UB'S Blue Tops White 37-33 in annual scrimmage

The offense-wearing Blue-scored 30 first-quarter points on four touchdowns and a field goal as it went on to defeat the White, 37-33, before a crowd of more than 1,100 fans at UB Stadium.

Rychard Dykes had two first-half touchdown receptions and David Hinson had a 39-yard touchdown run as the Blue dominated the first half offensively. The White team, however, owned the second half, allowing no points and scoring on a 27-yard interception return by Steve Blake.

The Blue began the scoring on a 24-yard field goal by Scott Keller on the first drive. Starting quarterback Erik Rusin opened the game with a 36-yard pass to Jamie Gasparre.

Hinson scored on a 39-yard run to make it 10-0 before Dykes scored his first touchdown on a 15-yard pass from New Mexico State transfer Chad Salisbury. Sophomore Drew Haddad hauled in a 52-yard touchdown grab from redshirt freshman Billy Feldmaier to make it 23-7. Theron Walker added a two-yard scoring run and Dykes caught a 10-yard TD pass from Salisbury to close out the Blue's scoring.

Senior tailback Anthony Swan led the Bulls ground game with 57 yards on only three carries, while Hinson added 56 yards on eight carries. Dykes had five catches for 76 yards, while Haddad had three grabs for 73 yards and Enrico Pierre had four catches for 34 yards.

At quarterback, Rusin was 4-of-11 for 83 yards, Feldmaier was 9-of-17 for 155 yards and Salisbury was 10-of-16 for 126 yards.

"I thought at times there was a lot of hitting on both sides of the ball," said Head Coach Craig Cirbus. "We were totally out of position at times defensively in the secondary and had a lot of missed tackles, but we knew going in that that would be our inexperienced spot. It's encouraging to see the offense move the ball and to see all three quarterbacks do well."

Linebackers Antonio Perry and Pete Manderano had seven tackles apiece to lead the White team, while Hardy Mitchell had five tackles and a sack and a half. Mike Stumpf added two sacks while Blake, Jeff Lawrence and Ibrahim Giles had interceptions.

The Bulls open the 1997 season on Aug. 30 against Lock Haven.

Craig Guest agrees to deal with New York Jets

Although specific terms were not disclosed, the deal is for two years, with playing incentives included. Guest participated in the Jets' mini-camp last weekend and becomes the second UB player to hook on with an NFL team this year. Offensive tackle Edward Ellis became the first UB player ever selected in an NFL draft when the New England Patriots made him their fourth-round pick.

Guest is the school's all-time leading tackler and became the first UB player to record 100 or more tackles in three straight seasons (1994-96). He had 136 tackles last season and holds the school record for tackles in a game (29 versus Maine), season (161 in 1995) and career (446).

"Craig has been a very productive college linebacker who has size and speed, but, most importantly, toughness," said Todd Haley, a New York Jets scout who worked Guest out in Buffalo. "He's a big hitter. We're looking for help on special teams and linebackers, so we're trying to get tough, fast guys in here. When the draft ends and a guy like that is still available, it's a bonus."

Haley said Guest had an excellent workout and impressed the Jets when they saw him play at Hofstra, a game attended by John Griffin, the Jets' Coordinator of College Scouting.

"He had a big game against Hofstra, which is right across the street from us," said Haley. "When you work out a guy who you like on film, you want to make sure he has the quickness to play at this level and Craig does."

With punter/kicker Gerald Carlson also entertaining free-agent offers, head coach Craig Cirbus says this week's developments make a statement on where the football program is headed.

"To have two players-and hopefully more-be viewed as NFL-quality players is an indication of how far our program has come," said Cirbus, whose team finished 8-3 last season. "I'm extremely happy for both Ed and Craig and their families and grateful to them for the efforts they made on behalf of the UB football program. They will no doubt represent this university very well."

Bulls, Royals victorious at UB Invitational

The Royals scored 289 points to outdistance Canisius, which finished second with 121. Youngstown State (76) and St. Bona-venture (7) rounded out the team scoring in the women's meet. UB's men outscored Canisius 248-167, while Youngstown State (78) and St. Bonaventure (8) trailed. Both the Bulls and Royals are now 8-1 in dual meet scoring this season.

Conlon's toss of 49.72 meters bettered her old mark that she had set two weeks ago at the Mount St. Mary's Invitational. The record is the first established at the stadium by a UB athlete. The previous mark for the hammer was set by Denmark's Inge Faldager in the 1993 World University Games.

The Royals won 13 of 20 events. Melissa Ryan was a triple winner, taking the 100 high hurdles in 15.07. She teamed with Karyn Eichler, Marie Macander and Theresa Hummenyj to win the 4 x 400 relay in 4:13.83, and was part of the winning 4 x 100 relay team with Shannon Hayes, Jamie Hirschman and Amy Tabone (50.05). Hirschman also won the 400 meters in 1:02.40, while Macander was victorious in the 5,000 (19:03.02) and Tabone won the 400 hurdles in 1:07.08.

Omar Doyley was a triple winner for the Bulls, winning the 200 in 22.79 and 400 in 48.96. He also teamed with Ryan Candia, Kweli Musa and Spencer Bell to win the 4 x 400 relay in 3:26.66. Candia also won the 400 hurdles in 55.26. Distance specialist Patrick Nolan won the 5,000 in 15:55.58 and 3,000 steeplechase in 9:37.91.

Conlon and Shelly Hamilton represented UB at the prestigious Penn Relays in Philadelphia. Hamilton placed fifth in the high jump competition at 5-6, while Conlon was ninth in the hammer throw at 157-10.

Both squads host the UB Open meet on Saturday, beginning at 9 a.m. UB also hosts the Mid-Continent Conference Championships starting May 9.

Men's tennis team finishes sixth at Mid-Cons

UB went 2-2 during the tournament, dropping their opening match to third-seeded Central Connecticut State 4-1. The Bulls moved up the bracket on Friday, downing host Chicago State and rival Youngstown State by identical 4-0 counts to move into the fifth-place match against Western Illinois. UB dropped a 5-2 decision to the Leather-necks to conclude the season and take sixth place in the tournament. Top-seeded Troy State captured their first Mid-Con tennis title with a 4-2 win over Missouri-Kansas City in the championship round.

Senior Mike Proulx was the Bulls' spark plug during the tournament, going 3-1 in the two-day championship. Proulx, at second singles, dropped his first match, a 6-2, 6-0 decision to Central Connecticut's Kareem Bryant. Proulx then cruised to victories over his Chicago State and Youngstown State opponents, setting up a meeting with Western Illinois' Nick D'Ancona. D'Ancona had previously defeated Proulx 6-2, 6-2 when the teams met in Hilton Head, S.C., in March. Proulx gained revenge in his last collegiate tennis match, rallying from a first-set tie breaker loss to beat D'Ancona 6-7, 6-3, 6-2. Proulx also teamed with Andrew Garber at number one doubles to go 3-1, falling only to Western Illinois in the final match. Garber was 2-1 in singles play during the tournament.

-Ted Wasko, Sports Information Office