Bucknell University Athletics
Bucknell University
Robert Morris
Five Interceptions Help Bucknell Football to 26-23 Victory Over Robert Morris in Home Opener
9/12/2009 8:00:00 AM | Football
Sept. 12, 2009
LEWISBURG, Pa. - Bucknell's defense intercepted five passes and recorded a safety, leading the Bison football team to a 26-23 victory over Robert Morris in its home opener Saturday evening at Christy Mathewson-Memorial Stadium. All 16 of Bucknell's second-half points came courtesy of the defense as Brigham Farrand and Greg Jones returned interceptions for touchdowns less than two minutes apart and a late safety gave the Bison their final margin of victory.
Rob Gerlach, who registered an interception in each half, and Sam Nana-Sinkam, who recorded his second career interception, rounded out the list of Bucknell defenders with interceptions Saturday. The win improved the Bison to 1-1 on the season, while the Colonials fell to 0-2.
The Bucknell defense really took over in the second half as Farrand and Jones returned interceptions for touchdowns 85 seconds apart in the opening minutes of the third quarter, giving the Bison a 24-10 lead, their largest of the game.
On the second play of the third quarter Farrand cut in front of the Robert Morris wide receiver and sprinted 19 yards into the end zone. On the third play of the next drive Jones did the same thing, registering his first career touchdown after a 25-yard return. It was Farrand's second career interception, while Jones now has three picks in his career.
Robert Morris cut into the Bison lead on its first play of the next drive as Myles Russ ran 60 yards for a touchdown, marking the third score in the first 2:40 of the half.
Bucknell still clung to a 24-17 advantage early in the fourth quarter when backup quarterback Camdin Crouse found T.J. Green for a 60-yard completion to the 1-yard line. However, the Bison defense came up big with Farrand stopping Jeff Link for losses on consecutive runs. Crouse's third-down pass then slipped through the hands of Green, forcing the Colonials into a 25-yard field goal attempt, which Garrett Clawson converted, bringing the score to 24-20.
Two drives later Clawson, who was 3-for-3 on field goals in the game, hit a 44-yarder with 5:13 remaining to cut the Bison lead to just one.
Bucknell, which punted nine times in the game, recorded just one first down on its next drive and was forced to punt once again, giving Robert Morris the ball back at its own 16-yard line with 2:08 remaining. Following two incomplete passes and a holding penalty, Will Braaf and Tyler Anderson sacked Crouse in the end zone with 1:39 showing on the clock.
The Colonials recovered the ensuing onside kick, but Gerlach intercepted his second pass of the contest on a 3rd-and-24, effectively ending the game.
Bucknell's five interceptions was one shy of the school record and marked the first time since a 2004 contest at Duquesne that the Bison forced five turnovers.
The two teams played an even first half as it was tied 10-10 at the half. Bucknell went up 3-0 early on a 21-yard field goal by Drew Orth. However, Orth later missed a 21-yarder following Gerlach's initial pick.
A 55-yard pass from Desmond Brentley to Sherrod Evers gave Robert Morris its first lead. Clawson tacked on a 40-yard field goal late in the second quarter.
Bucknell, though, took over for its final drive of the half with 1:16 on the clock and scored its first touchdown as it marched 59 yards in 1:14 running a hurry-up, no-huddle offense. Marcello Trigg, who moved into seventh place on Bucknell's all-time passing yards list (3,505), completed 5 of 6 passes on the drive, including a 27-yard touchdown to Kizekai with two seconds left before halftime.
Trigg, who alternated at quarterback for Bucknell with C.J. Hopson, finished the game 15 of 25 for 168 yards and a touchdown.
While Bucknell's defense led it to victory, Robert Morris had a solid day on defense as well with 11 tackles for loss, pushing the Bison back 54 yards. The Colonials also tallied six sacks. Ian Milanak, who was one of six Robert Morris players to record a sack, had 4.5 tackles for loss.
The Bison also pushed the Colonials back, tallying eight tackles for loss and three sacks. Farrand and Anderson each posted two tackles for loss, while John von Paris had a sack. Jones led the team with 13 tackles, while Nana-Sinkam, in his first game action since last October, totaled nine stops from his linebacker position.
Robert Morris outgained Bucknell 348-183, but more than half of those yards came on three plays - Russ' 60-yard touchdown run, Green's 60-yard reception and Evers' 55-yard touchdown catch.
Bucknell's running game struggled in the contest, managing -18 yards. A.J. Kizekai, whose 199 all-purpose yards moved him into second place in program history, led the way with nine yards on six attempts. He did record a team-best 51 yards receiving.
The two teams combined to punt 15 times and just one punt was returned. Andrew Bell averaged 36.3 yards per kick for Bucknell, while Nick Schirtzinger averaged 39.8 on six boots. Many of the punts came because both teams struggled on third down. Bucknell was just 2 of 15, while Robert Morris converted just 6 of 19.
With his two interceptions, Gerlach became the first Bison to tally two interceptions in a game since Todd Manjuck had a pair against Marist in 2007. Additionally, Farrand was the first Bucknell player to return an interception for a touchdown since Dorian Petersen did it on the first play of a game at Colgate in 2005.
Bucknell, which improved to 92-30-1 in home openers and 9-4 in night games at Christy Mathewson-Memorial Stadium since 2002, will take to the road next week at Cornell. Kickoff is slated for 12:30 p.m. in Ithaca. It will be the season opener for the Big Red.
