Saturday, November 17
Lewisburg, Pa.
1:30 p.m.
Bucknell University
1-10 , 1-5
14
vs
17
Fordham
2-9 , 2-4
1st
2nd
3rd
4th
F
Fordham
7
7
3
0
17
Bucknell
0
7
7
0
14
Photo by: Marc Hagemeier
Fordham Outlasts Bucknell Football, 17-14
11/17/2018 4:42:00 PM | Football
LEWISBURG, Pa. – Fordham outlasted the Bucknell football team, 17-14, in the 2018 finale for both teams on Saturday at Christy Mathewson-Memorial Stadium.
On a day the Bison honored their 17-man senior class in a stadium framed on all sides by snow from a Thursday storm that pushed back the game's start time from noon to 1:30 p.m., the Rams used a trio of big plays to emerge victorious.Â
At halftime, the Rams held a 14-7 lead even though they trailed the Bison, 151-84, in total offense. Fordham was bolstered by two clutch plays by Antonio Jackson, including a 70-yard pick 6 that came with just 12 seconds left before the break.
The Rams jumped out to a 7-0 lead at the first quarter's 9:40 mark after Jackson blocked a 40-yard field goal attempt and returned the ball 48 yards to the Bucknell 12. Two plays later, Tyriek Hopkins capped the abbreviated drive with a one-yard touchdown rush.
The Bison evened the score with 7:59 on the clock in the second quarter. John Chiarolanzio, who took over at quarterback for Tarrin Earle, orchestrated a nine-play, 53-yard scoring drive, highlighted by Brandon Sanders's 18-yard reception that brought Bucknell to Fordham's eight-yard line. Sanders broke a tackle to pick up that gain, which set up Andrew Owers's career-best fourth touchdown catch of the season. Earle, who came back in at quarterback with the Bison at the Rams' six-yard line, found Owers with a jump pass reminiscent of Tim Tebow.
The Bison got the ball back with 1:40 remaining in the second half and marched from their 15 to Fordham's 43 in nine plays. Seven plays in, Joe Fex kept the drive alive by scampering for a career-long 19-yard gain to the Bucknell 46 on a 3rd and 16. But Jackson ultimately picked off a Chiarolanzio pass at the Fordham 30 and raced all the way to the end zone.
Less than two minutes into the third quarter, the Rams extended their lead to 17-7, taking advantage of a Jesse Bramble interception at the Bison 21. The Bucknell defense held fast, with Joe Lauro and Drew Newcomb both breaking up passes, to force Fordham to settle for a 28-yard field goal.
The Bison trimmed the Rams' advantage to a field goal at the third quarter's 6:52 mark. Rick Mottram set up Fex's first career touchdown, recovering his second fumble in Bucknell's past two games at Fordham's 17-yard line. On a 3rd and 4, Dominic Lyles appeared to catch a 12-yard touchdown pass from Chiarolanzio; he was ultimately ruled down at the two-yard line after a lengthy review, and Fex punched the ball into the end zone two plays later to make it a 17-14 game.
Fordham had an opportunity to extend its lead after Noah Fitzgerald intercepted a pass at his team's 49-yard line with two minutes left in the third frame. But the Bison defense forced the Rams to three and out; Jimmy Sheehan set the tone for that stand by sacking Tim DeMorat for a loss of 12 yards on the first play.
Andrew Mevis's third-quarter field goal proved to be the difference in the game, as Fordham held Bucknell scoreless in the fourth quarter.
The Bison held advantages in total offense (300-163), first downs (20-13) and time of possession (31:02-28:58). Chiarolanzio completed 15 of 31 passes for 187 yards while Earle went 7 for 11 for 45 yards and one touchdown.
Sanders caught seven passes for 90 yards, seven shy of the career high he set at Holy Cross. Stefone Moore-Green was next, recording a career-best 43 yards on five receptions. Fex, who started at running back in the place of an injured Jared Cooper, rushed for a career-high 56 yards and one touchdown on 22 carries.
Mottram was a force for Bucknell defensively, posting 14 tackles (10 solo), 3.5 tackles for a loss, two sacks and his fumble recovery. His 14 tackles were the most posted by a Bison in 2018, and his number of tackles for a loss and sacks both matched Bucknell's season-high total.
In total, the Bison defense registered seven tackles for a loss of 37 yards and five sacks for a loss of 34 yards. Behind Mottram, Bryan Marine and Sam Chitty made seven tackles while Sheehan, Roger Mellado and Gerrit Van Itallie posted sacks.
All-American punter Alex Pechin had an impressive game, averaging 50.8 yards on five punts. His punting average was 0.2 shy of his career high, set at Villanova, and was bolstered by a 70-yard bomb in the second quarter. He now owns the third- (71, 2018), fifth- (70, 2018), eighth- (67, 2017) and 11th- (64, 2017) longest punts in school history. He ultimately finished the year with a 44.5 punting average, good for second in school history behind his own school record of 45.1 (2017).
Marine finished the year with 296 punt return yards, good for third in school history. His total of 603 kickoff return yards slotted him seventh; he is one of just seven Bison to record at least 600 in a single campaign.
For Fordham, DeMorat completed 13 of 26 passes for 113 yards. Corey Caddle registered 44 receiving yards while Hopkins added 34 yards on the ground. Three Rams reached the double figures in tackles.
With Saturday's starts by Fex and freshman offensive lineman Michael Killiri, a total of 42 different Bison started a game in 2018. That figure represents over 50 percent of the team's 83-man roster; a total of 21 Bison earned their first career start this season, including six freshmen: Grayson Cherubino, Cooper, Earle, Sterling Deary, Killiri and Sanders.
Fordham improved to 2-9 (2-4 Patriot League) while Bucknell fell to 1-10 (1-5 Patriot League). The Bison last endured a 1-10 season, and a winless mark at Christy Mathewson-Memorial Stadium, in 2010.
On a day the Bison honored their 17-man senior class in a stadium framed on all sides by snow from a Thursday storm that pushed back the game's start time from noon to 1:30 p.m., the Rams used a trio of big plays to emerge victorious.Â
At halftime, the Rams held a 14-7 lead even though they trailed the Bison, 151-84, in total offense. Fordham was bolstered by two clutch plays by Antonio Jackson, including a 70-yard pick 6 that came with just 12 seconds left before the break.
The Rams jumped out to a 7-0 lead at the first quarter's 9:40 mark after Jackson blocked a 40-yard field goal attempt and returned the ball 48 yards to the Bucknell 12. Two plays later, Tyriek Hopkins capped the abbreviated drive with a one-yard touchdown rush.
The Bison evened the score with 7:59 on the clock in the second quarter. John Chiarolanzio, who took over at quarterback for Tarrin Earle, orchestrated a nine-play, 53-yard scoring drive, highlighted by Brandon Sanders's 18-yard reception that brought Bucknell to Fordham's eight-yard line. Sanders broke a tackle to pick up that gain, which set up Andrew Owers's career-best fourth touchdown catch of the season. Earle, who came back in at quarterback with the Bison at the Rams' six-yard line, found Owers with a jump pass reminiscent of Tim Tebow.
The Bison got the ball back with 1:40 remaining in the second half and marched from their 15 to Fordham's 43 in nine plays. Seven plays in, Joe Fex kept the drive alive by scampering for a career-long 19-yard gain to the Bucknell 46 on a 3rd and 16. But Jackson ultimately picked off a Chiarolanzio pass at the Fordham 30 and raced all the way to the end zone.
Less than two minutes into the third quarter, the Rams extended their lead to 17-7, taking advantage of a Jesse Bramble interception at the Bison 21. The Bucknell defense held fast, with Joe Lauro and Drew Newcomb both breaking up passes, to force Fordham to settle for a 28-yard field goal.
The Bison trimmed the Rams' advantage to a field goal at the third quarter's 6:52 mark. Rick Mottram set up Fex's first career touchdown, recovering his second fumble in Bucknell's past two games at Fordham's 17-yard line. On a 3rd and 4, Dominic Lyles appeared to catch a 12-yard touchdown pass from Chiarolanzio; he was ultimately ruled down at the two-yard line after a lengthy review, and Fex punched the ball into the end zone two plays later to make it a 17-14 game.
Fordham had an opportunity to extend its lead after Noah Fitzgerald intercepted a pass at his team's 49-yard line with two minutes left in the third frame. But the Bison defense forced the Rams to three and out; Jimmy Sheehan set the tone for that stand by sacking Tim DeMorat for a loss of 12 yards on the first play.
Andrew Mevis's third-quarter field goal proved to be the difference in the game, as Fordham held Bucknell scoreless in the fourth quarter.
The Bison held advantages in total offense (300-163), first downs (20-13) and time of possession (31:02-28:58). Chiarolanzio completed 15 of 31 passes for 187 yards while Earle went 7 for 11 for 45 yards and one touchdown.
Sanders caught seven passes for 90 yards, seven shy of the career high he set at Holy Cross. Stefone Moore-Green was next, recording a career-best 43 yards on five receptions. Fex, who started at running back in the place of an injured Jared Cooper, rushed for a career-high 56 yards and one touchdown on 22 carries.
Mottram was a force for Bucknell defensively, posting 14 tackles (10 solo), 3.5 tackles for a loss, two sacks and his fumble recovery. His 14 tackles were the most posted by a Bison in 2018, and his number of tackles for a loss and sacks both matched Bucknell's season-high total.
In total, the Bison defense registered seven tackles for a loss of 37 yards and five sacks for a loss of 34 yards. Behind Mottram, Bryan Marine and Sam Chitty made seven tackles while Sheehan, Roger Mellado and Gerrit Van Itallie posted sacks.
All-American punter Alex Pechin had an impressive game, averaging 50.8 yards on five punts. His punting average was 0.2 shy of his career high, set at Villanova, and was bolstered by a 70-yard bomb in the second quarter. He now owns the third- (71, 2018), fifth- (70, 2018), eighth- (67, 2017) and 11th- (64, 2017) longest punts in school history. He ultimately finished the year with a 44.5 punting average, good for second in school history behind his own school record of 45.1 (2017).
Marine finished the year with 296 punt return yards, good for third in school history. His total of 603 kickoff return yards slotted him seventh; he is one of just seven Bison to record at least 600 in a single campaign.
For Fordham, DeMorat completed 13 of 26 passes for 113 yards. Corey Caddle registered 44 receiving yards while Hopkins added 34 yards on the ground. Three Rams reached the double figures in tackles.
With Saturday's starts by Fex and freshman offensive lineman Michael Killiri, a total of 42 different Bison started a game in 2018. That figure represents over 50 percent of the team's 83-man roster; a total of 21 Bison earned their first career start this season, including six freshmen: Grayson Cherubino, Cooper, Earle, Sterling Deary, Killiri and Sanders.
Fordham improved to 2-9 (2-4 Patriot League) while Bucknell fell to 1-10 (1-5 Patriot League). The Bison last endured a 1-10 season, and a winless mark at Christy Mathewson-Memorial Stadium, in 2010.
Team Stats
FORDHAM
BUCKNELL
Total Yards
163
300
Pass Yards
113
232
Rushing Yards
50
68
Penalty Yards
35
45
1st Downs
13
20
3rd Downs
3
7
4th Downs
2
1
TOP
28:58
31:02
1st Quarter
FORDHAM 7, BUCKNELL 0
FORDHAM - Hopkins, Tyriek 1 yd run (Mevis, Andrew kick), 2 plays, 60 yards, TOP 0:36
2nd Quarter
FORDHAM 7, BUCKNELL 7
BUCKNELL - Owers, Andrew 6 yd pass from Earle, Tarrin (Chambers, Jack kick) 9 plays, 53 yards, TOP 3:52
FORDHAM 14, BUCKNELL 7
FORDHAM - Jackson, Antoni 70 yd interception (Mevis, Andrew kick)
3rd Quarter
FORDHAM 17, BUCKNELL 7
FORDHAM - Mevis, Andrew 28 yd field goal 5 plays, 10 yards, TOP 0:41
FORDHAM 17, BUCKNELL 14
BUCKNELL - Fex, Joe 2 yd run (Torres, Ethan kick), 5 plays, 17 yards, TOP 1:36
Game Leaders
Passing Leaders
CMP
15
TD
0
YDS
187
INT
3
CMP
7
TD
1
YDS
45
INT
0
Players Mentioned
DE
/ FootballQB
/ Football
LB
/ Football
RB
/ Football
CB
/ FootballQB
/ Football
OL
/ Football
WR
/ Football
CB
/ Football
DE
/ Football
RB
/ Football
LB
/ Football
S
/ Football
TE/FB
/ Football
P/K
/ Football
WR
/ Football
DL
/ Football
S
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