Bucknell University Athletics
Bucknell University
Georgetown
Bucknell Football Falls 19-16 in Overtime to Georgetown in Season Opener
9/3/2005 8:00:00 AM | Football
Sept. 3, 2005
LEWISBURG, Pa. - Georgetown's Eric Bjonerud connected on a 33-yard field goal in overtime to complete a comeback from a 16-0 second-half deficit and give the Hoyas a 19-16 win over Bucknell in the football season opener for both teams in front of 6,802 fans at Christy Mathewson-Memorial Stadium Saturday night.
The Bison, who scored the first 16 points of the contest, had a chance to win the game at the end of regulation with the score tied at 16. Bucknell started its final drive of the fourth quarter on the Georgetown 43-yard line with less than a minute to play. Sophomore quarterback Terrance Wilson, making his first career start, completed just his second pass of the game to Josh DeStefano for 20 yards to bring Bucknell within field goal range. The Hoyas proceeded to call three straight timeouts to "ice" kicker Ryan Korn. Korn, who had already connected on two field goals of more than 40 yards earlier in the game, attempted a 42-yard line drive that was blocked. Andrew Guadagno recovered the loose ball as time ran out.
Bucknell opened the overtime period with the ball. On the second play of overtime, a handoff from Wilson to DeStefano was fumbled that the Hoyas' Derek Franks covered, giving Georgetown possession at the Bucknell 25-yard line.
The Bison defense did not allow the Hoyas to get inside the 16-yard line, but it was not enough as Bjonerud, who had been 1-for-3 on field goals in the game, connected on his second of the contest.
Korn helped Bucknell sprint out to that 16-0 advantage by tying a career-high with three field goals. Korn accounted for all the Bucknell scoring after a Blamah Sarnor one-yard touchdown run midway through the first quarter as he connected on field goals of 42, 47 and 25 yards. The 47-yard boot matched the longest of his career.
Georgetown stormed back with a pair of touchdowns 90 seconds apart in the third quarter. The first came when quarterback Nick Cangelosi connected with Kyle Van Fleet on about a 14-yard pass, but Dante Ross reached in and knocked the ball out of Van Fleet's hands. However, Kenny Mitchell scooped up the loose ball and continued the final 42 yards for the Hoyas first score of the game. After failing on the two-point conversion, Bucknell led 16-6.
On the third play of the ensuing possession Wilson fumbled, giving Georgetown the ball at the Bucknell 41-yard line. The Hoyas quickly capitalized as Cangelosi completed a 41-yard touchdown pass to Van Fleet on the very first play.
Georgetown tied the game up with 5:46 remaining in the fourth quarter when Bjonerud made the first of his two field goals, a 26-yarder.
Wilson led Bucknell in rushing with 83 yards on 25 carries. Sarnor, who missed the second half with an injury, rushed 16 times for 65 yards and one touchdown as the Bison piled up 224 yards to Georgetown's 165. Behind 9 of 20 passing from Cangelosi the Hoyas registered 168 yards passing. Wilson was just 2 of 4 for 37 yards, while DeStefano, who completed a pass to Wilson in overtime, tallied 13 yards through the air. Georgetown outgained the Bison by a 333-274 margin overall.
The game, which was marred by 12 total fumbles, six by each team, saw Bucknell lose four, while the Hoyas lost just one of their six fumbles. However, Cangelosi threw a pair of interceptions.
Ryan Slater and Dorian Petersen led Bucknell with 10 tackles apiece, although Slater had eight solo tackles to Petersen's five. All-American Sean Conover registered three tackles. The Bison defense did record seven tackles for loss, while the Hoya defense, which was led by 12 tackles from Julius Griauzde, tallied just four.
Bucknell, which last opened a season against a Patriot League foe in 1987, fell to 0-2 in season openers against Patriot League teams.
The Bison return to action next Saturday, Sept. 10, at Stony Brook. Kickoff is slated for 6 p.m.
