Saturday, September 29
Worcester, Mass.
1 p.m.
Bucknell University
1-4 , 1-0
19
at
16
Holy Cross
1-4 , 0-2
1st
2nd
3rd
4th
F
Bucknell
0
6
6
7
19
Holy Cross
7
0
0
9
16
Photo by: Jon Lambert
Bucknell Football Tops Holy Cross, 19-16, in Patriot League Opener
9/29/2018 3:59:00 PM | Football
WORCESTER, Mass. – The Bucknell football team withstood a furious Holy Cross comeback to win its Patriot League opener, 19-16, on Saturday afternoon at Fitton Field.
The Bison (1-4, 1-0 PL) built a 19-7 lead on a 36-yard touchdown rush by Jared Cooper and a 22-yard touchdown throw by Logan Bitikofer to Alan Butler. While the Crusaders (1-4, 0-2 PL) responded with a safety and a touchdown of their own to draw within a field goal at the 6:57 mark of the fourth quarter, Bucknell's offense drained 6:13 off the clock by marching from its 18-yard line to Holy Cross's 26 in 13 plays.
Following a missed 43-yard field goal attempt, the Crusaders got the ball back with 36 seconds remaining in regulation. After Geoff Wade had three passes fall incomplete, Holy Cross went for it on 4th and 10. Joe Lauro came up with his second pass breakup of the sequence to seal the victory, leveling Richie DeNicola at midfield and knocking the ball away in the process.
At halftime, Bucknell trailed by a 7-6 margin. The Bison took their first lead of the game at the third quarter's 9:25 mark on Cooper's first career touchdown. The freshman broke two tackles and then outraced two Crusaders to the end zone, giving Bucknell a 12-7 advantage; the Bison attempted a two-point conversion, but Bitikofer's pass fell incomplete.
A clutch fumble recovery by Roger Mellado at Holy Cross's 27-yard line set up Butler's second touchdown of the season. That score, which came with 11:06 remaining in regulation, proved to be the difference as the Crusaders came roaring back.
On the possession after Butler's diving touchdown, Wade hit DeNicola in stride for a 72-yard gain. DeNicola appeared destined for the end zone, but Lauro and Bryan Marine caught him at the Bison's 10-yard line, setting up their goal-line stand. After Domenic Cozier picked up nine yards on two carries to bring the Crusaders to the one-yard line, Mellado stopped Wade on 3rd and 1 and Marine and Page teamed to halt Cozier on 4th and 1 to give Bucknell the ball back.
Holy Cross ultimately picked up a safety two plays later to cut its deficit to 19-9. After forcing the Bison to go three and out on their next possession, Wade found DeNicola for a 59-yard touchdown to make it a 19-16 game.
During the first quarter, the Crusaders limited the Bison to 21 yards of total offense and a single first down. They jumped out to the lead at the 4:46 mark, with Cozier muscling his way into the end zone from seven yards out to cap an 11-play, 81-yard drive.
Bucknell regrouped in the second frame, using the first two field goals of Ethan Torres's career to trim Holy Cross's advantage to 7-6. Both of Torres's field goals, which came from 26 and 18 yards out, were set up by big plays.
First, Bitikofer found Brandon Sanders for a 46-yard gain to set up the Bison at the Crusaders' nine-yard line. Torres was ultimately called out to kick a field goal with 12:49 on the clock after a pair of Bitikofer passes fell incomplete and Cooper was tied up by Chris Riley for no gain.
Bucknell forced Holy Cross to punt on its next possession. And Marine returned that 50-yard bomb by Derek Ng a career-long and team season-best 67 yards. Marine slipped free of an early tackle, found open field and flew down the visiting sideline all the way to the Crusaders' 13-yard line before being dragged down.
A pass interference penalty brought the Bison to the two-yard line, but the Holy Cross defense held fast to keep them out of the end zone. After Cooper gained one yard on a pair of carries, the Crusaders stuffed Bitikofer on third and goal; Torres then kicked his second field goal with 7:34 left in the half to pull Bucknell within a single point.
The Bison defense was the story of the second quarter. They held Holy Cross to just 11 yards of total offense and four first downs. Grayson Cherubino and Simeon Page led the defensive surge, each recording 1.5 sacks for a combined loss of 27 yards in the frame.
Bitikofer completed 19 of 29 passes for 193 yards while Sanders totaled 97 yards on six catches. Marine registered 75 yards on five punt returns, bolstered by his clutch 67-yard run.
Lauro and Sam Chitty paced Bucknell's defense with 11 tackles (seven solo) apiece, with Chitty matching his career high set a week earlier at No. 14/15 Villanova. In total, the Bison registered 12 tackles for a combined loss of 50 yards, with Cherubino and Page leading the way with three apiece. Page also posted two sacks, bringing his career total to 13.5; he now needs just three sacks to crack Bucknell's career top 10.
Preseason All-American Alex Pechin had yet another strong game, averaging 48.5 yards on six punts with a long of 54. Two landed inside the 20.
Holy Cross led in total offense (385-280) and first downs (21-15) while Bucknell held a slim 30:30-29:30 edge in time of possession. Wade threw for 265 yards on 18 for 32 passing while Martin Dorsey led all players with 167 receiving yards. Cozier finished with 87 yards on the ground.
The Bison next return to Christy Mathewson-Memorial Stadium to face Colgate on Saturday, Oct. 6 at 12 p.m.
The Bison (1-4, 1-0 PL) built a 19-7 lead on a 36-yard touchdown rush by Jared Cooper and a 22-yard touchdown throw by Logan Bitikofer to Alan Butler. While the Crusaders (1-4, 0-2 PL) responded with a safety and a touchdown of their own to draw within a field goal at the 6:57 mark of the fourth quarter, Bucknell's offense drained 6:13 off the clock by marching from its 18-yard line to Holy Cross's 26 in 13 plays.
Following a missed 43-yard field goal attempt, the Crusaders got the ball back with 36 seconds remaining in regulation. After Geoff Wade had three passes fall incomplete, Holy Cross went for it on 4th and 10. Joe Lauro came up with his second pass breakup of the sequence to seal the victory, leveling Richie DeNicola at midfield and knocking the ball away in the process.
Cooper, who was awarded the Johnny Turco Memorial Trophy as the Most Outstanding Player of Holy Cross's Homecoming Day Game, led the Bison with 75 yards on 24 carries. All but 19 of his yards came during the Bison's second-half surge, which saw them post 205 of their season-best 280 yards of total offense.THAT WILL DO IT, FOLKS!
— Bucknell Football (@Bucknell_FB) September 29, 2018
Joe Lauro breaks up a pass on 4th and 10 to seal the #BandOfBison's 19-16 victory. #rayBucknell pic.twitter.com/8D9pqDNshE
Break the tackles. Turn on the jets. 😤✈️
— Bucknell Football (@Bucknell_FB) September 29, 2018
Jared Cooper's first career touchdown, a 36 yarder, gives the #BandOfBison the lead! #rayBucknell @PatriotLeagueTV pic.twitter.com/c67KsaJ7Tu
At halftime, Bucknell trailed by a 7-6 margin. The Bison took their first lead of the game at the third quarter's 9:25 mark on Cooper's first career touchdown. The freshman broke two tackles and then outraced two Crusaders to the end zone, giving Bucknell a 12-7 advantage; the Bison attempted a two-point conversion, but Bitikofer's pass fell incomplete.
A clutch fumble recovery by Roger Mellado at Holy Cross's 27-yard line set up Butler's second touchdown of the season. That score, which came with 11:06 remaining in regulation, proved to be the difference as the Crusaders came roaring back.
That's a #BandOfBison TOUCHDOWN!
— Bucknell Football (@Bucknell_FB) September 29, 2018
Logan Bitikofer finds Alan Butler for a 22-yard score! #rayBucknell pic.twitter.com/dMBOgOP5ni
On the possession after Butler's diving touchdown, Wade hit DeNicola in stride for a 72-yard gain. DeNicola appeared destined for the end zone, but Lauro and Bryan Marine caught him at the Bison's 10-yard line, setting up their goal-line stand. After Domenic Cozier picked up nine yards on two carries to bring the Crusaders to the one-yard line, Mellado stopped Wade on 3rd and 1 and Marine and Page teamed to halt Cozier on 4th and 1 to give Bucknell the ball back.
Holy Cross ultimately picked up a safety two plays later to cut its deficit to 19-9. After forcing the Bison to go three and out on their next possession, Wade found DeNicola for a 59-yard touchdown to make it a 19-16 game.
During the first quarter, the Crusaders limited the Bison to 21 yards of total offense and a single first down. They jumped out to the lead at the 4:46 mark, with Cozier muscling his way into the end zone from seven yards out to cap an 11-play, 81-yard drive.
Bucknell regrouped in the second frame, using the first two field goals of Ethan Torres's career to trim Holy Cross's advantage to 7-6. Both of Torres's field goals, which came from 26 and 18 yards out, were set up by big plays.
First, Bitikofer found Brandon Sanders for a 46-yard gain to set up the Bison at the Crusaders' nine-yard line. Torres was ultimately called out to kick a field goal with 12:49 on the clock after a pair of Bitikofer passes fell incomplete and Cooper was tied up by Chris Riley for no gain.
Bucknell forced Holy Cross to punt on its next possession. And Marine returned that 50-yard bomb by Derek Ng a career-long and team season-best 67 yards. Marine slipped free of an early tackle, found open field and flew down the visiting sideline all the way to the Crusaders' 13-yard line before being dragged down.
Bryan Marine can FLY. ✈️
— Bucknell Football (@Bucknell_FB) September 29, 2018
That's a 67-yard punt return for the #BandOfBison. #rayBucknell @PatriotLeagueTV @NCAA_FCS pic.twitter.com/epucTx75WX
A pass interference penalty brought the Bison to the two-yard line, but the Holy Cross defense held fast to keep them out of the end zone. After Cooper gained one yard on a pair of carries, the Crusaders stuffed Bitikofer on third and goal; Torres then kicked his second field goal with 7:34 left in the half to pull Bucknell within a single point.
The Bison defense was the story of the second quarter. They held Holy Cross to just 11 yards of total offense and four first downs. Grayson Cherubino and Simeon Page led the defensive surge, each recording 1.5 sacks for a combined loss of 27 yards in the frame.
Bitikofer completed 19 of 29 passes for 193 yards while Sanders totaled 97 yards on six catches. Marine registered 75 yards on five punt returns, bolstered by his clutch 67-yard run.
Lauro and Sam Chitty paced Bucknell's defense with 11 tackles (seven solo) apiece, with Chitty matching his career high set a week earlier at No. 14/15 Villanova. In total, the Bison registered 12 tackles for a combined loss of 50 yards, with Cherubino and Page leading the way with three apiece. Page also posted two sacks, bringing his career total to 13.5; he now needs just three sacks to crack Bucknell's career top 10.
Preseason All-American Alex Pechin had yet another strong game, averaging 48.5 yards on six punts with a long of 54. Two landed inside the 20.
Holy Cross led in total offense (385-280) and first downs (21-15) while Bucknell held a slim 30:30-29:30 edge in time of possession. Wade threw for 265 yards on 18 for 32 passing while Martin Dorsey led all players with 167 receiving yards. Cozier finished with 87 yards on the ground.
The Bison next return to Christy Mathewson-Memorial Stadium to face Colgate on Saturday, Oct. 6 at 12 p.m.
Jared Cooper talks about the #BandOfBison's 1-0 start to @PatriotLeagueFB play. #rayBucknell pic.twitter.com/PAFIdG1p5d
— Bucknell Football (@Bucknell_FB) September 29, 2018
We win. We sing. 🎵🔶🔷 pic.twitter.com/3Rl7ZpGICW
— Bucknell Football (@Bucknell_FB) September 29, 2018
Team Stats
BUCKNELL
HC
Total Yards
280
385
Pass Yards
193
265
Rushing Yards
87
120
Penalty Yards
60
106
1st Downs
15
21
3rd Downs
4
6
4th Downs
0
0
TOP
30:30
29:30
1st Quarter
BUCKNELL 0, HC 7
HC - Cozier,Domenic 7 yd run (Ng,Derek kick), 11 plays, 81 yards, TOP 3:58
2nd Quarter
BUCKNELL 3, HC 7
BUCKNELL - Torres, Ethan 26 yd field goal 6 plays, 45 yards, TOP 1:36
BUCKNELL 6, HC 7
BUCKNELL - Torres, Ethan 18 yd field goal 5 plays, 12 yards, TOP 2:32
3rd Quarter
BUCKNELL 12, HC 7
BUCKNELL - Cooper, Jared 36 yd run (Bitikofer, L. passfailed), 5 plays, 60 yards, TOP 1:40
4th Quarter
BUCKNELL 19, HC 7
BUCKNELL - Butler, Alan 22 yd pass from Bitikofer, L. (Torres, Ethan kick) 3 plays, 27 yards, TOP 1:18
BUCKNELL 19, HC 9
HC - Vorster,Neil 1 yd safety
BUCKNELL 19, HC 16
HC - DeNicola,Richie 59 yd pass from Wade,Geoff (Ng,Derek kick) 4 plays, 80 yards, TOP 1:07
Game Leaders
Passing Leaders
CMP
19
TD
1
YDS
193
INT
1
Players Mentioned
QB
/ Football
WR
/ Football
DE
/ Football
LB
/ Football
RB
/ Football
CB
/ Football
DE
/ Football
LB
/ Football
P/K
/ Football
WR
/ Football
P/K
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