UB earns marathon victory
AKRON, Ohio — The University at Buffalo owned the line of scrimmage from the outset Thursday night. It owned a whopping 17-minute advantage in time of possession. And finally, in yet another stomach-churning finish, it took hold of what mattered most … the scoreboard.
A.J. Principe gained sweet redemption by converting a 40-yard field goal in the fourth overtime as the Bulls outlasted Akron, 43-40, to grab sole possession of first place in the Mid-American Conference East. Buffalo improved to 6-4 overall, 4-2 in conference and can capture the division outright with a victory at Bowling Green a week from today.
UB's offense was set up to end the marathon in the fourth overtime when Akron quarterback Chris Jacquemain and standout running back Dennis Kennedy flubbed the exchange on first down from the UB 11. Defensive end Richie Smith recovered for the Bulls, putting them points of any kind away from victory. A conservative series, featuring three James Starks carries, set up Principe in the middle of the field for the decisive kick.
Earlier this season, Principe struck the right upright on a potential game-winning kick at Central Michigan. How he yearned for another chance with a game on the line.
"It felt great," Principe said. "After Central Michigan it was obviously tough. Coach just said, "You're going to get another shot later in the season.' It was the best ball I hit all year. I stroked it a little left but it came right back down the center."
The Bulls poured onto the field in celebration, even Starks, although where he found the energy is anyone's guess. The junior tailback from Niagara Falls was an inexhaustible monster, carrying 37 times for 151 yards and three touchdowns and catching a career-high 13 passes for another 90 yards.
"It's a great feeling to be sore but come away with the victory," Starks said. "If it was the other way around it would have been sad. I'm just proud to win this game. It was great finish by everybody, a total team effort."
The final game at the historic Rubber Bowl marched into overtime in defiance of the game's typically significant statistics. The Bulls owned the ball for more than 38 minutes in regulation and ran 24 more plays than the Zips. Buffalo's offensive line manhandled Akron at the line of scrimmage most of the night. Tackles Ray Norell and Andrew West, guards Peter Bittner and Jeff Niedermeier and center Chris Lauzze provided Willy plenty of time to throw and Starks ample room to roam.
Akron's equalizer was its ability to transform the elusiveness of senior tailback Kennedy into three long but quick scoring drives. Kennedy ran 25 times for 142 yards and three TDs and caught six passes for 121 yards and another touchdown.
The teams scored TDs on their first series in overtime and field goals on their second. They followed up with touchdowns in the third overtime, with both failing on mandatory two-point conversion attempts.
The Rubber Bowl, which has hosted the Rolling Stones, Jefferson Airplane, the Chicago Bears and countless college and high school football games, was stubbornly resisting retirement.
UB appeared in command before the Zips forced overtime on a 1-yard run by Kennedy with 23 seconds left in the fourth quarter. The plunge was the culmination of an 80-yard drive that began with just 4:07 remaining and included a fourth-and-1 conversion on a scramble by Jacquemain. The big play, however, was Jacquemain's 37-yard strike over the middle to Jeremy Bruce that advanced the Zips to the UB 3 with the clock ticking inside one minute.
After a slow start to the second half, the Bulls regained the lead and re-exerted their offensive might during a monster drive that spanned the third and fourth quarters. A 5-yard burst by Starks completed a 16-play, 89-yard march that consumed a whopping 8:43 of clock and put UB ahead, 24-17. Willy was masterful along the way, hitting on all seven of his throws, with three of the completions resulting in third-down conversions. Naaman Roosevelt had two of those catches.
The Zips completed their comeback from a 17-7 deficit on the opening drive of the second half. Kennedy bolted 24 yards untouched around the left side, finishing a seven-play, 76-yard drive that took a scant 3:40. Akron faced only one third-down test during the possession.
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