AMHERST, N.Y. (WIVB) — In what new football coach Pete Lembo called the final exam for the University at Buffalo’s first spring program under his leadership, the annual Blue and White Game was played in between rain drops Saturday at UB Stadium.
The Bulls defense won the controlled scrimmage 40-37 using a modified scoring format. Here are four takeaways from the event.
Backyard ballers
The most impressive performer wide receiver Nik McMillan, the Buffalonian who starred for Canisius High School. McMillan, who played in seven games before an injury cut his redshirt freshman season short, caught six passes for 141 yards and two touchdowns Saturday.
“This year coming out I’m just trying to come for everything I was coming for last year,” McMillan said. “I came in with way more confidence. Because last year I played and had a couple games under my belt. This year I’m trying to be a leader for the whole receiver group.”
Lembo noted that McMillan has been a playmaker throughout the spring practices, and shown a willingness to accept coaching that portends well for his continued improvement.
“No doubt, we’re counting on him to be a guy for us,” Lembo sadi. “Nik has definitely made plays catching the ball and with the ball in his hand after the catch. But there are still parts of his game that can continue to develop.”
McMillan flashed his ability in last year’s spring game. “That was my chance to really prove what I can do on the field,” he said.
This spring, another local recruit who played youth football with McMillan made an early impression. Jayden Lewis, one of the stars of Bennett’s state championship run in 2022, had an early interception and an open-field tackle in the red zone.
“It felt great,” Lewis said. “That’s what I was known for in high school. To come out and do this on the next level brings a lot of joy to me.”
“That’s my brother,” a proud McMillan said. “I was happy seeing him make plays. We all 716, so we all one. He made plays, I made plays. Even though he’s on the other side of the ball, we’re all one team.”
QB competition
Six quarterbacks have been rotating throughout the spring practices, including walk-ons, as the Bulls seek to replace starter Cole Snyder following his transfer to Eastern Michigan.
Nobody distinguished himself in the spring game.
CJ Ogbonna, who saw action last year in reserve, mostly as a runner, started things out Saturday and finished 10 of 20 passing for 104 yards and the first touchdown to McMillan. Another returning pass Gunnar Gray was 6 of 14 for 108 yards and a TD. Richie Watts went 5 of 8 for 61 yards, and walk-on Anthony Policare, whose father was a QB for the Bulls in the 1990s, scrambled for 31 yards and a score.
“It was up and down for sure,” Lembo said. “There were some highlights and then there were some times where I felt we were holding the ball too long. There were times we did some good things, some good throws, some good runs.”
On the ground, Lamar Sperling, last year’s Mr. Ohio recruit, had a 34-yard run early, Mark-Anthony Scott broke off a 40-yarder, and Messiah Burch, a wide receiver in his redshirt season, led the way with 55 yards on six carries, with a long run of 28.
Redshirt freshman kicker Nick Reed, replacing UB’s all-time scoring leader Alex McNulty, made three of four field goal attempts, from 35, 41 and 42 yards.
Defensive victory
The Bulls in white allowed 37 points in traditional scoring, but put up 40 in a system awarding points for every scoreless drive (1), three-and-out (3), takeaway (4), and defensive TD (6), of which there were none.
Defensive tackles Daishon Folson, Junior Poyser and Kobe Stewart, a transfer from Samson, each made five tackles, combining for five tops behind the line of scrimmage. Cornell Evans had two sacks. The Bulls are much deeper on the interior defensive line than the edges, and some players could move outside when the season comes, Lebmo said.
Charles McCatherens made perhaps the winning play with his one-handed interception in the end zone, and Oliver Bridges, a cornerback transfer from Cincinnati had seven tackles and two pass breakups.
Final analysis
Culminating the spring program, which included conditioning workouts and 15 on-field practices, Lembo said the focus now turns to finishing the academic semester. Summer training camp opens the first Monday in August.
“They brought great energy to the building every day,” Lembo. “Even going back to our winter workouts, the weight room, really every practice, even every off period this spring. A lot of smiles in the building. A lot of energy, a lot of passion for what they do, a lot of enthusiasm. This morning we had a brief team meeting and these guys were on the edge of their seats. They couldn’t wait to get going today.”
As for Saturday’s spring showcase, lightly attended in part due to the weather, Lembo assessed a fair display.
“Some guys are going to be the same guy they were in the previous 14 practices, and some guys get out here with the lights on and a little bit more pressure, and maybe you see a little bit of a different side of them. Good or bad,” he said. “And that was one of my comments and feedback to them afterwards. We need to be the same guy every day.”
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Jonah Bronstein joined the WIVB squad in 2022 as a digital sports reporter. The Buffalonian has covered the Bills, Sabres, Bandits, Bisons, colleges, high schools and other notable sporting events in Western New York since 2005, for publications including The Associated Press, The Buffalo News, and Niagara Gazette. Read more of his work here.