NASSAU, Bahamas — Upton Bellenfant showcased his kicking prowess by scoring four field goals, while linebacker Red Murdock anchored a powerful defensive performance with 13 tackles and a crucial interception return for a touchdown. The Buffalo Bulls capped off a remarkable season with a decisive 26-7 victory against Liberty in the Bahamas Bowl on Saturday.
Having finished last season with a disappointing 3-9 record, Buffalo rebounded to finish at 9-4 under the leadership of first-year head coach Pete Lembo. This triumph also marks their fourth consecutive bowl victory and establishes them as the first team to claim the Bahamas Bowl title on two occasions.
Bellenfant began his scoring with a personal best 52-yard field goal in the first quarter, followed by additional successful kicks from 42 and 20 yards, putting the Bulls ahead 9-0 at halftime.
In the second half, Al-Jay Henderson made a significant contribution with a 45-yard touchdown run on Buffalo’s initial drive, extending the lead to 16-0. This performance not only highlighted his skills but also made him the 11th player in the program’s history to surpass 1,000 rushing yards in a season.
Though Bellenfant missed a 30-yard attempt at the start of the fourth quarter, he quickly redeemed himself by converting a 45-yard field goal—the first instance where the sophomore scored four field goals in a single game.
Just moments later, Murdock intercepted a pass from Liberty’s Nate Hampton, returning it 31 yards for a touchdown and pushing the score to 26-0. This interception was one of three takeaways for the Bulls’ smothering defense.
Despite their struggles, Liberty (8-4) managed to string together their longest drive of the game, marching 75 yards downfield, culminating in a 36-yard touchdown pass from Hampton to Reese Smith. However, after a failed onside kick attempt, Buffalo was able to maintain possession and run the clock down, reaching the Liberty 3-yard line as the game drew to a close.
Hampton, who had not thrown a pass earlier in the season, attempted to rally the team in the fourth quarter but completed only 2 of 9 passes for 40 yards. Ryan Burger struggled as well, finishing the game with 4 completions on 12 attempts for another 40 yards during the first three quarters.
