Bucknell University Athletics
Bucknell University
Towson * (Homecoming)
Bucknell Football Remains Unbeaten in Patriot League with 14-10 win over Towson
10/18/2003 8:00:00 AM | Football
Oct. 18, 2003
LEWISBURG, Pa. - Blamah Sarnor rushed for 107 yards and both Bucknell touchdowns and the Bison overcame injuries to their starting quarterback and leading tackler to defeat Towson 14-10 in a hard-hitting defensive struggle at Christy Mathewson-Memorial Stadium.
Bucknell (4-3, 2-0 Patriot League), playing at home for the first time since Aug. 30, spotted Towson (3-4, 2-2) a 10-0 lead and were forced to play much of the game without junior quarterback Daris Wilson, who sprained his left ankle on Bucknell's third drive of the game and did not return.
John Henry Jackson, Bucknell's third quarterback of the day, was most effective in relief, completing 9 of 11 passes for 129 yards.
Mikal Lundy ran for 105 yards on 24 carries, and Anthony Melzi completed 14 of 29 passes for 189 yards and three interceptions for Towson.
After a Mike Leatherman interception, Bucknell drove 79 yards in seven plays with Sarnor's 1-yard run cutting Towson's edge to 10-7 with 3:43 left in the second quarter. Tim Johnson's 30-yard halfback option pass to Albert Marquardt moved the ball the Towson 2, setting up the score.
Sarnor's second 1-yard TD dive put the Bison ahead for good with 1:48 left in the third quarter. Consecutive Jackston-to-Marquardt hookups of 19 and 32 yards keyed the drive.
Despite playing without free safety Virgil Rush, the Patriot League's leading tackler who left late in the second quarter with an injury, Bucknell's defense blanked Towson in the second half while yielding only 148 total yards.
Inside three minutes remaining in regulation, Towson drove to the Bucknell 23, but Melzi fumbled while being sacked on a fourth-down play.
After forcing a Bucknell punt, Towson had one last shot from its own 36 with 1:39 to play. A 14-yard pass to Will Marcus, an 8-yard run by Lundy and a 9-yard pass to James Byroads moved the ball to the Bucknell 36. But Jerome Acy ended the threat with his second interception of the game after Melzi was forced to scramble from the pocket and overthrew his intended receiver.
After linebacker Neal Regan intercepted a Cole Ciesnolevicz pass at the Towson 3-yard line, the Tigers marched 84 yards in 13 plays and took a 7-0 lead on Lundy's 4-yard run with 3:10 left in the first half. Stephan Toth's 38-yard field goal with 10:14 left in the second period made it 10-0.
Bucknell linebacker Kevin Ransome finished with a career-high 17 tackles.
The Bison outgained the Tigers 340-323 and outrushed them 171-134.
Bucknell returns to the road next week to face unbeaten and nationally ranked Colgate. Towson steps out of Patriot League play to face Elon.
