Nov. 18, 2009
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OXFORD, Ohio -- Buffalo scored 28 unanswered points after falling behind 3-0, setting up a a 42-17 Mid-American Conference victory over Miami Wednesday night at Yager Stadium. Brandon Thermilius rushed for 126 yards and two touchdowns and also caught a pass for a score to lead the Bulls (4-7, 2-5 MAC).
Senior Brayden Coombs, in his final appearance as a RedHawk, caught a single-game school record 14 passes for 100 yards. Miami finished the game with 295 yards passing and 90 yards rushing.
Miami jumped out to a 3-0 lead with 10:10 left in the second quarter after Trevor Cook kicked a 37-yard field goal. The 15-play, 58-yard drive was extended by a roughing-the-kicker penalty by Buffalo.
But Buffalo responded right away, marching 69 yards on seven plays after the kickoff. Thermilus covered the final three yards, putting the Bulls up 7-3 with 6:49 left in the half. The junior running back added to the lead just four minutes later when he scampered 31 yards around the left end for another score, capping a six-play, 79-yard drive.
The Bulls were able to capitalize on a short field to add another touchdown late in the half. They held Miami to a three-and-out and returned the punt to their own 33, but a facemask penalty moved the ball closer to midfield. A rush and five straight completions moved the ball to the Miami 2, where Zach Maynard bootlegged around the left end for a a 21-3 lead with 13 seconds left in the period.
Buffalo added another touchdown on its first drive of the third quarter, building the lead to 28-3 before Miami closed with a score. Dustin Woods caught a six-yard pass from Zac Dysert at the midway point of the period.
Thermilus scored for the third time during the game when he snuck away from the defense and hauled in a 29-yard pass from Maynard with 6:58 to play. Miami tried to rally again, striking just 52 seconds later, when Jamal Rogers made a spectacular grab in traffic at the goalline. The 36-yard play made the score 35-17 with 6:01 remaining. Rogers finished the game with a career-high nine catches for a career-best 86 yards.
Maynard finished the game 13-of-18 for 136 yards and a touchdown through the air, while adding 61 yards and a touchdown rushing. Miami's two quarterbacks -- Dysert and Daniel Raudabaugh -- combined for 295 yards and two touchdowns on 35 completions.
The game was the final appearance in Red and White for 11 Miami seniors. The RedHawks finished the 2009 season 1-11 and 1-7 in the MAC.
