Bucknell University Athletics
Bucknell University
Duquesne
Stingy Second-Half Defense Helps Bucknell Football to 28-19 Win Over Duquesne in Season Opener
9/1/2007 8:00:00 AM | Football
Sept. 1, 2007
PITTSBURGH, Pa. - Bucknell quarterback Marcello Trigg completed 8 of 14 passes for 156 yards and a career-high two touchdowns and the Bison defense held Duquesne scoreless for the final 38:56 of the game in a 28-19 season-opening victory over the Dukes Saturday evening at Art Rooney Field.
After a wild first half that featured a combined 40 points, 414 yards and five lead changes, both defenses took control in the second half as just seven points were scored after intermission. The Bison were especially strong on defense, holding the Dukes to 96 yards in the second half after 276 in the first half. Ryan Walsh made the key defensive play with just under five minutes left when he sacked Duquesne quarterback Scott Knapp on a fourth-and-13 in Bison territory. The Dukes were 0-for-6 on third down and 0-for-1 on fourth in the second half.
Bucknell (1-0) limited Duquesne (0-1) standout receiver Bruce Hocker without a catch in the second half after he had four catches for 104 yards a one touchdown in the first half. Knapp was just 5-for-15 passing for 47 yards in the second half after registering more than 225 yards through the air in the first half.
Bucknell fullback Corin Erby scored the lone touchdown of the second half when he plunged across the goal line from one yard out midway through the third quarter. It was his second touchdown of the game and completed a 7-play, 37-yard drive. The touchdown rounded out the scoring in the contest, which was the first two-touchdown game of Erby's career.
The high-scoring first half opened with both teams connecting on two long touchdown passes in the first 30 minutes, and Erby's 4-yard scoring run 1:36 before halftime gave the Bison a 21-19 lead.
After Duquesne went ahead 6-0 on a pair of Mark Troyan field goals, Trigg hit A.J. Kizekai on a 45-yard bomb down the left sideline for Bucknell's first points of the season.
The Dukes needed only 58 seconds to answer, as Knapp hit Michael Rasky over the middle, and Rasky withstood a hard hit from safety Casey Williams before shaking free for a 72-yard score.
Kizekai's long kickoff return followed by a late hit penalty set up Bucknell in Duquesne territory early in the second quarter, and Trigg found sophomore Josh Lee out of the backfield for a 26-yard touchdown pass, the first points of Lee's career. Will Carney's extra point made it 14-13 with 11:13 left in the half.
Later in the period, Duquesne's talented wideout Bruce Hocker shook loose for a 52-yard strike, one play after a Paul Mulbah interception. Troyan missed the PAT, though, and the Dukes lead was 19-14 at the 8:56 mark.
Trigg, who completed 5 of 7 passes for 107 yards in the first half, hit Rashod Bumpers on a short pass to pick up a fourth-and-4 on Bucknell's next possession. That led to Erby's second career touchdown inside two minutes to play in the half.
The Bison had a final possession in the half after freshman safety Tyler McFarland jarred the ball loose from a receiver after a reception, and Williams picked up the loose ball and returned it into Duquesne territory. A holding penalty and a sack stalled the possession, however.
"I am really excited that we were able to get the season started with a victory against a very good football team," said head coach Tim Landis. "This is a very tough place to play. Duquesne has a great offense and a defense that is hard to move the ball on. It was really two different games. The first half was a wild shootout with both teams going back and forth. In the second half our game plan was to go out and shrink the clock. We were able to move the ball, win the field position battle and keep the defense fresh."
Trigg's 156 yards passing were more than any Bison had last year except his 185-yard total in the season-finale against Colgate. He also tied Erby for the team lead with 40 yards rushing on 20 attempts. Kizekai chipped in 36 rushing yards to go along with his 68 yards receiving and 156 kick return yards for an all-purpose total of 260.
Bucknell had a balanced offensive attack with 153 yards rushing and 156 passing as it controlled possession of the ball for 36:27.
Stephen Collage and Ryan Slater paced the balanced Bison defense with five tackles apiece.
With the victory, Bucknell won its season opener for the second straight year and third time in five years under head coach Tim Landis. The Bison are now 8-3 all-time against the Dukes (8-1 since 1997), including four straight wins. It was only Duquesne's fourth home loss since the start of the 2002 season, with two of those coming at the hands of Bucknell.
The Bison will host Stony Brook in their home opener next Saturday evening at Christy Mathewson-Memorial Stadium. Kickoff is slated for 6 p.m.
