Football dismantled by Buffalo on homecoming; Lazzaro throws 4 picks


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Junior quarterback Tommy Lazzaro runs the ball against The Univeristy​ of Buffalo on Oct. 6 at Kelly/Shorts Stadium.

Trailing 24-17 to start the fourth quarter, Tommy Lazzaro’s pass was intercepted. On the next Central Michigan drive, he was intercepted again.

Lazzaro’s pass fell right between three defenders and into the arms of receiver Jamil Sabbagh. But the junior was unable to handle the ball, and it was intercepted by Joey Banks. 

The CMU offensive struggles were plentiful and went much further than Sabbagh’s mistake – wide receiver JaCorey Sullivan dropped a simple pass, Lazzaro overthrew an open Julian Hicks on a potential 40-yard completion and running back Jonathan Ward gained just nine yards.

It was those type of self-inflicted mistakes that Central Michigan football coach John Bonamego said forced the Chippewas (1-5, 0-2 MAC) into a 34-24 loss to Buffalo on Oct. 6 at Kelly/Shorts Stadium. 

"We didn't play good football today," Bonamego said. "We turned the ball over, we didn't tackle, we had penalties. We beat ourselves. Nobody's happy. I don't expect anybody to be happy. I don't expect anyone that follows this team to be happy, and I'm not happy."

After Lazzaro’s first pass of the fourth was intercepted by Buffalo cornerback Cameron Lewis, running back Jaret Patterson broke around the right side of the field for a 14-yard touchdown to put the Bulls (5-1) ahead, 31-17. 

The next interception thrown by Lazzaro resulted in a 27-yard field goal from Adam Mitcheson, giving Buffalo a 34-17 edge.

Patterson carried the ball 18 times for 121 yards and a touchdown, but the most impressive run-game effort came from Kevin Marks. He went for 167 yards and a touchdown on the ground in the 10-point win.

"We didn't tackle well enough," Bonamego said. "It's not a tackle until the guy is on the ground. The majority of (runs) came after contact." 

Kicker Ryan Tice opened the game with a 40-yard field goal to give the Chippewas a 3-0 edge just over a minute into the game. After that, it was all Bulls in the first half. 

Tice missed a 43-yard field goal to start the second quarter – his first blemish of the 2018 season. 

Buffalo quickly responded to Tice’s initial field goal with 7:37 remaining in the first quarter, as quarterback Tyree Jackson tossed up a pass for Tyler Mabry in the right corner of the end zone for a 6-yard touchdown.

Even though Jackson fashioned his arm on multiple occasions in the first half, he decided to take the ball into the end zone himself for a 14-3 edge nearing the 7-minute remaining mark in the second half. 

Jackson finished the game 10-of-20 through the air for 127 yards, one touchdown and one interception.

A field goal from Mitcheson from 26 yards out made it 17-3 at halftime. 




In an attempt to elude pressure from CMU defensive tackle Nathan Brisson-Fast, Jackson threw the ball up into the end zone. The incoherent toss resulted in an interception from CMU cornerback Sean Bunting – his second-straight game with a pick.

On the first play of the ensuing CMU offensive drive, Lazzaro picked up 30-yard on a scramble. Six plays later, the quarterback went again for 13 yards into the red zone.  

The scoring opportunity was one the Chippewas executed. 

Third-string running back Romello Ross was provided an opening by center Steve Eipper and guard Shakir Carr and exploded through the line for a 10-yard rushing touchdown. The third quarter score cut the CMU deficit to 17-10, but Buffalo quickly responded.

"There's only one ball," Bonamego said. "We have a lot of good backs, but we need to stop jumping offsides on first down. We have to stop dropping passes. We need to block better." 

Ward, the starting running back, did not play much in the second half. Bonamego said he is unsure if the junior is injured or not. 

Going untouched, Marks went 70 yards for six points. Following the point-after attempt, the Bulls controlled a 24-10 edge with 5:08 remaining in the third. 

Again, the Chippewas answered.

Lazzaro dropped back in the pocket to find wide receiver JaCorey Sullivan in the back of the end zone for a 23-yard touchdown, cutting Buffalo’s lead to seven points. 

In his third-start, Lazzaro threw four interceptions. He was 9-of-23 passing for 117 yards and one touchdown. The most impressive aspect of his game against Buffalo was the 105 yards he accumulated on the ground. 

Buffalo tacked on another 10 points off two turnovers to take a 34-17 lead in MAC play. 

Central Michigan added a final touchdown on a nine-yard pass from backup quarterback Tony Poljan to Hicks, but Buffalo still controlled the game for a 34-24 victory. 

With the loss, the Chippewas dropped to 1-5 on the season and 0-2 in conference action. 

"The only way I know how to make things right is go back to work the next day," Bonamego said. "I have to do better. That's what we are going to do.

"I've seen the highest of highs, the gutters and everything in between." 

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