Buffalo comes back to beat Army 23-20 in OT
AMHERST, N.Y. (AP) - Tyree Jackson passed for 178 yards and a touchdown and ran for 34 yards and two more touchdowns to lead Buffalo in a 23-20 comeback win over Army on overtime on Saturday night.
Adam Mitcheson secured the win with a 33-yard field goal in overtime as Buffalo (1-2) won its first game of the season. Army's Blake Wilson had missed a 43-yard field goal attempt in OT and also missed a 34-yarder in the final three seconds of regulation.
Buffalo scored two fourth quarter touchdowns to tie the game at 20-20 with 2:26 remaining. Army had not allowed an opponent to score in the fourth quarter in its first three wins.
"I'm really proud of our team," Buffalo coach Lance Leipold said. "I think a lot of people might have counted this group out. We had our backs to the wall."
Army (3-1) rushed for 396 yards on 67 carries. The Black Knights' had the nation's No. 2 rushing attack, averaging 367 yards in its first three games.
"Yards don't matter," Army coach Jeff Monken said. "When you get it down in the red zone, you score."
The Black Knights scored two touchdowns and one field goal in four trips to the red zone. The fourth trip to the red zone resulted in Wilson's first missed field goal.
Quarterback Ahmad Bradshaw rushed for a season-high 126 yards on 22 carries had a 5-yard touchdown run that put Army up 20-6 late in the third quarter. Fullback Andy Davidson rushed for 80 yards on 18 carries after going over 100 yards in each of the first three games.
Wilson made field goals from 21 and 38 yards out in the first half. Army's starting placekicker, Mitchell Howard, injured his left leg making a tackle on the opening kickoff.
Kamari Holsey caught a 5-yard touchdown from Jackson to cut Army's lead to 20-13 with 8:85 remaining.
Army led 10-0 at halftime, but Bradshaw's fumble on the first drive of the second half gave Buffalo the ball at the Army 23. That led to Jackson's first touchdown, but Mitcheson missed the extra point.
"Football is a game of momentum and when the defense makes a big play like that, especially coming off the half, we're excited, they're going, our energy is high and we know we have to return the favor," Jackson said.
THE TAKEAWAY
Buffalo: The Bulls avoided going 0-3 for the first time since 2005 and snapped a five-game losing streak dating to last season.
Army: The Black Knights' triple-option attack dominated for most of the game but fizzled in the fourth quarter. Turnovers also proved costly. Army did not give the ball away in any of its first three games, but had two turnovers in this game, including one that led to a Buffalo touchdown.
"You play that bad, we're going to have trouble winning another game," Monken said.
UP NEXT
Army: Following their bye week, the Black Knights will travel to Duke on Oct. 8.
Buffalo: The Bulls play at Boston College on Saturday.