Bucknell University Athletics
Bucknell University
Pennsylvania
Bucknell Drops Double-OT Heartbreaker to Penn, 32-25
10/9/2004 8:00:00 AM | Football
Oct. 9, 2004
LEWISBURG, Pa. - A record crowd of 10,602 witnessed a wild finish at Christy Mathewson-Memorial Stadium, as Pat McDermott's 1-yard touchdown run in the second overtime period lifted Penn to a 32-25 victory over Bucknell on Saturday, snapping the Bison's 17-game winning streak in non-conference home games.
McDermott completed 32 of 55 passes for 384 yards and a touchdown and also ran for two scores to lead the Quakers (3-1), who came from behind three times in the game, the last on a game-saving 42-yard field goal by once-benched kicker Evan Nolan.
Bucknell had the ball to start the first overtime period, and after moving backwards on three plays saw Ryan Korn's 47-yard field goal attempt scrape the crossbar and go through for a 25-22 lead. The boot was a career-long for Korn and his first made attempt in four tries this season.
Penn was also faced with a long field goal after three straight incompletions on its first overtime series. Nolan, who lost his placekicking job this week only to regain it after substitute Bryan Arguello missed two short field goals and an extra point earlier in the day, nailed a 42-yarder to keep Penn alive.
After McDermott broke the plane of the goal line from one yard out to give the Quakers a 32-25 lead, the Penn defense shut the door. Bucknell quarterback Daris Wilson, who was limited to just 27 yards on 30 carries on the day, had two short runs sandwiched around a 7-yard sack by Greg Jones. Facing a 4th-and-16, Wison's pass for Nisan Trotter was broken up in the end zone on the game's final play.
Clinging to a 22-15 lead inside eight minutes to play, the Bison twice thought they had come up with back-breaking plays, but both were erased. First, Wilson scored on a 20-yard run with 7:22 remaining, but the play was nullified by a holding penalty. After being forced to punt, Sean Conover jarred the ball loose from Penn tailback Sam Mathews and Jeff Montagna recovered on the fly for the Bison near midfield. But Montagna then fumbled it back to Penn as he was being tackled.
The Quakers made Bucknell pay in just two plays. First McDermott hit Dan Castles for a 37-yard gain, then a 12-yard scoring strike from McDermott to Gabe Marabella tied the game at 22-all with 5:15 to play.
Both teams forced punts at the end of regulation, setting up the kicking heroics in overtime.
Mike Cangelosi, a former wide receiver making his first career start at slotback, staked the Bison to a 14-0 lead using both his arm and his legs. With 6:45 left in the opening quarter he took a pitch from Wilson, then lofted a deep pass to Trotter along the right sideline for a 66-yard touchdown.
Bucknell kicker Ryan Bower forced a fumble on the ensuing kickoff, and Steven Matzura recovered at the Penn 40. Six plays later Cangelosi sprinted around right end for an 8-yard TD run.
Leading 14-3, Bucknell appeared to be set to extend its cushion after a shanked punt gave the Bison a first down at the 45 with 1:30 left in the half. But defensive tackle J.J. Stanton intercepted Wilson's screen pass and rumbled 47 yards to the Bison 13. McDermott's 1-yard run with 18 seconds left brought Penn within 14-9 at halftime.
Penn took its first lead of the day at 15-14 on Kyle Ambrogi's 7-yard run with 6:53 left in the period, but McDermott's pass fell incomplete on the 2-point conversion attempt. Bucknell quickly answered back, marching 65 yards in eight plays. Kenny Davis, whose 29-yard catch and run pushed the ball into Penn territory, capped the scoring march with a 2-yard run. Davis then caught a 2-point pass from Wilson to make it 22-15.
Penn outgained Bucknell 489-319 on the day. The Bison were tackled behind the line of scrimmage nine times and finished with 137 net rushing yards, 116 below their season average. Wilson completed 9 of 12 passes for 116 yards. Cangelosi was Bucknell's leading rusher with 50 yards on seven carries.
Mathews led Penn with 64 yards on 18 carries and also caught six passes for 53 yards. Castles tied his career high with 12 catches for 132 yards.
Bucknell's last non-conference home loss was also an overtime setback to Penn in 1996, 30-21. The Bison fell to 3-4 all-time in overtime games, including three straight losses.
The Parents' Weekend attendance surpassed the previous Christy Mathewson-Memorial Stadium record of 10,172, also set against Penn in 1997.
The Bison return to action next Saturday at home against Patriot League rival Lafayette at 1 p.m., while Penn hosts Columbia at the same time.
