Saturday, September 15
Philadelphia, Pa.
3 p.m.
Bucknell University
0-3
17
at
34
Penn
1-0
1st
2nd
3rd
4th
F
Bucknell
3
7
7
0
17
Penn
17
10
0
7
34
Photo by: Jon Lambert
Bucknell Football Downed at Penn, 34-17
9/15/2018 7:52:00 PM | Football
PHILADELPHIA – The Bucknell football team battled back from a 24-point deficit to draw as close as 10, but Penn held on for a 34-17 victory in its season opener on Saturday afternoon at historic Franklin Field.
While the Bison scored two unanswered touchdowns to make it a two-possession game early in the third quarter, the Quakers' lead proved insurmountable. Logan Bitikofer, who took over at quarterback halfway through the second frame, energized Bucknell, completing 19 of 35 passes for two touchdowns and 150 yards. Â
After the teams combined for 37 points on four touchdowns and three field goals in an explosive first half, each team scored one touchdown apiece during the second half. Penn completed the scoring at the 10:21 mark of the fourth quarter on an 11-yard touchdown catch by Kolton Huber; the Quakers held the Bison off the scoreboard the rest of the way, forcing three three and outs and intercepting a pass with 22 seconds remaining in regulation to ice the game.
For Bucknell, Bryan Marine picked off two passes, returning them a combined 34 yards. Also the primary kickoff and punt return man, he finished with a game- and career-high total of 156 all-purpose yards. Jared Cooper also eclipsed 100 all-purpose yards, finishing with 109 on team-best totals in rushing (58) and receiving (51) yards.
In the first five minutes of the game, Penn raced out to a 17-0 lead by taking advantage of two Bison turnovers and a blocked punt. After Jacob Martin picked off John Chiarolanzio's first pass, the Quakers took over at the Bucknell 36; Karekin Brooks ultimately capped that abbreviated drive with a five-yard touchdown rush.
On the resulting kickoff, Justin Morrison recovered a fumble at the Bison 27 to again give Penn a short field to work with. Bucknell's defense held fast, with Joe Lauro tying up Abe Willows for a loss of five yards and Marine coming up with a critical pass breakup to force the Quakers to settle for a 49-yard field goal.
After the Bison went three and out on their next possession, Patrick McGettigan blocked a punt and James McCarthy came up with the ball to set up the Penn offense on Bucknell's seven-yard line. One play later, at the 10:12 mark, Brooks broke free for his second touchdown run.
A 34-yard field goal by Jack Chambers got the Bison on the board with 4:58 on the clock in the first quarter. But, by the 11:59 mark of the second quarter, the Quakers had extended their lead to 27-3 thanks to a 48-yard field goal and an acrobatic, 33-yard touchdown catch by Tyler Herrick.
Bucknell found the end zone for the first time with 3:37 remaining in the first half. After Sterling Deary forced a fumble, and Chanse Riley recovered it at the Penn 32, Bitikofer capped the abbreviated drive with an 11-yard touchdown pass to Alan Butler. It was Butler's first touchdown catch of the season and third of his career.
The Bison had an opportunity to cut further into their deficit in the final minutes of the frame, marching to the Quaker's 16-yard line on a drive highlighted by a 25-yard Cooper rush. But Bitikofer was sacked for a loss of six yards, and back-to-back incomplete passes forced Bucknell to try for a 36-yard field goal. Chambers's bid went wide left, and Penn went to the locker room up, 27-10.
The Bison scored the third quarter's lone touchdown two minutes into the frame. Marine set up the score by intercepting his first pass of the game and returning it 26 yards to the Penn 14. Two plays later, Bitikofer found Andrew Owers for an 11-yard touchdown, his first score since October 2016.
Bucknell held a slim lead in time of possession (30:22-29:38) but was outgained by a 274-189 margin. The Quaker defense totaled 10 sacks for a loss of 60 yards and 14 tackles for a loss of 65 yards, cutting significantly into the Bison's offensive totals.
Marine became the first Bison to intercept two passes in a single game since Connor Golden did so against Charleston Southern in 2016. Marine previously intercepted two passes as a freshman at Lafayette on Oct. 31, 2015. Three Bison recovered fumbles, including Deary during a punt return.
Lauro and Simeon Page tied for the team lead with eight tackles apiece. In addition, Lauro and Sam Chitty each registered a team-best 1.5 tackles for a loss, but no Bison managed to record a sack. Preseason All-American Alex Pechin averaged 40.5 yards on eight punts, placing three inside the 20.
For Penn, Brooks rushed for 72 yards and two touchdowns while Ryan Glover threw for 138 yards and two touchdowns on 12 for 21 passing. Brian O'Neill (11) and Preseason All-American Nick Miller (10) reached the double digits in tackles while Cooper Gardner posted three sacks for a loss of 18 yards.
Bucknell (0-3) next travels to Villanova for a 6 p.m. game on Saturday, Sept. 22.
While the Bison scored two unanswered touchdowns to make it a two-possession game early in the third quarter, the Quakers' lead proved insurmountable. Logan Bitikofer, who took over at quarterback halfway through the second frame, energized Bucknell, completing 19 of 35 passes for two touchdowns and 150 yards. Â
After the teams combined for 37 points on four touchdowns and three field goals in an explosive first half, each team scored one touchdown apiece during the second half. Penn completed the scoring at the 10:21 mark of the fourth quarter on an 11-yard touchdown catch by Kolton Huber; the Quakers held the Bison off the scoreboard the rest of the way, forcing three three and outs and intercepting a pass with 22 seconds remaining in regulation to ice the game.
For Bucknell, Bryan Marine picked off two passes, returning them a combined 34 yards. Also the primary kickoff and punt return man, he finished with a game- and career-high total of 156 all-purpose yards. Jared Cooper also eclipsed 100 all-purpose yards, finishing with 109 on team-best totals in rushing (58) and receiving (51) yards.
In the first five minutes of the game, Penn raced out to a 17-0 lead by taking advantage of two Bison turnovers and a blocked punt. After Jacob Martin picked off John Chiarolanzio's first pass, the Quakers took over at the Bucknell 36; Karekin Brooks ultimately capped that abbreviated drive with a five-yard touchdown rush.
On the resulting kickoff, Justin Morrison recovered a fumble at the Bison 27 to again give Penn a short field to work with. Bucknell's defense held fast, with Joe Lauro tying up Abe Willows for a loss of five yards and Marine coming up with a critical pass breakup to force the Quakers to settle for a 49-yard field goal.
After the Bison went three and out on their next possession, Patrick McGettigan blocked a punt and James McCarthy came up with the ball to set up the Penn offense on Bucknell's seven-yard line. One play later, at the 10:12 mark, Brooks broke free for his second touchdown run.
A 34-yard field goal by Jack Chambers got the Bison on the board with 4:58 on the clock in the first quarter. But, by the 11:59 mark of the second quarter, the Quakers had extended their lead to 27-3 thanks to a 48-yard field goal and an acrobatic, 33-yard touchdown catch by Tyler Herrick.
Bucknell found the end zone for the first time with 3:37 remaining in the first half. After Sterling Deary forced a fumble, and Chanse Riley recovered it at the Penn 32, Bitikofer capped the abbreviated drive with an 11-yard touchdown pass to Alan Butler. It was Butler's first touchdown catch of the season and third of his career.
The Bison had an opportunity to cut further into their deficit in the final minutes of the frame, marching to the Quaker's 16-yard line on a drive highlighted by a 25-yard Cooper rush. But Bitikofer was sacked for a loss of six yards, and back-to-back incomplete passes forced Bucknell to try for a 36-yard field goal. Chambers's bid went wide left, and Penn went to the locker room up, 27-10.
The Bison scored the third quarter's lone touchdown two minutes into the frame. Marine set up the score by intercepting his first pass of the game and returning it 26 yards to the Penn 14. Two plays later, Bitikofer found Andrew Owers for an 11-yard touchdown, his first score since October 2016.
Bucknell held a slim lead in time of possession (30:22-29:38) but was outgained by a 274-189 margin. The Quaker defense totaled 10 sacks for a loss of 60 yards and 14 tackles for a loss of 65 yards, cutting significantly into the Bison's offensive totals.
Marine became the first Bison to intercept two passes in a single game since Connor Golden did so against Charleston Southern in 2016. Marine previously intercepted two passes as a freshman at Lafayette on Oct. 31, 2015. Three Bison recovered fumbles, including Deary during a punt return.
Lauro and Simeon Page tied for the team lead with eight tackles apiece. In addition, Lauro and Sam Chitty each registered a team-best 1.5 tackles for a loss, but no Bison managed to record a sack. Preseason All-American Alex Pechin averaged 40.5 yards on eight punts, placing three inside the 20.
For Penn, Brooks rushed for 72 yards and two touchdowns while Ryan Glover threw for 138 yards and two touchdowns on 12 for 21 passing. Brian O'Neill (11) and Preseason All-American Nick Miller (10) reached the double digits in tackles while Cooper Gardner posted three sacks for a loss of 18 yards.
Bucknell (0-3) next travels to Villanova for a 6 p.m. game on Saturday, Sept. 22.
Team Stats
BUCKNELL
PENN
Total Yards
189
274
Pass Yards
154
138
Rushing Yards
35
136
Penalty Yards
81
34
1st Downs
13
17
3rd Downs
5
4
4th Downs
0
0
TOP
30:22
29:38
1st Quarter
BUCKNELL 0, PENN 7
PENN - Brooks, Karekin 5 yd run (Soslow, Jack kick), 4 plays, 36 yards, TOP 1:42
BUCKNELL 0, PENN 10
PENN - Soslow, Jack 49 yd field goal 4 plays, -5 yards, TOP 1:29
BUCKNELL 0, PENN 17
PENN - Brooks, Karekin 7 yd run (Soslow, Jack kick), 1 plays, 7 yards, TOP 0:08
BUCKNELL 3, PENN 17
BUCKNELL - Chambers, Jack 34 yd field goal 7 plays, 14 yards, TOP 2:43
2nd Quarter
BUCKNELL 3, PENN 20
PENN - Soslow, Jack 48 yd field goal 12 plays, 45 yards, TOP 5:39
BUCKNELL 3, PENN 27
PENN - Herrick, Tyler 33 yd pass from Glover, Ryan (Soslow, Jack kick) 3 plays, 51 yards, TOP 1:19
BUCKNELL 10, PENN 27
BUCKNELL - Butler, Alan 11 yd pass from Bitikofer, L. (Chambers, Jack kick) 4 plays, 32 yards, TOP 1:42
3rd Quarter
BUCKNELL 17, PENN 27
BUCKNELL - Owers, Andrew 11 yd pass from Bitikofer, L. (Chambers, Jack kick) 2 plays, 14 yards, TOP 0:36
4th Quarter
BUCKNELL 17, PENN 34
PENN - Huber, Kolton 11 yd pass from Glover, Ryan (Soslow, Jack kick) 2 plays, 32 yards, TOP 0:56
Game Leaders
Passing Leaders
CMP
19
TD
2
YDS
150
INT
1
CMP
2
TD
0
YDS
4
INT
1
Players Mentioned
QB
/ Football
WR
/ Football
P/K
/ FootballQB
/ Football
LB
/ Football
RB
/ Football
CB
/ Football
S
/ Football
CB
/ Football
TE/FB
/ Football
LB
/ Football
P/K
/ Football
S
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