Bucknell University
1-8 , 1-3
Lehigh
2-7 , 1-3
Lehigh Races Past Bucknell Football Behind Strong Second Half
11/3/2018 3:49:00 PM | Football
The Mountain Hawks (2-7, 1-3 Patriot League) raced past the Bison (1-8, 1-3 Patriot League) behind multiple lengthy scoring plays, including two touchdown throws by Brad Mayes to Jorge Portorreal that covered at least 55 yards. Mayes finished the game with 335 yards on 17 for 28 passing, connecting with Portorreal nine times for 216 of them.
Lehigh, which led by a touchdown at halftime, broke open the game in the second half. After the teams traded field goals in the early minutes of the third quarter, the Mountain Hawks scored three unanswered touchdowns, beginning with a 72-yard bomb by Mayes to Portorreal at the third quarter's 4:07 mark; that touchdown came just 16 seconds after Ethan Torres booted a career-long 35-yard field goal to trim Bucknell's deficit to 24-17.
For the Bison, freshman Tarrin Earle looked strong in his first career start at quarterback, completing 17 of 40 passes for 174 yards and two touchdowns. Earle, who became the 40th different Bucknell player to earn a start this season, also ran for 35 yards on the ground.
Lehigh's defense was impressive in the second half, holding the Bison to 68 yards, five first downs and a single field goal. Defensive back Marquis Wilson capped the game's scoring with 6:03 remaining in regulation, picking off a pass and returning it 65 yards for a touchdown.
The Mountain Hawks took a 7-0 lead at the first quarter's 8:59 mark on a 27-yard touchdown rush by Dom Bragalone, the school-record 43rd of his career. Bragalone's score capped a four-play, 65-yard drive that began when Jon Seighman recovered a fumble during a Bison punt return at his team's 35. Then, Mayes found Devon Bibbens for 35- and eight-yard gains on back-to-back plays to set up Bragalone's score.
Bucknell drove from its 40 to Lehigh's 15 on its next possession but came away with nothing. After Earle connected with Brandon Sanders for a 21-yard gain to the Mountain Hawk 23, the Lehigh defense held fast; after 4th and 2 was brought up, the Bison went for a 31-yard field goal, which sailed wide right.
Bucknell got on the board at the second quarter's 7:06 mark when Earle connected with Jared Cooper for a nine-yard touchdown. The Bison covered 34 yards in four plays, taking advantage of a short Mountain Hawk punt and a holding penalty; the extra point was blocked, making it a 7-6 game in Lehigh's favor.
Mayes then orchestrated a 10-play, 80-yard scoring drive to put the Mountain Hawks up by a 14-6 margin. Mayes threw four passes of at least 10 yards during that drive, which he capped with a one-yard quarterback keeper at the 3:45 mark.
After a Bucknell drive stalled at the Lehigh 45, the Mountain Hawks took over at their 19 following a punt. Two plays later, they were in the end zone. First, Bragalone broke free for a 25-yard gain; then, Mayes found Portorreal behind the defense for a 56-yard touchdown to extend Lehigh's advantage to 21-6 with 49 seconds left in the half.
But the Bison responded, cutting the Mountain Hawks' lead back down to a touchdown. After Bryan Marine returned the resulting kickoff 44 yards to the Lehigh 34, Alan Butler made a diving play to catch a pass on Lehigh's one-yard line. Multiple timeouts later, Earle found Butler for a two-yard touchdown on 3rd and goal with 14 seconds on the clock. Bucknell went for the two-point conversion, and Cooper scampered past three Mountain Hawks to bring the score to 21-14. It was the first time the Bison rushed for a two-point conversion since October 2015.
Tarrin Earle ▶️Alan Butler ▶️ TOUCHDOWN! #BandOfBison #rayBucknell pic.twitter.com/Q8vRYDsYiT
— Bucknell Football (@Bucknell_FB) November 3, 2018
At halftime, Earle owned 148 yards and two touchdowns on 13 of 20 passing as well as 23 yards on the ground. Sanders was his favorite target, totaling 50 yards on three receptions. Lehigh held slimmer leads in total offense (276-187) and first downs (11-10) at halftime, with Bragalone totaling 83 of his 177 rushing yards in that frame.
Defensively, Bucknell forced two turnovers; Sterling Deary picked off a pass while Sam Chitty recovered a fumble forced by Marine in the third quarter. Chitty's fumble recovery, which came at midfield, helped set up Torres's field goal.
Joe Lauro led all players with 11 tackles (nine solo) while Gerrit Van Itallie was second among Bison, matching his career high with eight (seven solo). A team-best two of Van Itallie's tackles were for a loss. Two Mountain Hawks posted 10 tackles while Zac Troxell recorded the game's lone sack.
Sanders finished with 80 yards on six catches while Marine totaled a career-high 118 yards on four kickoff returns. Cooper ran for a team-best 44 yards on the ground and added 21 receiving yards.
Overall, the Mountain Hawks led in first downs (20-15) and total offense (550-255). The Bison held a 31:32 to 28:28 advantage in time of possession.
The Bison next travel to Georgetown for their final road game of the 2018 campaign on Saturday, Nov. 10 at 12:30 p.m.
Tarrin Earle finds fellow freshman Jared Cooper for a nine-yard touchdown. It's the first of his collegiate career! #BandOfBison #rayBucknell pic.twitter.com/N1wD0tBLO9
— Bucknell Football (@Bucknell_FB) November 3, 2018
😱😱😱😱
— Bucknell Football (@Bucknell_FB) November 3, 2018
Tarrin Earle finds Alan Butler for a 33-yard gain, and the #BandOfBison is inches from the end zone! #rayBucknell pic.twitter.com/cPQUhehiHI
Team Stats
BUCKNELL 0, LEHIGH 7
LEHIGH - Bragalone, Dom 27 yd run (Mish, Ed kick), 4 plays, 65 yards, TOP 1:17
BUCKNELL 6, LEHIGH 7
BUCKNELL - Cooper, Jared 9 yd pass from Earle, Tarrin (Torres, Ethan kickblocked) 4 plays, 34 yards, TOP 1:54
BUCKNELL 6, LEHIGH 14
LEHIGH - Mayes, Brad 1 yd run (Mish, Ed kick), 10 plays, 80 yards, TOP 3:17
BUCKNELL 6, LEHIGH 21
LEHIGH - Portorreal, J. 56 yd pass from Mayes, Brad (Mish, Ed kick) 2 plays, 81 yards, TOP 0:14
BUCKNELL 14, LEHIGH 21
BUCKNELL - Butler, Alan 2 yd pass from Earle, Tarrin (Cooper, Jared rush) 4 plays, 34 yards, TOP 0:26
BUCKNELL 14, LEHIGH 24
LEHIGH - Mish, Ed 27 yd field goal 9 plays, 70 yards, TOP 3:22
BUCKNELL 17, LEHIGH 24
BUCKNELL - Torres, Ethan 35 yd field goal 6 plays, 31 yards, TOP 2:39
BUCKNELL 17, LEHIGH 31
LEHIGH - Portorreal, J. 72 yd pass from Mayes, Brad (Mish, Ed kick) 1 plays, 72 yards, TOP 0:12
BUCKNELL 17, LEHIGH 38
LEHIGH - Allen, Rashawn 17 yd run (Mish, Ed kick), 4 plays, 61 yards, TOP 1:34
BUCKNELL 17, LEHIGH 45
LEHIGH - Wilson, Marquis 65 yd interception (Mish, Ed kick)
