Bucknell University
0-2 , 0-0
VMI
1-1 , 0-0
Bucknell Football Downed at VMI, 24-14
9/10/2022 5:17:00 PM | Football
LEXINGTON, Va. – Junior quarterback Nick Semptimphelter came off the bench to throw two second-half touchdown passes, but Bucknell could not climb all the way back from a 24-point deficit and fell 24-14 at VMI on Saturday at rain-soaked Foster Stadium.
Down 21-0 at the half and 24-0 after Jerry Rice's 39-yard field goal with 9:33 left in the third quarter, the Bison got back into the game with a couple of scoring drives.
Semptimphelter capped an eight-play drive with a 13-yard touchdown pass to Rushawn Baker out of the backfield with 1:05 left in the third period. The two-point conversion was off the mark.
QB Seth Morgan had the ball slip out of his throwing hand on the second play of VMI's next possession, and Patrick Quinlivan recovered at the Keydets' 40-yard line. Moments after the turnover, Akeyo Ayungo made a spectacular catch on the right sideline with a defender in his face, moving the ball to the 5-yard line. On 3rd-and-goal from the 4, Semptimphelter picked out tight end Kyle Fontes in the back of the end zone.
This time the Bison hit the two-point conversion, with Josh Gary catching a pass in the flat before powering through a defender into the end zone to make it 24-14 with 13:04 to play.
The Bucknell defense forced a turnover on downs and a punt later in the fourth quarter but could not get any closer.
Semptimphelter ended up 9 for 18 passing while accumulating 95 yards, including 34 yards on the Ayungo connection. Ethan Grady, who started the game at quarterback, was 10 for 20 with 54 yards.
"We didn't quit. We put Nick in there at quarterback, and he kind of energized us a little bit on offense and made some plays. As a whole we made a lot more plays," said head coach Dave Cecchini. "I think the moral of the story is it's great we came and played so hard in the second half, but we would not have needed as big a second half if we would have just taken care of business in the first half."
VMI ended up out-gaining the Bison 326 to 178, racking up 178 yards on the ground and 148 through the air. Bucknell ended up winning the turnover battle thanks to a Gavin Pringle interception with under two minutes remaining in the first half. The senior finished with four pass breakups as well.
Freshman Charlie Kreinbucher corralled a 19-yard pass during Bucknell's opening series, but the drive ended with the Bison throwing an interception. The Keydets were forced to punt on their opening possession, but they marched 67 yards down the field on their second and were helped by a roughing the passer penalty that kept the drive alive. VMI opened the scoring with a 9-yard rushing touchdown up the middle with 7:37 to play in the quarter.
VMI doubled its lead three minutes later when Morgan threw a short pass out wide on 4th-and-2 from their own 45-yard line to Max Brimigion, who went 55 yards to the end zone. Opening the second quarter, VMI drove 73 yards on 11 plays and scored on a 2-yard rush by Hunter Rice to make it a 21-0 Bucknell deficit.
Pringle's interception kept the VMI lead at three touchdowns in the first half as he stepped in front of a Keydet receiver and returned the pick 17 yards to midfield with 1:14 remaining.
Gavin Pringle with the takeaway! Third career interception for the senior! @espn
— Bucknell Football (@Bucknell_FB) September 10, 2022
Watch: https://t.co/8W5KSzOmW8 pic.twitter.com/5UKvIKWpK1
After Bucknell turned it over on downs to open the second half, VMI added three more points with Rice's only field goal attempts of the day, which capped a 9-play, 46-yard drive.
Momentum began to swing in Bucknell's favor once the quarter hit the five-minute mark. Semptimphelter led a 43-yard drive that culminated with the Baker score with 1:05 to play in the third quarter. Baker finished the game with four receptions for 20 yards. It was just three minutes later that Fontes caught the first touchdown of his career. The two-point conversion brought Bucknell within 10.
3Q, 1:05 | VMI 24, Bucknell 6
— Bucknell Football (@Bucknell_FB) September 10, 2022
Touchdown! Semptimphelter leads the Bison on a long drive and connects with Rushawn Baker to get the Bison on the board! @espn
Watch: https://t.co/9T2u2jP0p8 pic.twitter.com/JkaA8SmZh1
Bucknell was forced to punt on its next drive and turned it over on downs on the next two, resulting in the 24-14 final.
Senior safety Brent Jackson led the Bison with eight tackles, including six solo stops and a tackle for a loss. Blake Leake was second with seven tackles, including one for a loss. Also notable were three receptions for 38 yards for Damien Harris, one of which went for 21 yards.
"Our defense did a great job. They stiffened up against the run and did what they needed to do. We just couldn't put enough points up in a half of football to win the game," Cecchini said.
The Bison fell to 0-2 after last week's one-point overtime loss to Towson, and now they will prepare for a trip to FBS opponent Central Michigan next week.
Team Stats
BUC 0, VMI 7
VMI - Raymond,Rashad 9 yd run (Rice,Jerry kick), 9 plays, 67 yards, TOP 02:53
BUC 0, VMI 14
VMI - Brimigion,Max 55 yd pass from Morgan,Seth (Rice,Jerry kick) 4 plays, 63 yards, TOP 01:42
BUC 0, VMI 21
VMI - Rice,Hunter 2 yd run (Rice,Jerry kick), 11 plays, 73 yards, TOP 03:49
BUC 0, VMI 24
VMI - Rice,Jerry 39 yd field goal 9 plays, 46 yards, TOP 03:50
BUC 6, VMI 24
BUC - Baker,Rushawn 13 yd pass from Semptimphelter,Nick () 8 plays, 43 yards, TOP 03:33
BUC 14, VMI 24
BUC - Fontes,Kyle 4 yd pass from Semptimphelter,Nick (Gary,Josh pass) 5 plays, 40 yards, TOP 02:23
