Bucknell University Athletics
Bucknell Football Goes for Second Straight Win Saturday vs. Marist
9/6/2011 8:00:00 AM | Football
Sept. 6, 2011
What: Marist Red Foxes (1-0, 0-0 Pioneer) at Bucknell Bison (1-0, 0-0 PL)
Where: Christy Mathewson-Memorial Stadium, Lewisburg, Pa.
When: Saturday, Sept. 10, 2011, 6 p.m.
Promotions: Lewisburg Youth Football Halftime Game, Domino's Pizza Crazy Fan Giveaway, Bisonettes Performance, Bison Land Inflatables
Tickets: 570-577-1000 or www.bucknell.edu/boxoffice
Internet Video: Bison Vision
Radio: Eagle 107 (107.3 WEGH)
Internet Radio: SportsJuice.com
Live Statistics: GameTracker
Game Notes
Other Links:
In the Herd: Bucknell-Marist Preview
Probable Starters - Offense
QB 14 Brandon Wesley (So., 6-2, 195) - 2010 Patriot League Rookie of the Year
RB 32 Tyler Smith (Jr., 5-9, 195) - Team's leading rusher in 2010 (426 yards)
FB 33 Travis Friend (So., 6-2, 235) - First Bison freshman named All-PL since 1993
WR 11 Victor Walker (So., 6-1, 195) - 20th player in Bison history w/two 100-yard rec. games
WR 85 Gabe Skwara (Sr., 6-2, 180) - Caught 2nd career TD pass vs. Duquesne
LT 70 Andre Shields (Sr., 6-4, 290) - Started final five games at LT in 2010
LG 62 Carson Rohrbaugh (Sr., 6-3, 280) - Started first six games at LT in 2010
C 61 Ian Dal Bello (Sr., 6-1, 280) - Moving to C after starting at LG last three years; 34 cons. starts
RG 59 Anthony Carter (Sr., 6-0, 280) - 33 career starts ranks third among current Bison
RT 76 Josh Phillip (Sr., 6-4, 259) - Started all 11 games last season
TE 42 Nick Gatto (Jr., 6-2, 230) - 14 catches for 112 yards in 2010
Probable Starters - Defense
DE 40 Sean Sellers (So., 6-0, 225) - Moving to DE after playing LB in 2010
DT 24 Robert De La Rosa (Sr., 6-2, 290) - Two-time Second Team All-Patriot League (2009 & 2010)
NG 90 Tracey Smith (So., 6-1, 255) - Career-high six tackles in first appearance (vs. Marist) in 2010
DE 92 Josh Eden (Sr., 6-4, 280) - Two-time First Team All-Patriot League (2007 & 2010)
Mike LB 12 Beau Traber (Jr., 5-11, 233) - First Oklahoma native on Bison roster since 1994
Sam LB 51 Tim Bolte (Sr., 6-1, 230) - Member of Academic All-Patriot League Team
SS 43 Sean Rafferty (Sr., 6-0, 215) - Team co-captain, along with Josh Eden
CB 2 Derrick Palmer (So., 5-10, 175) - Moving to CB after playing safety in 2010
FS 20 Ryan Morgan (So., 5-11, 180) - Made first career start last week vs. Duquesne
Whip DB 36 Jordan Dudas (Fr., 6-0, 195) - Only freshman in starting lineup in Week 1
CB 5 Bryce Robertson (Sr., 5-9, 180) - 112 career tackles
With a Victory over Marist, Bucknell Would ...
- post its first two-game winning streak since 2009.
- begin a season 2-0 for the first time since 2008.
- win its first two home games for the first time since starting 2009 with a 3-0 home record.
- improve to 6-1 all-time vs. the Red Foxes.
- eclipse 2010's win total.
About the Game
It's a matchup of 1-0 teams when Bucknell and Marist square off Saturday evening at Christy Mathewson-Memorial Stadium. It is the first time in series history both teams will have winning records when they meet. The Bison are coming off a come-from-behind 27-26 final-minute victory over Duquesne. Pennsylvania's all-time leading high school rusher Jeremiah Young posted his first career 100-yard game and the Bison defense registered seven tackles for loss as Bucknell won its season opener for the fourth time in the last six years. The Red Foxes opened their 2011 campaign with a 20-7 victory over Sacred Heart that was head coach Jim Parady's 100th career victory. Marist overcame a 7-0 halftime deficit by outgaining the Pioneers 242-92 in the second half. The Red Foxes are in the midst of a season-opening three-game road trip.
Bucknell vs. Marist Series Notes
- Bucknell leads 5-1.
- Bucknell owns a 3-0 advantage in Lewisburg.
- Bucknell won the first three meetings by an average score of 38-11. The last three matchups have been decided by a total of 16 points.
- Marist has never scored 20 points vs. Bucknell.
Last Time vs. Marist
Marist 14, Bucknell 3 (Sept. 11, 2010 - Poughkeepsie, N.Y.)
- Marist defeated Bucknell for the first time in series history.
- Then-freshman QB Brandon Wesley made his first career start for Bucknell.
- Bucknell totaled five sacks and 14 tackles for loss. The 14 tackles for loss were the most for a Bison squad since 2001.
- Marist ran 74 plays, compared to just 48 for Bucknell.
- Ryan Gutowski punted a career-high 10 times, the most by a Bison kicker since Billy Windle set the school record with 12 punts against Towson in 2000.
Inside the Duquesne Box Score
- Bucknell scored its most points since Oct. 25, 2008.
- Bucknell won its season opener for the fourth time in the last six years and improved to 86-39-1 (.687) all-time in season openers.
- Junior RB Jeremiah Young posted his first career 100-yard rushing game. He had just 50 yards in his career entering the contest.
- Bucknell started an all-senior offensive line.
- Bucknell and Duquesne combined to score nine times in nine trips into the Red Zone.
- Twenty-one of Bucknell's 27 points came inside the final two minutes of the first and second halves.
- 11th consecutive Bucknell victory that came by fewer than 10 points.
- Duquesne had more first downs, more yards rushing, more yards passing, more time of possession, committed fewer penalties and was better on third downs, but Bucknell still came away victorious.
- Bucknell led at halftime for the first time since last October's win at Georgetown.
- RB Tyler Smith reached 100 all-purpose yards (130) for the fourth time in his last five games played.
- Senior defensive linemen Robert De La Rosa and Josh Eden both posted sacks.
PL Special Teams Player of the Week
Senior DL Josh Eden blocked a Charlie Leventry extra point in the first quarter of Saturday's victory over Duquesne. That blocked kick earned Eden the Patriot League Special Teams Player of the Week honor. It marked the second time in his career he has been cited as the Special Teams Player of the Week. Eden also earned the award after tying an NCAA FCS record by blocking three extra points last November against Colgate.
Another NCAA Record for Eden
Senior DL Josh Eden blocked an NCAA FCS single-season record six extra points in 2010. Thanks to his blocked extra points this past Saturday against Duquesne, Eden's name will now show up in the record book one more time. His seven career blocked extra points ties him with Montana's Tim Hauck (1987-89) for the top spot on that list.
NCAA FCS Career Blocked Extra Points
1. Josh Eden (Bucknell, 2006-11) - 7
Tim Hauck (Montana, 1987-89) - 7
Bison Scoring Points
Bucknell's 27 points in its season opener against Duquesne marked the most points a Bison team has scored in a game since it lost to Colgate 52-28 on Oct. 25, 2008. The last time a Bucknell squad scored more than 27 points in a victory was the 2008 season opener against Duquesne that the Bison claimed 48-42 after putting 42 points on the board in the first half.
Winning Streak?
With a win Saturday against Marist, Bucknell will string together back-to-back victories for the first time since defeating Marist (17-16) and Georgetown (14-6) in consecutive weeks in 2009.
100 Yards on the Ground
Junior RB Jeremiah Young, Pennsylvania's all-time leading high school rusher, registered 105 yards on 19 carries against Duquesne. He became Bucknell's first 100-yard rusher since C.J. Hopson tallied 189 yards in a season-finale upset of nationally ranked Holy Cross in 2009. Young entered the season with 50 yards on 25 carries in his career after piling up more than 9,000 yards at Steelton-Highspire High School.
Bucknell's Recent 100-Yard Rushers
Terrance Wilson (108) - 9/29/07 vs. Marist (W, 38-7)
Justin Pulgrano (101) - 9/29/07 vs. Marist (W, 38-7)
Corin Erby (129) - 11/17/07 at Fordham (W, 38-24)
Andrew Lair (122) - 10/18/08 at Georgetown (W, 27-24)
C.J. Hopson (136) - 9/5/09 vs. Duquesne (L, 24-19)
C.J. Hopson (101) - 10/3/09 vs. Georgetown (W, 14-6)
C.J. Hopson (134) - 11/14/09 at Colgate (L, 29-14)
C.J. Hopson (189) - 11/21/09 vs. Holy Cross (W, 23-17)
Jeremiah Young (105) - 9/3/11 vs. Duquesne (W, 27-26)
Comeback Wins
Duquesne scored the first points of the game this past Saturday and the Dukes led entering the fourth quarter as well. Bucknell's last win when the opponent scored first was Oct. 3, 2009 vs. Georgetown, while the last time the Bison won a game when trailing after three quarters was Nov. 22, 2008 vs. Fordham.
Winning Close Games
Bucknell has needed to win the close games to post victories in recent years. The last 11 wins for the Bison have been by single-digit points. Bucknell's last double-digit victory came in the 2007 season finale at Fordham that ended with a 38-24 margin of victory.
Dudas First Freshman Defensive Starter Since De La Rosa
Freshman DB Jordan Dudas started at the Whip defensive back position for Bucknell this past Saturday. He became the first freshman defensive player to start a season opener since current senior Robert De La Rosa in 2008. Dudas registered five tackles, the most among Bison rookies.
Veteran Offensive Line
Bucknell started five seniors on the offensive line vs. Duquesne: Anthony Carter, Ian Dal Bello, Josh Phillip, Carson Rohrbaugh and Andre Shields. That quintet now has a combined 92 career starts, including 34 by Dal Bello, who has never missed a start in his four-year career.
9 Points for Eckard
Sophomore K Alex Eckard connected on two field goals and three extra points last Saturday vs. Duquesne. The nine points were a career high and marked the most points by a Bison kicker since Ryan Korn registered 10 points in the 2005 season opener against Georgetown. Korn was 3-for-5 on field goals and 1-for-1 on extra points in that 19-16 overtime loss to the Hoyas at Christy Mathewson-Memorial Stadium.
Strong Fourth Quarter Defense
Bucknell's defense has been strong in the fourth quarter in recent games, dating back to last year. In fact, three of the Bison's last four opponents have failed to score in the final quarter and only one team (Dartmouth) in the last 13 games has scored more than a touchdown in the fourth quarter.
Interception Returns
Thanks to LB Tim Bolte's 24-yard interception return for a touchdown last Saturday, Bucknell has now had an interception returned for a touchdown in each of its last two victories. Sean Rafferty returned a pick 12 yards for a score last October, tallying what turned out to be the winning points. The Bison have had interception returns for touchdown in three of their last six wins after going a span of nearly four years without returning an interception to the end zone in any game.
Bucknell's Recent INT Returns for TDs
11/12/05 vs. Colgate (L, 16-10): Dorian Petersen (32 yards)
9/12/09 vs. Robert Morris (W, 26-23): Greg Jones (25 yards) & Brigham Farrand (19 yards)
10/16/10 at Georgetown (W, 24-21): Sean Rafferty (12 yards)
9/3/11 vs. Duquesne (W, 27-26): Tim Bolte (24 yards)
Sacks
Senior defensive linemen Robert De La Rosa and Josh Eden each recorded a sack vs. Duquesne. Eden now has 14 career sacks, placing him two shy of 10th place in program history. De La Rosa has 9.5 sacks in his four-year career. Eden (30) and De La Rosa (25.5) have also combined for 55.5 tackles for loss during their careers.
Bucknell Career Sacks
1. Dave Hibbard (1978-80) - 25.5
Ed Burman (1993-95) - 25.5
3. Joe Massey (1999-2002) - 22.5
4. Pete Mauritz (1978-80) - 22
5. Juan Morales (1999-2002) - 17.5
Sean Conover (2002-05) - 17.5
7. Bruce Keltie (1978-80) - 16.5
8. Roosevelt Smith (1989-91) - 16
Eric Green (1996-99) - 16
Less than 1,000 Yards Away
Thanks to his 173 passing yards vs. Duquesne, Bucknell sophomore QB Brandon Wesley is now less than 1,000 yards from the No. 10 spot on the Bison career passing yards list. He has 1,872 yards in his first 12 games, putting him 991 yards behind 10th-place Travis Kopp. Wesley is also just 76 completions from 10th place on that list and 171 attempts from joining that top-10 ledger.
Milestone Watch
Junior RB Tyler Smith enters Saturday's game with Marist with 1,920 all-purpose yards in his career. He has averaged 134.9 all-purpose yards over his last 12 games, meaning he is on pace to eclipse the 2,000-yard plateau this week.
Night Games
With its win over Duquesne, Bucknell improved to 12-13 in night games (6 p.m. or later starts) since 2000. The Bison have five night games on their 2011 schedule and have played at night at least twice every year since 2003. Bucknell and Marist have met at night twice (2007 & 2010). The teams have split those two meetings.
Success in Close Games
Bucknell has had success in close games in recent years. In fact, the Bison have posted a 12-5 record in games decided by seven points or less since 2006.
2011 Promotional Schedule at Christy Mathewson-Memorial Stadium
Sept. 10 – vs. Marist, 6 p.m.
- Lewisburg Youth Football Halftime Game, Domino's Pizza Crazy Fan Giveaway, Bisonettes Performance, Bison Land Inflatables
Oct. 1 – vs. Georgetown, 1 p.m.
- Junior Bison Club Party Day, Take-A-Kid to the Game Day, Youth Cheerleader Day, Bison Bash Pregame Party, Domino's Pizza Crazy Fan Giveaway, Bisonettes Performance, Bison Land Inflatables
Oct. 8 – vs. Lehigh, 1 p.m.
- Community Recognition, Men's Basketball Season Kickoff, Domino's Pizza Crazy Fan Giveaway, Bisonettes Performance, Bison Land Inflatables
Oct. 22 – vs. Holy Cross, 1 p.m.
- Homecoming, Hall of Fame Induction, Senior Day, POWERade Day, Domino's Pizza Crazy Fan Giveaway, Bisonettes Performance, Bison Land Inflatables
Up Next
Bucknell will hit the road for the first time next Saturday when it travels to Ithaca, N.Y., to face Cornell. The game will be televised on Time Warner in Upstate New York. Cornell holds a 39-11 edge in the series and has won four in a row.
