Bucknell University Athletics
Bucknell University
Lafayette
Bucknell Football Bottled up by Lafayette, 34-7
11/3/2007 8:00:00 AM | Football
Nov. 3, 2007
EASTON, Pa. - Lafayette's defense forced five turnovers, had a key punt block and allowed only five first downs in a 34-7 Patriot League victory over Bucknell Saturday afternoon at Fisher Stadium. Matt Ferber rushed for 102 yards and Brandon Mitchell scored a pair of rushing touchdowns to help the Leopards (5-4, 2-2) snap a three-game losing streak, while the Bison (2-7, 0-4) dropped their fourth in a row.
Lafayette came into the game ranked fourth in the nation in total defense and sixth in rushing defense, and they held Bucknell to 66 rushing yards and 156 total yards. Forced away from their normally strong rushing attack, the Bison struggled through the air, as quarterbacks Marcello Trigg and Terrance Wilson combined to complete only 6 of 20 passes for 90 yards. Trigg had thrown only two interceptions all season, but he was intercepted twice in this one. Combined with three lost fumbles, the Bison possessed the ball for only 20 minutes, compared to 40 for Lafayette.
Despite the final score, Bucknell's defense had one of its best performances of the season, keeping the team in the game until well into the second half. The Bison forced four turnovers of their own and scored their lone touchdown on a 14-yard fumble return by Josh Lee.
Bucknell gained only 87 total yards while turning the ball over four times in the first half. After their first series of the day, Mark Layton smothered Alex Odenbach's punt, setting up the Leopards with a first-and-goal at the 9-yard line. On fourth down inside the 1, Mitchell dove across to give Lafayette a quick 7-0 lead.
Lafayette returned the favor with a special teams miscue of its own early in the second quarter. Punter David Yankovich could not corral a bouncing snap, Corin Erby knocked it away, and Lee picked up the loose ball at the 14-yard line and scored the equalizing touchdown.
Bucknell's defense was terrific for most of the first half, but it gave up a big play just two snaps after the special teams touchdowns. On one of the Leopards' few down-the-field passes, Rob Curley connected with Shaun Adair on a 49-yard touchdown pass, giving Lafayette a 14-7 lead at the 10:48 mark of the second period.
Later in the half, Curley's 37-yard pass to DeAndre' Morrow set up a 24-yard Davis Rodriguez field goal.
Lafayette extended its lead to 20-7 on a 27-yard Rodriguez field goals with 6:43 left in the third quarter, and after a Corin Erby fumble at his own 41, the Leopards put it away on Mitchell's second 1-yard dive with 3:21 left in the third.
Tyrell Coon tacked on a late 1-yard touchdown run with 2:04 to play to make the final 34-7.
Erby led Bucknell in rushing with 60 yards on eight carries, including a season-long 32-yard gallop in the first quarter. That run moved the Bison into the red zone for the only time until late in the game, but a false start penalty and a sack for a 12-yard loss knocked them out of field-goal range. That was the first of four sacks on the day for the Leopards.
Josh Eden and Will Braaf both had sacks for the Bison, who totaled eight tackles behind the line of scrimmage, resulting in 44 lost yards. Todd Manjuck led the team with 13 tackles, while Jason Davis and Josh Gornto had 10 each. Sophomore cornerback Brandon Simmons collected his first career interception.
Curley completed 13 of 20 passes for 161 yards and a touchdown in his second career start at quarterback. Ferber topped the 100-yard mark in his first career start. Adair caught four passes for 77 yards and a touchdown.
