Bucknell University Athletics
Bucknell University
Cornell
Cornell Deals Bison Football Squad Third Straight Defeat, 24-7
9/17/2005 8:00:00 AM | Football
Sept. 17, 2005
ITHACA, N.Y. - Quarterback Ryan Kuhn ran for 151 yards and two touchdowns and Luke Siwula ran for 102 yards and a score, leading Cornell to a 24-7 victory over Bucknell, sending the Bison to its third straight loss to start the season.
The Big Red, playing their season opener, scored all 24 points in the first half, 17 coming in a four-minute span in the second quarter.
Dante Ross ran for 59 yards on 15 carries and third-string quarterback Ryan Ahern, making his first career start in place of injured Terrance Wilson and Mahdi Woodard, completed four passes for 38 yards and a touchdown for the Bison.
Cornell parlayed nine straight running plays into a touchdown on the opening drive of the game. Kuhn, who rushed for 116 yards in the first half alone, scored from 16 yards out to give the Big Red a quick 7-0 lead.
The Bison had a chance to cut into the lead when they bridged the first and second quarters with a 19-play drive that started from their own 2-yard line and chewed 9:10 off the clock. But Bucknell came away empty when Ryan Korn's 47-yard field goal attempt struck the right upright.
Cornell answered three minutes later with A.J. Weitsman's 45-yard kick. Then on the first play of Bucknell's next series, Ross, who lined up at both quarterback and slotback in addition to his regular duties playing cornerback and returning kicks, was hit as he tried to pass and the ball popped into the arms of Cornell's Doug Lempa at the Bucknell 8-yard line.
One play later, Kuhn ran it in from eight yards out for a 17-0 Big Red lead. Cornell stretched it to 24-0 on Siwula's six-yard run with 2:25 left in the first half.
Cornell had another scoring opportunity in the final minute of the half when Lempa blocked Korn's punt and the Big Red took over at the Bison 17 with 25 seconds left. But Stephen Collage tackled Siwula in bounds short of a first down and Cornell was unable to stop the clock for a last-second field goal try.
In the third quarter the Bison could not take advantage of freshman linebacker Julius Hopson's 40-yard fumble return into Cornell territory, as Jason Cloyd blocked Korn's 37-yard field goal attempt.
Bucknell finally dented the scoreboard just over a minute into the fourth quarter, when Ahern connected with Richard Simpson on a 28-yard touchdown pass, cutting the deficit to 24-7. It was the first career TD pass and catch for Ahern and Simpson.
The Bison blanked Cornell in the second half and allowed only 103 total yards after halftime. Dorian Petersen finished with a season-high 16 tackles, while Stephen Collage added 15 and Ryan Slater 13.
Cornell outgained Bucknell 342-195 for the game, with 293 yards coming on the ground.
The loss dropped the Bison to 0-3 for the first time since 1988. Bucknell is idle next week, then faces Marist in the annual Homecoming game on Oct. 1 at 1 p.m.
