By Packy Moore
OHIO BOBCATS GAME NOTES
https://ohiobobcats.com/documents/2024/10/23/10.26.24_vs_Buffalo.pdf
BUFFALO BULLS GAME NOTES
https://ubbulls.com/documents/2024/10/22/gamenotes_ohio_2024_.pdf
MID-AMERICAN CONFERENCE NOTES
https://getsomemaction.com/documents/2024/10/23/24_FB_Release_Week_Nine.pdf
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ATHENS, Ohio – The Ohio football team (4-3, 2-1 MAC) returns to Athens, Ohio to host the Buffalo Bulls (4-3, 2-1 MAC) for the team’s final Saturday game of the regular season. Kickoff is set for 12 p.m. ET and can be seen on CBSSN with Dave Ryan and Adam Breneman on the call.
The Bobcats’ matchup can also be heard on the Ohio Sports Network from Learfield, presented by Holzer Health System. Veteran Ohio radio personality Marty Bannister is stepping into the 2024 play-by-play role and will be joined by Rob Cornelius, who has been a part of the broadcasts for two decades.
SERIES HISTORY VS. BUFFALO
The Bobcats and the Bulls have met 29 times since 1949, posting a 18-11 record.
The two teams last met on Tuesday, Nov. 7, 2023, at UB Stadium. After Buffalo tied the game in the fourth quarter, Ohio surged ahead with less than 10 minutes of play remaining to claim the 20-10 victory.
SCOUTING BUFFALO
The Bulls are currently 4-3 overall and 2-1 against MAC opponents. Buffalo logged its first conference win on Sept. 21, taking down Northern Illinois in overtime, 23-20. After defeating Toledo (Oct. 12), the Bulls dropped their Homecoming matchup to Western Michigan in the fourth quarter, 48-41.
As a team, Buffalo averages 23 points per game on 153.6 rushing yards and 157.29 passing yards. Their opponents average 26.29 points per game.
Senior quarterback C.J. Ogbonna is 89-for-162 on 1,060 yards over six games, throwing seven passing touchdowns and one interception. Ogbonna isn’t afraid to use his legs, recording 62 carries and three rushing touchdowns on 105 yards so far this season. Redshirt junior quarterback Gunnar Gray contributed in two games, logging four completions on 41 yards in the air.
Junior running back Al-Jay Henderson leads Buffalo on the ground currently with 69 attempts and three touchdowns on 374 yards. Senior running back Jacqez Barksdale has accumulated 250 rushing yards and one touchdown while redshirt sophomore wide receiver Victor Snow has scored two touchdowns on seven carries and 47 yards. Redshirt freshmen running backs Lamar Sperling and Messiah Burch have both scored one touchdown apiece.
Snow leads the receiving room with 25 catches and two touchdowns on 300 yards. Graduate student wide receiver JJ Jenkins trails Snow with 13 receptions on 168 yards and has scored once this season along with sophomore wide receiver Nik McMillan. Graduate student wide receiver Taj Johnson has two touchdowns on 135 yards.
Defensively, graduate student linebacker Shaun Dolac leads the Bulls with 98 total tackles—include 50 solo stops and 11 tackles for loss— two interceptions, two pass breakups and one quarterback hurry. Redshirt sophomore linebacker Red Murdock trails Dolac with 82 tackles and 10 tackles for loss. Senior linebacker Jalen McNair, redshirt junior cornerback Cooper Marquis and sophomore cornerback Charles McCartherens each snagged an interception apiece.
Redshirt sophomore kicker Upton Bellenfant is the Bulls’ leading scorer with 39 points on the season. He’s 12-for-12 on PATs and 9-for-9 on field goals, with his longest clocking in at 47 yards. Additionally, Bellenfant has accumulated 2,111 yards on 24 kickoffs, averaging 62.1 yards per kick.
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