Bucknell University Athletics
Bucknell Football Looks to Get Back to Winning Ways Saturday vs. Lafayette
11/4/2008 7:00:00 AM | Football
Nov. 4, 2008
What: Bucknell (4-4, 1-2 PL) vs. Lafayette (6-2, 2-1 PL)
Where: Christy Mathewson-Memorial Stadium, Lewisburg, Pa.
When: Saturday, Nov. 8, 2008, 1 p.m.
TV: FOX56 WOLF TV, Lafayette Sports Network
Internet Video: Bison Vision 
Radio: Eagle 107 (107.3 WEGH)
Internet Radio: SportsJuice.com
Live Statistics: GameTracker
Game Notes
With a Victory over Lafayette, Bucknell Would ...
- ... snap its first two-game losing streak of the season.
- ... end a three-game home losing streak.
- ... surpass its Patriot League win total from all of 2007.
- ... help Tim Landis move past Pete Reynolds and into sole possession of eighth place on the program's win list (28).
- ... improve to 8-9 in November over the last six years.
- ... continue its streak of not falling below .500 this year.
- ... avoid its first four-game home losing streak since 1991
About the Game
Bucknell and Lafayette enter Saturday's contest with different results of late. The Bison have dropped three of their last four games, while the Leopards have won three of their last four. The only loss for Lafayette during that span was to first-place Colgate, which is just outside of the national rankings. Bucknell's only win during its last four outings was against Georgetown, a squad that has posted a 1-7 record this year. The Bison have been outscored by 55 points their last three losses, but have still piled up an impressive 26.1 points per game this season behind a balanced offense that is averaging 155 yards rushing and nearly 200 yards passing. Lafayette, which was ranked No. 21 last week before its 21-13 loss at Colgate, has outscored opponents 137-53 in the first half and is second nationally in scoring defense allowing just over 14 points per contest.
Bucknell vs. Lafayette Series Notes
- Lafayette leads 47-32-6.
- Lafayette has won six straight.
- Lafayette's last three victories have come by nearly 24 points per game.
- Bucknell's last shutout came against Lafayette (31-0, Sept. 9, 2006)
- Bucknell has lost three straight to Lafayette at Christy Mathewson-Memorial Stadium.
- Bucknell's 85 all-time meetings with Lafayette make it the most-played series in program history.
- Lafayette was Bucknell's only opponent in 1883, its first year of football.
Last Time vs. Lafayette
Lafayette 34, Bucknell 7 (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 at Fisher Stadium. Matt Ferber rushed for 102 yards and Brandon Mitchell scored a pair of rushing touchdowns to help the Leopards snap a three-game losing streak, while the Bison 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.
Holy Cross Game Recap
Holy Cross 34, Bucknell 17 (Nov. 1, 2008 - Worcester, Mass.)
Bucknell held the high-scoring Holy Cross offense without a point until the final seconds of the first half, but the Crusaders overcame a 10-0 deficit and scored the 34 of the game's final 41 points, including 31 straight at one point, to defeat the Bison 34-17 at Fitton Field. Holy Cross quarterback Dominic Randolph was 38 of 49 passing for 398 yards and four touchdowns. Three hundred of his yards came in the final 31 minutes of play. Holy Cross, which was averaging 36 points per game, piled up 532 yards, its second-highest total of the season, while Bucknell totaled 338 yards, including 245 through the air as Marcello Trigg threw for 158 before leaving the game late in the first half with a leg injury. Andrew Lair came on in relief and was 5 of 11 for 87 yards and one touchdown.
Inside the Holy Cross Box Score
- Shaun Pasternak totaled 28 receiving yards, pushing his career total to 1,011.
- Marcello Trigg completed a 79-yard touchdown pass to A.J. Kizekai marking the longest play from scrimmage for the Bison this year.
- A.J. Kizekai's 79-yard touchdown reception in the first quarter was his fourth career touchdown of at least 79 yards.
- Holy Cross won the time of possession battle 35:01-24:59 as it held the ball for more than 20 minutes in the second half.
- Holy Cross scored all 34 of its points in the final 30:01.
- A.J. Kizekai totaled 254 all-purpose yards, the second-highest figure of his career and the ninth-best in program history.
- A.J. Kizekai piled up 119 kickoff return yards to bring him to within 14 yards of the program record.
- Josh Lee had two plays of longer than 30 yards, giving him eight plays of at least 20 yards this season.
- Casey Williams led Bucknell with a career high-tying 10 tackles, marking the fifth person in the last five games to lead the Bison in that category.
- Will Carney kicked a career-long 47-yard field goal.
- Bucknell committed just one penalty for the second consecutive game.
- Holy Cross had 30 first downs compared to 14 for Bucknell.
Kizekai Nears Kickoff Return Record
A.J. Kizekai has an excellent chance to break Bucknell's career kickoff return record Saturday against Lafayette. The junior enters the contest just 14 yards shy of equaling Dan Scocca's 18-year-old record of 1,843. Additionally, Kizekai is is 42 yards shy of second place on Bucknell's single-season kickoff return list. He already owns the top spot on that list with more than 1,100 yards last year. On a single-game level, Kizekai, who has registered at least 100 return yards in three of the last four games, owns five of the top nine return marks in Bucknell history.
All-Purpose A.J.
Rewriting the Bucknell kickoff return record book is not all that A.J. Kizekai is doing. He is also etching his name into the all-purpose yards ledger. The junior has totaled at least 190 all-purpose yards each of the last four games, including three outings with more than 200 yards. Kizekai's 182.1 all-purpose yards per game, which rank him fifth nationally, place him atop the Patriot League in that category with only Colgate's Jordan Scott within 50 yards of him. Last time out against Holy Cross, Kizekai piled up a season-high 254 all-purpose yards, the ninth-best single-game mark in program history.
Passing Attack
Bucknell has been relying on the pass much more than in any of the six years Tim Landis has been at the helm. In fact, the Bison have thrown for 1,551 yards, their most since 2001 when they threw for 2,339. Marcello Trigg, who is listed fifth in the nation in passing efficiency, leads Bucknell with a career-high 1,438 yards. He is the first Bison to throw for more than 1,000 yards in back-to-back seasons since Todd Wenrich in 2001 and 2002.
First Losing Streak Since 2007
Bucknell has lost to Colgate and Holy Cross in its last two games. It is the first time the Bison have lost consecutive contests since it snapped a five-game skid with a thrilling victory at nationally ranked Fordham in the final game of the 2007 campaign.
Game Captains
In a change from recent years, Bucknell did not name team captains in the preseason. Instead, the Bison will elect captains on a game-by-game basis. Four players will serve in the captain role this Saturday against Lafayette. Senior RB Kevin Mullen and junior RB A.J. Kizekai will captain the offense, while junior LB Greg Jones will be the defensive captain for the fourth consecutive week. Junior LB Casey Williams will be the special teams captain. With his selection as captain, Mullen is making his fifth appearance in that role, the most on the team.
Pasternak Receiving Headlines
Sophomore WR Shaun Pasternak is putting up numbers that have not been seen at Bucknell in a long time. He is the first Bison with four 100-yard receiving games in the same season since current Iowa assistant coach Lester Erb in 1989. Pasternak leads the Patriot League in receiving yards per game (93.5) and is second in receptions per game (5.9). He is in the top 30 nationally in both categories. Pasternak eclipsed the 1,000-yard mark for his career last Saturday at Holy Cross and his 748 yards this season rank eighth on the program's single-season ledger. Still a sophomore, Pasternak, whose 47 receptions are the most by a Bucknell player since Jim Horan hauled in 59 in 2001, is on pace to join Tom Mitchell and Horan as the only Bison receivers to ever record 2,000 yards in their careers.
Fewer Penalties
Bucknell has committed just two penalties for 15 yards the last two games. The Bison have been whistled for one or fewer penalties in a game five times in the last two years. After piling up 15 penalties in its first two games, Bucknell has just 18 penalties over its last six contests and now ranks fourth nationally in fewest penalties per game and third overall in fewest penalties. Last year Bucknell was the least-penalized team in the Football Championship Series subdivision with 29 flags.
Fewest Penalties (FCS)
1. Princeton - 30
2. Davidson - 31
3. Bucknell - 33
4. Colgate - 34
Loss After Halftime Lead
Bucknell lost to Holy Cross last Saturday after holding a 10-7 halftime edge. It was the first time the Bison had relinquished a halftime lead and lost this season. Bucknell had won eight consecutive games when leading at halftime. The last time it lost was to Colgate in 2005.
Landis Moving up Pair of Lists
Sixth-year Bucknell head coach Tim Landis has increased his victory total as the Bison coach to 27 thanks to Bucknell's four victories this season. He is just one win shy of taking sole possession of eighth place on the program's all-time list. Additionally, the 44-year-old coach will be on the sidelines for his 65th game at Bucknell on Saturday, moving him past Lou Maranzana and into sole possession of sixth place on the program's career games coached list.
Career Wins at Bucknell
7. Al Humphreys - 30
8. Pete Reynolds - 27
Tim Landis - 27
Career Games at Bucknell
5. Carl Snavely - 66
6. Lou Maranzana - 64
Tim Landis - 64
First to 20 Points Wins...Except against Colgate
Over Bucknell's last 43 games at least one team has scored 20 points 38 times. In those 38 games, the team to reach 20 points first is 36-2. The only two times the first team to register 20 points did not win was when Bucknell faced Colgate (2006, 2008).
Among the National Leaders
Four different Bison are among the national leaders in a particular individual statistical category this year, and none are members of the senior class. QB Marcello Trigg, WR Shaun Pasternak, LB Sam Nana-Sinkam, and RB A.J. Kizekai all show up in the national rankings.
Bucknell Players in Top 25 of Individual National Statistics
Marcello Trigg - 5th in passing efficiency (168.8)
A.J. Kizekai - 5th in all-purpose yards (182.1)
Shaun Pasternak - 16th in receiving yards per game (93.5)
Sam Nana-Sinkam - 16th in tackles per game (10.3)
Long Field Goals
Will Carney kicked a career-long 47-yard field goal last Saturday at Holy Cross. The senior, who had not connected on a field goal longer than 40 yards since 2006 entering this season, is 2-for-2 from over 40 yards this season. Of Bucknell's three field goals this season, the shortest is 38 yards.
Punting - The Good and the Bad
It was an up-and-down day punting for Bucknell senior Phil Azarik last Saturday against Holy Cross. Azarik punted a total of six times, placed two inside the 20, had one go a career long-tying 61 yards and averaged better than 43 yards per boot. However, two of Azarik's kicks were blocked. It ended a stretch of nine consecutive games where the Bison had not had a punt blocked.
Home vs. Road
Bucknell has done the exact opposite of what is expected by going 1-3 at home and 1-3 on the road. The Bison, who opened their road slate 3-0 for just the eighth time in program history, will be trying to avoid their fourth consecutive home loss Saturday against Lafayette. Bucknell has not lost four consecutive home games since 1991.
First Downs
Bucknell has managed just 26 first downs over the last two games, while its opponents have 58. The Bison have not had such a first-down deficit in back-to-back games since consecutive losses to Holy Cross and Lafayette last year when the opponents combined for 56 first downs, compared to 15 for Bucknell.
High-Scoring Opponents
Bucknell has yielded 86 points over its last two games. It is the first time the Bison have given up that many points in back-to-back contests since last September when Stony Brook (48) and Cornell (38) combined for 86 points. Bucknell has seen its opponents score 97 points in its last two outings at Christy Mathewson-Memorial Stadium. The only time back-to-back home opponents scored more were the first two games in program history when Lafayette defeated Bucknell 59-0 in 1883 and Penn State downed the Bison 54-0 in 1887 for a combined 113 points.
PL Awards
Bucknell earned at least one Patriot League weekly award after each of its first four games. The Bison have been in a drought of late as they have not earned a weekly honor since the first week of October when Marcello Trigg was honored as the Offensive Player of the Week and Robert De La Rosa copped Rookie of the Week plaudits.
Up Next
Bucknell goes on the road for the final time in 2008 next weekend when it travels to Lehigh for a 12:30 p.m. game. The Bison have lost 10 straight to the Mountain Hawks.
