An exhibit in resiliency: UB finds answers in 37-20 win at Eastern Michigan
Al-Jay Henderson’s 75-yard touchdown catch with 8:43 left in the fourth quarter gave the Bulls necessary separation in a 37-20 win against Eastern Michigan on Wednesday at Rynearson Stadium.
This deep into the season, the University at Buffalo football team has no reason to take its foot off the gas and cruise.
Not when midweek night games are regularly high-scoring affairs. Not when the possibility of a better bowl destination is at stake. Not when the Bulls have a chance to sweep their three November night games. Not when they’re still somehow in the hunt for a berth in the Mid-American Conference title game.
And definitely not when a team that’s still playing for its own postseason hopes has nothing else to lose.
UB Bulls running back Al-Jay Henderson (5) carries the ball during the fourth quarter of a football game against Ball State at UB Stadium in Amherst on Tuesday, Nov. 12, 2024.
Joed Viera/Buffalo News
Al-Jay Henderson’s 75-yard touchdown catch with 8:43 left in the fourth quarter gave the Bulls necessary separation in a 37-20 win against Eastern Michigan on Wednesday at Rynearson Stadium.
At that point, the Bulls (7-4, 5-2 MAC) led by only three points, after former UB quarterback Cole Snyder – now Eastern’s starting quarterback – sparked a quick two-play drive and found Markus Allen for a 78-yard touchdown that helped Eastern (5-6, 2-5) cut UB’s lead to 23-20 with 8:54 left in the fourth quarter.
But 11 seconds later, on UB’s first ensuing play from scrimmage, UB quarterback CJ Ogbonna connected with Henderson for a 75-yard touchdown – with 53 yards coming after the initial catch – to open UB’s lead to 30-20 after Upton Bellenfant’s point after kick.
“The offense didn’t even flinch,” UB linebacker Shaun Dolac said of his team’s response.
The Bulls needed breathing room. They got a 60-yard interception return for a touchdown from Dolac that locked up the 17-point lead with 2:59 left. But they also got a reminder of why resiliency is so important, especially at this point in the season.
“It says that we never give up, and that we’re always going to play for our all, no matter if it’s the first, second, third, fourth or overtime,” said Henderson, who had 25 carries for 86 yards and a rushing touchdown.
They also know their place in the MAC pecking order. Miami (Ohio) and Ohio are tied for first in the MAC at 6-1 in conference games, ahead of Bowling Green (5-1), which plays Ball State on Saturday, and UB (5-2). The top two teams in the MAC, based on conference winning percentage, earn berths in the MAC Championship game Dec. 7 at Ford Field in Detroit.
“Other teams are fighting for their football life,” said Ogbonna, who threw for 260 yards and three touchdowns on 18-of-28 passing. “(Eastern Michigan), they’re trying to get bowl-eligible, so they’re fighting, and they weren’t going to just go away easy. We had to keep our foot on the pedal and not let them come back in.”
UB now has two wins in MACtion games, has won three straight games and has three wins in November – prior to this season, the last time the Bulls won in November was in 2020. They’re also winning night games, and UB closes the regular season at 7 p.m. Tuesday at UB Stadium against Kent State, which has yet to win a game this season.
“Just the fact that we’ve got a chance to win eight regular-season games, I’d like to think that tonight, we assured ourselves of a nice trip (to a bowl game) in December, but if we can get win eight, who knows what happens a week from now?” UB coach Pete Lembo said. “Eight wins will probably get you to an even nicer bowl game. There’s still a lot to play for.”
Lembo might also have some financial incentive; his contract states that he’ll receive a $15,000 bonus if UB wins eight regular-season games.
But before the Bulls can think about bowl destinations such as Boca Raton, Boise, Arizona or the Bahamas, they have to end the regular season on a high note, regardless of whether they make the MAC championship game.
“Anything can happen in the MAC, and you saw that tonight,” said Dolac, who had nine tackles and two interceptions Wednesday. “Any team can beat any team and we have to continue what we’re doing. We’re 3-0 in November, right now, and we’re looking to go 4-0, against Kent State this week.
“We’ve got to celebrate this win and get back to work, because we have a short week ahead.”