night ESPNU-broadcasted game, then you were way off. The visiting Bulls looked as good as can be in the first half against the Ohio Bobcats, racing out to a 14-0 with rushing touchdowns from James Starks and Brandon Thermilus in an eventual 32-19 victory in Athens.

After Ohio cut the lead to 14-7, Drew Willy found Naaman Roosevelt to extend the lead to 21-7. A.J. Principe added a field goal at the end of the first half to get the Bulls to halftime with a 24-7 lead.

After a scoreless third quarter, Boo Jackson ran in from eight yards out to cut the lead to 24-13, but the Bulls blocked the extra point and took it back for two, giving them a 13-point lead, 26-13. Following a Buffalo punt, Ohio scored another touchdown, but Barrett Way missed the extra point, which still allowed the Bulls to maintain a seven-point lead, 26-19.

The Bulls didn't take too long to answer the call, however. Following the Bobcats touchdown, James Starks and the Bulls answered with a 52-yard touchdown run, but the extra point was blocked and Buffalo held a 32-19 lead with seven minutes to go.

Ohio tried to answer with a deep pass. The pass was caught, but a fumble gave the Bulls the ball and they kept it to end the game and walk out of Athens with the 32-19 win.

The Bulls turned the ball over just once, a fumble early in the first quarter. Meanwhile, the Bobcats turned the ball over five times, on four fumbles and an interception. Ohio was lucky it wasn't more, as the Bobcats fumbled the ball six times but regained possession on two of those occasions. Ohio outgained the Bulls in yardage, 417-393, but Buffalo ran the ball for a season-high 278 yards. James Starks ran for 185 yards on 30 carries and scored two touchdowns.

The Bulls moved to 4-4 (2-2 MAC) and gained a share of the MAC East lead. Ohio fell to 2-7 (1-4 MAC) and now sits in last place of the East. Buffalo will host Miami (Ohio) on Election Night on ESPN2; Ohio next plays Bowling Green on Nov. 8.