Bucknell University Athletics
Bucknell Football Welcomes Stony Brook for Home Opener Saturday
9/4/2007 8:00:00 AM | Football
Sept. 4, 2007
WHAT: Bucknell (1-0) vs. Stony Brook (1-0)
WHERE: Christy Mathewson-Memorial Stadium, Lewisburg, Pa.
WHEN: Saturday, Sept. 8, 2007, 6 p.m.
RADIO: Eagle 107 and SportsJuice.com
STREAMING VIDEO: SportsJuice.com
COMPLETE PRESS NOTES
With a Victory over Stony Brook, Bucknell Would ...
-- ... improve to 2-0 for the first time since 2003, when the Bison opened with wins over Duquesne and Delaware State in Tim Landis' first season as head coach.
-- ... improve to 91-29-1 all-time in home openers.
-- ... go to 1-1 all-time against Stony Brook.
-- ... win its third straight home game, dating back to last season.
About the Game
Bucknell begins its 84th season of play in Christy Mathewson-Memorial Stadium on Saturday evening when Stony Brook makes its first-ever visit to Lewisburg. The home opener is also a battle of unbeaten teams, as both the Bison and Seawolves are coming off good wins last week. While the Bison used a terrific second-half defensive effort to win 28-19 at Duquesne, Stony Brook held off Georgetown 35-28 on Long Island. In that game, the Seawolves racked up 530 total yards. Running backs Conte Cuttino (139) and Brandon Mason (127) both went over 100 yards rushing, while QB Josh Dudash passed for 201 yards and three touchdowns. A member of the Northeast Conference since 1999, Stony Brook is playing as an FCS independent this season before joining the Big South as an associate member in football in 2008. The Seawolves, who have added scholarships in recent years, won the NEC title in 2005 and were second in 2006.
Bucknell vs. Stony Brook
This is only the second meeting between the Bison and Seawolves. The other came in 2005, when backup kicker Matt Weeks booted an 18-yard field goal with 0:04 remaining to lift to lift Stony Brook to a 21-18 win at LaValle Stadium. Prior to the winning field goal, the Seawolves had failed to convert three point-after attempts and had a 23-yard field goal attempt blocked. Bucknell rallied from an 18-7 halftime deficit to tie the game late. Defensive lineman Ryan Walsh, in on a goalline package, scored on a 2-yard run and the Bison converted a 2-point conversion to get within 18-15, then Ryan Korn kicked a 23-yard field goal with 7:20 left in the game to tie it. Stony Brook answered with a 15-play, 70-yard drive to set up the winning kick. Bucknell rushed for 205 yards but was hampered by four lost fumbles and an interception.
Week 1 Recap
In a strong start to the 2007 season, Bucknell received key performances from the offense, defense and special teams in a season-opening 28-19 victory at Duquesne on Saturday night. The first half was a shootout, as the two teams combined for 40 points, 414 total yards and five lead changes. The first of RB Corin Erby's two touchdowns gave the Bison the lead for good at 21-19 just 1:36 before halftime. Earlier in the half QB Marcello Trigg threw two long touchdown passes to RB A.J. Kizekai and RB Josh Lee. In the second half the Bucknell defense took over, keeping the high-powered Dukes off the board while tacking on an important insurance tally midway through the third quarter.
Truly Special Teams
In 2006 the Bison were outstanding in all phases of special teams, with the exception of the kickoff return game. The coaching staff worked diligently with that unit during preseason camp, and the work paid off on opening night, when A.J. Kizekai returned four kickoffs for 156 yards, an average of 39.0 per attempt. Included in that total was an electrifying 54-yard return into Duquesne territory. P Phil Azarik downed three punts inside the 20, including two at the 2-yard line. K Will Carney did not get a field goal chance but was perfect on four PATs. The Bison kickoff coverage team, one of the best in the nation last season, yielded 22.2 yards per attempt against the Dukes.
Second-Half Turnaround for the Defense
After giving up points on four of Duquesne's first five possessions, including long TD passes of 72 and 52 yards, the Bison defense settled in and shut down the Dukes the rest of the way. Duquesne's last eight possessions consisted of six punts, a fumble and a turnover on downs when DL Ryan Walsh sacked QB Scott Knapp on fourth down with 4:34 left in the fourth quarter. A closer look at Bucknell's defense from the first half to the second:
First Half Second Half Points Allowed 19 0 Total Yards Allowed 276 96 Passing Yards Allowed 226 47 Completion Pct. Allowed 64.3 (9-14) 33.3 (5-15) Punts Forced 1 5
Inside the Duquesne Boxscore
-- RB A.J. Kizekai compiled a career-high 260 all-purpose yards (156 on kickoff returns, 68 receiving, 36 rushing). That was the third-highest total in the nation last week, trailing only Omar Cuff of Delaware (296) and Joe Trombetta of UC Davis (275).
-- RB Josh Lee, a sophomore seeing his first extensive playing time, caught a 26-yard pass for his first collegiate touchdown in the second quarter.
-- Senior Corin Erby made his first career start at fullback and rushed for 40 yards and two touchdowns. He had one career score coming into the game, that coming last season at Marist.
-- QB Marcello Trigg went the distance under center and threw two touchdown passes in a game for the first time. He completed 8 of 14 passes for 156 yards and was intercepted once. He also rushed for 40 yards.
-- On the offensive line sophomores Ian Fullmer and James Phelan made their first career starts.
-- Seven defensive players started for the first time, including all four members of the secondary. One of them, sophomore Casey Williams, recovered a fumble.
-- Freshman DB Tyler McFarlane made a strong first impression. McFarlane had two crunching hits, one on a kickoff return and another on a Duquesne receiver that forced a fumble.
-- Freshman WR Josh Lovett made his first career catch, a 13-yarder in the second half.
-- Bucknell logged two sacks in the game, including DL Ryan Walsh's big one on a fourth-down play late in the game. DL Josh Eden also had one on a third-down play that forced a field goal attempt.
-- Bucknell dominated time of possession, 36:27 to 23:33, and ran 72 plays to Duquesne's 55.
-- A total of 21 Bison made at least one tackle in the game.
No. 122
Bucknell is now in its 122nd season of football. Only Princeton (138), Yale (135), Harvard (133), Penn (131), Lafayette (126), Dartmouth (126), Massachusetts (125), Lehigh (124) and Richmond (124) have played longer among FCS teams. Bucknell ranks 17th among all FCS programs with 553 all-time victories.
New Faces on the Sideline ... Sort Of
Bucknell has three new assistant coaches in 2007, and two of them are familiar to Bison fans. First-year defensive coordinator Andrew Cohen began his second stint at Bucknell in March. Cohen, who was a member of Tom Gadd's staff from 1995-99, was most recently an assistant coach at Columbia. He now brings his 3-4 defense back to Bucknell. Another new assistant is Richard Simpson, who earned three varsity letters as a wide receiver for the Bison before graduating last spring. Simpson is a graduate assistant coach who works with the receivers. The third newcomer to the staff is former Penn State letterman Andrew Ryland.
Bison Deep at Several Positions ...
-- QUARTERBACK: Bucknell enters the 2007 season in the rare position of having three quarterbacks with starting experience. Senior Terrance Wilson and junior Andrew Lair both started games last year before going down with collarbone injuries in back-to-back weeks. Sophomore Marcello Trigg played in the final seven games, starting the last six. Trigg started the season opener at Duquesne and went the distance.
-- FULLBACK: Second-team All-Patriot Leaguer Josh DeStefano headlines a deep cast of fullbacks, although he missed the Duquesne game with an injury. Senior Corin Erby has been one of the team's best offensive players throughout spring practice and preseason camp, according to Landis, and he scored two touchdowns against the Dukes. Junior Kevin Mullen has seen considerable playing time over the last two seasons, including a 110-yard rushing performance last season at Georgetown. Sophomore Paul Forcellini had a big day against Duquesne last season with 71 yards and a touchdown on 10 carries, but he suffered a season-ending knee injury a week later. Forcellini figures to contribute this season as well. Freshman fullback Ryan Smith was very impressive in preseason camp and is getting an early look on special teams.
-- WIDE RECEIVER: Add the big-play potential of freshmen Josh Lovett and Shaun Pasternak to an already strong corps of receivers, and one can see why Landis thinks this position group could be one of the team's strongest. Junior Daniel Zvara has been the team's top pass catcher in each of his first two seasons at Bucknell, while sophomore Cale Cadman and junior Alex Odenbach both played considerably last season.
-- DEFENSIVE LINE: Bucknell returns all four starting defensive linemen from last season, and with the switch from a 4-3 to a 3-4 defense new defensive coordinator Andrew Cohen had plenty of fresh legs up front in the season opener. Seniors Ryan Walsh and Brandon Friday tag-teamed in the middle, while defensive ends Josh Eden, Todd Rinaldo and David Young all lettered for the first time last season. Sophomore Will Braaf also contributed in the opener.
More Inexperienced at Others ...
-- OFFENSIVE LINE: The Bison graduated three starting offensive linemen last year, including all-conference picks Stefan Niemczyk and Joel Hoffer. Seniors Jonathan Grainger (RG) and Chad Glasser (LT) return, but Bucknell have new faces at center, left guard and right tackle. Senior Greg Conti has taken over at center, sophomore Ian Fullmer is the new starter at left guard, backed up by good-looking freshman Hesham Abdelaal, while sophomore James Phelan and junior Stephen Edwards split time at right tackle.
-- DEFENSIVE BACK: Bucknell also has a new-look secondary in 2007 after graduating both starting cornerbacks and moving senior Stephen Collage from safety to linebacker. Sophomores Jason Davis and Brandon Simmons are the projected starters at corner, with sophomore Josh Gornto stepping in at free safety. Brigham Farrand was the lead guy at strong safety as a freshman last season, and he is close to coming back after missing most of preseason camp. Yet another sophomore, Casey Williams, had an excellent preseason and is the starter at strong safety.
Sophomores Making an Impact
A year after relying heavily on a talented freshman class, Bucknell started 13 sophomores last week at Duquesne. In 2006, 12 freshmen earned varsity letters, eight started at least one game, and five different first-year players combined to win six Patriot League Rookie of the Week citations.
Ground Attack
Bucknell last season ranked fifth in the nation in rushing offense at 235.2 yards per game. That figure also led the Patriot League. The Bison were held to 153 ground yards in the season opener at Duquesne, by they compensated with 156 passing yards, 75 above last season's average.
Turnovers Tell Story
Bucknell last season was 4-1 when winning the turnover battle and 1-3 when committing more miscues than its opponent. In 2005, the Bison committed 33 turnovers and finished 1-10. Last season they cut that number to 14 in a 6-5 campaign. Bucknell was +1 in the turnover department in last week's win.
In the Classroom
Bucknell produced a solid 3.06 combined team grade-point average last semester, and in the fall of 2006 the Bison placed 18 student-athletes on the Patriot League Academic Honor Roll (lettermen with 3.20 GPA or higher). Last year starting cornerback David Frisbey earned national ESPN the Magazine Academic All-America honors and was a semifinalist for the Draddy Trophy, also known as the "Academic Heisman." Fellow senior Michael Boccella earned Academic All-District honors.
Notes & Notables
Sean Conover, a 2006 Bucknell graduate who was the 2004 Patriot League Defensive Player of the Year, is in his second year with the Tennessee Titans ... Conover survived cut-down day and is listed No. 2 on the depth chart at defensive end heading into the Titans season opener at Jacksonville ... another Bucknell football alum who made national headlines last year was Rutgers head coach Greg Schiano `88, who was named national coach of the year after leading the Scarlet Knights to an 11-2 record and a 37-10 victory over Kansas State in the Texas Bowl ... number changes since the media guide was published: DB Zane Woodard from 34 to 36, LB Robert Firman from 35 to 56, RB Alex Iwaskiw given 85, K/P Charles Hickes given 96 ... position changes since the media guide was published: Marlon Woods from RB to DB, C.J. Passeri from WR to DB, Rob Gerlach from RB to DB ... Bucknell is 8-5 in night games since the start of the 2001 season ... the Bison play four of their first five games under the lights ... Bucknell's Sept. 22 home game against Richmond will feature free admission as part of Community Day.
Next Up
Bucknell is back on the road next week, taking on Cornell at 7 p.m. at Schoellkopf Field. It will be the season opener for the Big Red, who went 5-5 last year. The Bison won 20-5 in Lewisburg last season, but Cornell still leads the all-time series 35-11.
