Bucknell University Athletics
Orange Team Wins Spring Game 24-3
4/18/2014 10:45:00 PM | Football
LEWISBURG, Pa. – Bucknell sophomore-to-be quarterback RJ Nitti completed 10 of 14 passes for 253 yards and three touchdowns to lead the Orange team to a 24-3 spring game victory over the Blue squad Friday evening at Christy Mathewson-Memorial Stadium.
The game, which was played with a series of modified rules, including running clock, featured plenty of big plays as Nitti completed five passes of at least 30 yards. Among those long completions were touchdown strikes of 56 and 46 yards to Josh Brake, and a 64-yard touchdown to Will Carter. Blue team QB Trey Lauletta completed 15 of 25 passes for 165 yards, including a 36-yard strike to Bobby Kaslander, who finished with a game-high six catches for 88 yards.
“In terms of performance, we showed we have gotten better,” commented Bucknell head coach Joe Susan, who will enter his fifth year on the Bison sideline this fall. “We aren't ready yet, but we still have 133 days until our season opener.
“It's nice to see us hit some deep balls, but that means we also gave up some deep balls.”
Friday's game featured the Bucknell roster divided into the Orange team and the Blue team with a selection of players wearing white playing for both squads. The offensive line was one unit dressed in white jerseys.
“We are thin on the offensive line right now,” said Susan. “They got worn down a bit, but luckily the injury issues aren't significant.”
Despite Louis Taglianetti intercepting a Nitti pass in the end zone on the game's first drive, the Orange team was able to build a 17-0 first-half lead after scoring on each of its next three possessions. A 30-yard Nitti pass to DelMauro set up a 39-yard field goal by Derek Maurer, who handled placekicking duties for both teams and was 2-for-4 on field goals and 3-for-3 on extra points.
After a three-and-out by the Blue squad, Orange struck quickly on the next possession with Nitti connecting with Carter on a 64-yard touchdown to make it 10-0.
Two completions by Lauletta to Kaslander on the next drive got Blue to within field goal range, but Maurer's kick was wide left.
Matt DelMauro ran the ball five times on the next drive for Orange, but the big plays were an eight-yard completion from Nitti to Matthew Jegede and a 56-yard touchdown to Brake, who had 102 yards receiving in the contest, joining Carter (107) over the century mark.
Blue put together a 12-play drive to end the half, ending in a Maurer field goal to make it 17-3 Orange at intermission.
The only other score in the game came on Orange's first play of the fourth quarter when Nitti connected with Brake on a 46-yard touchdown.
Evan Byers led Blue with five tackles in the contest, while Bret Berg's nine total tackles led all Bison defenders. He had six stops while playing with the Orange team and three more as part of Blue's defense.
Susan also singled out the play of a young defensive line not only during Friday's game, but throughout the 15 spring practice sessions.
“The defensive line really came along,” noted Susan. “Some injuries gave those younger guys a chance to play. Doug Whitlock a freshman who is ready to play college football.”
Blue ran nearly twice as many plays (51-27) as Orange, but Orange outgained Blue by a 323-238 margin thanks to the big plays. DelMauro posted 66 rushing yards for Orange, while Anthony DelRusso led Blue with 55.
Prior to Friday's game, Susan announced that senior LB Lee Marvel and senior S Matthew Steinbeck would serve as team captains in 2014. Additionally, Susan gave out four end-of-spring awards:
· Strength and Conditioning MVP: Evan Byers
· Most Improved Offensive Player: Cary Hess
· Most Improved Defensive Player: Jaylen Amaker
· Most Improved Special Teams Player: Derek Maurer
Bucknell's spring practice is now complete. The Bison will begin preseason practice in August in preparation for the 2014 campaign. The 2014 schedule is expected to be released in the upcoming weeks.
