Bucknell University
1-6 , 1-1
Monmouth
4-2
Monmouth Downs Bucknell Football Behind Late Touchdowns
10/13/2018 4:06:00 PM | Football
Strong defensive and special teams play kept the Bison (1-6, 1-1 Patriot League) even with the high-powered Hawks (4-2, 0-0 Big South) for much of the game. Monmouth, which entered the tilt averaging 32 points per contest, scored three touchdowns in the final six minutes of regulation to move to 8-0 all-time at new Kessler Stadium.
Jared Cooper scored two touchdowns for Bucknell, which matched its season high with 19 points. The freshman opened the scoring at the second quarter's 14:36 mark after taking a slant pass from Logan Bitikofer, finding a seam and racing 74 yards to the end zone. He later gave the Bison a 19-16 advantage at the fourth quarter's 12:33 mark on a 13-yard rush; that five-play, 30-yard scoring drive was set up by Bryan Marine's dynamic 23-yard punt return.
Gerrit Van Itallie was a force for Bucknell, posting a career-best eight tackles (seven solo), three tackles for a loss of 14 yards, one sack for a loss of nine yards, two blocked punts and one forced fumble. He blocked a punt in the end zone, and recovered the ball for a touchdown, to cut the Hawks' edge to 16-13 with 7:22 left to play in the third quarter. It was Bucknell's first punt return for a touchdown since the first game of the 2014 campaign.
TAKE A BOW, GERRIT VAN ITALLIE!
— Bucknell Football (@Bucknell_FB) October 13, 2018
Van Itallie blocks a punt and comes up with the ball in the end zone for a #BandOfBison touchdown! #rayBucknell pic.twitter.com/BaDUM0cQMS
After Cooper's go-ahead touchdown, the Bison forced Monmouth to go three and out on its next possession. While Bucknell took over at its own 41-yard line following a short punt, Evan Powell stepped in front of a Bitikofer pass at the Hawk 36 and returned it 27 yards to the Bison 37. That play was the turning point of the contest; Monmouth capitalized on the turnover, with Kenji Bahar orchestrating an eight-play scoring drive capped by a one-yard touchdown throw to Gene Scott with 5:40 on the clock.
On the first play of the Hawks' next possession, Juwon Farri broke free for a 79-yard touchdown rush to extend their edge to 29-19 (due to a failed extra point). They completed the scoring with 1:17 left to play on a 12-yard Devell Jones touchdown rush that capped a three-play, 55-yard drive highlighted by a 42-yard Farri carry.
At halftime, Monmouth held a slim 9-6 lead. All of the first half's scoring occurred in the first five minutes of the second quarter. After Cooper's 74-yard scamper, Justin Terry blocked Bucknell's point-after attempt and returned the ball 98 yards to the end zone to get two points on the board for his team. The Hawks carried the momentum from Terry's clutch play into their next drive; on the first play, Bahar hit Reggie White Jr. in stride for a 35-yard gain to the Bucknell 35. Jones ultimately completed that six-play, 70-yard scoring drive with a one-yard touchdown rush at the 11:23 mark.
Monmouth opened the second half with a seven-play, 70-yard scoring drive; at the third quarter's 12:19 mark, Bahar found White Jr. for a 23-yard touchdown to make it a 16-6 game. Van Itallie and Cooper's touchdowns then flipped the score to 19-16 in Bucknell's favor.
HE WILL GO ALL THE WAY! ✈️💨
— Bucknell Football (@Bucknell_FB) October 13, 2018
Jared Cooper catches a screen pass from Logan Bitikofer and races 74 yards for a #BandOfBison touchdown! #rayBucknell pic.twitter.com/bffsSnAeBt
The Hawks held advantages in total offense (469-266), first downs (20-12) and time of possession (33:05-26:55). Bahar completed 23 of 37 passes for 274 yards and two touchdowns, with White Jr. catching seven of them for 93 yards and one touchdown. Farri ran for 183 yards and one touchdown on the ground.
For the Bison, Bitikofer threw for 189 yards and one touchdown while Cooper posted team highs in rushing yards (87) and receiving yards (84). His number of receiving yards represents a new career-best total.
The Bucknell defense forced three fumbles, recovering two, and totaled six tackles for a loss of 37 yards and three sacks for a loss of 27 yards. Brandon Benson, Matt Robinson and Monmouth's Kyle Gregory tied for the game high with nine tackles apiece. Benson also forced a fumble in the end zone that kept the Hawks from extending their lead to 16-6 with 6:31 left to play in the first half.
Van Itallie's touchdown was set up by a sack by Sam Chitty that pushed the Hawks back nine yards to their own three-yard line while Marine picked off a pass in the third quarter; he became the 12th Bison to reach the double digits in career interceptions on its strength.
The Bison next host Lafayette for their Homecoming game on Saturday, Oct. 20 at 12 p.m.
THERE IT IS! Bryan Marine with the 10th interception of his career!
— Bucknell Football (@Bucknell_FB) October 13, 2018
He's one of only 12 Bison to reach the double digits in picks. #BandOfBison #rayBucknell pic.twitter.com/aqVGu7JiZI
Team Stats
BUCKNELL 6, MU 0
BUCKNELL - Cooper, Jared 74 yd pass from Bitikofer, L. (Torres, Ethan kickblocked) 8 plays, 91 yards, TOP 3:39
BUCKNELL 6, MU 2
MU - Terry, Justin 98 yd PAT return
BUCKNELL 6, MU 9
MU - Jones, Devell 1 yd run (Mosquera, Matt kick), 6 plays, 70 yards, TOP 3:00
BUCKNELL 6, MU 16
MU - White Jr, R. 23 yd pass from Bahar, Kenji (Mosquera, Matt kick) 7 plays, 70 yards, TOP 2:41
BUCKNELL 13, MU 16
BUCKNELL - Van Itallie, G. 0 yd blocked punt return (Chambers, Jack kick)
BUCKNELL 19, MU 16
BUCKNELL - Cooper, Jared 13 yd run (Chambers, Jack kickfailed), 5 plays, 30 yards, TOP 1:53
BUCKNELL 19, MU 23
MU - Scott, Gene 1 yd pass from Bahar, Kenji (Mosquera, Matt kick) 8 plays, 37 yards, TOP 3:27
BUCKNELL 19, MU 29
MU - Farri, Juwon 79 yd run (Team rushfumbled), 1 plays, 79 yards, TOP 0:15
BUCKNELL 19, MU 36
MU - Jones, Devell 12 yd run (Mosquera, Matt kick), 3 plays, 55 yards, TOP 1:06
