Associated Press

NASSAU, Bahamas (AP) — Upton Bellenfan kicked four field goals, linebacker Red Murdock led a dominant defense with 13 tackles and a pick six and Buffalo completed a turnaround season with a 26-7 victory over Liberty in the Bahamas Bowl on Saturday.

The Bulls, who were 3-9 last season, finished 9-4 under first-year coach Pete Lembo and won their fourth straight bowl game. They were also the first team to win the Bahamas Bowl twice.

Bellenfant made a career-high 52-yard field goal in the first quarter and added kicks of 42 and 20 yards to give Buffalo a 9-0 halftime lead.

Al-Jay Henderson, who had 21 carries for 119 yards, scored on a 45-yard strike up the middle on the first possession of the second half to make it 16-0. Henderson became the 11th player in program history to rush for more than 1,000 yards.

Bellenfant missed a 30-yard field goal on the first play of the fourth quarter, but on the next possession he scored from 45 yards, the first time the sophomore made four field goals in a game.

Two plays later, Murdock intercepted a pass from Nate Hampton and returned it 31 yards for a 26-0 lead. It was the third takeaway for the Bulls defense.

Liberty (8-4), making its sixth straight bowl game but winless since 2021, then had its longest drive, gaining 75 yards, capped by a 36-yard pass from Hampton to Reese Smith .

After a botched onside kick, Buffalo ran out the final seven minutes of the game and reached the Liberty 3.

Hampton, who hadn’t thrown a pass all year, took over in the fourth quarter and was 2 of 9 for 40 yards. Ryan Burger was 4 of 12 for 40 yards in three quarters.

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