Bucknell University Athletics
Bucknell Football Visits Stony Brook Saturday Evening
9/6/2005 8:00:00 AM | Football
Sept. 6, 2005
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Bucknell hits the road for the first time in 2005, looking to erase the sting of last week's stunning overtime loss to Georgetown. The Bison, who now have five consecutive non-conference games, will be facing a Stony Brook team that will be making its season debut. Bucknell, which has never before played Stony Brook, will be looking to avoid its first 0-2 start since 2002. The Orange & Blue make the trip to Long Island without three injured starters, including sophomore QB Terrance Wilson, who suffered a jaw fracture in last week's season opener. Bucknell's defense performed very well in its debut under new coordinator Jared Backus, while the offense moved the ball effectively at times but was hampered by four turnovers.
TOURING THE HERD
• ON THE SIDELINE: Taking over the Bison after a 2-9 season, head coach Tim Landis has posted 6-6 and 7-4 records in his first two years at Bucknell, leading them to a pair of third-place finishes in the Patriot League. Landis is now 66-63-1 (.512) in his career, which also includes head coaching stints at Davidson (1993-99) and St. Mary's (2000-02). Landis has never before faced Stony Brook.
• THE OFFENSE: After manufacturing points on four of its first seven possessions of the game, Bucknell's offense struggled in the second half of last week's loss to Georgetown. The Bison lost four fumbles, all in the final 25 minutes of the game, and were stopped on a 4th-and-3 at the Georgetown 11 in the fourth quarter. Bucknell managed 224 rushing yards in the contest but averaged only 3.4 yards per carry.
• UNDER CENTER: The Bison will have a first-time starter for the second time in as many weeks, as opening night QB Terrance Wilson is likely unavailable due to a fractured jaw. Sophomore Ryan Ahern or freshman Mahdi Woodard, neither of whom has taken a varsity snap, will get the call this week.
• BACKS & RECEIVERS: Bucknell also had a significant injury in the backfield last week, as senior FB Blamah Sarnor missed the second half with a foot injury. Sophomore Josh DeStefano moves from slotback to fullback, with juniors Kenny Davis and Peter Kaufman starting at the slots. Although they did not catch any passes, the receiver trio of junior Richard Simpson, sophomore Andrew Guadago and freshman Daniel Zvara performed well last week. No current Bucknell wide receiver has ever caught a varsity pass.
• THE O-LINE: There could be some slight shuffling on the offensive line this week, as senior Stephen Watts is expected to move from left to right tackle with sophomore Chad Glasser making his first start at left tackle. Juniors Joel Hoffer (C) and Stefan Niemczyk (LG), who missed most of preseason camp with injuries, both started last week and played well.
• THE DEFENSE: Despite the disappointing finish last week, Bucknell's defense was solid in the season opener. The Bison forced three turnovers, two coming on interceptions, and held Georgetown to 333 total yards. Bucknell allowed only nine completed passes and held the Hoyas to 5-of-14 efficiency on third down.
• DEFENSIVE FRONT: Bucknell has a deep, veteran defensive line, led by All-American Sean Conover. Last week Conover was limited to three tackles as Georgetown continually ran the ball away from him. Seniors Andrew Decker, Jacob Burney, Brandon Bailey and Chris Praylo all saw action last week, while sophomore Ryan Walsh came up with a big fumble recovery. ILBs Ryan Slater and Dorian Petersen were all over the field against the Hoyas. The duo shared team-high honors with 10 tackles apiece. Petersen and junior OLB Matt Palermo both recorded their first career interceptions, although Palermo left the game early with an injury and is likely out for this week's contest. Junior Stephen Matzura would start in his place.
• DEFENSIVE SECONDARY: Senior CB Dante Ross is the cornerstone of the secondary. Ross had four interceptions last season, and he forced two fumbles last week against Georgetown. Junior CB David Frisbey and sophomore FS Stephen Collage are first-year starters. Freshman CB Nolan Applegate worked his way up to second string with a strong preseason.
• SPECIAL TEAMS: Ross has become the Patriot League's premiere return man and is the reigning PL Special Teams Player of the Year. K Ryan Korn was having an outstanding day against Georgetown until the final play of regulation. Korn tied his career high with three field goals (42, 47, 25), with the 47-yarder in the second quarter matching his career long. But with seven seconds left in regulation, after a low snap, Korn's potential game-winning 42-yard try was blocked. Korn also kicked two balls in the end zone for touchbacks. One of the bright spots on the day was freshman P Phil Azarik, who averaged 43.7 yards on three attempts. His final punt of the day rolled to a stop at the 8-yard line, which was a significant play late in the contest. The Bison coverage teams were mostly strong last week, although John Lancaster did have a 52-yard kickoff return against them.
BISON FOOTBALL NOTES & NOTABLES: • ON THE ISLAND: Bucknell and Stony Brook are meeting for the first time ever on the gridiron this week, and it is the first time the Bison have traveled to Long Island since 1993, when they lost 28-0 at Hofstra.
• HOMECOMING: Bucknell has five Long Island natives on its 2005 roster: junior P Peter Cotter (Springville), sophomore RB Corin Erby (Long Island City), junior K Ryan Korn (Shirley), senior OL Craig Swanson (Bethpage) and sophomore OL Greg Wissman (Port Jefferson).
• THE BISON IN ROAD OPENERS: Bucknell is 42-72-4 (.373) all-time in its first away game of a season. The Bison have dropped four of their last five road openers, with the lone win coming at Delaware State (33-28) in 2003.
• A TOUGH START: Bucknell opened the season with a conference game for the first time since 1987, and the Bison let one slip away last week against Georgetown. Leading 16-0 early in the third quarter, the Hoyas scored the game's final 19 points, capped by Eric Bjonerud's 33-yard field goal in overtime, and took the early lead in the Patriot League.
• BUCKNELL VS. THE NEC: This week's game at Stony Brook marks the first time Bucknell has ever faced any current member of the Northeast Conference. Conversely, the Seawolves are 1-3 all-time against the Patriot League (1-1 vs. Fordham, 0-1 vs. Georgetown, 0-1 vs. Lehigh).
• A WINNING ERA: After posting a solid 7-4 campaign in 2004, Bucknell has finished at .500 or better in nine of the last 10 seasons. Over that decade span from 1995-2004, the Bison won 63 games, the most in any 10-year period in school history. This season Bucknell is in search of its first Patriot League title since 1996.
• PRESEASON PREDICTIONS: Bucknell over the summer was picked fifth in a preseason poll of Patriot League head coaches and sports information directors. Lehigh (68 points) was picked to win the conference, followed by defending champion Lafayette (61), Colgate (49), Fordham (41), Bucknell (40), Holy Cross (20) and Georgetown (15).
• STREAK SNAPPED: Bucknell entered the 2005 campaign on a four-game winning streak after finishing up last season with consecutive victories over Holy Cross, Fordham, Colgate and Duquesne. The team was seeking its first five-game winning streak since 2001.
• HONORS GALORE FOR CONOVER: Senior DL Sean Conover has received a barrelful of honors since the end of last season. Following a monster junior year in which he led the Patriot League in sacks (10.5) and forced fumbles (5), Conover was named the Patriot League Defensive Player of the Year and earned Second Team All-America citations from both the Associated Press and The Sports Network. Recently Conover was named to the Preseason All-America team and the Buck Buchanan Award Watch List by The Sports Network, in addition to Preseason Patriot League Defensive Player of the Year honors.
• ROSS ALSO HONORED: Senior CB Dante Ross was named the Patriot League Preseason Special Teams Player of the Year last month after claiming the similar honor following a terrific 2004 season. Ross led the league in both kickoff (29.1) and punt (9.5) return average and became the first player in school and league history to return two kickoffs for touchdowns in the same game when he did so against Georgetown last season. Ross needs only 91 punt return yards to equal Kevin Eiben's school career record of 626.
• CAPTAINS NAMED: Just before the season opener vs. Georgetown, it was announced that senior DL Sean Conover and senior OL Stephen Watts will serve as team co-captains in 2005.
• FIRST-TIME STARTERS: A handful of Bison made their first career starts opposite Georgetown. On offense, QB Terrance Wilson and WR Andrew Guadagno were first-time starters. Defensively, OLB Matt Palermo, ILB Ryan Slater, DB David Frisbey and DB Stephen Collage made their initial starts. This week, OL Chad Glasser, QB Ryan Ahern or Mahdi Woodard, and OLB Stephen Matzura could join the list.
• BACKUS IN NEW ROLE: Jared Backus enters his fourth season as a member of the Bucknell coaching staff, but this will be his first as defensive coordinator. Backus takes over that role from Tripp Merritt, who was named head coach at Davidson during the offseason. Backus, who most recently tutored the defensive line and special teams, will still utilize a 4-4 look. Jim Reid, the former head coach at both Richmond and Massachusetts, succeeds Backus as special teams/defensive line coach.
• BISON BRIEFS: Bucknell dropped its fourth straight overtime contest and is now 3-5 all-time in OT games ... it was Georgetown's first win in Lewisburg since 1939 ... K Ryan Korn produced three field goals in a game for the second time in his career (the school record is four) ... last week Bucknell and Georgetown both fumbled six times, however the Bison lost four of their six, while the Hoyas only lost one ... one of Georgetown's fumbles was scooped up by teammate Kenny Mitchell and turned into their first points of the day ... RB Peter Kaufman ran three times for 30 yards last week and is now averaging 9.2 yards per carry in his career.
• UP NEXT: For the third straight week Bucknell will go up against a team that is making its 2005 debut, as the Bison head to Cornell for the Big Red's season opener. Cornell went 4-6 last season and finished in third place in the Ivy League with a 4-3 record. The Bison won 15-9 last season but trail in 34-10 in the all-time series. Their last win in Ithaca came in 1995.
