Bucknell University Athletics
Bucknell University
Marist
Bucknell Football Rolls Past Marist, 38-7
9/29/2007 8:00:00 AM | Football
Sept. 29, 2007
LEWISBURG, Pa. - The Bucknell quarterback tandem of Marcello Trigg and Terrance Wilson combined for five rushing touchdowns, and Wilson and Justin Pulgrano both went over 100 yards rushing in a convincing 38-7 victory over Marist Saturday night at Christy Mathewson-Memorial Stadium. It was the final non-conference game of the season for the Bison, who improved to 2-3 heading into next week's Patriot League opener at Colgate.
Bucknell showed some outstanding backfield depth in this one, as Trigg and Wilson both moved the ball effectively at quarterback while rotating throughout the game. Trigg rushed nine times for 32 yards and three touchdowns, while Wilson had four carries for 108 yards, including scoring runs of 43 and 56 yards. Trigg became the first Bucknell player to rush for three touchdowns in a game since Dante Ross against Marist here in 2005. Wilson's 100-yard game was the first of his career.
Pulgrano, a sophomore slotback who had only one career carry coming into the night, found several big holes and finished with 101 yards on eight carries. He had runs of 34, 46 and 28 yards in his first extensive playing time, and he and Wilson became the first Bison tandem to top the 100-yard mark in the same game since Kadero Watson and Kenny Davis did it against Holy Cross in 2005.
All told, eight Bucknell ballcarriers combined for a season-high 362 rushing yards, and the Bison outgained Marist (0-5) 414-274. Fullback Josh DeStefano, making his first start of the season, carried a team-high 20 times for 86 yards.
It was also a good night for the Bison defense. After giving up 150 points in its first four games, Bucknell picked off four passes and stopped the Red Foxes on fourth down three times. In his first start, junior linebacker Todd Manjuck made a career-high 14 tackles and collected his first two career interceptions. Linebacker Greg Jones also had a good night with seven tackles, a sack and an interception that he returned to the Marist 6-yard line, setting up a score.
Bucknell collected three touchdowns and a field goal on its first four possessions of the night and took a 24-7 lead into the locker room. Trigg scored on runs of 15 and 1 yard to stake the Bison to a 14-0 lead. A 25-yard pass to Nolan Applegate - one of only three pass completions in six attempts on the night - helped set up the first score, while Manjuck's first pickoff at the Marist 28 and another 17-yard reception by Applegate set up the second.
Marist pulled within 14-7 when quarterback Steve McGrath dodged two hard-charging defensive lineman and threw on the run to Daniel Dulac in the end zone for a 17-yard score.
Bucknell needed only 1:50 to get the points right back. Pulgrano streaked 34 yards on the first play of the ensuing series, then on third-and-8 Wilson broke in the clear on an option keeper and scored from 43 yards out to make it 21-7.
After a Marist punt, Pulgrano's 46-yard scamper was the key to a 9-play, 75-yard drive that ended with a Will Carney 26-yard field goal.
Using an effective short passing game, Marist chewed up 7:20 on its next drive and moved inside the Bucknell 10-yard line. But Marlon Woods and Brigham Farrand both made big open-field tackles on short passes, and on fourth down from the 3, McGrath threw an incompletion to turn the ball over on downs.
In the closing minutes of the half the Red Foxes again drove into the red zone, but Woods' caught his own tipped pass in the end zone for his first career interception to end the threat.
The Bucknell defense again came up with a fourth-down stop on the opening drive of the second half. This time it was freshman linebacker Travis Nissley sniffing out a throw-back screen pass, keeping Robert Spano short of the first down at the Bison 25.
Bucknell then covered the 75 yards with eight straight rushing plays, five from DeStefano, and took a 31-7 lead on Trigg's nifty 8-yard run in which he spun away from one defender and hurdled another.
Wilson's 56-yard sprint with 10:18 left in the game wrapped up the scoring.
McGrath finished 25-for-36 for 179 yards but was sacked twice and threw the four interceptions. With starting tailback Obozua Ehikioya out with an injury, the Red Foxes struggled in the rushing department. They managed only 95 yards on 36 attempts for a 2.6 average.
Meanwhile, the Bison averaged a whopping 7.4 yards per carry, even though their leading rusher A.J. Kizekai was limited to kickoff return duty due to a sore shoulder.
Bucknell improved to 3-0 all time against Marist and won its seventh straight game against MAAC teams.
The Bison visit Colgate next Saturday at 1 p.m., then have a week off before returning home to play Georgetown on Oct. 20. After five straight road games, Marist finally plays at home next week against Duquesne at 1 p.m.
