Four-Game Road Swing For GWU Ends With 40-3 Loss At Buffalo
October 10, 2009 | Football
BUFFALO, N.Y. - Buffalo raced to a 33-3 halftime lead and never
looked back, whipping Gardner-Webb 40-3 Saturday afternoon at UB
Stadium.
The Bulls (2-4) took advantage of a muffed punt to score first,
getting a one-yard run from Ike Nduka for its initial score. The
extra point was blocked, and Gardner-Webb drove down to kick a
field goal to trim the lead to 6-3 with 6:52 to play in the first -
but Buffalo would roll from that point.
Brandon Thermilus capped a 10-play, 75-yard drive with 1:45 to play
in the quarter for a 13-3 lead - and Buffalo would post a 20-point
second quarter - to go into the locker room up by 30 points. Zach
Maynard hit tight end Jesse Rack twice for shot scoring passes, and
Nduka had another short touchdown run with just a minute remaining
before the half.
Maynard capped off a 14-play, 80-yard touchdown drive with 4:41 to
play in the third quarter for what would be the final score of the
game, a short touchdown pass to Brett Hamlin.
Buffalo dominated both lines of scrimmage, racking up 508 yards of
total offense and rushing for 250. Nduka became the first running
back to top the century mark individually against Gardner-Webb in
six games, going for 131 yards on 24 carries. Thermilus added 82
yards on 10 carries.
Maynard went 16-of-20 for 232 yards and three scores under center,
hitting Hamlin six times for 132 yards.
Gardner-Webb could never get on track offensively, as Buffalo
dominated up front and kept GWU quarterback Stan Doolittle under
duress much of the game. Doolittle completed 16-of-29 passes for
159 yards and ran for 18 more - but was sacked three times as GWU
managed just 215 yards of total offense (51 rushing yards). The
'Dogs were only 4-of-14 on third downs, compared to a 9-of-12
effort by Buffalo (5-for-5 in the first half).
Marquis Sanders caught a career-high five passes for 74 yards for
Gardner-Webb. Marty Patterson (14 tackles) and Mario Brown (12
tackles) paced the Gardner-Webb tackling stats on Saturday.
Gardner-Webb will return home on Saturday, October 17, hosting
Charleston Southern at 11:30 am ET in Spangler Stadium. The game
will be televised live on SportSouth.
