UB notebook
UB notebook: Willy sets two records with TD pass to Roosevelt
AKRON, Ohio — Drew Willy celebrated his 22nd birthday Thursday night by becoming the University at Buffalo’s all-time leader in career touchdown passes and career passing yards in the most significant victory to date in the program’s Division I era.
Willy broke both marks on the play that capped the game’s opening drive, a 24-yard strike to Naaman Roosevelt with 9:36 left in the first quarter. The throw came on a third-and-9 play. The Bulls also converted a fourth-down play on the march.
Willy, a senior from Randolph, N. J., entered the game needing 39 yards passing to surpass Cliff Scott’s career record set in 1991-94. He completed four of five passes for 58 yards on the 71-yard drive, with the scoring throw relegating Mary Barrett (1980-83) to second place on the all-time list. Barrett threw 44 touchdown passes in his Bulls career, while Scott, a Grand Island native, threw for 7,578 yards. Willy has 7,792 yards and 45 touchdowns.
Willy, who finished 27 of 39 for 252 yards and the one touchdown, already holds career marks for completion percentage and pass attempts.
“It’s a pretty sweet day, the yards, the touchdowns,” he said. “The overall thing was to get a win. Guys just made plays around me. They made the day special for me.”
•••
The Bulls continued to mix true freshman quarterback Zach Maynard into the offense, this time with almost disastrous results. Maynard, an option QB, fumbled while running wide on a first-down play from the Akron 18 with about six minutes left in the first quarter. Running back James Starks alertly came back toward the play and made the recovery. Maynard was shaken up and helped off the field. He did not return to the game although he remained actively involved on the sideline.
•••
Coach Turner Gill continues to damn the torpedoes and send the Bulls full speed ahead. UB converted five fourth downs in five opportunities, including Willy’s 1-yard sneak for a touchdown on the first series of overtime. An Akron stop would have been disastrous.
“The ball’s on the inch-yard line, I wasn’t kicking a field goal,” Gill said. “If it had been on the 2 or the 3, maybe I would have kicked the field goal. But if it was on the 1-yard line or less I was going for it. I felt confident in our offensive line.”
•••
UB scored on its first possession for the third straight game and the fifth time this season. . . . The Bulls put together a 16-play, 89-yard scoring drive the spanned the third and fourth quarters. It consumed 8:43, their longest scoring drive of the season.
•••
This was the last game Akron will play in the Rubber Bowl, which opened in 1940, although you might think it was 1840. The stadium sits adjacent to Akron Fulton International Airport and the famed Soap Box Derby track. Next season the Zips move into a new facility on the university’s downtown campus. . . . NFL general managers never rest. Among those in attendance Thursday was Bill Polian, on a scouting mission for the Indianapolis Colts. Also milling about the press box was former Akron and Notre Dame coach Gerry Faust, who won four of his five state championships with Cincinnati Moeller at the Rubber Bowl. . . . Pregame festivities included three skydivers descending upon the field through the darkness.
Log into MyBuffalo to post a comment
MyBuffalo is the new social network from Buffalo.com. Your MyBuffalo account lets you comment on and rate stories at buffalonews.com. You can also head over to mybuffalo.com to share your blog posts, stories, photos, and videos with the community. Join now or learn more.
Reader comments