Buffalo survives Robert Morris 31-28 after late Hautanen field goal

Buffalo turned a 14-14 halftime tie into a 28-14 fourth-quarter lead, then had to survive a late Robert Morris comeback to win 31-28 Saturday at Broadview Stadium. Oliver Hautanen made a 48-yard field goal with 5:49 left, and that kick became the winning margin after Carson Haggard found Noah Schaerli for a 32-yard touchdown with 1:46 remaining. The Bulls recovered the subsequent onside attempt and ran out the remaining time.

The score was closer than Buffalo's 442-316 advantage in total yards because the Bulls gave the ball away three times, while Robert Morris committed no turnovers. Buffalo also held the ball for 39:15 and ran for 302 yards, but the Colonials found enough big plays to stay within a possession. Messiah Burch carried 26 times for 146 yards. Quarterback Jason Wright threw a nine-yard touchdown to Chance Morrow early in the fourth, pushing Buffalo ahead 28-14 before the visitors' rally.

Robert Morris struck first on a 29-yard Xavier Goulbourne run in the opening quarter. Buffalo answered with a four-yard run from Nino Hill, but the Colonials went ahead again when Haggard broke a 50-yard touchdown run. Wright's 25-yard touchdown run tied it 14-14 just before halftime. Hill's one-yard run gave Buffalo its first lead in the third quarter, and the Wright-to-Morrow touchdown provided a two-score cushion in the fourth.

That cushion did not last. Khalil Hunter returned a Buffalo fumble for a Robert Morris touchdown with 9:24 left, cutting the deficit to 28-21. Hautanen's long field goal restored a ten-point lead, but Haggard moved the Colonials for a quick touchdown pass to Schaerli. Robert Morris still needed the ball again; the onside kick went to Buffalo. The Bulls' closing possession took the last 1:44, avoiding another high-pressure defensive series.

Wright finished 15 of 28 for 140 passing yards, a touchdown and two interceptions. His rushing touchdown was valuable, but the turnovers gave Robert Morris a route back. Haggard completed 13 of 31 passes for 163 yards and a touchdown, while adding the 50-yard run. Goulbourne gained 77 yards on 12 carries. Buffalo had 27 first downs to Robert Morris's 14 and converted 10 of 19 third downs, according to ESPN's final box score. Those numbers show the sustained offense Buffalo produced even while its giveaways kept the game unsettled.

Both teams are 2-2 after the result. Buffalo claimed its homecoming game, but it needed every part of its 302-yard rushing day, Hautanen's fourth-quarter kick and possession of the recovered onside attempt. Robert Morris left with 28 points and a late chance, its defensive touchdown making a lopsided yardage comparison misleading.