Bucknell University
Holy Cross
Bucknell Football Stops Holy Cross, 21-14
11/3/2001 7:00:00 AM | Football
Nov. 3, 2001
LEWISBURG, Pa. - Jim Horan had 119 receiving yards, 25 coming on the go-ahead touchdown in the fourth-quarter, to lead Bucknell to a 21-14 Patriot League victory over Holy Cross on an unseasonably warm afternoon at Christy Mathewson-Memorial Stadium.
Holy Cross rallied from a 14-3 deficit to tie the game at 14 in the opening seconds of the fourth quarter. Ryan Rolfert's 32-yard field goal made it 14-6 with 11:07 left in the third quarter. On the second play of the fourth quarter, quarterback Arthur Grutt, in relief of injured starter Brian Hall, tossed a 37-yard touchdown strike to Steve Green and a two-point conversion pass to David Thompson.
Bucknell quarterback Todd Wenrich completed 23 of 37 passes for 234 yards and two touchdowns, the latter on a corner route to Horan in the end zone on Bucknell's next possession after Holy Cross tied the game. Horan's 119 receiving yards came on eight catches and marked his first career 100-yard effort.
Wenrich's other scoring pass came on a 4-yard hookup with fullback J.C. Morgan with 9:27 left in the second quarter. The play gave the Bison a 14-3 lead, coming just 3:01 after Jabu Powell scored from three yards out.
Powell rushed for 98 yards on 30 carries, as the Bison outgained Holy Cross 133-16 on the ground. Bucknell entered the game with the nation's 10th-ranked rushing defense, allowing 90.1 yards per game. The Crusaders gained a total of 211 yards, 131 below their season average.
Bucknell got off to a poor start in the game, when Jess Brinson fumbled the opening kickoff. Holy Cross converted the miscue into a 36-yard Rolfert field goal. The Bison also fumbled on their next series after driving inside the Holy Cross 10.
Hall was just 3 of 9 passing for 19 yards before leaving with an injury to his non-throwing elbow. Freshman Luke Dugan replaced him for one series before giving way to Grutt, who completed 15 of 33 passes for 171 yards and a touchdown. David Thompson had 10 catches for 105 yards.
Bucknell improved to 6-2 overall and 4-1 in the Patriot League, while Holy Cross fell to 4-4, 3-2. The Bison host first-place Lehigh next Saturday at Mathewson Stadium, while the Crusaders host Colgate.
