Saturday, October 6
Lewisburg, Pa.
12 p.m.
Bucknell University
1-5 , 1-1
3
vs
27
#20/21 Colgate
5-0 , 3-0
1st
2nd
3rd
4th
F
Colgate
0
17
3
7
27
Bucknell
0
0
3
0
3
Photo by: Marc Hagemeier
Bucknell Football Dropped by No. 20/21 Colgate
10/6/2018 3:04:00 PM | Football
LEWISBURG, Pa. – The Bucknell football team fell to No. 20/21 Colgate, 27-3, on Saturday afternoon at Christy Mathewson-Memorial Stadium.
While the Bison (1-5, 1-1 Patriot League) held the unbeaten Raiders (5-0, 3-0 Patriot League) scoreless through the first quarter, they couldn't secure their first 2-0 start to Patriot League play since 2014. Colgate, which blanked its past two opponents by a combined margin of 68-0, scored two touchdowns in the second quarter's final 10 minutes to break open what had been a defensive battle.
The Bison got on the board at the third quarter's 8:42 mark, snapping the Raiders' shutout streak at 12 quarters. Ethan Torres's 25-yard field goal was set up by a Brandon Benson interception at the Colgate 33, the first of his collegiate career. After Bryan Marine tipped a Grant Breneman pass, Benson made a diving play to catch the ball before it touched the ground.
On a 3rd and 11, Logan Bitikofer found Alan Butler for a 24-yard gain to set up Bucknell at the Raiders' 10-yard line. A penalty later gave the Bison a first down at the five-yard line, negating a Nick Wheeler sack for a loss of seven yards that would have brought up 4th and long. Colgate's stalwart defense ultimately held fast, and Bucknell settled for Torres's third field goal in two games.Â
Benson's interception was one of three turnovers the Bison defense forced over the course of the contest. Early in the first quarter, Joe Lauro became the second player to pick off a Breneman pass in 2018, fighting off Nick Diaco to stall a promising Colgate drive deep in Bison territory. During the second frame, Lauro came up with a fumble forced by Marine at Bucknell's two-yard line; Marine managed to knock the ball away from Breneman as he was diving towards the end zone, and Lauro dove on the ball before Breneman could recover it.
At halftime, the Raiders held a 246-76 advantage in total offense, bolstered by a second quarter that saw them rack up 174 yards. Colgate opened the scoring at the second quarter's 14:07 mark on a Chris Puzzi field goal; Puzzi's 37 yarder was set up by a dynamic 60-yard punt return by Abu Daramy-Swaray in the dying minutes of the first quarter.
On the Raiders' next possession following Lauro's clutch fumble recovery, Breneman orchestrated a scoring drive that spanned 52 seconds. After Breneman completed three-straight passes for 35 yards, James Holland ran three yards into the end zone to make it a 10-0 game with 9:11 left in the half. As before, Daramy-Swaray set up the scoring drive with a dynamic punt return, this one of 22 yards to the Bison 38.
Colgate extended its advantage to 17-0 at the second quarter's 4:17 mark when Breneman found Owen Rockett wide open in the secondary. Rockett then raced down the field for an 86-yard touchdown, tied for the second-longest passing play in Raider history. Â
Colgate added a 42-yard Puzzi field goal at the third quarter's 2:17 mark and a one-yard Holland touchdown rush that capped a 14-play, 93-yard march with 8:58 remaining in regulation to bring the final score to 27-3.
The Raiders held advantages in total offense (448-199), first downs (22-12) and time of possession (34:04-25:56). They have allowed an average of just 4.6 points per game in 2018, a figure which leads the FCS.Â
For Bucknell, Bitikofer finished with 164 yards on 17 for 37 passing while Butler paced the Bison with 70 receiving yards. Jared Cooper added 61 yards on the ground, bolstered by a 31-yard carry in the third quarter.
Defensively, Marine made a game-best 10 tackles, forced a fumble and broke up two passes. Brandon Benson and Matt Robinson added nine tackles apiece while Roger Mellado and Nnamdi Unachukwu each posted 1.5 sacks. Lauro and Benson picked off passes, with Lauro also recovering a fumble. Preseason All-American Alex Pechin averaged 49.0 yards on nine punts, with seven sailing for at least 50 yards.
For Colgate, Breneman completed 16 of 28 passes for 254 yards. Rocket led all players with 132 receiving yards while Holland (64) and Malik Twyman (50) each rushed for at least 50 yards.Daramy-Swaray totaled an impressive 104 yards on five punt returns. The Raider defense posted three sacks for a loss of 14 yards and 11 tackles for a loss of 34 yards.
The Bison next close non-conference action at Monmouth on Saturday, Oct. 13. The Bison and Hawks, who met for the first time a year ago at Christy Mathewson-Memorial Stadium, will square off at 1 p.m.
While the Bison (1-5, 1-1 Patriot League) held the unbeaten Raiders (5-0, 3-0 Patriot League) scoreless through the first quarter, they couldn't secure their first 2-0 start to Patriot League play since 2014. Colgate, which blanked its past two opponents by a combined margin of 68-0, scored two touchdowns in the second quarter's final 10 minutes to break open what had been a defensive battle.
The Bison got on the board at the third quarter's 8:42 mark, snapping the Raiders' shutout streak at 12 quarters. Ethan Torres's 25-yard field goal was set up by a Brandon Benson interception at the Colgate 33, the first of his collegiate career. After Bryan Marine tipped a Grant Breneman pass, Benson made a diving play to catch the ball before it touched the ground.
On a 3rd and 11, Logan Bitikofer found Alan Butler for a 24-yard gain to set up Bucknell at the Raiders' 10-yard line. A penalty later gave the Bison a first down at the five-yard line, negating a Nick Wheeler sack for a loss of seven yards that would have brought up 4th and long. Colgate's stalwart defense ultimately held fast, and Bucknell settled for Torres's third field goal in two games.Â
Benson's interception was one of three turnovers the Bison defense forced over the course of the contest. Early in the first quarter, Joe Lauro became the second player to pick off a Breneman pass in 2018, fighting off Nick Diaco to stall a promising Colgate drive deep in Bison territory. During the second frame, Lauro came up with a fumble forced by Marine at Bucknell's two-yard line; Marine managed to knock the ball away from Breneman as he was diving towards the end zone, and Lauro dove on the ball before Breneman could recover it.
Oh my, Brandon Benson. 😱
— Bucknell Football (@Bucknell_FB) October 6, 2018
Bryan Marine tips a pass, and Benson dives to pick it off! #BandOfBison #rayBucknell pic.twitter.com/bnC8WGFA5N
At halftime, the Raiders held a 246-76 advantage in total offense, bolstered by a second quarter that saw them rack up 174 yards. Colgate opened the scoring at the second quarter's 14:07 mark on a Chris Puzzi field goal; Puzzi's 37 yarder was set up by a dynamic 60-yard punt return by Abu Daramy-Swaray in the dying minutes of the first quarter.
On the Raiders' next possession following Lauro's clutch fumble recovery, Breneman orchestrated a scoring drive that spanned 52 seconds. After Breneman completed three-straight passes for 35 yards, James Holland ran three yards into the end zone to make it a 10-0 game with 9:11 left in the half. As before, Daramy-Swaray set up the scoring drive with a dynamic punt return, this one of 22 yards to the Bison 38.
Colgate extended its advantage to 17-0 at the second quarter's 4:17 mark when Breneman found Owen Rockett wide open in the secondary. Rockett then raced down the field for an 86-yard touchdown, tied for the second-longest passing play in Raider history. Â
Colgate added a 42-yard Puzzi field goal at the third quarter's 2:17 mark and a one-yard Holland touchdown rush that capped a 14-play, 93-yard march with 8:58 remaining in regulation to bring the final score to 27-3.
The Raiders held advantages in total offense (448-199), first downs (22-12) and time of possession (34:04-25:56). They have allowed an average of just 4.6 points per game in 2018, a figure which leads the FCS.Â
For Bucknell, Bitikofer finished with 164 yards on 17 for 37 passing while Butler paced the Bison with 70 receiving yards. Jared Cooper added 61 yards on the ground, bolstered by a 31-yard carry in the third quarter.
Defensively, Marine made a game-best 10 tackles, forced a fumble and broke up two passes. Brandon Benson and Matt Robinson added nine tackles apiece while Roger Mellado and Nnamdi Unachukwu each posted 1.5 sacks. Lauro and Benson picked off passes, with Lauro also recovering a fumble. Preseason All-American Alex Pechin averaged 49.0 yards on nine punts, with seven sailing for at least 50 yards.
For Colgate, Breneman completed 16 of 28 passes for 254 yards. Rocket led all players with 132 receiving yards while Holland (64) and Malik Twyman (50) each rushed for at least 50 yards.Daramy-Swaray totaled an impressive 104 yards on five punt returns. The Raider defense posted three sacks for a loss of 14 yards and 11 tackles for a loss of 34 yards.
The Bison next close non-conference action at Monmouth on Saturday, Oct. 13. The Bison and Hawks, who met for the first time a year ago at Christy Mathewson-Memorial Stadium, will square off at 1 p.m.
Team Stats
COLGATE
BUCKNELL
Total Yards
448
199
Pass Yards
254
164
Rushing Yards
194
35
Penalty Yards
77
23
1st Downs
22
12
3rd Downs
4
3
4th Downs
1
1
TOP
34:04
25:56
2nd Quarter
COLGATE 3, BUCKNELL 0
COLGATE - Puzzi, Chris 37 yd field goal 4 plays, 1 yards, TOP 1:17
COLGATE 10, BUCKNELL 0
COLGATE - Holland, James 3 yd run (Puzzi, Chris kick), 4 plays, 38 yards, TOP 0:52
COLGATE 17, BUCKNELL 0
COLGATE - Rockett, Owen 86 yd pass from Breneman, Grant (Puzzi, Chris kick) 1 plays, 86 yards, TOP 0:13
3rd Quarter
COLGATE 17, BUCKNELL 3
BUCKNELL - Torres, Ethan 25 yd field goal 9 plays, 25 yards, TOP 2:53
COLGATE 20, BUCKNELL 3
COLGATE - Puzzi, Chris 42 yd field goal 12 plays, 41 yards, TOP 6:25
4th Quarter
COLGATE 27, BUCKNELL 3
COLGATE - Holland, James 1 yd run (Puzzi, Chris kick), 14 plays, 93 yards, TOP 6:02
Game Leaders
CMP
17
TD
0
YDS
164
INT
1
Players Mentioned
S
/ FootballQB
/ Football
WR
/ Football
RB
/ Football
CB
/ Football
DE
/ Football
P/K
/ Football
LB
/ Football
P/K
/ Football
DE
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