Bucknell University Athletics
Bucknell University
Fordham*
Defense, DeStefano Lead Bucknell Football Past Fordham, 13-3
10/28/2006 8:00:00 AM | Football
Oct. 28, 2006
LEWISBURG, Pa. - Junior fullback Josh DeStefano rushed for a career-high 180 yards, Will Carney kicked two field goals and Bucknell's defense kept Fordham out of the end zone in a 13-3 Parents' Weekend victory on Saturday afternoon at Christy Mathewson-Memorial Stadium. With the victory, Bucknell improved to 5-4 on the season, a four-win improvement on 2005 with two games remaining on the schedule, and 2-2 in the Patriot League.
The Bison came in with the nation's third-best rushing offense at 236.4 yards per game, and on a windy afternoon they relied heavily on that ground game again. Bucknell rushed for 272 yards, including 180 from DeStefano, the hard-nosed fullback who shrugged off back and foot injuries to post the highest rushing total by a Bucknell non-quarterback since 2000. DeStefano had two 31-yard runs and a 41-yard tote, and on the outside slotback A.J. Kizekai averaged 7.4 yards per carry with 52 yards on seven attempts.
Kizekai also made the biggest play of the game as a pass receiver, hauling in a 44-yard reception for the game's only touchdown, breaking open a 6-3 game with only 2:56 left.
With steady winds around 20 miles per hour and gusts well over 30 mph, field position figured to be a big factor in this one. Bucknell held the territorial edge for most of the first half, but struggled to take advantage. One play after a Bucknell punt on the opening series, defensive end Todd Rinaldo stripped Fordham tailback Jonte Coven, and Josh Eden recovered for the Bison at Fordham 28. But the Bison lost 10 yards in three plays and had to punt again.
With the win at its back Fordham (2-6, 0-3) used 14 plays, including a fake punt for a first down, to drive into field goal range and Micah Clukey converted from 40 yards out to give the Rams a 3-0 first-quarter lead. The Bison answered with a good drive and seemed poised to go ahead when DeStefano broke loose in the secondary. Fordham all-league linebacker Marcus Taylor dragged him down at the 1-yard line, however, and that proved to be a big play when Kelvin Colbert intercepted Marcello Trigg's third-down pass in the end zone.
Fordham responded with another lengthy drive, but this time an 18-play march was halted deep in Bison territory. On fourth-and-2 from the 19, the Rams elected to go for it rather than kick a field goal into the wind, and Ryan Slater tackled quarterback John Skelton a yard shy of the first-down marker.
Later in the second quarter, Bucknell finally drew even after taking over following a short punt. DeStefano's second 31-yard run of the day and a 12-yard scamper from Kizekai helped move the ball to the Fordham 12-yard line. But after two short runs tight end Nick Mozal had a pass in the end zone deflect off his finger tips, and the Bison settled for a 27-yard Will Carney field goal with 59 seconds left in the half.
It remained a 3-3 game into the third quarter when the Bison caught a break on a special teams play. Punting from his own 42 with the wind at his back, Phil Azarik launched a mile-high kick. Fordham return man Isiejah Allen signaled for a fair catch, but one of his blockers got too close and the ball caromed off his back. Chad Glasser, Bucknell's long-snapper, recovered the loose ball at the Fordham 21, but the Bison could not cash in when Carney missed wide left on a 34-yard field-goal attempt.
After a trade of punts it looked like Fordham was poised to regain the lead when Coven sprinted 45 yards into Bucknell territory. This time it was a touchdown-saving tackle from Matt Palermo that would later prove big. Skelton hit Sylvester Clarke for a first-and-goal at the 9, but one play later freshman linebacker Sam Nana-Sinkam, who led Bucknell with 10 tackles in the game, stayed home on a counter play and raked the ball out of Coven's hands. Brandon Friday recovered the fumble for the Bison at the 13-yard line.
Bucknell then went to its workhorse fullback to take its first lead. DeStefano carried six straight times - the first four went for 3, 6, 4 and 6 yards, but on the fifth he broke free for a 41-yard romp, dragging Fordham defenders all the way to the 22-yard line. Carney's 20-yard field goal capped a 12-play, 80-yard drive and gave the Bison a 6-3 lead two plays into the fourth quarter.
The Bison defense really stiffened in the fourth quarter, especially after Taylor intercepted a screen pass at the Bucknell 35 midway through the period. But Fordham could not muster a first down after the turnover, and Bucknell maintained the lead when Clukey pushed a 44-yard field goal wide right with 6:55 to play.
Attempting to drain the clock while moving into the wind, Bucknell called seven straight rushing plays. Trigg picked up a big first down with a 14-yard run on a quarterback draw on third-and-9. Later the Bison were faced with a third-and-7 at the Fordham 44, and with the Rams expecting another time-chewing run with about three minutes to play, Bucknell crossed them up. Trigg, who had completed only 1 of 12 passes to that point, found Kizekai wide open over the middle for a game-clinching 44-yard touchdown. Bucknell converted only 4 of 15 third downs on the day, but two of them came on that critical drive.
The victory put Bucknell over the .500 mark for the fifth different time this season, as the team has alternated wins and losses through nine games. The Bison are now 3-2 at home and head to Holy Cross next week needing just one more victory to clinch a winning season for the 10th time in 12 years.
Coven led Fordham in rushing with 83 yards on 13 carries, while Larry Dortch ran for 67 yards on 17 tries. Skelton competed 10 of 22 passes for 89 yards and was intercepted once, by Matt Palermo on the final play of the game. Bucknell outgained Fordham 334-279.
Bucknell and Holy Cross meet at Fitton Field in Worcester, Mass., next Saturday at 12:30 p.m.
