Bucknell University
Charleston Southern
Football Battles Hard in 49-28 Loss at No. 9 Charleston Southern
10/29/2016 3:34:00 PM | Football
CHARLESTON, S.C. – The Bucknell football team made the trip south to face No. 9 Charleston Southern on Saturday looking to post its first victory over a ranked team in three years. The Bison played well against the Buccaneers, whose only two losses this year were to North Dakota State and Florida State, but fell by a 49-28 score at a warm and sunny Buccaneer Field. Bucknell was within 21-14 at halftime and 28-21 midway through the third quarter.
Charleston Southern (5-2) entered the game with one of the most potent offenses in the nation, averaging more than 35 points and 420 yards per game against a difficult schedule. The Buccaneers totaled 548 yards of total offense on Saturday, including 294 yards on the ground.
Bucknell was led offensively by QB R.J. Nitti, who was 18-for-29 for 154 yards and two touchdowns. He moved into third place on the program's career passing yards list (4,885).
The Bison registered 242 yards of total offense and were also helped by Charleston Southern's 15 penalties for 131 yards. Bucknell was flagged just one time for five yards in the game.
The Bison also won the turnover battle with three takeaways. The lone turnover for the Bucknell came in the final minutes of the fourth quarter.
Two of Bucknell's four touchdowns came following Charleston Southern turnovers. The Bison scored just before halftime following a Connor Golden interception, while their second-half touchdown came after a Buccaneer fumble deep in their own territory. Golden added a second diving interception in the final quarter, giving him six in his career.
“Our guys played their tails off today and I am proud of them,” commented Bucknell head coach Joe Susan. “We were able to take advantage of turnovers, but it was frustrating as the score got away from us. Charleston Southern is a very good football team.”
Bucknell opened the game by taking a 7-0 lead on its first drive. The Bison covered 66 yards on nine plays, concluding with a 10-yard pass from Nitti to Jack Horan. It was the second career touchdown reception for Horan as the Bison converted a pair of third downs on the drive.
Charleston Southern answered quickly as on the fourth play of its first drive when Shane Bucenell completed a 59-yard touchdown pass to Saire Davis. It was the first of three straight touchdowns for the Buccaneers, who built a 21-7 advantage.
Charleston Southern took possession with just over two minutes left in the first half looking to tack on another score before halftime, but Golden's first interception changed that, giving the Bison the ball at the Buccaneers' 40-yard line. Nitti completed a 35-yard pass down the right sideline to Kyle Kinner to get Bucknell to the doorstep of the goal line and two plays later he placed a ball just over the top of a defender to Andrew Owers to cut the deficit to 21-14 less than a minute before halftime.
Bucknell's offense was strong in the first quarter, especially, registering 10:58 of possession time and converting on 4 of 6 third downs.
The score remained close in the third quarter despite Charleston Southern putting together a 12-play, 65-yard touchdown drive on its first possession of the second half.
The Bison cut into the 14-point deficit midway through the third quarter when Charleston Southern QB London Johnson fumbled the ball near the goal line. Trevor Fennimore recovered the ball for the Bison, and after a brief video review of the play, Chad Freshnock dove over the offensive line and was carried into the end zone to make it 28-21.
Two straight touchdowns by the Buccaneers extended their advantage to 21 points (42-21), but Bucknell put together a 13-play, 69-yard drive that used 6:11 off the clock and concluded with a second touchdown dive for Freshnock, who now has six touchdown runs this season. Joey DeFloria ran for 11 yards on a 4th-and-2 on the drive, while Kinner had catches for 15 yards and 16 yards.
Bison starting wide receivers Will Carter and Alan Butler did not play in the game, but Nitti still completed passes to seven different receivers, including a career-high five to Kyle Kinner, who totaled 79 receiving yards. He had not caught a pass in four career games entering the day.
DeFloria led Bucknell with 48 rushing yards, while Freshnock tallied 37. John Chiarolanzio played the final series at quarterback for the Bison and completed three passes for 17 yards.
On the defensive side, Joe Lauro totaled a team-high 10 tackles for Bucknell, while Ben Richard had nine.
Charleston Southern, which registered 12 tackles for loss, was led by 10 tackles from Corbin Jackson.
Bucenell finished 9-for-16 for 172 yards and three touchdowns, while Mike Holloway ran 11 times for 105 yards for the Buccaneers. Davis totaled a game-high 99 receiving yards.
Bucknell will return to Patriot League play next Saturday, Nov. 5, when it plays at Lehigh at 12:30 p.m.
