Bucknell University
Lehigh
Bucknell Football Loses Final Road Game of Season, 31-15 to Lehigh
11/15/2008 7:00:00 AM | Football
Nov. 15, 2008
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BETHLEHEM, Pa. - Bucknell limited Lehigh to 204 yards of total offense and won the time of possession category, but the Bison dropped a 31-15 decision to the Mountain Hawks Saturday afternoon at Goodman Stadium. Bucknell lost to Lehigh for the 11th consecutive time and fell to 4-6 overall and 1-4 in Patriot League play. The Mountain Hawks improved to 4-6 overall and 3-2 in the Patriot League.
Freshman C.J. Hopson earned his first career start at quarterback for Bucknell and completed 17 of 32 passes for 151 yards and one touchdown. He also rushed 21 times for a game-high 76 yards and one touchdown as he played a part in both of the team's offensive scores. Hopson's first career appearance came late in last Saturday's contest against Lafayette when the Leopards totaled 472 yards of offense. Bucknell, which lost for the fourth consecutive week, and Lehigh combined for 486 yards of offense.
Shaun Pasternak caught nine passes for 97 yards as he fell just shy of his fifth 100-yard receiving game of the season. He also caught his Bucknell-record 11th touchdown of the season.
J.B. Clark was 14 of 22 passing for 132 yards and one touchdown to lead Lehigh. The Mountain Hawks capitalized on two Bison turnovers, scoring touchdowns off them each time.
Bucknell outgained Lehigh 121-67 in the first half, but trailed 14-2 at halftime. The Bison's only first-half score came when Marlon Woods blocked a Jason Leo punt inside the 10-yard line. The ball bounced into the end zone and Leo proceeded to kick the ball out of bounds resulting a safety. It was Bucknell's first blocked punt since 2005 when Sean Conover recorded one, also against the Mountain Hawks. It was also the first safety for the Bison since 2003.
Lehigh jumped out to a 7-0 lead on its first drive. Thanks to a 60-yard kick return by Craig Zurn on the opening kickoff the Mountains Hawks needed to cover just 40 yards. A 16-yard touchdown run by Jay Campbell concluded the six-play drive.
On the sixth play of Bucknell's ensuing possession Woods took a pitch on a reverse from Hopson and bobbled it a number of times before finally losing control. Matt Cohen scooped up the loose ball and returned it 38 yards to make the score 14-0 just over six minutes into the contest.
Lehigh again capitalized on a Bison turnover early in the second half. Following the opening kickoff of the second half, deep in Bucknell territory, Hopson threw a pass under pressure and it was intercepted by Cohen and returned to the 11-yard line. Three plays later, J.B. Clark found Mike Fitzgerald for a seven-yard touchdown to make the score 21-2.
Bucknell's offense put its first touchdown on the board midway through the third quarter when it put together an 11-play, 72-yard drive that took 5:07 and concluded with Hopson finding Pasternak on a short fade route from seven yards. Hopson rushed for 27 yards and completed a 23-yard strike to Justin Pulgrano on the longest scoring drive of the game.
Trailing by less than two touchdowns again, the Bison yielded a fourth touchdown to Lehigh. This time a 35-yard kickoff return by John Kennedy made a short field for the Mountain Hawks' offense. They covered 49 yards in four plays and 1:15 before Clark sneaked in from one yard out to make the score 28-9. The big play was a 37-yard pass from Clark to Sekou Yansane.
Lehigh added a field goal in the final minutes, while Hopson scored on an 11-yard run seconds before the final horn. He dove in and just reached the ball past the pylon with 15 seconds remaining. The Bison failed to complete the two-point conversion.
A.J. Kizekai finished the game with 98 all-purpose yards, placing him 68 yards shy of his own Bucknell single-season record (1,908).
Todd Rinaldo paced the Bison defense with a pair of sacks, while Tim Bolte had his first career interception immediately following one of Rinaldo's sacks. Travis Nissley's career high-tying nine tackles led Bucknell. Tim Diamond posted 15 tackles and two tackles for loss to pace the Mountain Hawks. Overall, Lehigh had eight tackles for loss.
Pasternak's big day helped him move up to third on Bucknell's season receptions list (63) and his 97 yards moved him into second on the Bison single-season yards list (927).
Bucknell, which completed its road slate 3-2 after opening 3-0 on the road, will wrap up its 2008 campaign next Saturday, Nov. 22, against Fordham. Kickoff at Christy Mathewson-Memorial Stadium is slated for 1 p.m. Prior to the game Senior Day festivities will take place on the field.
