Bucknell University
2-4 , 0-2
Cornell
2-3 , 1-1
Bucknell Football Pounds the Rock in 21-13 Win at Cornell
10/14/2023 5:21:00 PM | Football
ITHACA, N.Y. – Coleman Bennett rushed for 157 yards on 29 carries to lead the Bucknell football team to a 21-13 victory over Cornell at Schoellkopf Field on Saturday. With the win, the Bison have defeated Cornell in three straight tries for the first time in the 135-year history of the series.
Bucknell trailed 3-0 early on but scored touchdowns in the second, third and fourth quarters, scoring two on the ground and one through the air. The defense, meanwhile, limited Cornell to just a pair of field goals in the first half and allowed one rushing touchdown in the third.
Leading by eight points with three minutes to go in the fourth quarter, punter Ruben Anderson pinned the Big Red at their own 5-yard line. Cornell reached the 41-yard line before an 11-yard sack by Tyler Alston and Connor Carretta put the Big Red's potential game-tying drive in jeopardy. Quarterback Jameson Wang heaved the ball down field on Cornell's last breath on fourth down, and with Roman Pearson in coverage, the Bison defense held.
Bennett's 157 rushing yards were the most in a game by a Bison since Chad Freshnock gained 174 in 2017. His 29 carries were the most since 2016. Behind Bennett was Rushawn Baker, who gutted out 21 tough yards and a touchdown after missing the last two games. Quarterback Ralph Rucker scored the other rushing touchdown before leaving the game late in the third quarter.
Nick Semptimphelter led the 9-play, 75-yard drive that killed nearly four minutes in the fourth quarter and resulted in a 6-yard touchdown pass to Damian Harris that gave the Bison the 21-13 lead. Semptimphelter completed three of four pass attempts for 54 yards.
In total, Bucknell held a 329-282 advantage in total offense, gaining 176 on the ground on an astounding 50 rushing attempts. The Bison did turn the ball over twice with an interception and a fumble.
Wang completed 15 of 26 attempts for 200 yards. He also ran for 40 yards on 13 attempts.
Three Bison hauled in passes of over 30 yards, and Bennett had six rushes of 14 yards or more. His longest of the game set up Bucknell's first touchdown in the second quarter. The Bison were facing a 3rd-and-14 at their own 24-yard line when Bennett ripped off a 27-yard run on a draw play. Several plays later Rucker ran around the edge at the goal line to give the Bison a 7-3 lead.
TOUCHDOWN BISON! Rucker runs it in from a yard out for his first rushing TD of the season. The drive looked dead with Bucknell facing a 3rd-and-14 at their own 24 before this 29-yard rush by Bennett. @PatriotLeagueTV@ESPN https://t.co/2DJsCsT61D pic.twitter.com/ILqWxIpdfJ
— Bucknell Football (@Bucknell_FB) October 14, 2023
Cornell regained the lead on its first drive of the second half, driving 61 yards on five plays and scoring on a 5-yard rush by Wang.
Bucknell responded later in the third, stringing together together an 11-play, 73-yard drive. A 39-yard pass completion from Rucker to Derrick Anderson Jr. set Bucknell up at the 6-yard line, and three plays later Baker scored his rushing touchdown.
Bennett started Bucknell's first drive of the fourth quarter with a 26-yard run, and Semptimphelter hit Christian Tait on a 12-yard pass and Eric Weatherly on a 36-yard connection. Two plays later Harris caught the 6-yard touchdown to give the Bison the 21-13 lead, and the defense made stops on two consecutive Cornell drives to end the game.
Tyler Alston led the Bison with eight tackles, 1.5 tackles for loss and half a sack. Deuce Geter and Chris Sims had seven tackles each.
Bucknell's lone takeaway of the game came on Cornell's first possession, as Wang was hurried by John Schlendorf and Cade Rooney came away with his first career interception.
Bucknell returns to Christy Mathewson-Memorial Stadium on Saturday, Oct. 21 to host Lehigh.
Team Stats
BUK 0, COR 3
COR - Kennedy,Jackson 46 yd field goal 6 plays, 12 yards, TOP 03:10
BUK 7, COR 3
BUK - Rucker,Ralph 1 yd run (Schearer,Matt kick), 14 plays, 89 yards, TOP 04:33
BUK 7, COR 6
COR - Kennedy,Jackson 35 yd field goal 8 plays, 26 yards, TOP 03:10
BUK 7, COR 13
COR - Wang,Jameson 5 yd run (Kennedy,Jackson kick), 5 plays, 61 yards, TOP 01:58
BUK 14, COR 13
BUK - Baker, Rushawn 1 yd run (Schearer,Matt kick), 11 plays, 73 yards, TOP 05:03
BUK 21, COR 13
BUK - Harris,Damian 6 yd pass from Semptimphelter,Nick (Schearer,Matt kick) 9 plays, 75 yards, TOP 03:50
