Bucknell University Athletics
Bucknell University
Duquesne
Bucknell Football Falls to Duquesne, 24-19, in Season Opener
9/5/2009 8:00:00 AM | Football
Sept. 5, 2009
LEWISBURG, Pa. - Marcello Trigg completed 18 of 34 passes for 152 yards and a pair of touchdowns and C.J. Hopson ran for a career-high 136 yards, but Duquesne totaled 429 total yards and forced three Bison turnovers as the Bucknell football team lost to the Dukes 24-19 in its season opener Saturday evening at Art Rooney Field. Duquesne quarterbacks Kevin Rombach and Connor Dixon combined to complete 22 of 31 passes for 322 yards while orchestrating a no-huddle offense.
Bucknell's (0-1) loss snapped a three-game winning streak in season-opening games and a five-game streak over the Dukes. The last time the Bison lost to Duquesne (1-0) was in 2002. The teams have met in four consecutive season openers.
In the first half the two teams continued the offensive domination that occurred in last year's meeting at Christy Mathewson-Memorial Stadium, which the Bison won 48-42 with both squads combining for more than 1,000 yards. Both teams scored touchdowns in the first three minutes Saturday and the Dukes led 17-13 at the half. Duquesne registered 251 yards in the first half, while Bucknell totaled 197.
The second half was much lower scoring with a single fourth-quarter touchdown by the Dukes the only points until a final-minute Trigg to Kizekai touchdown. The high scoring first half followed by a single second-half touchdown was reminiscent of the Bucknell-Duquesne season opener at Art Rooney Field in 2007 when the Bison tallied the only points after halftime and turned a 21-19 halftime lead into a 28-19 victory.
Duquesne, which scored 42 points in the second half of last year's meeting, got on the board early when Rombach capped a five-play drive that took just 84 seconds with a 36-yard touchdown pass to Michael Rasky. Rombach, who left the game with an injury late in the first half, was 5-for-5 for 76 yards on the game's opening drive, and 7-for-10 for 110 yards overall.
It did not take long for Bucknell, which never led in the contest, to answer as on its third play Trigg lofted a pass down the left sideline to Marlon Woods. Woods hauled in the pass for a 41-yard touchdown reception, the first of his career. The game was tied 7-7 with just 2:29 elapsed.
The Dukes marched down the field on a 16-play drive later in the first quarter, but a big stop by Bucknell's Brigham Farrand on third-and-goal forced Duquesne to attempt, and convert, a short 19-yard field goal to make it 10-7.
The Dukes added to their point total when Bill Bair powered through the Bison defense for a 32-yard touchdown run one play after the Dukes converted a third-and-13 pass.
Bucknell narrowed the halftime score to 17-13 when Trigg scored from one yard out on a quarterback sneak with 14 seconds left in the stanza. Drew Orth missed the extra point, keeping the halftime spread at four points. Hopson totaled 65 of his rushing yards on the drive with Trigg taking over at quarterback for only the final play.
Neither team scored in the third quarter as Bucknell came up empty on three drives with one ending in an interception, one ending in a fumble and another wrapping up on a punt. The drive that concluded with a fumble wasted a career-best 52-yard run by Hopson that brought the Bison deep into Duquesne territory.
Duquesne extended its lead out to a game-high 11 points when Dave Williams dove into the end zone to complete a 35-yard catch and run. The ball popped out of his hands and rolled out the back of the end zone as he crossed the goal line, but it was ruled that he had control of the ball when crossing the line.
The Dukes' defense held the Bison in check as they were forced to run 16 plays on their final drive, which resulted in a nine-yard touchdown pass from Trigg to Kizekai. Bucknell then attempted an onside kick with 54 seconds remaining, but were unable to corral the loose ball and Duquesne ran out the clock.
Trigg, who had two interceptions and two touchdowns, moved up to fourth place on the Bison career touchdown list with 27. He is now just one behind Jim Given.
Trigg spread the ball around in the passing game, finding six different receivers. Brandon Simmons, who is in his first year as a receiver after previously playing cornerback, caught a team-high five balls for 46 yards.
Travis Nissley led the Bison defense with a career-high 13 tackles, while Greg Jones chipped in seven. John von Paris registered a pair of sacks and Michael Tonge had one. Additionally, Tyler Anderson pressured both Duquesne quarterbacks on a number of occasions.
Dixon and Rombach found wide receiver Dave Williams 11 times for 145 yards and the one touchdown. Anthony Rhoades led the defense with 12 tackles, while Ashton Burno registered a pair of sacks.
Kizekai, the Bucknell all-time leader in kickoff return yards, returned four kicks for 107 yards Saturday. He now has 85 kickoff returns in his career, a new Bison record.
Bucknell will host Robert Morris in its home opener next Saturday, Sept. 12, at Christy Mathewson-Memorial Stadium. Kickoff is scheduled for 6 p.m.
