The Ball State and Buffalo Bulls football teams are set to meet in the 2020 Mid-American Conference Championship Game in Detroit on Friday, Dec. 18, at 7:30 p.m. Ball State enters the game 5-1. Dec 04, 2020 MAC cancels UB-Ohio game due to COVID-19 tests for Bobcats. The Mid-American Conference announced on Friday that Saturday's contest between the University at Buffalo Bulls and the Ohio Bobcats has.
© Provided by WGR550 Sports Radio Buffalo UB-Ball StateAfter five regular season games of defeating opponents with relative ease, the No. 23 University at Buffalo football team met its match in the Ball State Cardinals in the Mid-American Conference championship game Friday night.
In the program’s third-ever trip Detroit’s Ford Field and second in the last three years, the Bulls came up short against the Cardinals, losing 38-28.
It's a final from Ford Field#UBhornsUPpic.twitter.com/eBIArGygs4
— UB Football (@UBFootball) December 19, 2020Buffalo appeared to be the better team early on and seemed to be in control of the game despite a back-and-forth first half. The tables began to turn after the Bulls went up 21-14 midway through the second quarter on a one-yard rushing touchdown from quarterback Kyle Vantrease. Ball State quickly tied the game back up with a six-play, 75-yard scoring drive that ended with a Justin Hall nine-yard touchdown reception.
© Provided by WGR550 Sports Radio BuffaloUb Football Roster
Following a Bulls’ three-and-out, Ball State took its first lead of the game, and put UB behind on the scoreboard for the first all season, with a 56-yard touchdown pass from Drew Plitt to Jalen McGaughy, putting the Cardinals up 28-21 with 5:55 to go in the half.
Things only went from bad to worse for the Bulls, and rather quickly.
Just a few plays after McGaughy’s go-ahead score, Vantrease was sacked for the first time all season (and first time in the last 10 games dating back to 2019) and fumbled the ball, which was scooped up by Ball State’s Christian Albright and returned 34-yards for a touchdown. Ball State would take the 35-21 lead into the locker room at halftime and never look back.
Despite holding Ball State to just three points in the second half, the Bulls only scored seven points of their own and never looked the same after the 28-7 gut punch from the Cardinals in the second quarter.
The disappointing loss overshadows one of Vantrease’s best games of his career at UB. The junior completed his first eight passes of the game and went 7-for-7 in the opening quarter. Vantrease finished the game 29-for-41, throwing for a career-best 365 yards and a touchdown to go with his rushing score. He also did end up with an interception early in the fourth quarter.
Wide receiver Antonio Nunn’s great performance shouldn’t be forgotten either. The senior registered single-game career-highs in receptions and receiving yards, finishing with 13 catches for 182 yards. Trevor Wilson also had a solid night in the passing game, grabbing six balls for 118 yards, including a 24-yard touchdown reception late in the first quarter.
You wanted #MACtion, you got #MACtion@KyleV18 serves up a dot for the @UBFootball TD!
📺 Watch Live: https://t.co/8WBhrcNToVpic.twitter.com/11bzJNFLvr
— #MACtion (@MACSports) December 19, 2020The story of the game was the Bulls’ inability to get the run game going. Running the ball has been Buffalo’s calling card all season. Going into the matchup, the Bulls’ 344.2 rushing yards per-game ranked first among all FBS teams; and Jaret Patterson’s 205 rushing yards per-game placed him ahead of all other college running backs.
The Ball State defense did a tremendous job against the nation’s top rushing attack, holding the Bulls to just 134 yards on the ground.
Patterson ran for a three-yard touchdown to cap the Bulls’ first drive of the game and give them the early 7-0 lead. The junior’s 19th rushing score in 2020 tied the single-season record he set himself last year. However, after the first series, Patterson was uncharacteristically held in check, finishing with a season-low 47 yards on 18 carries.
For what it’s worth, Patterson didn’t see much action in the second half after suffering an ankle/knee injury on a somewhat controversial play. The running back left the field on his own and returned to the game, but was ineffective, finishing with zero yards in the second half.
NO YOU DIDNT JUST GATOR ROLL AND INJURE JARET PATTERSON 😡 pic.twitter.com/SgoRWtmPWL
— Warren Sharp (@SharpFootball) December 19, 2020Kevin Marks did his best to bring the Bulls back in the second half, shouldering a larger-than-usual load with Patterson unavailable and his team trailing. Marks scored the lone touchdown of the second half, an impressive 67-yard scamper, and finished with 93 yards on nine carries.
His friends call him smoke for a reason 🌬️@MarksKevin is off the the races with a 67-yard touchdown! #MACtion I @UBFootballpic.twitter.com/QTSq5JQQUg
— #MACtion (@MACSports) December 19, 2020Aside from a James Patterson interception early in the fourth quarter, there weren’t a lot of bright spots for the UB defense. While the group did force Ball State to go three-and-out five times, they gave up too many big plays in the secondary and couldn’t slow down the Cardinals’ run game when needed.
Tye Evans led the way in the rushing department for Ball State, carrying the ball 18 times for 94 yards.
Quarterback Drew Plitt completed 20-of-32 passes for 273 yards along with three touchdowns and an interception. Yo’Heinz Tyler led all Cardinal receivers with six catches for 91 yards and a touchdown.
With the victory, Ball State (6-1) takes home the program’s first MAC championship since joining the league in 1996. The win also avenges the 2008 MAC title game, where the Bulls defeated the Cardinals 42-24 to earn Buffalo’s lone conference championship.
For the Bulls, the loss doesn’t end their season. Now sitting at 5-1, UB will wait to receive details on bowl games and then decide on when, where, and what team they will play to wrap-up the 2020 campaign.
© Provided by WGR550 Sports Radio Buffalo UB-Ball StateAfter five regular season games of defeating opponents with relative ease, the No. 23 University at Buffalo football team met its match in the Ball State Cardinals in the Mid-American Conference championship game Friday night.
In the program’s third-ever trip Detroit’s Ford Field and second in the last three years, the Bulls came up short against the Cardinals, losing 38-28.
It's a final from Ford Field#UBhornsUPpic.twitter.com/eBIArGygs4
— UB Football (@UBFootball) December 19, 2020Football Game Online
Buffalo appeared to be the better team early on and seemed to be in control of the game despite a back-and-forth first half. The tables began to turn after the Bulls went up 21-14 midway through the second quarter on a one-yard rushing touchdown from quarterback Kyle Vantrease. Ball State quickly tied the game back up with a six-play, 75-yard scoring drive that ended with a Justin Hall nine-yard touchdown reception.
© Provided by WGR550 Sports Radio BuffaloFollowing a Bulls’ three-and-out, Ball State took its first lead of the game, and put UB behind on the scoreboard for the first all season, with a 56-yard touchdown pass from Drew Plitt to Jalen McGaughy, putting the Cardinals up 28-21 with 5:55 to go in the half.
/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/46780306/usa-today-8101293.0.jpg "Football")
Things only went from bad to worse for the Bulls, and rather quickly.
Just a few plays after McGaughy’s go-ahead score, Vantrease was sacked for the first time all season (and first time in the last 10 games dating back to 2019) and fumbled the ball, which was scooped up by Ball State’s Christian Albright and returned 34-yards for a touchdown. Ball State would take the 35-21 lead into the locker room at halftime and never look back.
Despite holding Ball State to just three points in the second half, the Bulls only scored seven points of their own and never looked the same after the 28-7 gut punch from the Cardinals in the second quarter.
The disappointing loss overshadows one of Vantrease’s best games of his career at UB. The junior completed his first eight passes of the game and went 7-for-7 in the opening quarter. Vantrease finished the game 29-for-41, throwing for a career-best 365 yards and a touchdown to go with his rushing score. He also did end up with an interception early in the fourth quarter.
Wide receiver Antonio Nunn’s great performance shouldn’t be forgotten either. The senior registered single-game career-highs in receptions and receiving yards, finishing with 13 catches for 182 yards. Trevor Wilson also had a solid night in the passing game, grabbing six balls for 118 yards, including a 24-yard touchdown reception late in the first quarter.
You wanted #MACtion, you got #MACtion@KyleV18 serves up a dot for the @UBFootball TD!
📺 Watch Live: https://t.co/8WBhrcNToVpic.twitter.com/11bzJNFLvr
— #MACtion (@MACSports) December 19, 2020The story of the game was the Bulls’ inability to get the run game going. Running the ball has been Buffalo’s calling card all season. Going into the matchup, the Bulls’ 344.2 rushing yards per-game ranked first among all FBS teams; and Jaret Patterson’s 205 rushing yards per-game placed him ahead of all other college running backs.
The Ball State defense did a tremendous job against the nation’s top rushing attack, holding the Bulls to just 134 yards on the ground.
Patterson ran for a three-yard touchdown to cap the Bulls’ first drive of the game and give them the early 7-0 lead. The junior’s 19th rushing score in 2020 tied the single-season record he set himself last year. However, after the first series, Patterson was uncharacteristically held in check, finishing with a season-low 47 yards on 18 carries.
For what it’s worth, Patterson didn’t see much action in the second half after suffering an ankle/knee injury on a somewhat controversial play. The running back left the field on his own and returned to the game, but was ineffective, finishing with zero yards in the second half.
NO YOU DIDNT JUST GATOR ROLL AND INJURE JARET PATTERSON 😡 pic.twitter.com/SgoRWtmPWL
— Warren Sharp (@SharpFootball) December 19, 2020Kevin Marks did his best to bring the Bulls back in the second half, shouldering a larger-than-usual load with Patterson unavailable and his team trailing. Marks scored the lone touchdown of the second half, an impressive 67-yard scamper, and finished with 93 yards on nine carries.
His friends call him smoke for a reason 🌬️@MarksKevin is off the the races with a 67-yard touchdown! #MACtion I @UBFootballpic.twitter.com/QTSq5JQQUg
— #MACtion (@MACSports) December 19, 2020Aside from a James Patterson interception early in the fourth quarter, there weren’t a lot of bright spots for the UB defense. While the group did force Ball State to go three-and-out five times, they gave up too many big plays in the secondary and couldn’t slow down the Cardinals’ run game when needed.
Tye Evans led the way in the rushing department for Ball State, carrying the ball 18 times for 94 yards.
Quarterback Drew Plitt completed 20-of-32 passes for 273 yards along with three touchdowns and an interception. Yo’Heinz Tyler led all Cardinal receivers with six catches for 91 yards and a touchdown.
With the victory, Ball State (6-1) takes home the program’s first MAC championship since joining the league in 1996. The win also avenges the 2008 MAC title game, where the Bulls defeated the Cardinals 42-24 to earn Buffalo’s lone conference championship.
For the Bulls, the loss doesn’t end their season. Now sitting at 5-1, UB will wait to receive details on bowl games and then decide on when, where, and what team they will play to wrap-up the 2020 campaign.