Bucknell University Athletics
Bison to Host St. Mary's in Parents' Weekend Grid Clash
9/25/2001 8:00:00 AM | Football
Sept. 25, 2001
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The Storyline
Two teams from opposite coastlines meet in a Parents' Weekend clash of differing, yet thus far powerful, offenses. St. Mary's has run the spread option to near perfection in its last two games, wins over Humbolt State (49-10) and Central Washington (35-23). The Gaels lead all of Division I-AA in rushing offense at 426.3 yards per game, including 492 last week. Ironically, it is Bucknell that will bring its "West Coast" offense up against St. Mary's of Moraga, Calif. The Bison have attempted 92 passes in two games, 58 more than the Gaels have launched in three games. Bucknell has topped the 400-yard barrier in each of its first two contests but is looking to cut down on turnovers (eight in two games) and improve its red zone efficiency. Like St. Mary's, Bucknell is also looking to build on a victory after last week's thrilling 23-20 overtime triumph at Columbia.
The Bucknell-St. Mary's Series
The Bison and Gaels have met twice previously, with Bucknell winning 45-38 on the road in 1997 and 30-14 at Mathewson Stadium in 1998. After a two-year hiatus, the cross-country rivalry resumes this season and will continue in California in 2002. In the 1997 shootout, Bucknell RB Chris Peer rushed for 173 yards and a pair of scores. The following season QB Lucas Phillips, starting in place of the injured Don McDowell, threw for 278 yards to lead the Bison.
More on the Gaels
St. Mary's put its powerful rushing attack on display again last week, chalking up 492 ground yards in a 35-23 win over Central Washington. Slotback Andre Coleman (181), quarterback Chris Kobe (170) and fullback Clint Wilson (113) all topped the 100-yard rushing plateau, and the threesome combined for four touchdowns. Kobe also completed 6 of 14 passes for 91 yards in his first start at quarterback. Coleman ranks ninth nationally (I-AA) in rushing with an avergage of 141.0 yards across three games. The Gaels, a I-AA independent, defeated two Patriot League squads last season, winning at Colgate 37-20 and at home against Towson 45-33.
The Bison in Home Openers
Bucknell is a perfect 6-0 in home openers under head coach Tom Gadd, including a 30-14 win over St. Mary's in the 1998 Mathewson Stadium lidlifter. This is the latest the Bison have played their first home game since 1969, when Bucknell tied Temple 7-7 after playing its first three contests on the road. Bucknell is 85-28-1 (.750) all-time in home openers (the team played only road games in 1892).
FieldTurf to Debut this Week
The Bucknell-St. Mary's game is the first official varsity collegiate contest to be played on the newly installed FieldTurf in Christy Mathewson-Memorial Stadium. The state-of-the-art synthetic grass surface, a gift from former letterman Norm Garrity '63 and his wife, Mary Lou '64, was laid this summer. The Garritys will be honored in a pregame ribbon-cutting ceremony signifying the official opening of the turf. Bucknell is one of a handful of schools to install FieldTurf as a full-time playing surface, with others including Nebraska, Washington, Tulane, Washington State and Oregon.
Owning the Stat Sheet
The Bison have averaged an even 20.0 points over their first two games, but a look at the boxscores from those contests would indicate a much higher scoring potential. Despite falling 38-17 to Kent State three weeks ago, the Bison totaled more first downs (24-19), rushing yards (236-212), passing yards (179-145), total yards (415-357) and time of possession (32:16-27:44). Five turnovers doomed the Bison on that day. Then last week at Columbia, Bucknell again held significant edges in first downs (27-14), rushing yards (128-94), passing yards (286-194), total yards (414-288) and time of possession (31:26-28:34).Three more giveaways and a missed field goal hampered the Herd's scoring chances against the Lions.
Moving the Chains
Bucknell's 27 first downs against Columbia last week were the team's most since logging 29 first downs in a 49-20 win over Duquesne on Oct. 16, 1999. The Bison enjoyed their two most time-consuming drives of the year against the Lions, using 14 plays and 6:33 to move 72 yards for a second quarter score and 19 plays and a whopping 8:51 to march 90 yards for the tying touchdown in the final four minutes of regulation.
