Bucknell University Athletics
Bucknell University
Duquesne
Bison Fall In Season Opener To Duquesne, 35-14
9/7/2002 8:00:00 AM | Football
Sept. 7, 2002
PITTSBURGH - Jeremy Conley caught three touchdown passes from Niel Loebig as Duquesne beat Bucknell 35-14 in the season opener for both teams on Saturday.
Matt Mrdjenovich opened the scoring on an 8-yard pass from Loebig to give Duquesne (1-0) a 7-0 lead with 2:56 left in the first quarter.
Bucknell (0-1) tied the score on a 16-yard pass from Todd Wenrich to Nisan Trotter in the second quarter. But Duquesne took a 14-7 lead into halftime after Conley caught his first scoring pass, 74 yards, from Loebig.
Bucknell tied the game with 10:57 remaining when Jess Brinson ran 4 yards to cap a six-play, 49-yard drive.
Duquesne regained the lead on a 10-yard Loebig-to-Conley score then broke the game open when Armar Watson returned an interception 46 yards for a score on Bucknell's next drive.
Conley added an 18-yard touchdown reception with 1:07 left.
Duquesne intercepted four passes, three by Wenrich and one by Kyle Fields.
Overall, Bucknell quarterbacks were just 13-for-29 for 124 yards. Loebig was an efficient 13-for-26 and 193 yards and one interception, the Dukes' only turnover.
Bucknell bottled up the Duquesne running game, holding the Dukes to 67 yards on 28 carries. But the Bison struggled to take advantage of their opportunities, despite holding the ball for more than 36 minutes. Bucknell punted nine times and lost two fumbles.
