Buffalo beats UMass 25-18 in overtime after last-second tying kick

Jason Wright found Clint Walker for a 15-yard touchdown in overtime, and Buffalo stopped Massachusetts on its answering possession to win 25-18 Saturday at Broadview Stadium. Oliver Hautanen's 29-yard field goal at the end of regulation had given the Bulls another chance after UMass took a late three-point lead.

Walker caught both of Buffalo's touchdown passes. His 2-yard score early in the third quarter tied the game at 15, and his overtime catch supplied the winning touchdown. The Bulls improved to 4-3 overall and 2-1 in the Mid-American Conference, while UMass fell to 4-3 and 1-3.

The finish followed a difficult afternoon for both passing attacks. Wright completed 16 of 35 passes for 134 yards, two touchdowns and an interception. Logan Inagawa finished 14 of 25 for 168 yards and an interception, although his running helped UMass build a halftime lead.

Inagawa scored on a 20-yard run with 10:08 left in the first quarter. Buffalo answered with Hautanen's 26-yard field goal, then added a safety in the second quarter and a 33-yard kick to take an 8-7 lead.

Elijah Faulkner's 2-yard touchdown run and Inagawa's conversion pass to Jabari Lewis put the Minutemen ahead 15-8 with 1:32 left before halftime. Walker's first touchdown brought Buffalo back level with 10:47 remaining in the third quarter.

The teams stayed tied until Derek Morris made a 53-yard field goal with 1:57 left in regulation. UMass had the lead, but Buffalo drove into range for Hautanen. Wright's 8-yard completion to Walker moved the ball to the UMass 12 in the closing seconds, and the Bulls ultimately sent the game to overtime with the tying kick.

Buffalo leaned on its running backs to begin the extra period. Messiah Burch gained 5 and 3 yards, and Nino Hill picked up a first down with a 2-yard carry. Wright then found Walker for the 15-yard touchdown. An offside penalty on the extra-point attempt gave Hautanen another try, which he made.

UMass opened its possession with an 11-yard completion to Faulkner. The drive then went backward. Christopher Climes stopped Faulkner for a 3-yard loss, and a later sack left the Minutemen facing fourth down from the Buffalo 29. Inagawa's final pass toward Lewis fell incomplete.

Burch finished with 172 yards on 28 carries, giving Buffalo much of its 217 rushing yards. Walker caught seven passes for 45 yards. The Bulls finished with 351 total yards to UMass' 339, and each team committed two turnovers.

Faulkner led UMass with 84 rushing yards and Inagawa added 66. Kezion Dia-Johnson caught five passes for 79 yards. Buffalo retained the Flagship Cup.