Bucknell University Athletics
Bucknell University
Lehigh
Bucknell Football Falls to Lehigh, 21-14
11/10/2001 7:00:00 AM | Football
Nov. 10, 2001
LEWISBURG, Pa. - Quarterback Brant Hall accounted for 197 yards of offense and two touchdowns to lead seventh-ranked Lehigh to a 21-14 victory over Bucknell before a season-high crowd of 8,831 at Christy Mathewson-Memorial Stadium. The victory clinched Lehigh's fourth straight Patriot League crown and improved their regular season winning streak to a national-best 22 games.
The Mountain Hawks (9-0, 6-0) overcame five turnovers in the game, but it was a Lehigh takeaway in the opening minutes of the second half that changed the complexion of the game. With the contest knotted at 7-7, linebacker Thomas McGeoy picked off a Todd Wenrich pass and returned it 25 yards for the go-ahead touchdown.
Bucknell (6-3, 4-2) had a golden opportunity to tie the game when Wenrich connected with wide receiver Jim Horan on a 36-yard pass to the Lehigh 3-yard line, but three running plays could not get the Bison closer than the 1, and Chris Lundberg had a 19-yard field goal tipped and sail wide left.
Lehigh extended the lead to 21-7 on Hall's 56-yard strike to Mike Sutton with 6:16 to play. Bucknell answered with a 39-yard scoring pass from Wenrich to Albert Marquardt with 3:56 remaining. Bucknell then forced a Lehigh punt after three plays and regained possession with 1:53 left, but Wenrich fumbled on Bucknell's 26 with 1:03 on the clock to effectively end the game.
A Vic Cole interception deep in Lehigh territory set up Bucknell's opening score of the day. Todd Warmington's 4-yard TD reception capped a 15-yard drive and gave the Bison a 7-0 lead just five minutes into the contest. The Mountain Hawks answered with a methodical 20-play, 74-yard touchdown drive that chewed 9:07 off the clock. Hall capped the series with a 1-yard dive on fourth-and-goal.
Hall, back in the Lehigh lineup after missing two-plus games with a shoulder injury, completed 7 of 15 passes for 111 yards, and ran 20 times for 86 yards.
Wenrich was 21 of 38 for 228 yards and two touchdowns. His favorite target was Horan, who topped the century mark for the second straight week with 10 catches for 129 yards. The Bison played most of the game without All-Patriot League running back Jabu Powell, who left in the second quarter with a sprained ankle. Jess Brinson led the team in rushing with 67 yards on 15 carries.
The two teams entered the game averaging a combined 67 points and 826 yards of offense, but it was the defenses that dominated. Bucknell outgained Lehigh 323-257, and the two teams combined for eight turnovers.
Bucknell finishes its 2001 season next week at Colgate, while Lehigh hosts Lafayette in a final tuneup prior to the Division I-AA playoffs, which begin Dec. 1.
