University at Buffalo Bulls look to end season on a high note

With just three wins heading into the season-finale Friday afternoon, it’s safe to say things didn’t go exactly as planned for second-year University at Buffalo head football coach Jeff Quinn.

But all is not completely lost.

Buffalo is coming off a record-setting, 51-10 thrashing of Akron in which all facets of the game – offense, defense and special teams – fired on all cylinders. The points scored are the most in a game for the program since 1992 and sophomore running back Branden “Bo” Oliver’s 237 rushing yards bested James Starks’ previous single-game record. Oliver also closed the gap to 66 yards of rewriting another page in the record book with Starks’ name on it – the single-season rushing record of 1,333 yards.

“Bo inspires us,” Quinn said. “It’s exciting just when you call his number and he’s got the ball in his hands. You just don’t know what’s going to happen; that’s how exciting he is.”

Oliver, who has a similar build and runs a lot like Maurice Jones-Drew of the Jacksonville Jaguars, could very well follow Starks into the NFL, too. But that’s highly unlikely to happen before he finishes school, which is obviously great news for Buffalo.

Buffalo also returns a number of other impact-players next year, including defensive end Steven Means (junior), linebacker Khalil Mack (sophomore) and wide receiver Alex Neutz (sophomore).

All eyes will be focused on the quarterbacks, however. Chazz Anderson plays his final game of collegiate eligibility Friday, leaving Joe Licata (freshman) and Alex Zordich (sophomore) as the likely replacement candidates.

Despite giving Zordich the fourth quarter during last week’s romp, Quinn does not appear ready to look to the future just yet though.

“Chazz is our starting quarterback and I’ve said all along, we’re going to put the guys out there that give us the best chance to win,” said Quinn, asked if Zordich might get more time in the season finale. “We need to win this game next [this] Friday. Chazz gives us that best opportunity so he’s going to start for us. …It was nice to get a lot of guys in there today; not only Alex Zordich, but on the defensive side, filling in at other positions.”
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Oliver’s 235-yard, two-touchdown performance last week didn’t just impress in the Buffalo ranks. For the second time this season, he was named Mid-American Conference East Division Offensive Player of the Week.

Oliver was also awarded following an Oct. 8 tilt with Ohio in which he ran for 179 yards and three touchdowns.
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Buffalo (3-8, 2-5) hosts Bowling Green (4-7, 2-5) at noon Friday at UB Stadium.
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