Bucknell University Athletics
Bucknell University
Marist
Football Improves to 2-0 with 22-0 Shutout of Marist
9/6/2014 9:09:00 PM | Football
POUGHKEEPSIE, N.Y. – R.J. Nitti completed 21 of 31 passes for 241 yards and two touchdowns, C.J. Williams posted his sixth career 100-yard rushing game and Bucknell used a flourish late in the first half to defeat Marist 22-0 Saturday evening at Tenney Stadium at Leonidoff Field. The win helped the Bison improve to 2-0 on the season for the first time since 2011.
Bucknell's defensive unit included three starters who did not start last week's 42-38 season-opening win over VMI and the results were impressive as the deep Bison outgained the Red Foxes 462-138 and recorded their first shutout since 2011. Evan Byers led Bucknell with six tackles, while Doug Whitlock and Demetrius Baldwin-Youngblood had two sacks apiece. Bucknell posted five sacks in the contest.
“We pride ourselves on suffocating defense,” said Bison head coach Joe Susan, who saw his career record even at 28-28 with Saturday's win.
Bucknell controlled much of the first half, highlighted by a 274-85 edge in total yards, but led just 6-0 as the clock ticked inside of two minutes to play in the stanza. The Bison then scored 13 points in the final 92 seconds to take a 19-0 lead into the locker room.
Lee Marvel's second career interception, followed by a 31-yard return to the Marist 12-yard line, swung the momentum heavily in Bucknell's favor. Williams, who ran for 161 yards overall, followed with a 12-yard touchdown run on the very next play, putting the Bison up 13-0 with 1:32 remaining.
After forcing a three-and-out by Marist, Bucknell took possession again, this time with just 32 seconds on the clock. For the second straight game the Bison ended up scoring in the final seconds of the first half as they moved down the field with back-to-back 22-yard completions to Jake Hartman and Will Carter to advance to the Red Fox 23-yard line. Nitti followed with an 11-yard scamper and was able to get out of bounds with eight seconds on the clock.
After a timeout, Nitti lofted a pass to the back right corner of the end zone and Carter acrobatically hauled in the pass and was able to get his feet in bounds as a pass interference flag was thrown. Bucknell was unable to convert the two-point conversion and took the 19-0 edge into halftime, just as some showers started to fall, cutting into the stifling humidity that was present throughout the first 30 minutes of play.
Nitti completed his first 10 passes and finished the first half 15-for-20 for 207 yards.
Bucknell initially got on the board about 10 minutes into the first half when Nitti completed a 16-yard touchdown pass to Bobby Kaslander that completed a six-play, 64-yard drive. It was Kaslander's first career touchdown reception and it immediately followed a 28-yard completion by wide receiver Josh Brake to running back Williams.
The only points for the Bison in the second half came on a 35-yard field goal by Derek Maurer early in the fourth quarter.
Bucknell dominated the ball in the second half, possessing the ball for nearly 21 minutes, including 12:30 in the fourth quarter.
“In the second half we just took the ball and ran with it,” commented Susan, who saw his team total 193 yards on the ground.
Bucknell, which ran 73 plays compared to 48 for the Red Foxes, limited Marist (0-2) to just eight first downs and 19 yards rushing.
Kaslander led the Bison with six receptions for 80 yards, while 135 of Williams' rushing yards came in the second half.
Marist QB Ed Achziger was 15-for-24 for 119 yards.
Bucknell will be idle next Saturday and will return to action Sept. 20 with a road contest at Sacred Heart. The Bison will be aiming for their first 3-0 start since 1997.
Additional Bucknell Notes (Sept. 7, 2014):
• Bucknell recorded its first shutout since 2011 at Fordham with a 22-0 victory at Marist on Saturday.
• Bucknell has opened a season 2-0 for the first time since 2011.
• Bucknell is outscoring its opponents 20-0 in the first quarter this season.
• Bucknell has won seven of its last eight games dating back to 2013. The Bison last went at least 7-1 in an eight-game span when they put together a string of 12 straight victories spanning the 1996 and 1997 seasons.
• Bucknell has won four games in a row for the first time since 2004.
• Bucknell has won four of its last five road games.
• Bucknell is the only remaining undefeated Patriot League team.
• C.J. Williams has rushed for 164 yards (vs. VMI) and 161 yards (at Marist) this season and ranks second nationally in rushing yards with 325. His team-best 374 all-purpose yards places him 12th nationally in that category.
• Five different Bison have scored touchdowns this year, led by three from C.J. Williams.
• Bucknell is outgaining its two opponents 927-559 this year. The Bison are averaging 7.2 yards per play, compared to 4.5 for their opponents.
• Bucknell ranks eighth nationally in rushing defense (66.0 ypg) after limiting Marist to 19 yards on the ground.
• Eight different Bison have caught at least one pass this season. Junior Bobby Kaslander leads the way with 13 receptions for 159 yards and one touchdown. He now has 35 catches for 465 yards over his last six games played.
• Senior Evan Byers ranks fifth nationally in tackles with 14.5 per game. He led the Bison against both VMI (23) and Marist (6).
