The Bulls beat a ranked team for just the second time in school history!
Despite being outgained in offensive yards by a margin of 359 to 184 yards, the Buffalo Bulls (3-1, 1-0 MAC) were able to outlast the 23rd-ranked Northern Illinois Huskies (2-1, 0-1 MAC), 23-20, in overtime.
The Bulls won the coin toss in overtime, forcing the Huskies offense to play first. UB was able to stuff NIU’s offense quickly to force the field goal— but then timed the snap so well, blocked the ball before it could reach Kanon Woodill’s foot.
The crucial special teams play keep the score level at 20, gifting Buffalo the ability to sit on the clock and go for any score. After three straight runs to set up a try, Buffalo placekicker Upton Bellenfant (and his flowing blonde locks) became a campus legend, drilling his third field goal of the day to secure the upset for Buffalo.
This game was a defensive battle that saw 12 combined punts, seven field goal attempts, and three turnovers. NIU looked mostly solid in the first half before stalling out on offense in the second half, allowing the Bulls to stay in the game and eventually take a late lead.
The Huskies jumped out to a 7-0 lead late in the first quarter when halfback Antario Brown found the edge and ran for a five-yard TD. On their next possession, the Huskies could have taken a 10-0 lead, but Woodill pushed a 39-yard field goal attempt well left. The miss set up Buffalo for their first points of the game in the form of a 42-yard strike from Bellenfant, making it 7-3 midway through the second quarter.
Brown would find the endzone again before the half, a 15-yard run that featured an amazing cut back to get to the corner, and NIU lead at the break 14-3.
The Bulls would start their comeback on their first drive of the second half, when quarterback CJ Ogbonna tossed up a 46-yard pass into double coverage. It looked like NIU had intercepted the pass but, somehow, Victor Snow was able to rip it away from the defenders and get Buffalo’s first touchdown of the day, making it 14-10 NIU.
A few drives later, NIU would add a field goal but the Bulls would quickly tie it up at 17, when Al-Jay Henderson broke through for a 36-yard touchdown run.
In what turned out to be one of the defining plays of the game, NIU quarterback Ethan Hampton threw an interception to Shaun Dolac with about five minutes remaining in the contest, who returned it all the way back to the Huskie 24-yard line. The turnover killed what had been a promising, grindy performance to get deep into UB territory, and ultimaltely took away the scoring opportunity.
Despite the invonvenience, the NIU defense forced a three-and-out and Buffalo settled for a field goal, collecting their first lead of the game at 20-17 with just over two minutes remaining in the game.
NIU put one last drive together and was able to get down to the Bulls 10-yard line with under a minute to go. However, three straight incomplete passes meant the Huskies would have to try a game-tying field goal instead of getting the win. Woodill’s kick was good, forcing overtime.. and we know what happened from there.
Buffalo was just two-of-15 on third downs, had the ball for just 23:47, and averaged just 2.1 yards per rush. And yet, their defense, led by Shaun Dolac, was able to smother the Huskie offense and keep them in the game, forcing two NIU turnovers and three fumbles (with one recovery) on the day.
Ogbonna finished 10-of-17 for 107 yards and TD. On the ground, Henderson had 11 carries for 56 yards and a score, while Barksdale had eight rushes for just 10 yards. Snow led all receivers with 72 yards and a TD on his three catches. Dolac, who led the FBS in tackles coming into the game, had a season-high 19 stops against the Huskies.
For NIU, Hampton finished 23-of-43 for 194 yards and a pick. He did not look nearly as crisp as in the previous games. Although some of his passes were strikes, many of his throws were low or behind his receivers. Brown was also stifled for much of the game, gaining just 73 yards on 24 carries, while Gavin Williams had 63 yards on his 10 rushes. Cam Thompson led NIU with three grabs for 49 yards.
Up next for the Huskies is a date with ACC foe NC State, who is led by former NIU head coach Dave Doeren. Northern will be going for their third straight win against the ACC. You can see the game next Saturday, at 12 p.m. Eastern time on the CW Network.
The Bulls didn’t get enough Huskies this week and decided to go back-to-back, as they have a date with another group of Huskies next week— this time located in Connecticut. UB will travel to East Hartford to play UConn next Saturday at 12 p.m. Eastern time, with coverage on CBS Sports Network.