BUFFALO, N.Y. ? Despite leading 14-0 in the first half and 17-10 in the third quarter, the Ohio football team lost to Buffalo 26-17 Saturday in a Mid-American Conference contest at UB Stadium. The win by the Bulls ended the nation?s longest losing streak at 18 games.

Ohio (2-6, 1-4 MAC) drew first blood when quarterback Fred Ray scored on a 14-yard touchdown run. The point-after try was blocked, which put the Bobcat lead at 6-0 with 9:31 left in the first quarter.

Ray then connected with Ray Huston on a 28-yard touchdown which was followed by a missed extra point and pushed Ohio?s lead to 12-0.

The Bobcats made up for their failed extra points when Buffalo quarterback P.J. Piskorik was called for intentional grounding in the end zone for a safety, extending Ohio?s lead to 14-0 early in the second quarter.

The Bulls (1-8, 1-4 MAC) got on the board late in the second quarter when Piskorik threw a 58-yard scoring pass to Matt Knueven, cutting the Bobcats? lead to 14-7.

Dallas Pelz then booted a 21-yard field goal midway through the third quarter and the
Ohio lead was reduced to 14-10.

Greg DiMarino responded for Ohio with a 28-yard field goal to push the lead back to 17-10.

Buffalo rallied in the fourth quarter by scoring 16-unanswered points to steal the victory. Piskorik scored on a six-yard run and Pelz booted kicks from 33, 34 and 24 yards away, giving the Bulls their first victory of the season.

Bobcat backup quarterback Ryan Hawk completed 9-of-24 pass attempts for 77 yards with an interception. Ray threw five passes in the game and completed two for 64 yards and a score before re-aggravating his shoulder injury.

Buffalo?s Piskorik struggled as he completed 3-of-13 pass attempts for just 75 yards with a touchdown and an interception. Piskorik had a much better day taking off with the ball as he ran 17 times for 55 yards and a touchdown. Dave Dawson led the Bulls ground attack with 104 yards on 18 carries.

The Bobcats, who remain winless in four road games this season, will have an off week before returning to Peden Stadium to face Kent State on Nov. 8. For ticket information, please contact the Ohio Athletics Ticket Office at 740-593-1300 or 800-575-CATS.