Bucknell University
2-8 , 2-4
Georgetown
2-8 , 1-4
Football Seals Dramatic Come-from-Behind Overtime Win at Georgetown, 24-21
11/12/2022 4:50:00 PM | Football
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Freshman Matt Schearer kicked his third field goal of the day to give Bucknell a 24-21 lead over Georgetown in overtime, and senior Gavin Pringle sealed the win by intercepting Hoyas quarterback Pierce Holley in a dramatic affair at Cooper Field on Saturday.
It was a day where special teams and defense highlighted a come-from-behind Bison effort, but the offense also shined when it was needed most, as quarterback Nick Semptimphelter led a game-tying drive that culminated with a Coleman Bennett rushing touchdown with 47 seconds left in regulation. Semptimphelter then hit wide receiver Josh Gary in the end zone for a 2-point conversion that completed the comeback. Bucknell trailed 21-10 entering the fourth quarter.
Pringle's interception was one of three for the Bison on the day. Blake Leake grabbed a touchdown-saving pick in the end zone in the second quarter, and Brent Jackson got the ball back for the Bison late in the fourth quarter with an interception at the Georgetown 37-yard line.
Bennett's last-minute touchdown was his second score of the game after he took a kickoff 93 yards to the house in the third quarter, which cut the deficit to 14-10.
Schearer first put Bucknell on the board in the second quarter with a 50-yard field goal. It was the longest made field goal by a Bison kicker since 1981. He also drilled a 21-yarder with 6:22 remaining in the fourth quarter that made it a one-score game at 21-13.
"I just try to tell myself to swing up and through. Once you get out there you kind of black out," said Schearer, whose overtime field goal was from 42 yards out. "I'm pretty much just excited in those chances. Once you get out on the field you go through the same routine you've done for hours upon hours."
Bucknell put up 292 yards of offense, 198 of which came through the air as Semptimphelter eclipsed his previous career high on 21 of 33 passing. Bennett led the ground attack with 63 of Bucknell's 94 rush yards. Marques Owens grabbed four receptions for 60 yards, and Damian Harris finished with four catches for 53 yards.
Georgetown finished with 323 yards of offense, including 201 passing from Holley. Holley also added two passing touchdowns, including one on the opening drive of the game that gave the Hoyas a 7-0 lead just eight minutes in.
Bucknell turned the ball over on downs on its opening possession, and it went 0-for-4 on fourth down conversions throughout the game, punting just three times.
Following Schearer's 50-yarder in the opening minute of the second quarter, the two teams went scoreless over the remainder of the half and the deficit remained at 7-3 going into the locker rooms.
It took the Hoyas just four plays to find the end zone on their first possession of the second half as Holley hit wide receiver Joshua Tomas on a 33-yard touchdown pass to extend their lead to 14-3. The ensuing kickoff is when Bennett fielded the ball at the 7-yard line, cut across the field and outraced the Hoyas to the end zone.
COLEMAN BENNETT TO THE HOUSE! 💨 @ESPN | @PatriotLeagueTV #PLTop3
— Bucknell Football (@Bucknell_FB) November 12, 2022
Watch: https://t.co/PfP0MBbOsi pic.twitter.com/kbRYAKN8Ih
"I just got to trust everyone blocking. When I see it, I just hit it. We had a good scheme called up, I made one cut, and then I just knew I couldn't get caught," said Bennett.
Georgetown responded on its next possession, driving 65 yards on 12 plays and scoring on a 2-yard rush by Joshua Stakely at the 4:59 mark in the third quarter to once again put Bucknell behind by two scores. It was the last time the Hoyas scored. The Bison defense forced a fourth down stop, two punts and an interception on Georgetown's remaining drives.
With Bucknell trailing 21-13, Georgetown punted the ball to back the Bison up at their own 16-yard line with 2:58 remaining in the game. Semptimphelter was nearly flawless on the drive, completing five passes for 61 yards and running for another 11. The Bison picked up first downs on their first four plays, including a 25-yard pass to Marques Owens. Semptimphelter later hit Owens on a 15-yard pass down to the Georgetown 10. Bennett scored on a 10-yard rush on the following play, diving across the goal line with 47 seconds remaining.
TOUCHDOWN BISON! Semptimphelter led the Bison down the field, and after review Bennett crossed the goal line with 34 seconds left. 2-point conversion coming up. @ESPN | @PatriotLeagueTV
— Bucknell Football (@Bucknell_FB) November 12, 2022
Watch: https://t.co/PfP0MBbOsi pic.twitter.com/qRKWwJ0XK6
"All the mistakes that happened in the past, good, bad, whatever, we just have to have next-play mentality," said Bennett.
Bennett was initially ruled down at the 1-yard line, but upon review the call was overturned as Bennett stretched the ball over the line while he was going down.
"I was 100 percent confident," said Bennett. "As soon as I made contact I just reached it out because I knew we needed the touchdown at that moment."
Semptimphelter found an open Gary out in the flat for the 2-point conversion to send the game to overtime.
The Bison were unable to move the ball on their overtime possession outside of a 10-yard pass to Gary, which took them back to the 25-yard line after a holding penalty. On 4th-and-10 Schearer split the uprights with his third field goal of the game.
The Hoyas also suffered a penalty on their possession, and three plays later Pringle made the interception at the Bucknell 5-yard line.
"Just reading my keys, going through my keys, looking at the quarterback first and then looking to see where the receiver was and just making a play," said Pringle. "The defense, we have to be in positions like that to make plays because it shows who we really are. We stepped up to the plate today. I'm proud of myself and I'm proud of my teammates."
It was Bucknell's first overtime victory since defeating Lafayette 13-7 on Oct. 21, 2017.
IT'S OVER!! BISON WIN!! Gavin Pringle seals the victory with an interception in overtime! #rayBucknell | #ACT pic.twitter.com/95TaRijN8A
— Bucknell Football (@Bucknell_FB) November 12, 2022
Bucknell wraps up its season at home next weekend against Marist at Christy Mathewson-Memorial Stadium on Saturday, Nov. 19.
Team Stats
BUC 0, GEO 7
GEO - Moultrie,Dorrian 3 yd pass from Holley,Pierce (Ryan,Patrick kick) 16 plays, 75 yards, TOP 07:56
BUC 3, GEO 7
BUC - Schearer,Matt 50 yd field goal 9 plays, 31 yards, TOP 04:57
BUC 3, GEO 14
GEO - Tomas,Joshua 33 yd pass from Holley,Pierce (Ryan,Patrick kick) 4 plays, 57 yards, TOP 01:48
BUC 10, GEO 14
BUC - Bennett,Coleman 93 yd kickoff return (Schearer,Matt kick)
BUC 10, GEO 21
GEO - Stakely,Joshua 2 yd run (Ryan,Patrick kick), 12 plays, 65 yards, TOP 05:41
BUC 13, GEO 21
BUC - Schearer,Matt 21 yd field goal 11 plays, 51 yards, TOP 04:19
BUC 21, GEO 21
BUC - Bennett,Coleman 10 yd run (Bennett,Coleman pass), 9 plays, 84 yards, TOP 02:11
BUC 24, GEO 21
BUC - Schearer,Matt 42 yd field goal 4 plays, yards, TOP 00:00
