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Shaun Dolac hoists the Bahamas Bowl trophy. Photo: Meredith Forrest Kulwicki
UB ATHLETICS
Published January 6, 2025
The UB Bulls put on a dominant performance on Saturday as defeated Liberty, 26-7, to win the 2024 Bahamas Bowl at Thomas Robinson Stadium in Nassau, Bahamas.
Linebacker Red Murdock led a UB defense that forced three Liberty turnovers and held the Flames to just a fourth-quarter touchdown. Murdock finished with a game-high 13 tackles, two forced fumbles and a pick-six, and was named the Defensive Player of the Game.
Fellow linebacker Shaun Dolac, playing in his final game as a Bull, had nine tackles and 1.5 tackles for loss. He finished the season with a school-record 168 tackles.
Kicker Upton Bellenfant got the Bulls on the board early with three straight field goals to open the scoring. His first, on UB's opening possession, was a career-long and Bahamas Bowl-record 52-yarder. He followed with a 43-yard field goal, and then a 20-yard field goal on the first play of the second quarter that gavethe Bulls a 9-0 lead. Bellenfant added a fourth field goal in the fourth quarter to set a Bahamas Bowl record.
(Left) UB linebacker Shaun Dolac (52) and edge rusher Malin White (12) take down Flames' quarterback Ryan Burger. (Right) Offensive lineman Caelan Shepard congratulates kicker Upton Bellenfant. Bellenfant set a Bahamas Bowl record, booting four field goals in the game. Photos: Meredith Forrest Kulwicki
Al-Jay Henderson broke loose for a 45-yard touchdown run early in the third quarter to put UB ahead, 16-0. Henderson, who was named the Offensive Player of the Game, finished with 119 yards rushing to put his season total over 1,000 yards. He became the 11th different player in program history to rush for 1,000 yards in a season.
Murdock iced the game with a pick-six early in the fourth quarter, returning his first career interception for a 31-yard touchdown.
It was UB’s fourth straight bowl win and second Bahamas Bowl victory. The Bulls also won the 2019 Bahamas Bowl.
Fans gather at a pre-game party. Photo: Meredith Forrest Kulwicki
UB finished the year with a record of 9-4, marking just the third time in program history the Bulls have won nine games in a season. The Bulls ended the season on a five-game winning streak for the first time since 1959.
Check out UBNow later this week to see more of University Communications photographer Meredith Forrest Kulwicki’s photos documenting the Bulls’ Bahamas Bowl experience.