Bucknell University Athletics
Two Bucknell Football Players Earn Weekly Honors After Win at Georgetown
10/18/2010 8:00:00 AM | Football
Oct. 18, 2010
LEWISBURG, Pa. – The Bucknell football team registered its first win of the 2010 campaign on Saturday, and two days later a pair of Bison earned weekly honors. Sophomore punter Patriot\ League\ Special\ Teams\ Player\ of\ the\ Week, while Sean Rafferty (Reading, Mass./Blair Academy (N.J.)) was honored as the Susquehanna Valley Limousine Bison Athlete of the Week. Additionally, Rafferty was named an honorable mention Performer of the Week by College Football Performance Awards.
Gutowski, who had punted 33 times this year entering Saturday's contest at Georgetown, sat idle in the first half as the Bison jumped out to a 14-7 halftime advantage. He then shined in the second half as he punted five times and averaged a career-best 44.8 yards per punt. Early in the fourth quarter he boomed a career-best 60-yard kick that ended up rolling to the Georgetown 10-yard line. Rafferty then intercepted a pass and returned it for what proved to be the game-winning touchdown on the first play of the ensuing drive.
Also a member of the Bison men's lacrosse team, Gutowski, a sophomore, is averaging 36.0 yards per punt this season. He has forced six fair catches, one touchback and had four punts of better than 50 yards, including two on Saturday.
Rafferty's interception was the play of the day for the Bison defense. He stepped in front of an out route at the Hoyas' 12-yard line and sprinted to the end zone, making the score 24-21 with just under 12 minutes to play in the fourth quarter. It marked the second straight game in which Rafferty intercepted a pass. The previous week against Penn he picked off a pass and returned it 24 yards to the 1-yard line, setting up a Bison touchdown one play later.
In addition to his interception on Saturday, Rafferty posted three tackles. He now ranks fifth on the team with a career-high 26 tackles this season. The junior linebacker also has three tackles for loss, 0.5 sacks and one pass breakup in six starts.
Gutowski, Rafferty and the rest of the Bison ended up defeating Georgetown 24-21 on Saturday to improve to 1-5 overall and 1-0 in the Patriot League. They will go for a second straight win this Saturday, Oct. 23, at Lehigh.
