College Football
Cardinals stun Bulls with quick start

The University at Buffalo football team, which had excelled in limiting turnovers, penalties and mistakes in its first four games, saw a nightmarish first half doom them in a 55-25 homecoming loss to Ball State before 14,885 at UB Stadium.

The Bulls never recovered from a one-two punch to open the game as Ball State stormed to a 14-0 lead in the first five minutes of the game. After a 65-yard drive for a score to open the game, the Cardinals blocked a Bulls' punt in the end zone to shock the big homecoming crowd and the Bulls.

Buffalo never recovered mentally and Ball State would go on to take a 38-3 lead into halftime en route to the victory.

"I'm definitely disappointed with the way things got started today, but you have to give credit to Ball State," said head coach Turner Gill after the game. "It doesn't matter what you have done in the past, it is all about what you do today. It doesn't matter who you play, you have to come out and compete every day."

Buffalo's only score of the first half came on the first-ever field goal attempt by senior walk-on Adam Tanalski. Tanalski drilled a 42-yard kick, the longest successful field goal of the season for the Bulls.

After intermission, the Cardinals scored a touchdown on its first drive before UB got on the board again. The Bulls got their first touchdown of the game late in the third quarter, and their first defensive score of the season. Junior safety Kareem Byrom returned a Nate Davis pass 43 yards for a touchdown that cut the Ball State lead to 45-10. It was Davis' first interception of the season and the fourth of Byrom's career. It was the fifth straight game UB (1-4, 0-3 in the MAC) recorded an interception.

The Bulls narrowed the lead to 45-17 when sophomore quarterback Drew Willy connected with Ernest Jackson for a 20-yard touchdown strike. Willy would go on to complete 27-of-40 passes for a career-best 321 yards and a pair of touchdowns.

Willy's final touchdown of the day came on a 10-yard strike to freshman Naaman Roosevelt with 9:02 remaining in the game. That score capped a 10-play, 80-yard drive that saw Willy throw for 64 yards on 6-of-8 passing.

Roosevelt was Willy's favorite target throughout the day, as the true frosh grabbed a career high seven catches for 72 yards. Willy then hit Jackson for a two-point conversion for Buffalo s final scoring play of the day. Jackson also had a career-best five catches for 74 yards for the Bulls.

Senior tight end Chad Upshaw had another excellent day, catching five passes for 83 yards, including a 33-yard hookup with Willy. Junior Terrance Breaux added six catches for 84 yards for Buffalo. The Bulls' running game was limited to 42 total yards courtesy of seven sacks by the Cardinals. Redshirt frosh James Starks had 65 yards rushing on 19 carries and added three catches for 16 yards.

Defensively, the Bulls were led by senior linebacker Jeff Bublavi who had eight tackles, including 1.5 for loss. Senior linebacker Ramon Guzman added seven tackles and a pass breakup.

The Bulls will host MAC rival Miami at 1 p.m. Saturday.