Bucknell University
Lafayette
OT Field Goal by Maurer Lifts Football to 27-24 Homecoming Win Over Lafayette
11/1/2014 6:36:00 PM | Football
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LEWISBURG, Pa. – Reserve quarterback Trey Lauletta engineered a game-tying drive in the final minutes of the fourth quarter and Derek Maurer connected on a 33-yard field goal in overtime to lead the Bucknell football team to a 27-24 comeback victory over Lafayette on a chilly Homecoming Saturday at Christy Mathewson-Memorial Stadium. The win helped the Bison stay perfect (3-0) in Patriot League play as they improved to 7-1 overall, their best start since 1997.
Senior Jake Hartman had a career day for Bucknell with seven catches for 134 yards and a program record-tying three touchdown receptions after entering the day with 12 catches for 206 yards and no touchdowns in his career. Will Carter (104) also went over 100 yards on the day, giving the Bison two 100-yard receivers in the same game for the ninth time in program history.
On the defensive side of the ball, the Bison had seven sacks for 57 yards, including three for 28 yards on Lafayette's last two drives of the game spanning the end of regulation and overtime. Demetrius Baldwin-Youngblood had had both of his sacks during that span and that moved him into a tie for 10th place on the program's career sacks list with 16. Lee Marvel also had two sacks in the game, while six of Evan Byers' seven tackles came on the final two defensive series in regulation.
Bucknell trailed Lafayette (3-6, 1-3 PL) 24-17 when it took possession of the ball with 3:56 left in the fourth quarter. It marked just the third time this season the Bison trailed in the final quarter. Lauletta, who had entered the game on the previous series in place of starter R.J. Nitti, led Bucknell down the field, covering 75 yards on eight plays. He had a 17-yard rush on a 3rd-and-10 and he had a 31-yard completion to Josh Lebo. The touchdown came on a 12-yard strike across the middle to Hartman with 1:01 to play. Maurer then made the extra point to tie the score.
The Leopards had one last chance to score, and two pass completions got them near midfield. However, a Baldwin-Youngblood sack moved them back and a holding call on the final play of regulation sent the game to overtime.
Lafayette had the first possession in overtime. After a false start on the Leopards, Baldwin-Youngblood again sacked Lafayette quarterback Drew Reed. Two plays later Ben Schumacher chased down Reed for another sack. Out of field goal range, the Leopards took one chance at the end zone on fourth down, but Colin Jonov had receiver Matt Mrazek well defended.
Three straight rushes by C.J. Williams moved Bucknell up to the 16-yard line on its overtime possession. Maurer, who entered the game 13-for-19 on field goals in his career and was 2-for-2 on Saturday, came through with the 33-yarder that had his teammates jumping in the air with excitement before it even crossed through the goalposts.
Bucknell, which defeated Lafayette at home for the first time since 2000, is now 6-5 all-time in overtime and it has won three straight. It was the first overtime game for the Bison since a 2008 win over Fordham.
The Leopards, whose average drive start was their own 38-yard line, got on the board first when Ross Scheuerman ran for the first of his three touchdowns in the closing minutes of the first quarter.
Back-to-back Hartman touchdowns sandwiched around a Lafayette three-and-out gave Bucknell its first lead of the game in the second quarter. The first touchdown was a career-long 45-yard reception by Hartman that came just three plays after Nitti had connected with him on a 31-yard pass. The other touchdown was a 19-yarder that completed a 10-play drive.
A three-yard touchdown run by Scheuerman that completed an eight-play, 75-yard drive to open the second half tied the score at 14-14. The Leopards then capitalized on an interception by Matt Smalley of a pass Nitti was trying to throw away deep in his own territory and scored again just over two minutes later. Smalley had an outstanding day, posting three tackles and five breakups to go along with his interception.
A short Maurer field goal made it 21-17 midway through the third quarter, but Ryan Gralish answered with one of his own in the fourth quarter to extend the Lafayette lead back to a touchdown.
Nitti completed 13 of 25 passes for 252 yards and two touchdowns, while Lauletta was 4-for-6 for 66 yards and one touchdown in limited relief duty. Lauletta has capably filled in for Nitti already this year, having thrown for 313 yards in a 21-point win at Lehigh three weeks ago.
Williams rushed for a team-high 73 yards as he moved into 10th place in program history in rushing yards (1,789).
Lafayette, which lost for the third straight game, was led by Scheuerman in rushing yards (83) and Tim Vangelas had 10 catches for 75 yards. Reed finished the day 27-for-40 for 222 yards.
Bucknell, which averaged 6.6 yards per play, finished the game with 429 yards of total offense, marking its fifth game this year with at least 400 yards. Lafayette had just 328 yards and averaged 4.3 yards per play.
The Bison have now reached seven wins in a season for the first time since 2004. It is just the fifth time in program history Bucknell has won at least seven times in its first eight games. The Bison are also now a strong 12-2 in their last 14 outings and they have won five consecutive home games. They are 3-0 in Patriot League play for the first time since 2001.
Saturday's win helped set up a matchup of the final two unbeaten in Patriot League play Friday at Christy Mathewson-Memorial Stadium. Bucknell will host nationally ranked Fordham (8-1, 4-0 PL) in a nationally televised game beginning at 6:30 p.m. The game will air on CBS Sports Network.
