Bucknell University Athletics
Bucknell Hosts No. 7 Lehigh Saturday in First-Place Gridiron Showdown
11/7/2001 7:00:00 AM | Football
Nov. 7, 2001
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The Storyline
First place is on the line this week as unbeaten Lehigh puts its 21-game regular-season winning streak on the line against Bucknell in one of the Patriot League's premier showdowns of the season. The 7th-ranked Mountain Hawks, 5-0 in the conference, can clinch the league title with a victory, while the Bison (4-1) can claim their second Patriot League crown by closing with wins over Lehigh and Colgate. It should be an emotional day for the Herd. In addition to the importance of the contest in the title race, it will also be the final home game for 22 Bucknell seniors.
More on the Mountain Hawks
One of only five unbeaten teams in Division I-AA, Lehigh boasts one of the nation's most potent offenses. The Mountain Hawks are averaging a whopping 40.1 points per game, and they had scored at least 31 in every contest this season until being held to 25 in a come-from-behind, three-point victory at Colgate last week. All-Patriot League QB Brant Hall has missed the last two games with a shoulder injury, but Lehigh has not skipped a beat under the direction of senior Luke Ciannello, who has thrown six touchdown passes in victories over Holy Cross (47-14) and Colgate. The Mountain Hawks also feature one of the league's premier receivers in Josh Snyder, who comes to Lewisburg with 58 catches for 999 yards and 10 touchdowns. Bucknell's most talented opponent of the season to date (including Division I-A Kent State), according to the Bison coaching staff, Lehigh is 40-1 in regular season games over the last three-plus seasons and has been ranked in the top 10 for 14 straight weeks, dating back to last season.
The Bucknell-Lehigh Series
The Mountain Hawks have beaten the Bison three straight years to assume a 32-29-3 series lead. Bucknell has battled Lehigh more than any other opponent except Lafayette. The two teams first met in 1888 (a 74-0 Lehigh win) and have squared off annually since 1950. Lehigh holds a 14-12-2 lead in games played in Lewisburg, including a 48-27 win at Mathewson Stadium in 1999. Bucknell's last series victory came in 1997, a 21-14 home decision.
Last Year's Bison-Mountain Hawks Clash
Last Oct. 21 at Goodman Stadium, Bucknell took a 14-7 fourth-quarter lead, but 13th-ranked Lehigh scored two late touchdowns to escape with a 21-14 victory before more than 16,000 fans. The Bison played without star RB Jabu Powell and had their five-game winning streak snapped. Powell's replacement, then-freshman RB Jess Brinson scored the go-ahead TD, but Lehigh QB Brant Hall answered with a pair of touchdown passes, the last to TE Dustin Grande with 3:12 remaining. Bucknell outgained Lehigh 303-255, but the Mountain Hawks gained 143 of those yards on their two final-period scoring drives. WR Jim Horan had 10 catches for 95 yards for Bucknell, while Brinson gained 40 yards on 18 carries.
Bison Recognized in the Polls
For the third time in the last four weeks, the Bison are listed among "others receiving votes" in The Sports Network's Division I-AA poll. Bucknell is also ranked 10th in this week's I-AA Lambert Trophy standings, signifying the best teams in the East. Lehigh is first in the Lambert Trophy race, just ahead of Hofstra.
Nowhere to Run
If recent trends continue, ground yards will be hard to come by this week. Bucknell and Lehigh rank fifth and sixth, respectively, in all of Division I-AA in rushing defense. The Bison allow only 80.9 ground yards per game, Lehigh just 83.6.
No Running Zone
Bucknell's rush defense has been extraordinary this season. Bison foes have averaged only 80.9 yards per game this season, and only 66.4 over the last seven contests. Three times Bucknell has held an opponent under 30 yards on the ground, including last week when Holy Cross managed only 16 yards on 21 attempts. Five weeks ago the Bison held Towson to a measley 13 rushing yards, while limiting star tailback Noah Read to just 24 yards, nearly 100 below his season average. On Oct. 20, Georgetown rushed for 28 yards on 30 carries. On Sept. 29, St. Mary's (Calif.) came to Lewisburg leading the nation in rushing at 426.7 yards per game, but the Gaels went home with only 108. On Sept. 22, Bucknell held Columbia to 94 yards and kept All-America candidate John Reese to 99.
Gadd Ties Bucknell Record for Coaching Wins
Head coach Tom Gadd recorded his 48th victory at Bucknell last week against Georgetown, tying the record for most wins ever by a Bison football coach. Bob Curtis also won 48, but in an 11-year span (1975-85). Gadd's .649 career winning percentage ranks second in school history among coaches that have spent three or more years at Bucknell, behind only Carl Snavely's .697 mark (42-16-8) from 1927-33.
Make it Seven Straight Winning Seasons
Last week's win over Holy Cross clinched Bucknell's seventh straight winning season, marking the first time in the 116-year history of the program the Bison have accomplished that feat. The Bison entered the 2001 season as one of only 33 teams at the Division I-A or I-AA levels (out of 236 schools) to boast six winning seasons in a row. Since the arrival of head coach Tom Gadd in 1995, Bucknell has gone 7-4 (1995), 6-5 (1996), 10-1 (1997), 6-5 (1998), 7-4 (1999) and 6-5 (2000).
An Iron Curtain
Bucknell's defensive unit continued its stellar run last week against Holy Cross. The Bison held the Crusaders to only 16 rushing yards and 211 total yards (131 below their season average), allowed only one touchdown, forced 10 punts and blocked one, intercepted a pass and recovered a pair of fumbles, and stopped Holy Cross on 13 of 16 third-down attempts.
More on the Defense
Bucknell is now ranked 11th nationally in total defense and ninth in scoring defense. Bison opponents are averaging only 2.4 yards per rush and have converted only 27 of 120 (.225) third-down opportunities. The Herd has compiled 24 sacks on the season and is allowing only 15.1 points per game, even including Division I-A Kent State's 38-point output in the season opener. The Bison have allowed only four offensive touchdowns in the last 25 quarters.
I'll Take That
The Bison defense snagged three more takeaways last week, giving it a whopping 24 in the last six games. Bucknell has forced at least one turnover in every game this season and has 27 for the campaign.
Lord Named PL Defensive Player of the Week
Following a dominating performance against Holy Cross, junior NG Adam Lord was named the Patriot League Defensive Player of the Week on Monday. In the 21-14 win over the Crusaders, Lord led Bucknell with nine tackles (seven solo) and two sacks, and he helped hold the visitors to a paltry 16 rushing yards in the game.
