Bucknell University Athletics
Bucknell Football Claims Three Patriot League Weekly Awards, Hopson Named Damon's Bison Athlete of the Week
11/23/2009 7:00:00 AM | Football
Nov. 23, 2009
LEWISBURG, Pa. - Coming off its first win over a ranked opponent since 2007, the Bucknell football team earned three of the four individual Patriot League player of the week awards on Monday. C.J. Hopson (Lusby, Md./Patuxent) was named the Offensive Player of the Week, Jason Davis (Cincinnati, Ohio/Winton Woods) earned Special Teams Player of the Week and freshman Tyler Smith (Hatfield, Pa./North Penn) was recognized as the Rookie of the Week.
Bucknell (4-7) closed out the 2009 campaign with a thrilling 23-17 victory over No. 13 on Saturday at Christy Mathewson-Memorial Stadium. Hopson, who was also honored as the Damon's Bison Athlete of the Week on Monday, led the way on the offensive side of the ball with a career-high 189 yards on a career-high 29 carries. He also scored Bucknell's second touchdown, putting the Bison up 14-0 late in the second quarter.
It was the second consecutive 100-yard rushing performance for Hopson, who registered four 100-yard games this season. The sophomore finished the year with team highs in rushing yards (633) and rushing touchdowns (5). The 189 yards Hopson posted on Saturday place him tied for 23rd on Bucknell's single-game list with Dave Vassar.
Hopson was just 2-for-7 through the air on Saturday, but tallied 20 yards through the air with both completions going to senior Cale Cadman. Hopson found Cadman for a 14-yard completion and a first down early in the game-winning drive in the fourth quarter.
Davis, who filled in for normal kickoff returner A.J. Kizekai, returned both punts and kicks Saturday. Overall, Davis had two punt returns for 11 yards and three kickoff returns for 83 yards, including a career-best 37-yard return in the fourth quarter. Davis, a senior playing in his final game, had not returned a kickoff since 2006.
Bucknell's primary punt returner all year, Davis finished the season with 15 returns for 64 yards. His 11-yard return vs. the Crusaders was one yard shy of his season best.
A cornerback, Davis also contributed six tackles and three pass breakups in the contest as the Bison held Holy Cross All-America quarterback to 271 yards and a season-low one touchdown.
Smith earned his first career Rookie of the Week citation after he rushed for a career-high 58 yards on a career-high 12 carries. He also scored Bucknell's first and last touchdowns, the final one coming with 1:40 remaining in the contest.
Smith finished third on the team in rushing, but still helped the Bison generate a season-high 321 yards on the ground against Holy Cross. He finished the season fourth on the squad with 234 yards on 55 carries. Smith is the second Bucknell freshman to earn Rookie of the Week honors, following Joseph Francis, who won the award in September.
Bucknell, which has won its final game in six of the last seven years, wrapped up its 2009 season with a 4-7 record, including 2-4 in Patriot League play. The Bison last defeated Holy Cross in 2004.
