Bucknell University Athletics
Bucknell University
Colgate
Colgate Ousts Bucknell Gridders in Overtime, 13-10
10/5/2002 8:00:00 AM | Football
Oct. 5, 2002
LEWISBURG, Pa. -- For the second straight year Colgate kicker Lane Schwarzberg lifted Colgate to a tense victory over Bucknell, this time on a 23-yard field goal in overtime that propelled the Raiders to a 13-10 victory before 9,202 fans at Christy Mathewson-Memorial Stadium on Saturday.
The game was the latest in a long series of hard-hitting, close contests between the Patriot League rivals. Each of the last five series games and 22 of 51 all-time have been decided by a touchdown or less.
After trailing 7-3 at the half, Bucknell (2-3, 0-1 Patriot League) took a 10-7 lead on Jim Horan's 23-yard touchdown catch from Todd Wenrich with nine minutes remaining in the third quarter. The score came on the first play after Mike Leatherman's recovery of a Luke Graham fumble.
Graham's 18-yard catch set up a Schwarzberg 20-yard field goal, tying the game with 9:08 left in regulation.
Both teams squandered excellent chances to take the lead late in the fourth quarter. Bucknell's Frank Lazio blocked a punt after a mishandled snap and Jared Marsilio returned it to the Bucknell 49 with 6:59 left, but Bison quarterback Todd Wenrich fumbled at the Colgate 27 four plays later.
Colgate (3-2, 1-1) marched to the Bucknell 31 before Raider quarterback Tom McCune was intercepted by Adam Minggia at the 11. The Raiders forced Bucknell to punt into a stiff wind and regained possession at its own 40 with 1:38 to play.
McCune converted a third-and-eight with a 21-yard pass to Jamal Lamb, and the Raiders set up Schwarzberg for a 38-yard field goal attempt with five seconds remaining. But Bucknell linebacker Joe Massey kept the Bison alive by deflecting the kick, which fell short of the uprights.
Bucknell took the ball first in overtime and advanced to the Colgate 9, but a low snap forced Chris Lundberg to miss from 26 yards out.
Colgate made one first down on its series and Schwarzberg redeemed himself by drilling the 23-yard field goal. Schwarzberg's 33-yarder with 2:53 remaining gave Colgate a 15-13 victory in Hamilton, N.Y., last season.
McCune completed 22 of 40 passes for 271 yards and a touchdown a 25-yard strike to Graham that staked the Raiders to a 7-0 lead with 1:56 left in the opening quarter. Graham led all receivers with 94 receiving yards on six catches.
Wenrich finished 17 of 32 for 204 yards and was intercepted once his first since opening day.
Neither team manufactured much yardage on the ground, with Colgate holding a 97-96 rushing edge. Freshman Blamah Sarnor led the Bison with 69 yards on 22 carries, but he had only 12 yards after halftime.
Justin Polk led Colgate with 48 yards on 20 carries.
Bucknell is now 3-3 all-time in overtime, including a 23-22 loss at St. Mary's (Calif.) earlier this year. Colgate is now 3-2 in overtime. The Bison defeated the Raiders in OT in both 1995 and 1996.
Bucknell is idle next week before visiting Towson on Oct. 19, while Colgate travels to Princeton next Saturday.
