Bucknell University Athletics
Bucknell University
Fordham *
Bucknell Stuns 14th-Ranked Fordham 31-10 in PL Football Opener
10/4/2003 8:00:00 AM | Football
Oct. 4, 2003
BRONX, N.Y. - Quarterback Daris Wilson ran for 199 yards and two touchdowns, and Bucknell's defense forced seven turnovers in a 31-10 upset win over 14th-ranked and defending Patriot League champion Fordham on Saturday afternoon at Jack Coffey Field.
The Bison won their Patriot League opener and improved to 3-2 overall, in the process snapping a nine-game conference losing streak. Fordham fell to 3-2, 0-2. The victory was Bucknell's first over a ranked opponent since a 21-16 win at Colgate in 1999.
Led by Wilson, Bucknell's option offense dominated in the first half and helped compile a 24-7 halftime lead. The Bison's opportunistic defense produced seven turnovers, including five interceptions of All-Patriot League quarterback Kevin Eakin, who entered the game with a 12-1 touchdown-to-interception ratio.
Eakin finished 23 of 42 for 257 yards and no touchdowns. Kirwin Watson ran for 158 yards on 25 carries and a TD for the Rams.
Wilson's 199 rushing yards was the most ever by a Bucknell quarterback and the 11th-highest single-game rushing effort in school history. Sam Havrilak's 193 yards against Colgate in 1968 was the previous rushing mark by a Bucknell signal caller.
Bucknell dominated the first half, outgaining the Rams 293-173 while owning a nearly 14-minute edge in time of possession.
Wilson gained 150 of Bucknell's 249 first-half ground yards and put the Bison on the board first with a 1-yard run on the game's opening possession. Wilson ran for 62 yards on the 13-play drive, including a key eight-yard run on fourth-and-five.
Fordham appeared poised to tie the game on its first possession of the day, but Bucknell linebacker Jeffrey Montagna punched the ball away from tight end Travis Johnson just before he crossed the goal line, and the Bison took over on a touchback when the ball passed through the end zone.
Bucknell marched 60 yards on the ensuing possession and took a 10-0 lead on Ryan Korn's 37-yard field goal. After Virgil Rush's interception halted another Fordham drive in Bucknell territory, Tim Johnson capped an eight-play, 78-yard drive with a 13-yard scoring run.
Watson finally put the Rams on the scoreboard with a 37-yard gallop on a draw play with 7:49 remaining in the second quarter.
After Dante Ross returned the ensuing kickoff to midfield, the Bison marched 50 yards in seven plays, with Johnson turning a counter play into a 26-yard TD run on fourth-and-one.
Fordham might have drawn closer just before halftime, but All-Patriot League receiver Javarus Dudley dropped a sure touchdown pass moments after the Johnson score. Dudley did catch a game-high seven passes for 98 yards.
Bucknell's offense slowed in the second half, but the defense came up with five big second-half takeaways, including a crucial forced fumble by linebacker Kevin Ransome on the Bucknell 6-yard line with 9:30 remaining. The Bison yielded only Micah Clukey's 27-yard field goal on Fordham's opening possession of the second half.
Mike Shover's interception and 36-yard return to the Fordham 6 set up Wilson's 3-yard touchdown scamper with 6:02 remaining that made it 31-10.
Fordham outgained Bucknell 412-378, with 334 of the Bison's yards coming on the ground. In addition to Wilson's 199, Blamah Sarnor finished with 81 rushing yards and Johnson had 43 on only five carries.
The Bison conclude their five-game road trip next Saturday at defending Ivy League champion Penn. Kickoff is 12:30 p.m.
