Bucknell University Athletics
Bucknell Football Back in Action Saturday at Cornell
9/17/2013 4:35:00 PM | Football
What: Bucknell Bison (1-0, 0-0 PL) at Cornell Big Red (0-0, 0-0 Ivy)
Where: Schoellkopf Field, Ithaca, N.Y.
When: Saturday, Sept. 21, 2013, 3 p.m.
Internet Video: Ivy League Digital Network
Radio: Eagle 107 (107.3 WEGH)
Internet Radio: Eagle107.com
Live Statistics: CornellBigRed.com
Probable Starters - Offense
QB 14 Brandon Wesley (Sr., 6-2, 195) - Holds Bucknell record for career completions (473) & att. (822)
RB 31 Matt DelMauro (So., 5-7, 185) - 20 rush, 83 yards in first career start vs. Marist
FB 33 Travis Friend (Sr., 6-2, 242) - 3-time All-Patriot League selection
WR 80 Josh Brake (Jr., 6-3, 205) - Career-long 66-yard TD reception vs. Marist
WR 81 Vinnie Pini (Jr., 5-9, 170) - 10 career games played
LT 70 Julie'n Davenport (Fr., 6-7, 305) - Only freshman to start vs. Marist
LG 72 Lonnie Rawles (Jr., 6-4, 285) - Moving to LG from LT this year, 19 career starts
C 77 Brandon Noblett (Jr., 6-2, 285) - Started all 11 games at C in 2012
RG 79 Nevin Hagman (Jr., 6-3, 285) - Moving to RG from LT this year, 10 career starts
RT 71 Ramy Kased (So., 6-6, 325) - Played in 9 games in 2012, starting vs. Georgetown
TE 88 Patrick Kelly (Jr., 6-3, 230) - 23 GP, 6 receptions in career
Probable Starters - Defense
DE 52 Dylan McDonnell (Jr., 6-1, 245) - 13th on team w/27 tackles in 2012
DT 97 D. Baldwin-Youngblood (Jr., 6-1, 285) - Posted first career sack vs. Marist
NG 90 Tracey Smith (Sr., 6-1, 265) - Second Team All-PL in 2012, Preseason All-PL in 2013
DE 40 Sean Sellers (Sr., 6-0, 240) - Career-high 2 sacks vs. Marist
Mike LB 27 Evan Byers (Jr., 6-0, 225) - Second Team All-PL in 2012, Preseason All-PL in 2013
Sam LB 37 Lee Marvel (Jr., 6-0, 205) - Moved to LB after totaling 58 tackles at S in 2012
SS 25 Clayton Ewell (So., 6-1, 195) - Made first career start vs. Marist, career-high 5 tackles
FS 43 Louis Taglianetti (So., 5-11, 200) - Predominantly a special teams player in 2012
Whip DB 26 Matthew Steinbeck (Jr., 6-0, 210) - First Team All-PL in 2012, Preseason All-PL in 2013
CB 2 Derrick Palmer (Sr., 5-10, 175) - Team captain along with Friend, Goyette
CB 23 Tajh Turner (Sr., 5-9, 170) - First career start & INT vs. Marist
With a Victory over Cornell, Bucknell Would ...
• ... begin a season 2-0 for the second time in the last three years and the third time in the last six years.
• ... snap a six-game losing streak to Cornell.
• ... improve to 46-77-4 in first road game of season.
• ... win its road opener for the second straight year.
• ... improve to 4-1 in its last five games.
• ... win a third consecutive game for the first time since 2007 into 2008.
• ... snap a five-game road losing streak.
• ... win in Ithaca for the first time since 1995.
About the Game
While many teams across the country have played three games during the 2013 campaign, Bucknell and Cornell have combined to play just one. The Bison were idle Aug. 31 and Sept. 14, while Ivy League teams only play 10-game schedules and traditionally start their seasons later. Bucknell is 1-0 this season after a season-opening 27-14 win over Marist. The Bison tallied 24 first-half points and had a balanced offense (177 yds. rushing, 176 yds. passing) as they won their season opener for the third straight year. Cornell enters Saturday's contest with new head coach David Archer at the helm. The Big Red were 4-6 overall last fall, including 2-5 against Ivy League opponents. Cornell is led by senior QB Jeff Mathews, who is already the school's all-time passing leader. He is on the Walter Payton Award Watch List for a second straight year and was a Preseason First Team FCS All-American.
Bucknell vs. Cornell Series Notes
• Cornell leads 41-11.
• Cornell leads 32-5 in Ithaca and has won six in a row at home.
• Cornell has captured the last six meetings.
• Bucknell's last win was in 2006.
• The home team has won 10 of the last 13 games.
• The scheduled 2001 meeting in Ithaca, N.Y., was cancelled due to the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks. It was the first Bison game to be cancelled since 1963.
• The first 25 games in the series were played in Ithaca, N.Y.
• Cornell won 26 of the first 27 meetings.
• Cornell has been on Bucknell's schedule every year since 2000, the longest current stretch of any non-league opponent.
• Bucknell has scored more than 20 points vs. Cornell just once in the last 14 meetings (2000: W, 38-15).
• This is the 10th time Bucknell has been Cornell's season-opening opponent since 2002.
Last Time vs. Cornell
Cornell 15, Bucknell 10 (Sept. 29, 2012 - Lewisburg, Pa.)
• Bucknell had the ball in the closing minute with a chance to win, but turned the ball over on downs inside the Cornell 15-yard line.
• Cornell missed an extra point, missed a 32-yard field goal and failed on a two-point conversion after a muffed snap and hold.
• Cornell was plagued by fumbles, mainly on center-quarterback exchanges. The Big Red had five fumbles in the contest, but recovered all five.
• Bucknell LB Evan Byers registered a career-high 12 tackles. He had stops on three straight plays in the fourth quarter that forced Cornell to punt and set up a potential game-winning drive for the Bison.
Inside the Marist Box Score
• Bucknell won its season opener for a third consecutive year and is now 6-2 in season openers since 2006.
• Bucknell's 24 first-half points marked its most in a half since 2011 vs. Lafayette. The Bison last scored more points in a first half in a 2011 win at Georgetown.
• Bucknell's six sacks were its most since piling up six in a 2011 contest against Holy Cross.
• Bucknell improved to 8-1 all-time against Marist. The Red Foxes have never scored 20 points against the Bison.
• Bucknell QB Brandon Wesley had 227 yards of total offense to move into first place on the program's career total offense list, passing Scott Auchenbach's 24-year-old standard.
• CB Tajh Turner recorded his first career interception, giving Bucknell at least one pick in nine consecutive games, and 21 of its last 23 outings.
• Brandon Wesley completed 12 passes to eight different receivers.
• Bucknell had a very balanced offensive attack with 177 yards rushing and 176 yards passing.
• Bucknell and Marist both had 18 first downs, but the Bison outgained the Red Foxes by nearly 100 yards (353-255).
• Julie'n Davenport, Matt DelMauro, Clayton Ewell, Connor Hayes, Joe Sangimino, Kyle Sullivan, Louis Taglianetti and Tajh Turner made their first career starts.
Touchdowns on Three Straight Drives
• Bucknell had three straight drives that ended in touchdowns vs. Marist. It was the first time the Bison reached the end zone on three straight offensive possessions since the 2008 season opener vs. Duquesne when they scored touchdowns on six consecutive drives.
• Bucknell's three straight touchdown drives vs. Marist were each at least 70 yards. The Bison have not put together three consecutive 70-yard touchdown drives since at least 2000.
Season Openers
• Bucknell improved to 88-39-1 in season-opening contests after defeating Marist 27-14 two weeks ago. The Bison are now 6-2 in their last eight season openers.
• Each of Bucknell's last eight season openers have been against Duquesne (six times) and Marist (two times).
Depth Chart Adjustments
• Bucknell has made four adjustments to its pregame depth chart from game one:
- Joe Sangimino has been added to the depth chart at tight end.
- CJ Williams moved up to No. 2 at running back.
- Demetrius Baldwin-Youngblood moved to the starter position at defensive tackle.
- Sean Sellers moved to the starter position at defensive end.
Rushing Defense
• Bucknell has been one of the best teams in the nation against the run the last two years. The Bison are one of just four teams to rank in the top 10 nationally against the run in both 2011 and 2012, joining Sam Houston State, Harvard and North Carolina A&T.
• Bucknell has held 10 opponents to under 50 yards rushing since the beginning of 2011 (23 games).
• The Bison defense has held opponents to under 100 yards rushing 15 times over the same span.
• Marist rushed for just 39 yards against Bucknell on Sept. 7.
20-Point Games
• Bucknell is 9-1 in its last 10 games it has scored at least 20 points.
• The Bison are 10-4 when scoring 20 points since Joe Susan took over as head coach in 2010.
• Ten of Bucknell's 11 wins under Joe Susan have come when the team has scored 20 points.
Brandon Wesley Record Watch
• Bucknell senior QB Brandon Wesley broke Scott Auchenbach's school record for career total offense vs. Marist. He now has 5,628 career yards of total offense. • Wesley enters Saturday's contest just 154 yards behind Auchenbach's career passing yards mark (5,256-5,102). Wesley is one of just two players in program history to throw for 5,000 yards and one of four to register 4,000 yards.
• Wesley entered the 2013 season in first place on Bucknell's career pass completions and pass attempts lists. He is now 473-for-822 (.575) in his career.
• The versatile Wesley has rushed for 526 yards in his career. He also caught his third career pass against Marist when he hauled in one of his own throws that was batted back to him.
Brandon Wesley's Success vs. Cornell
• Brandon Wesley has thrown for a career-high 267 yards twice vs. Cornell (2010, 2011). He is 66-for-109 for 669 yards and just two interceptions in three career games against the Big Red.
- 2010: 25-for-45 for 267 yards, 0 TD, 1 INT
- 2011: 22-for-35 for 267 yards, 0 TD, 1 INT
- 2012: 19-for-29 for 135 yards, 0 TD, 0 INT
More Tackles for Byers
• LB Evan Byers led the Bison with 100 tackles a year ago. He posted a team-high 12 stops in the season opener against Marist, equaling his career high.
• Byers now has five career double-figure tackle outings, including three of the last four games dating back to 2012.
• Byers has had at least 0.5 tackles for loss in 11 straight games. The last time he did not record a tackle for loss was the 2012 season opener at Marist.
• Byers is one of three Bison to have more than 100 career tackles. He is first among current Bucknell players with 146 stops. Ryan Morgan is second with 124. Derrick Palmer is third with 114.
Bison Following Bye
Bucknell is 5-3 in its last eight games following a bye week. The Bison have not had an in-season bye since 2011 and they followed that with a 21-0 shutout at Fordham.
Bucknell vs. Ivy League
Bucknell is 37-101-3 all-time against Ivy League opponents. The Bison last defeated an Ivy League foe in September 2011 when they upended Princeton, 34-9. Bucknell has lost to Harvard twice and Cornell once since that victory over the Tigers.
Quick Hitters
• Bucknell's defense has at least one interception in nine straight games and 21 of 23 over the last three years.
• The Bison have forced 57 turnovers over the last three years (2.5 per game), including 39 in 2011 to rank second nationally.
• Bucknell has forced at least two turnovers in a game 14 times in its last 23 games.
• Bison seniors Travis Friend, Jeff Goyette and Brandon Wesley have played in all 34 games over the last four years.
• Including Cornell, four of Bucknell's last six opponents have been from New York State.
• Bucknell will wake up on Sept. 21 with zero losses. The last time the Bison were undefeated on Sept. 21 was 1997.
• Bucknell returns nine offensive starters and seven defensive starters in 2013.
National Rankings
Bucknell is ranked in the top 10 nationally in six key statistical categories: rushing defense (1st), sacks (1st), total defense (2nd), passing efficiency (2nd), turnover margin (4th) and scoring defense (10th). Additionally, 11 different Bison individuals are ranked in the top 50 nationally in a combined 21 statistical categories.
Consecutive Games Scoring
Bucknell broke the program record for consecutive games scoring last season. The Bison have scored points in 76 straight games (old record: 72 games from 1996 to 2002). The streak remains alive entering Saturday's game at Cornell.
Milestone Watch
• Brandon Wesley is 154 passing yards shy of tying Scott Auchenbach for first place on Bucknell's career list.
• Brandon Wesley needs three touchdown passes to move into tie for sixth place on program's career list with Rob Glus.
• Lee Marvel is 13 tackles shy of 100 for his career.
Up Next
Bucknell will return home next Saturday to host Sacred Heart in a 6 p.m. Family Weekend contest at Christy Mathewson-Memorial Stadium. It will mark the first game for the Bison against a team from Connecticut since facing Yale in 1997. Bucknell and Sacred Heart have never met.
