Bucknell University Athletics
Football Preseason Practice Update: Scrimmage No. 2
8/21/2015 5:09:00 PM | Football
LEWISBURG, Pa. – On Friday afternoon, for the second time in a six-day span, the Bucknell football team took to the field at Christy Mathewson-Memorial Stadium for a scrimmage. The entire practice session clocked in at under two hours and the scrimmage itself was just over an hour as head coach Joe Susan aimed to keep the squad as healthy as possible midway between the start of preseason camp and the season opener Sept. 5 vs. Marist.
“We planned to sit some guys and play some guys in limited roles and I think they came out ready to play,” said Susan, the 2014 Patriot League Coach of the Year. “It is really critical we expose them to live tackling and live speed. There is a lot happening on campus. That cannot be a distraction, but I think it might be. This is the tail end of a long preseason. We are fortunate to come out of this healthy. We have two weeks left.”
Susan singled out a few younger players, including sophomore RB Joey DeFloria, freshman RB Omar Garcia and freshman TE Joe Arcangelo, for their performances on Friday.
“Joey DeFloria continues to impress,” commented Susan. “I think Omar Garcia is going to be a very good player. They both run hard. Omar can make something when he doesn't have anything. Joey is probably our best pass protector and that is critical in what we do offensively.”
While some younger offensive players stood out, the defense seemed to be the stronger unit during the scrimmage. Bret Berg had a couple interceptions in opposite goal line stands and Abdullah Anderson halted an offensive drive with an impressive tackle in the middle of the field.
“The defense did a very good job in this scrimmage,” praised Susan. “We had trouble establishing the run, which bodes well for our defense. Some of it might be that we did not play C.J. Williams or Matt DelMauro today, but you have to play with what you have. We are still creating the offensive line as we try to figure out who the starting five will be and who will be the sixth and seventh guys. That's what we will decide as we go through this film and go into the next couple of days.”
With classes at Bucknell starting on Monday, the Bison practice schedule is going to slowly change from what has been the norm the last couple of weeks. The team will practice in shells on Saturday before doing a simulated game followed by team photo day on Sunday. Monday will be the first off day since camp started on Aug. 6. Susan will then go with regular practices on Tuesday and Wednesday so the players get used to the challenge of going to class and then practicing. Game-planning for Marist will soon be incorporated into the practices.
Bucknell will open the 2015 season with back-to-back home games Sept. 5 (Marist) and Sept. 12 (Duquesne). Kickoff for both contests is 6 p.m. at Christy Mathewson-Memorial Stadium. Tickets can be purchased via the Campus Box Office at www.bucknell.edu/boxoffice or 570-577-1000.
Bucknell Football Preseason Practice Schedule (schedule subject to change)Aug. 6: 4 p.m.Aug. 7: 3:45 p.m.Aug. 8: 3:45 p.m.Aug. 9: 3:45 p.m.Aug. 10: 3:45 p.m.Aug. 11: 3:45 p.m.Aug. 12: 3:45 p.m.Aug. 13: 3:45 p.m.Aug. 14: 3:45 p.m.Aug. 15: 3:45 p.m.Aug. 16: 3:45 p.m. (scrimmage)Aug. 17: 3:45 p.m.Aug. 18: 3:45 p.m.Aug. 19: 10:15 a.m.Aug. 20: 3:45 p.m.Aug. 21: 1:15 p.m. (scrimmage)Aug. 22: 1:30 p.m.
Aug. 23: 9 a.m.
Aug. 24: First Day of Classes – no practice
All Practices at Christy Mathewson-Memorial Stadium
