Buffalo Accepts Invitation To 2019 Makers Wanted Bahamas Bowl
BUFFALO, NY – The University at Buffalo football team has been invited to play in the Makers Wanted Bahamas Bowl, it was announced on Sunday. The Bulls will face Charlotte of Conference USA at Thomas Robinson Stadium in Nassau, Bahamas on Friday, December 20. It will mark the second straight year and fourth time in school history Buffalo will play in a bowl game.
Buffalo won five of its last six games to finish the regular season 7-5 overall and 5-3 in Mid-American Conference play. Running the ball and defense have been the keys to success for the Bulls this season. UB leads the MAC in rushing offense, averaging 254.2 yards per game as well as total defense, allowing 293.1 yards per contest.
The Bulls were led by sophomore running back Jaret Patterson led the MAC with 1,626 yards rushing and ranked second in the league with 17 rushing touchdowns. In the regular season finale, Patterson set a MAC single-game rushing record with six rushing touchdowns in a 49-7 win over Bowling Green.
It will be the Bulls' first-ever meeting with Charlotte. The 49ers are 7-5 on the season and finished with a 5-3 conference mark. Charlotte is led by quarterback Chris Reynolds who has thrown for 2,366 yards and 21 touchdowns on the year.
“On behalf of our President, Dr. Satish Tripathi, I’m honored and very excited to accept a bowl invitation from the Makers Wanted Bahamas Bowl,” UB Athletic Director Mark Alnutt said. “I’m proud of the season our football program, under the guidance of head coach Lance Leipold, has had which afforded us the ability to play a very important 13th game. The Bahamas Bowl provides a destination that will definitely create memorable moments for our student-athletes, coaches, staff and our fans. We look forward to making the trip south and sharing this first-class experience with a very good Charlotte program.”
The Makers Wanted Bahamas Bowl is played at Thomas Robinson Stadium in Nassau, Bahamas. The game is scheduled to kickoff at 2 pm (EST) and will air nationally on ESPN.
“We are extremely excited to earn an invitation to the Makers Wanted Bahamas Bowl,” Leipold said. “Our past conference participants have raved about the experience and hospitality and our program is thrilled for this opportunity. Coach [Chris] Healy and his staff have done a tremendous job at Charlotte and we are looking forward to the challenge of playing his team.”
Fans interested in traveling to the Bahamas for the game should visit MakersWantedBahamasBowl.com -- click on Bowl Travel tab and select Atlantis Bahamas.
