Bucknell University
3-8 , 2-4
Marist
4-7 , 4-4
Football Downs Marist 24-13 at Christy Mathewson-Memorial Stadium in Season Finale
11/19/2022 5:03:00 PM | Football
LEWISBURG, Pa. – The Bucknell football team rushed for 245 yards and came back from a 13-3 third-quarter deficit to defeat Marist 24-13 in the season finale at Christy Mathewson-Memorial Stadium on Saturday. The Bison defense limited the Red Foxes to just 48 yards in the second half.
Rushawn Baker led the Bison offense with 120 yards on 19 carries and a touchdown. He also caught a touchdown pass from Nick Semptimphelter, who added a rushing touchdown himself that gave Bucknell its first lead of the game with 12:04 remaining in the fourth quarter. Coleman Bennett contributed 80 more yards on the ground, helping Bucknell pick up a season high in rush yards.
161 of Bucknell's rushing yards came in the second half.
"We made some corrections during halftime, and up front they did their job like they normally do. I just did my job and we got in the end zone," said Baker.
On Senior Day, a pair of graduating Bison in Blake Leake and Brent Jackson combined for 17 tackles.
"These seniors, they haven't gone into the offseason with a win. We're on a two-game win streak," said Baker. "I think it's huge to come off on a win. It has a lot of momentum. Everyone is that much more encouraged to get into the weight room in the offseason, do some good work and get back on the field."
The Bison had to respond to an early deficit and did so by scoring 21 unanswered points in the second half.
Marist's offense drove 42 yards on five plays on its first possession of the game, and running back Amin Woods ripped off a 14-yard run to the end zone that gave the Red Foxes a 7-0 lead less than four minutes into the game. It was one of the few successful drives on the day for the Red Foxes, as Bucknell limited them to fewer than 10 yards on eight of 12 possessions.
The Bison responded to Marist's touchdown later in the first quarter with a 31-yard Matt Schearer field goal that made it 7-3 heading into the second quarter.
Marist added to its lead late in the second after Bucknell turned the ball over on downs at their own 46-yard line, and the Red Foxes rushed six times to reach the end zone. It was a 27-yard touchdown run on fourth down by Woods that sent the Bison into the locker room trailing 13-3. Bucknell's Aneesh Vyas blocked the extra point, giving him three blocked kicks this season.
Bucknell's defense buckled down out of the break and forced punts on Marist's first two drives. The Bison drove 41 yards on 10 plays on their second possession of the third quarter, which culminated with a gutsy 2-yard pass from Semptimphelter to Baker on a 4th-and-2 at the goal line.
BISON TOUCHDOWN! Bucknell gambles on 4th down and Semptimphelter hits Baker in the end zone to get the Bison within 3 of tying. @ESPN | @PatriotLeagueTV
— Bucknell Football (@Bucknell_FB) November 19, 2022
Watch: https://t.co/FvTEvTQyIC pic.twitter.com/lkOPGxuSSi
Bucknell also scored on its opening drive of the fourth quarter, moving 50 yards on five plays. Baker started the drive with a 29-yard rush to the Marist 21, then four plays later Semptimphelter took off up the middle on a quarterback draw and busted through a tackle into the end zone to give the Bison a 17-13 lead.
TOUCHDOWN! Nick Semptimphelter uses his legs to give the Bison the lead! @ESPN | @PatriotLeagueTV
— Bucknell Football (@Bucknell_FB) November 19, 2022
Watch: https://t.co/FvTEvTypuu pic.twitter.com/jKvlUeAo0k
The Bison added to their lead with under three minutes to play in the fourth after Marist failed to convert on 4th-and-10 at its own 20-yard line. Baker picked up 20 yards on straight runs, including a 6-yard rush into the end zone that ended up being the dagger in the game.
"Overall, it certainly wasn't a bad game at all for four straight quarters, it was just a particularly phenomenal second-half performance," said head coach Dave Cecchini. "Hats off to them to start the game out like they did. It was just a great gut-check by our football team to calm themselves down and play Bucknell football the last three quarters of the way."
Marist's Woods ended up with 93 yards on 17 carries, and quarterback Brock Bagozzi was limited to 89 passing yards on 14 completions. Marist's Tyhir Harley collected the only turnover of the game, grabbing an interception on Bucknell's fourth play from scrimmage.
Bucknell ended the season with two straight victories and finished with a 3-8 overall record.
"To finish the season with two straight wins, you wish the season would keep going," said Cecchini. "It gets guys realizing that we're getting better. We're going down the right track."
Team Stats
MAR 7, BUC 0
MAR - Woods,Amin 14 yd run (Paladino,Luke kick), 5 plays, 42 yards, TOP 02:26
MAR 7, BUC 3
BUC - Schearer,Matt 31 yd field goal 11 plays, 52 yards, TOP 05:12
MAR 13, BUC 3
MAR - Woods,Amin 27 yd run (), 8 plays, 46 yards, TOP 04:20
MAR 13, BUC 10
BUC - Baker,Rushawn 2 yd pass from Semptimphelter,Nick (Schearer,Matt kick) 10 plays, 44 yards, TOP 04:41
MAR 13, BUC 17
BUC - Semptimphelter,Nick 10 yd run (Schearer,Matt kick), 5 plays, 50 yards, TOP 02:46
MAR 13, BUC 24
BUC - Baker,Rushawn 6 yd run (Schearer,Matt kick), 3 plays, 20 yards, TOP 00:51
