Bucknell University Athletics
Bucknell University
Fordham
Bucknell Football Team Clinches Sixth Straight Winning Season With 27-13 Victory Over Fordham
10/28/2000 8:00:00 AM | Football
Oct. 28, 2000
LEWISBURG, Pa. --- Bucknell senior quarterback Lucas Phillips (Glenn Burnie, Md/Mt. St. Joseph's) completed 20 of 34 attempts for 194 yards and two touchdowns to lead the Bison to a 27-13 victory over Fordham at Christy Mathewson-Memorial Stadium. The Homecoming victory clinched the sixth straight winning season for the football program, and improved the Bison to 6-2 overall and 2-1 in the Patriot League.
While Phillips was the story offensively for the Orange and Blue, senior free safety Kevin Eiben (Delta, British Columbia/Vancouver College) was busy having a stellar day defensively. Eiben recorded his sixth and seventh interceptions of the season, returning them 53 yards. With 150 return yards on interceptions this season, Eiben has set a new school record, eclipsing the previous record of 129 set by Gene Luccarelli in 1970.
The Bison scored first in the contest near the end of the opening quarter, putting together a quick five play, 50-yard drive culminating in a Phillips touchdown pass to receiver Jim Horan (Pittsburgh, Pa/Central Catholic). On the drive, Phillips completed all four of his pass attempts and was responsible for all 50 yards gained on the drive. Horan proved to be Phillips favorite target as the game progressed, catching the ball seven times for 94 yards.
Fordham (2-6, 0-3) finally put points on the board with only 34 seconds left in the half when quarterback Mike Mucci scrambled three yards into the endzone. That touchdown cut the Bucknell lead to 10-6 after a failed conversion, but it was a lead the Bison would never surrender.
Phillips completed his second touchdown pass of the game early in the third quarter, finding freshman J.C. Morgan (Middletown, De/Middletown) (3 catches for 25 yards) in the corner of the endzone for a three-yard score. Chris Lundberg (Phoenix, Ariz./Thunderbird) added a career-long 47-yard field goal nearly seven minutes later and the Bison led 20-6.
Fordham would cut into the lead once more following a Bucknell fumble in the third quarter. The Rams drove 43 yards in two plays, scoring on a four-yard run by Kirwin Watson. However, Bucknell put the finishing touches on their sixth victory when freshman Jess Brinson (Ambridge, Pa/Ambridge) got into the endzone on the twelfth play of the Bison's first drive in the fourth quarter. Brinson led the way on the ground for the Orange and Blue, carrying 21 times for 78 yards on the day.
The Bucknell defense also contributed a strong performance, holding the Rams to just 59 yards on the ground and intercepting quarterback Mike Mucci on four occasions. In addition to Eiben, senior linebacker Vince Ficca (Princeton Junction, N.J./Lawrenceville School) and senior strong safety Justin Lustig (Erie, Pa./Cathedral Prep) intercepted passes.
