Bucknell University Athletics
Bucknell University
Marist
Bison Football Rides Legs of Dante Ross to First Win of Season, 27-7 over Marist
10/1/2005 8:00:00 AM | Football
Oct. 1, 2005
LEWISBURG, Pa. - Dante Ross (Groton, Conn./Robert E. Fitch) rushed for 268 yards and three touchdowns, threw for another touchdown, recorded an interception and registered five tackles to lead Bucknell to its first win of the year as the Bison defeated Marist 27-7 in a non-league game before 6,502 fans on Homecoming Weekend Saturday afternoon at Christy Mathewson-Memorial Stadium.
Ross, a starting cornerback who was filling on offense with Bucknell's top two quarterbacks out with injuries, ran 31 times for those 268 yards to break Daris Wilson's mark for rushing yards by both a Bucknell and Patriot League quarterback. Wilson, who held both records and was in attendance at Saturday's game, rushed for 252 yards in a 42-27 win at Holy Cross last year. Ross became the 13th player in Bison history to go over 200 yards, and had the second-highest total in school history behind only Jabu Powell's 282 versus Cornell in 2002. The yardage total also ranks third in Patriot League history.
In addition to his rushing total, Ross tallied 325 all-purpose yards with 36 on punt returns and 21 on kick returns. Only Ken Jenkins, who had 341 all-purpose yards against West Chester in 1980, has had more all-purpose yards in a game in Bucknell history.
Ross also became Bucknell's career leader in punt return yards. He now has 656 yards, surpassing the 626 amassed by current Canadian Football League star Kevin Eiben, who played at Bucknell from 1997-2000.
For good measure, Ross also tossed a 37-yard touchdown pass to freshman Daniel Zvara (Jacksonville, Fla./Bolles School) and intercepted a pass in the end zone to thwart a possible Marist scoring drive. He sparked a Bison defense that limited the Red Foxes to only 42 rushing yards, 41 coming on an Obozu, Ehikioya fourth-quarter touchdown run.
Bucknell improved to 1-3 on the season, while Marist (3-2) had its three-game winning streak snapped.
Ross gave the Bison a 7-0 lead just over three minutes into the first quarter when he broke a number of tackles and galloped down the right sideline for a 39-yard TD gallop, the first offensive score of his career.
The score remained 7-0 at halftime as the two team combined for nine punts and three turnovers in the first 30 minutes of play.
Ross, who accounted for 305 of Bucknell's 346 total yards, took over the game in the second half as he accumulated 170 of his rushing yards, two rushing touchdowns and his touchdown pass after intermission. He gave the Bison a 14-0 lead when he found Zvara in the end zone at the 10:34 mark of the third quarter. That completion was the first of Ross' career and was also the first career reception for Zvara. Of the seven plays in the drive, which covered 63 yards, Ross ran on five of them for 27 yards and threw for 37 on the completion to Zvara.
 James Lachman recorded his first two career interceptions, spearheading Bucknell's stellar defensive effort against Marist.  |
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In the fourth quarter Ross' spinning 23-yard touchdown, punctuated by a dive a across the goal line, gave Bucknell a 21-0. Ross had runs of 18, 23 and 26 yards and accounted for all but two yards on that drive.
Marist finally got on the board with 8:46 left in the fourth quarter when Ehikioya rumbled for a 41-yard touchdown run. Prior to that run the Red Foxes had minus-4 yards rushing for the game.
The Bison were able to eat up most of the clock on their final drive as they used 7:26 on a 13-play, 69-yard drive that was capped by a 1-yard touchdown dive by Ross.
In addition to his offensive exploits Ross played his usual cornerback position and made five tackles. He also picked off a pass from Marist quarterback James Luft in the end zone on the second play of the fourth quarter for his seventh career interception. It was one of four Bucknell interceptions on the day.
Luft finished the contest 17-for-33 for 240 yards and four interceptions as linebacker James Lachman (Bryn Mawr, Pa./St. Joseph's Prep), who had the first two picks of his career, and sophomore defensive back John Thomson (Orlando, Fla./Dr. Phillips) also recorded interceptions for the Bucknell defense. Thomson also blocked a punt.
Behind Ross' rushing totals, the Bison dominated the running game, outgaining the Red Foxes 308-42. Overall Bucknell led the yardage battle 346-282.
David Frisbey (Newark, Del./Charter School) led the Bison defense with a career-high 13 tackles, including one for loss. Dorian Peterson (Rahway, N.J./Rahway) added seven tackles. Mike Giummo led the way for Marist with nine tackles, while Andrew Sperl and Dan Smith had eight apiece.
Guy Smith had eight catches for 102 yards for the Red Foxes, who had never before played Bucknell.
Bucknell continues non-league play next weekend as it travels to Philadelphia, Pa., to take on Penn. The game will kick off at 3:30 p.m.
