By Anthony Caruso III | Publisher
The Buffalo Bulls defeated the Liberty Flames on Saturday afternoon. The Bulls won 26-7 over the Flames in the 2024 edition of the Bahamas Bowl at Thomas Robinson Stadium in Nassau, Bahamas.
With the win, the Bulls improved to 9-4 under first-year head coach Pete Lembo. The Flames concluded their season with an 8-4 mark under second-year head coach Jamey Chadwell.
Liberty had dropped their last three Bowl games. They lost the Boca Raton Bowl 21-19 against the Toledo Rockets under interim head coach Josh Aldridge during the 2022 season.
Last season, the Flames suffered their first loss of the season as they were blown out 45-6 by the Oregon Ducks in the Fiesta Bowl.
They are 3-3 all-time in Bowl games.
The Bulls; however, have won four straight Bowl games dating back to the 2019 season. This came under three different head coaches: Lance Leipold, Maurice Linguist, and Lembo.
Buffalo is now 4-3 in Bowl games all time. They are now 2-0 in the Bahamas Bowl game — and the first team to win two games in this particular Bowl — as they won 31-9 over the Charlotte 49ers in the 2019 Bahamas Bowl.
Bulls quarterback C.J. Ogbonna went 9 of 19 for 137 yards.
Al-Jay Henderson had 21 carries for 119 yards and one touchdown. Victor Snow had four receptions for 41 yards.
Flames quarterback Nate Hampton went 2 of 9 for 40 yards. He had one touchdown pass and one interception.
Hampton came into the game in the fourth quarter after replacing Ryan Burger, who also passed for 40 yards in the contest.
According to his X account, Hampton entered the transfer portal on December 8th. Several days after entering the portal, he committed on December 21st to play his final season with the Gardner Webb Runnin’ Bulldogs.
The Flames’ starting quarterback Kaidon Salter entered the portal after the regular season concluded. He later committed to play his final season with the Colorado Buffaloes.
Burger also had 11 carries for 57 yards. Reese Smith had one reception for 36 yards and one touchdown reception.
The Bulls outscored the Flames 17-7 in the second half. Henderson scored on a 45-yard rushing touchdown.
Hampton was intercepted by Red Murdock. He then returned it for a 31-yard interception return for a touchdown.
Upton Bellenfant also made a 45-yard field goal.
Flames’ Hampton hit Smith for a 45-yard touchdown reception.
The Bulls led 9-0 at halftime. Bellenfant made three field goals.
He first made a 52-yard field goal. Then, he made a 43-yard field goal.
Finally, he made a 20-yard field goal.
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