Bucknell University Athletics
Bucknell University
Holy Cross
Bucknell Football Closes 2005 Campaign with 51-33 Loss to Holy Cross
11/19/2005 7:00:00 AM | Football
Nov. 19, 2005
LEWISBURG, Pa. - Steve Silva rushed for a career-high 200 yards and four touchdowns to help Holy Cross clinch its first winning season since 2000 with a 51-33 victory over Bucknell on Saturday at Christy Mathewson-Memorial Stadium.
Bucknell (1-10, 0-6 Patriot League) rushed for a season-high 426 yards, including 140 from freshman Kadero Watson and 105 from senior Kenny Davis, but the Bison could not overcome a 37-point first-half outburst by Holy Cross (6-5, 3-3).
The Crusaders gained 487 total yards, 230 coming on the ground and another 257 through the air. Quarterback John O'Neil completed 17 of 29 passes, two going for touchdowns.
The first of those TD strikes, an 18-yarder to Thomas Harrison, gave Holy Cross a 20-0 lead just 7:12 into the contest.
Silva's third score of the day made it 30-6 in the opening minutes of the second quarter. Bucknell's Kevin Mullen and Dante Ross sandwiched short touchdown runs around an O'Neil-to-Frank Herlihy 4-yard TD pass, and Holy Cross led 37-21 at the half.
The Bison made a spirited comeback attempt early in the second half but were derailed by two miscues. On the opening possession of the half, Bucknell marched all the way to the shadow of the goal line behind the hard running of Watson and Davis, but Ross fumbled at the 3-yard line.
After forcing a punt and taking over near midfield, the Bison again moved the ball effectively, this time cashing in on Ross' 7-yard TD run. The 2-point conversion attempt failed, but the Bison trailed by just 10 at 37-27 with 3:27 left in the third quarter.
The momentum was short-lived, however, as Casey Gough fielded a bouncing kickoff and ran 84 yards untouched for a back-breaking touchdown. Silva's fourth touchdown, a 15-yard run midway through the fourth quarter, put the game out of reach at 51-27.
The Bison added a late score on Mullen's second TD of the day, a 4-yard burst with 3:27 remaining.
Bucknell had two 100-yard rushers in the same game for the first time since Nov. 6, 2004, when Daris Wilson and Josh DeStefano both reached the plateau against Fordham. Watson (14 carries) and Davis (10 carries) both averaged better than 10 yards per tote.
Backing Watson and Davis were Ross, who rushed for 80 yards and two TDs on 15 carries, and Mullen, who rushed 13 times for 62 yards and the two scores.
Ross also completed 4 of 12 passes for 64 yards and a touchdown, a 45-yard pass to freshman Daniel Zvara in the opening quarter.
On a fairly even stat sheet, Bucknell outgained Holy Cross 490-487, both teams were penalized seven times and both teams had exactly 30 minutes of possession time. The Bison did have four turnovers compared to just two for Holy Cross.
Bucknell had beaten Holy Cross six straight times in Lewisburg dating back to the Crusaders' last win here in 1991. The 84 points tied the series combined record, matching the total in Bucknell's 53-31 victory in 2003.
Sean Conover, one of 14 Bucknell seniors who played in their final collegiate game, was credited with a half-sack, giving him 17.5 for his career and moving him into a tie for fifth on Bucknell's career list.
