Oct. 15, 2006
Final Stats | Notes
AMHERST, N.Y. (AP) -- Austin Sykes scored his first career touchdown on a one-yard run in the second quarter and later rushed for a game-tying five-yard touchdown as Miami University rallied from a 21-14 third quarter deficit to beat Buffalo 38-31 on Sunday.
The RedHawks (1-6, 1-3 Mid-American Conference) defense intercepted Buffalo four times in the second half and their special teams blocked a punt, leading to three touchdowns in just under nine minutes and ending Miami's worst losing streak since 1988.
With Buffalo (1-5, 0-4 MAC) ahead 21-14, quarterback Drew Willy was intercepted by Joey Hudson on the Bulls 22-yard line. Seven plays later Sykes made his second touchdown of the game to tie the score at 21 with 2:24 left in the third.
After a punt block gave Miami possession at the Bulls five, Mike Kokal hit Jake O'Connell on a one-yard touchdown pass to give the RedHawks a 28-21 lead at 14:15 of the fourth quarter.
Following another interception, Andre Bratton scored his second touchdown of the game on a four-yard run and Miami led 35-21 with 8:57 left in the fourth.
Buffalo rallied with a 45-yard touchdown reception by Naaman Roosevelt with 1:50 to play and a 33-yard field goal by Adam Tanalski 44 seconds later to make it a one-score game. But the Bulls' onside kick attempt went out of bounds allowing Miami to kill the clock.
Buffalo's James Starks finished with a career-high 113 rushing yards one touchdown.
The game was originally scheduled for Saturday but was postponed after a snowstorm left most of the area without power. With driving bans still in effect Sunday, only a couple hundred fans showed up.
