Bucknell Football Begins Three-Game Road Trip Saturday at Lafayette

Oct. 25, 2011

What: Bucknell Bison (4-4, 1-2 PL) at Lafayette Leopards (3-4, 0-1 PL)
Where: Fisher Field at Fisher Stadium, Easton, Pa.
When: Saturday, Oct. 29, 2011, 6 p.m.
Internet Video: GameTracker
Game Notes

In the Herd: Placekicking Spotlight & Bucknell-Lafayette Preview:

Probable Starters - Offense
QB 14 Brandon Wesley (So., 6-2, 195) - 10th on career yards, attempts, completions lists
RB 32 Tyler Smith (Jr., 5-9, 195) - Went over 1,000 career rush yards last week
FB 33 Travis Friend (So., 6-2, 235) - First Bison freshman named All-PL since 1993
WR 41 Frank DeNick (Sr., 6-2, 195) - 12 straight multi-catch games
WR 11 Victor Walker (So., 6-1, 195) - Averaging 23.4 yards per reception in career
LT 72 Lonnie Rawles (Fr., 6-4, 280) - Started four straight games
LG 62 Carson Rohrbaugh (Sr., 6-3, 280) - Career-high eight starts this season
C 61 Ian Dal Bello (Sr., 6-1, 280) - Moved to C after starting at LG last three years; 41 cons. starts
RG 59 Anthony Carter (Sr., 6-0, 280) - 40 career starts ranks third among current Bison
RT 76 Josh Phillip (Sr., 6-4, 259) - 19 consecutive starts
TE 42 Nick Gatto (Jr., 6-2, 230) - 18 catches for 135 yards last two years

Probable Starters - Defense
DE 40 Sean Sellers (So., 6-0, 225) - Returned to lineup vs. Harvard after missing 4 gms w/injury
DT 24 Robert De La Rosa (Sr., 6-2, 290) - Ranks 10th in NCAA in TFL per game (1.88)
NG 90 Tracey Smith (So., 6-1, 255) - 19 tackles, 3.5 TFL in 2011
DE 92 Josh Eden (Sr., 6-4, 280) - Listed 5th on Bucknell's career sacks list (18.5)
Mike LB 12 Beau Traber (Jr., 5-11, 233) - Career-high 10 tackles vs. Holy Cross
Sam LB 51 Tim Bolte (Sr., 6-1, 230) - NFF Cambell Trophy semifinalist
SS 36 Jordan Dudas (Fr., 6-0, 195) - Patriot League Rookie of the Week (9/12)
CB 2 Derrick Palmer (So., 5-10, 175) - 24 of 31 tackles this year have come in home games
FS 26 Matthew Steinbeck (Fr., 6-0, 205) - Made first career start vs. Harvard
Whip DB 43 Sean Rafferty (Sr., 6-0, 215) - Team co-captain, along with Josh Eden
CB 5 Bryce Robertson (Sr., 5-9, 180) - First in nation in INTs (1.00/game)

With a Victory over Lafayette, Bucknell Would ...
... snap a three-game losing streak.
... defeat the Leopards for the first time since 2001.
... improve to .500 (2-2) in road games this season.
... equal its highest win total of the last four years (2007-10).
... eclipse its Patriot League win total from 2010.
... avoid having a four-game losing streak in a season for the first time since 2006.

About the Game
Bucknell has not defeated a team from the Lehigh Valley (Lafayette, Lehigh) since it beat the Leopards 17-16 in 2001. The Bison will look to end that drought Saturday evening when they play at Lafayette's Fisher Field at Fisher Stadium. Bucknell bounced back from a pair of losses that were by a combined 63 points to almost defeat Patriot League-leader Holy Cross this past week at Christy Mathewson-Memorial Stadium. The Bison bring a three-game losing streak into the meeting with the Leopards, but they are among the nation's leaders in turnover margin (2nd, +2.13) and rushing defense (3rd, 72.6). Saturday's contest is the first of three straight road games to end the season for Bucknell, which also has a bye week mixed into the schedule. Lafayette, which will be playing its fourth game of a five-game homestand, has won its last two contests in convincing fashion over Yale and Fordham. The Leopards put up a season-high 45 points last week against the Rams and are averaging 37 points in their three wins and just over 10 in their four losses. Junior Andrew Shoop, a native of nearby Danville, Pa., has started the last five games at quarterback for Lafayette and has completed 95 of 154 passes for 1,312 yards this season.

Bucknell vs. Lafayette Series Notes
- Lafayette leads 50-32-6.
- Lafayette has won nine straight and outscored Bison 272-117 (30.2-13.0) over that span.
- Bucknell was last shut out vs. Lafayette (31-0, Sept. 9, 2006).
- Bucknell has lost four straight to Lafayette at Fisher Stadium.
- Bucknell's 88 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 33, Bucknell 22 (Oct. 30, 2010 - Easton, Pa.)
- Bucknell committed a season-low one penalty for just five yards.
- Bucknell's Frank DeNick (105) and Victor Walker (102) each posted 100-yard receiving games. It was the first time since 1987 two Bison reached the century mark in the same game.
- Bucknell and Lafayette combined for six fumbles lost. At one point there were fumbles on four consecutive possessions.
- Six touchdowns were scored on plays of at least 30 yards.

Inside the Holy Cross Box Score
- Bucknell and Holy Cross alternated scores throughout the game, although the Crusaders finished with two touchdowns and a field goal while the Bison had two field goals and a touchdown.
- Bucknell's defense forced six turnovers and limited Holy Cross to minus-16 yards rushing. It marked the second time this year the Bison forced six turnovers (vs. Princeton) and held a team to negative yards on the ground (vs. Georgetown).
- Bucknell and Holy Cross went 12 consecutive possessions that ended in a punt (10) or a turnover (2) following John Macomber's game-winning field goal midway through the third quarter.
- Bucknell's Bryce Robertson posted his second multi-interception game of the season. He also had a career-high nine tackles and broke up a pair of passes.
- Bucknell and Holy Cross combined for 12 sacks. The Bison had a season-high six sacks and 10 tackles for loss.
- Holy Cross became the first Bison opponent to attempt 50 passes since Fordham in the 2007 season finale.
- Bucknell's Ryan Gutowski set a career high with 11 punts.
- Bucknell RB Tyler Smith was four yards shy of posting his second 100-yard rushing game this season.
- Neither team had a second-half drive that consumed more than 2:29.
- Holy Cross held Bucknell to 48 yards in the second half.
- Bucknell was 3-for-17 on third downs, while Holy Cross was 8-for-19.
- Bucknell honored 19 seniors during pregame Senior Day ceremonies.

Smith Just Shy of Century Mark
While Bucknell managed just 146 yards of total offense last week against Holy Cross, RB Tyler Smith had a solid performance with 96 rushing yards. He came four yards shy of becoming the first Bison with two 100-yard outings in the same season since C.J. Hopson posted four 100-yard games in 2009. Smith, who crossed the 1,000-yard plateau for his career against the Crusaders, registered a career-high 114 yards rushing earlier this month in a win over Georgetown. He leads the Bison with 370 rushing yards this season.

Orth's Points Streak Comes to an End
With two field goals in the first half against Holy Cross, senior K Drew Orth extended his streak to 16 consecutive points scored. Thankfully for the Bison, that streak came to an end when RB Tyler Smith scored a touchdown early in the third quarter. It marked the first Bucknell touchdown since early in the fourth quarter of an Oct. 1 win over Georgetown, a span of 168 minutes, 29 seconds. Orth now leads the Bison in points with a career-high 34 this year, all coming in the last six contests.

Night Games
Bucknell is 14-14 in night games (6 p.m. or later starts) since 2000. The Bison are 3-1 at night this year with wins over Duquesne, Marist and Princeton. Bucknell has played at least two night games every year since 2003. The five night games on this season's schedule is a program record.

Robertson Sets Bucknell Record
Senior DB Bryce Robertson is first in the nation in interceptions per game (1.00) this year. He has piled up 168 interception return yards on those eight interceptions, breaking Kevin Eiben's 11-year-old program record (150). Robertson has at least one interception in six of the last seven contests, two multi-interception games and he is just two picks shy of Gene Luccarelli's program record of 10.

FCS Interception Leaders
1. Bryce Robertson (Bucknell) - 1.00 per game
2. Kejuan Riley (Alabama State) - 0.86 per game

Bucknell Interception Return Yards (single season)
1. Bryce Robertson (2011) - 168
2. Kevin Eiben (2000) - 150

Bucknell Interception Return Yards (career)
1. Gene Luccarelli (1968-70) - 232
-- Bryce Robertson (2008-pres.) - 168

Three-Game Road Trip
With its home schedule now complete, Bucknell will play its final three contests on the road. The Bison last played three in a row on the road in 2009 and went 0-3, facing the same teams they will this year (Lafayette, Fordham, Colgate). Since the Patriot League era began in 1986, Bucknell has had 11 road trips of at least three games.

Long Road Trip Records (since 1986, at least three games)
1986: 0-3
1991: 0-3
1992: 1-2
1995: 1-2
1996: 2-1
1997: 3-0, 2-1
2002: 0-3
2003: 2-3
2005: 0-3
2009: 0-3

Easier Road Ahead
Bucknell's final three opponents (Lafayette, Fordham, Colgate) are a combined 8-14 (.364) this year. The combined record of the Bison's first eight opponents is 33-23 (.589).

Records of Bison Opponents
Wins (Duquesne, Marist, Princeton, Georgetown): 16-14 (.533)
Losses (Cornell, Lehigh, Harvard, Holy Cross): 17-9 (.654)
Remaining Opponents (Lafayette, Fordham, Colgate): 8-14 (.364)

Rushing Defense
Bucknell has held two of its last four opponents (Georgetown, Holy Cross) to negative yards rushing. The Bison, who had not held a team to negative yards rushing since 1999 prior to this year, rank second nationally in rush defense, yielding just 72.6 yards per game. Six of their eight opponents have failed to rush for 100 yards.

Third Downs
Bucknell is converting third downs at a 41.9% (26-for-62) clip in its four wins. In their four losses, the Bison are just 8-for-58 (13.8%) on third downs.

Wesley Moving Up Record Lists
Even though sophomore QB Brandon Wesley has struggled a little his last two outings, he is still moving up a number of Bucknell record lists. He ranks in the top 10 in program history in career completions (10th, 277), career pass attempts (10th, 496) and career passing yards (10th, 3,017). He is closing in on the top 10 in career total offense (388 yards shy of 10th place). The Texas native is 106-for-200 for 1,318 yards and six touchdowns this season.

Eden Climbs Sacks List
Senior DE Josh Eden posted 1.5 sacks last week against Holy Cross, bringing his career total to 18.5. He jumped from seventh to fifth on the program's all-time list. Next up is Pete Mauritz, who tallied 22 sacks from 1978 to 1980. Eden has a career-high 5.5 sacks this year, tying classmate Robert De La Rosa for team-high honors. The duo is tied for fourth in the Patriot League, and 47th nationally, in sacks per game. Eden's 176 career tackles are the most among current Bison.

Gutowski on Pace to Break Record
Junior P Ryan Gutowski has punted a Patriot League-high 61 times this year, including a career-high 11 times last week vs. Holy Cross. If continues at his current pace of 7.6 punts per game he will finish the season with 84 punts, 12 more than the program single-season standard of 72, set by John Toman in 1991. Gutowski had 70 punts in his first full year as punter last fall.

41 Straight Starts for Dal Bello
Bucknell senior C Ian Dal Bello has started all 41 games on the offensive line since he set foot on campus in the fall of 2008. No other Bison in at least 33 years has started that many games in a row. Senior DE Josh Eden also has 41 career starts, but he missed the 2008 and 2009 campaigns while on a Mormon mission. Dal Bello is part of an offensive line that features four senior starters and has combined for 118 career starting assignments.

Passing Touchdowns for Opponents
Bison opponents have scored 23 touchdowns this year and 19 have come on passing plays. Sixteen of the last 17 touchdowns against Bucknell have come through the air.

Spreading Interceptions Around
Eight different Bison - Tim Bolte, Evan Byers, Robert De La Rosa, Jordan Dudas, Josh Eden, Derrick Palmer, Sean Rafferty and Bryce Robertson - have recorded an interception this year. Only two times (2005 - 10, 2007 - 10) in the last decade has a Bison team had more players pick off a pass in a season.

Short Possessions
Bucknell has combined with Harvard and Holy Cross to have just six total possessions of longer than three minutes the last two weeks. Neither the Bison nor Crusaders held the ball for longer than three minutes in the second half of last week's contest that featured 13 punts and two turnovers.

Possessions/Drives of at Least 3:00
Game 1: 7 (Bucknell 3, Duquesne 4)
Game 2: 6 (Bucknell 4, Marist 2)
Game 3: 8 (Bucknell 4, Cornell 4)
Game 4: 8 (Bucknell 6, Princeton 2)
Game 5: 6 (Bucknell 5, Georgetown 1)
Game 6: 7 (Bucknell 3, Lehigh 4)
Game 7: 2 (Bucknell 0, Harvard 2)
Game 8: 4 (Bucknell 2, Holy Cross 2)

+17 Turnovers
Bucknell ranks third in the nation in turnover margin at 2.13 per game. The Bison have forced 26 turnovers (15 INT, 11 FUM), while they have committed just nine miscues (6 INT, 3 FUM).

2011 Turnovers Gained
1. Alabama State - 28
2. Bucknell - 26
3. Five teams tied - 22

Eight Straight Games with Interception
Bucknell has had at least one interception in each of the first eight games this year. The Bison last had a longer interception streak in 2007 when they had interceptions in the final nine games of the campaign. Bucknell has 15 interceptions overall this season. The Bison rank third in FCS in that category, trailing only Florida A&M (18) and Alabama State (17). The team record for interceptions in a season is 29 by the undefeated 1951 squad.

Sad to See Home Schedule End
Bucknell finished the 2011 campaign with a 3-2 mark at Christy Mathewson-Memorial Stadium. It is the second time in the last three years the Bison have been above .500 at home. They were a solid 4-1 at home in 2009.

De La Rosa's Streak Comes to an End
Senior DL Robert De La Rosa is ranked 10th nationally, and he tops the Patriot League, in tackles for loss per game. He has a team-high 15 stops behind the line, double any other Bison. He had a streak of 11 consecutive games with a tackle for loss snapped last Saturday vs. Holy Cross. Overall, De La Rosa has 33 tackles, one interception, three pass breakups and three forced fumbles this season. His 15 tackles for loss are the most by a Bison player since Sean Conover (16.5) and Corey Mayo (16.0) in 2004.

Co-Captain Stepping Up
Senior co-captain Sean Rafferty now leads the Bison with a career-high 56 tackles this season. He has registered 29 tackles the last three games (Lehigh (8), Harvard (12), Holy Cross (9)) after totaling 27 stops in the first five contests. He now has 129 career tackles, 107 of which have come the last two years.

Milestone Watch
• RB Tyler Smith reached 1,000 career rushing yards (1,029) vs. Holy Cross.
• RB Tyler Smith has posted two straight seasons of at least 1,000 all-purpose yards.
• QB Brandon Wesley reached 3,000 passing yards (3,017) for his career last week.
• WR Frank DeNick is 118 receiving yards shy of 1,000 for his career.
• WR Victor Walker is 158 receiving yards shy of 1,000 for his career.

Fourth-Quarter Defense
Bucknell's defense has been exceptionally stingy in the fourth quarter of late. Six of this year's eight opponents have failed to score a point in the fourth quarter, and in the last 13 games dating back to last year opponents are averaging 2.0 fourth-quarter points.

Up Next
Bucknell will have its bye week next Saturday, Nov. 5. The Bison have not won a game immediately preceeding a bye since 2004. Bucknell's next game will be Nov. 12 at Fordham. Kickoff in the Bronx, N.Y., is slated for 1 p.m. The Rams have won two in a row in the series, including 33-21 last year at Christy Mathewson-Memorial Stadium.