Heading into the 2020 Mid-American Conference football season, the University at Buffalo Bulls and Miami (OH) RedHawks were the two favorites to win the MAC East Division. The Bulls had been picked by the media to place first prior to the start, while the coaches predicted Miami to finish on top.
The Bulls hosted the defending conference champions at UB Stadium on Tuesday night, dominating the RedHawks en route to a 42-10 victory improve to 2-0.
With the win, the Bulls may have claimed the title of "team to beat" in the division, as we’re now already one-third of the way through this shortened six-game MAC season.
Despite both Buffalo and Miami getting victories last week in high-scoring affairs, Tuesday night’s contest got off to a slow, sloppy start. The Bulls scored a pair of touchdowns to jump out to a 14-0 lead midway through the second quarter after a scoreless opening frame. Miami found the end zone late in the first half to make it 14-7 before the midway break. However, the Bulls took control with a near-perfect third quarter performance, scoring 21 unanswered points on three consecutive touchdown drives, followed by a fourth-straight score early in the fourth quarter, to put the game away in convincing fashion.
Kyle Vantrease played the best game of his Bulls career. The junior quarterback threw for a career-high four touchdowns, while also completing 17-of-27 passes for 353 yards, both also career-bests. Vantrease’s four touchdown passes were the most by a Buffalo quarterback since Tyree Jackson threw six in a 48-10 win over Delaware State to open the 2018 season. Vantrease also became the first UB quarterback to throw for 300 yards since Jackson did it against Miami (OH) on Oct. 30, 2018.
The real impressive stat is that Vantrease was a perfect 9-for-9 passing in the second half, throwing for 229 yards and three scores. The Bulls offense, as a whole, racked up 324 yards in the second half and finished the game with 558 yards total.
Four different Buffalo receivers caught a touchdown pass from Vantrease on Tuesday night. Red-shirt freshman Trevor Wilson recorded his first-career touchdown reception on a 78-yard bomb in the second quarter and finished with 103 yards. Tight ends Zac Lefebvre and Jovany Ruiz each caught a touchdown during the Bulls’ third quarter run as well. Ruiz, who finished with three catches for 27 yards, made a great contested catch with 0:01 left on the clock in the third quarter to give UB a 35-7 lead heading into the fourth. Lefebvre finished with four catches for 67 yards, including this nice grab that set up Ruiz’s touchdown.
Antonio Nunn led all Bulls receivers in catches and yards for a second consecutive week. The senior reeled-in five passes for a career-high 137 yards, and put a bow on, what was, a wonderful night for the Buffalo offense with an 82-yard catch-and-run touchdown early in the fourth quarter to make it 42-7.
To no surprise, the UB rushing attack had a big night once again. Jaret Patterson ran for 73 yards and two touchdowns to bring his season total up to four. The junior also became the fastest UB player to reach 3,000 career rushing yards in program history, getting to the mark in just his 29th game as a Bull.
Despite Patterson’s pair of touchdown runs, Kevin Marks was the real workhorse for the Bulls on Tuesday. The junior ran 16 times for a game-high 109 yards, racking-up 71 yards on the ground in just the first half.
The Buffalo offensive line deserves a lot of credit as well. That group played great for a second-consecutive week and has not allowed a sack through the Bulls’ first two games.
Buffalo’s defense followed up a strong opening performance against Northern Illinois last week with an even better showing on Tuesday. Miami finished with just 258 total yards after putting up 422 on Ball State in Week 1. The Bulls, once again, did a good job defending third downs, holding the RedHawks to just 3-for-14 on the evening.
While the offense scoring on three-consecutive drives in the third quarter was the big story, the defense played stellar as well. Miami had just 29 total yards in the third quarter to Buffalo’s 225.
The Bulls were also without four defensive starters. Defensive end Taylor Riggins and cornerbacks Aapri Washington and Ali Abbas all were out for a second-consecutive week. Defensive tackle Ronald McGee missed the game as well after suffering a shoulder injury last week against Northern Illinois.
After forcing five turnovers in last week’s win, the UB defense increased that total to six through two games thanks to a Roy Baker interception with 7:50 to play in the second quarter. The Bulls took advantage of the senior safety’s pick immediately, as Vantrease connected with Wilson for the 78-yard bomb to go up 14-0 on the very next play.
Miami quarterback A.J. Mayer had a tough night for the RedHawks. The red-shirt sophomore completed only seven passes on 25 attempts for 116 yards and a touchdown. He didn’t get much help from his receivers, either. A number of Mayer’s passes to open receivers were dropped. Sophomore James Burns had a particularly rough game. The receiver dropped three seemingly makeable catches throughout the evening, and finished with zero catches on five targets.
With the victory, the Bulls are 2-0 in MAC play for the third time in school history. UB got off to a 6-0 start in conference play in 2018 and a 5-0 start in 2013.
After two games, UB is tied for first place in the MAC East with Kent State, who is also 2-0 following a 62-24 drubbing of Bowling Green on Tuesday night.
Buffalo is back on the road next week and will have the pleasure of taking on Bowling Green following their big loss to Kent State. The Falcons have been on a historically bad stretch lately, so it may be a favorable matchup for the Bulls.
Kickoff between the Bulls and Falcons from Doyt L. Perry Stadium in Bowling Green, Ohio is scheduled for 7 p.m. EST on Tuesday, Nov. 17. The game will be televised on CBS Sports Network.
You can also listen to the game, along with pregame and postgame coverage on ESPN 1520.