After having two punts blocked in a loss to Bowling Green, the University at Buffalo is switching punters again. Sophomore Peter Fardon will be back on the job when UB hosts Ohio on Tuesday night at UB Stadium.
John Rachuna (Jamestown, ECC) showed a lot of potential when he became the primary punter at Western Michigan, but last week against Bowling Green the junior had a pair of punts blocked which led to 14 Falcons points. Bowling Green rallied to win, 30-29, putting perhaps the final nail in the Bulls' already fading postseason hopes.
The loss leaves UB (3-6, 1-4 Mid-American Conference) tied for fifth place in the East Division heading into Tuesday's game against the Bobcats (6-3, 4-1), who have won four of their last five.
"We're going to address those issues. Some of it has to do with our snapper, some of it has to do with our punter and also our protection," Bulls coach Turner Gill said. "Once [you are] vulnerable to having punts blocked you're going to have some other opportunities to see if you fixed it. We're definitely going to get those things corrected."
Gill said he's going back to Fardon because the unit can do more things with the sophomore from Brisbane, Australia, like moving the pocket with his rugby-style kicking. Junior Brian Kelly, who has been the long snapper since midway through last season, will remain in the position.
"He [Fardon] can do a multitude of things because of his experience," Gill said. "It's like a quarterback, he's not standing back there in one spot and everybody comes and aims at you."
Fardon entered the season with an average of 39.1 yards but in 28 punts this season he has an average of 33.4 yards with a long of 50 and nine inside the 20. Because of Fardon's inconsistency, he lost the duties to Rachuna, who has an average of 43.7 yards in nine punts with a long of 71 and four inside the 20.
. . .
In addition to Fardon, there were a few other changes on UB's two deep, especially on defense.
At corner, senior Kendric Hawkins will start ahead of junior Domonic Cook (St. Joseph's). Although he was listed as the starter on the depth chart, Cook didn't start at Western Michigan or at home last week against Bowling Green. Cook started all 14 games last season and the first nine of his true freshman season in 2007 before a hand injury sidelined him for the remaining three games of the season.
Gill said an undisclosed injury is the reason for Cook's reduction of playing time.
"He can play, but it's something we keep monitoring," Gill said. "He has spurts where he gets bruised up and he's not able to go as hard and not as good. ... He's able to play; it's not a serious matter."
Junior Raphael Akobundu has moved ahead of sophomore John Syty (Clarence) at linebacker and sophomore Fred Branch has moved to middle linebacker behind sophomore Scott Pettigrew. With Joe Petit (concussion) doubtful for the game, junior Sherrod Lott will back up junior Josh Thomas at corner.
Offensively, senior right tackle Andrew West is back in the starting lineup after missing three games with a broken hand, while sophomore Matt Ostrowski, who has started at both left and right tackle, will now back up junior Jordan Jerrold at left tackle.
On special teams, Jeffvon Gill and sophomore Ed Young will serve as the kickoff returners.
. . .
The Bulls' tailbacks are all recovering from injuries. Senior tailback Mario Henry (ankle) and Gill (shoulder) are probable while starter Ike Nduka (ankle), a junior, is questionable.
Also on the injury report are junior defensive end Jerry Housey (knee), who is out 2-4 weeks, and junior defensive end Bruno Lapointe (ankle, knee), who is probable.
John Rachuna (Jamestown, ECC) showed a lot of potential when he became the primary punter at Western Michigan, but last week against Bowling Green the junior had a pair of punts blocked which led to 14 Falcons points. Bowling Green rallied to win, 30-29, putting perhaps the final nail in the Bulls' already fading postseason hopes.
The loss leaves UB (3-6, 1-4 Mid-American Conference) tied for fifth place in the East Division heading into Tuesday's game against the Bobcats (6-3, 4-1), who have won four of their last five.
"We're going to address those issues. Some of it has to do with our snapper, some of it has to do with our punter and also our protection," Bulls coach Turner Gill said. "Once [you are] vulnerable to having punts blocked you're going to have some other opportunities to see if you fixed it. We're definitely going to get those things corrected."
Gill said he's going back to Fardon because the unit can do more things with the sophomore from Brisbane, Australia, like moving the pocket with his rugby-style kicking. Junior Brian Kelly, who has been the long snapper since midway through last season, will remain in the position.
"He [Fardon] can do a multitude of things because of his experience," Gill said. "It's like a quarterback, he's not standing back there in one spot and everybody comes and aims at you."
Fardon entered the season with an average of 39.1 yards but in 28 punts this season he has an average of 33.4 yards with a long of 50 and nine inside the 20. Because of Fardon's inconsistency, he lost the duties to Rachuna, who has an average of 43.7 yards in nine punts with a long of 71 and four inside the 20.
. . .
In addition to Fardon, there were a few other changes on UB's two deep, especially on defense.
At corner, senior Kendric Hawkins will start ahead of junior Domonic Cook (St. Joseph's). Although he was listed as the starter on the depth chart, Cook didn't start at Western Michigan or at home last week against Bowling Green. Cook started all 14 games last season and the first nine of his true freshman season in 2007 before a hand injury sidelined him for the remaining three games of the season.
Gill said an undisclosed injury is the reason for Cook's reduction of playing time.
"He can play, but it's something we keep monitoring," Gill said. "He has spurts where he gets bruised up and he's not able to go as hard and not as good. ... He's able to play; it's not a serious matter."
Junior Raphael Akobundu has moved ahead of sophomore John Syty (Clarence) at linebacker and sophomore Fred Branch has moved to middle linebacker behind sophomore Scott Pettigrew. With Joe Petit (concussion) doubtful for the game, junior Sherrod Lott will back up junior Josh Thomas at corner.
Offensively, senior right tackle Andrew West is back in the starting lineup after missing three games with a broken hand, while sophomore Matt Ostrowski, who has started at both left and right tackle, will now back up junior Jordan Jerrold at left tackle.
On special teams, Jeffvon Gill and sophomore Ed Young will serve as the kickoff returners.
. . .
The Bulls' tailbacks are all recovering from injuries. Senior tailback Mario Henry (ankle) and Gill (shoulder) are probable while starter Ike Nduka (ankle), a junior, is questionable.
Also on the injury report are junior defensive end Jerry Housey (knee), who is out 2-4 weeks, and junior defensive end Bruno Lapointe (ankle, knee), who is probable.
