Bucknell University Athletics
Bucknell University
Villanova
Bucknell's Comeback Falls Inches Short in Grid Opener at No. 10 Villanova, 20-14
9/2/2004 8:00:00 AM | Football
Sept. 2, 2004
VILLANOVA, Pa. - Bucknell nearly parlayed three fourth-quarter defensive takeaways into an impressive comeback at 10th-ranked Villanova, but the Wildcats came up with a key goal line stop and prevailed 20-14 before 9,073 fans at Villanova Stadium on Thursday night.
In the season-opener for both teams, Villanova controlled play for the first three quarters, taking a 20-0 lead after Terry Butler's 1-yard touchdown run with 6:28 to play in the third. Butler finished with 126 rushing yards on 25 carries.
The Bison offense was suffocated for most of the night, until Jerome Acy's interception at the Villanova 40-yard line with 2:15 left in the third quarter breathed new life into the visitors. Sparked by key first-down passes to Kenny Davis and Frank Lazio, Bucknell put together an 11-play scoring drive, pulling within 20-7 on quarterback Daris Wilson's 2-yard touchdown run with 12:36 left in the contest.
Three plays later the Bucknell defense recorded another turnover when, on a 3rd-and-9 play, Sean Conover sacked Marvin Burroughs and punched the ball loose. Corey Mayo recovered at the Villanova 23, and two plays later Wilson hit Ian Nutt on a 21-yard scoring aerial, making it a 20-14 contest.
After posting the two scores in just a 1:44 span, the Bison had a golden opportunity to take the lead after yet another defensive theft. On Villanova's very next play from scrimmage, Jeffrey Montagna stripped Butler at the line of scrimmage and Kevin Ransome recovered at the Villanova 33.
Six straight Wilson rushes brought up a fourth-and-goal from the 1-yard line, but Blamah Sarnor was stopped inches from the goal line with 7:07 to play.
Villanova made one first down before the defense stiffened again, and following a low snap, Frank Lazio nearly blocked Adam James' punt at the goal line. But James got the punt away and the Wildcats downed it at the Bucknell 44. After a 4-yard loss, Terrance Reaves intercepted Wilson's pass at the Villanova 41 with 3:11 left, and Villanova was able to exhaust he clock.
Villanova outgained Bucknell 341-178 for the game, including 199-79 on the ground. Sarnor led the Bison with 43 yards on 12 carries, while Wilson was limited to 32 yards on 24 carries. Wilson did have a solid passing night, completing 10 of 13 passes for 99 yards.
Burroughs was 17 of 24 for 142 yards for the Wildcats.
Villanova clearly controlled the first half, maintaining possession for 21:07 to Bucknell's 8:53. The Bison defense held tough, despite being on the field for most of the half. Bucknell stopped the Wildcats on second, third and fourth downs and less than two yards on Villanova's opening drive, with Jerome Acy tackling Terry Butler on fourth-and-inches. Acy later had a sack on a cornerback blitz to thwart a Villanova drive.
After a scoreless first quarter, Villanova finally dented the scoreboard at the 9:12 mark of the second period when Burroughs executed a quarterback draw for an 8-yard touchdown.
After forcing Bucknell's third three-and-out in four first-half possessions late in the period, Burroughs connected with Phil DiGiacomo out of the backfield for a 3-yard TD with just 41 seconds left before halftime. A 19-yard run on another draw by Burroughs and a key pass interference call against the Bison in the end zone set up the touchdown.
Villanova had 14 first downs to one for the Bison in the first half en route to a 223-45 edge in total offense.
The Bison are idle next week before opening their home schedule against Cornell at 7 p.m. on Sept. 18.
