UB Bulls Fall Short In MAC Championship Game

After their incredible season it seemed winning the Mid American Conference championship was a mere formality for the University of Buffalo Bulls football team.  All they had to do was get by Northern Illinois in the title game.  

Things were going according to plan in the third quarter when UB had a 19-point lead, but then the wheels came off.  The Huskies scored three unanswered touchdowns including the winning score with just over a minute to play for a 30-29 come from behind victory.

What a gut punch for the Bulls.  They dominated the first half building a 22-10 lead.  Kevin Marks scored on a 3-yard run to complete a 94-yard opening drive.  Quarterback Tyree Jackson hit receiver Anthony Johnson with touchdown passes of 13 and 26 yards and Adam Mitcheson hit on a field goal.

But UB couldn't hold off the Huskies offense and had a tough time with their defense in the second half.  A missed two-point conversion turned out to be the difference.

Since joining the league in 1999, UB has never beaten Northern Illinois in 12 meetings.

For Northern Illinois it's their fourth MAC championship in eight seasons and fifth overall.  Meanwhile the Bulls are left looking for just their second MAC title.

Northern Illinois appears head to the Dollar General Bowl in Mobile, Alabama while the Bulls will have to wait to find out which Bowl game they'll be invited to.