Bucknell University
2-5 , 0-3
Lehigh
2-6 , 1-2
Football Clipped by Mountain Hawks at Home, 27-18
10/21/2023 5:59:00 PM | Football
LEWISBURG, Pa. – Offensive struggles and special teams blunders made things difficult for the Bison, as Lehigh collected a 27-18 win over the Bucknell football team at Christy Mathewson-Memorial Stadium Saturday afternoon. A 20-3 halftime lead for the Mountain Hawks lasted until late in the fourth quarter when the two teams combined for three touchdowns in the final 4:17 of play.
Bucknell managed 252 yards of total offense, 98 of which it gained over the final 15 minutes, as Lehigh's pass rush and run defense kept the Bison in check. Lehigh sacked Bucknell quarterbacks four times, including three times on third down in the first half to limit the Bison to just a field goal for nearly 56 minutes. The field goal that Schearer made as time expired in the first half was the result of a big special teams play, of which there were many in the game. Both teams scored touchdowns on returns, and there was a blocked field goal by the Mountain Hawks.
Bucknell fell to 2-5 (0-3 PL) on the season, and Lehigh improved to 2-6 (1-2 PL).
The Bison alternated quarterbacks with Ralph Rucker sidelined with injury. Nick Semptimphelter got the start and was relieved by Tyler Beverett for most of the middle portions of the contest before reentering in the fourth quarter to lead a touchdown drive. Semptimphelter finished the game 9 of 15 for 91 yards and a touchdown pass to Derrick Anderson Jr. Beverett was 9 of 26 for 81 yards. The two quarterbacks combined for 38 yards rushing, with Semptimphelter's 22 yards leading all Bison.
Seven different Bison caught passes, with Coleman Bennett leading the way at four receptions for 51 yards.
Running back Luke Yoder rushed 38 times for 138 yards and two scores to lead the Lehigh offense. The Mountain Hawks' Brayten Silbor threw for 127 yards and was intercepted twice by the Bison.
With Bucknell trailing 27-3 with 4:05 left to play in the final frame, sophomore Josh Gary returned a kickoff 88 yards for a touchdown. Bucknell made a stop on the ensuing Lehigh possession and scored once more with just 37 seconds remaining.
Josh Gary takes this one 88 yards to the house! With the extra point, Bucknell trails by 17. @PatriotLeagueTV@ESPN https://t.co/FdNlEKi9YG pic.twitter.com/uTVq1v7ZPq
— Bucknell Football (@Bucknell_FB) October 21, 2023
It was two long scoring drives by the Mountain Hawks that put the Bison in an early hole to start the game. On its second possession of the game, Lehigh drove 62 yards on 12 plays before Yoder pounded it into the end zone from one yard out. On the next Mountain Hawk possession, following Schearer's blocked 52-yard field goal attempt, they drove 67 yards on 12 plays and made a 31-yard kick to make it 10-0.
Lehigh didn't have far to go on its next drive, as Nick Peltekian returned the Bison punt 27 yards to get to the 27-yard line. Seven plays later the Mountain Hawks booted another field goal. Then, after a three-and-out by the Bison offense, Peltekian returned another punt 57 yards for a touchdown. Peltekian finished the game with 82 yards on three punt returns.
Trailing 20-0 at the end of the half Bucknell punted away again, but this time the Mountain Hawks muffed it, and the Bison recovered at the Lehigh 18-yard line. Schearer made the field goal from 35 yards out as time expired.
Both teams went scoreless in the third quarter and most of the way in the fourth before the action picked up with the three combined touchdowns in the final five minutes. Still, even with Gary's 88-yard touchdown return followed by a made extra point, the Bison trailed by three possessions with 4:05 to play. The Bison did make good on the two-point conversion following Anderson's touchdown, as Eric Weatherly converted on an end around, but it was too little too late with 37 seconds left.
Roman Pearson and John Schlendorf both came up with interceptions in the game. Pearson's was on an overthrown deep ball on a Lehigh third down in the third quarter. It was his second of the season. Schlendorf's was in the end zone on a Lehigh fourth-and-three, and he returned it 21 yards. It was Schlendorf's first career pick.
Connor Carretta led the Bison in tackles with 12, posting two for a loss, and Brad Jamison followed with 11 stops. Jamison also had two pass breakups in the game.
Bucknell goes on the road for its next two games, starting with a trip to Colgate on Saturday, Oct. 28.
Team Stats
LEH 7, BUC 0
LEH - Yoder,Luke 1 yd run (Garrido,Nick kick), 12 plays, 62 yards, TOP 04:55
LEH 10, BUC 0
LEH - Garrido,Nick 31 yd field goal 12 plays, 67 yards, TOP 04:48
LEH 13, BUC 0
LEH - Garrido,Nick 35 yd field goal 7 plays, 13 yards, TOP 02:30
LEH 20, BUC 0
LEH - Peltekian,Nick 57 yd punt return (Garrido,Nick kick)
LEH 20, BUC 3
BUC - Schearer,Matt 35 yd field goal 1 plays, yards, TOP 00:04
LEH 27, BUC 3
LEH - Yoder,Luke 2 yd run (Garrido,Nick kick), 7 plays, 18 yards, TOP 03:31
LEH 27, BUC 10
BUC - Gary,Josh 88 yd kickoff return (Schearer,Matt kick)
LEH 27, BUC 18
BUC - Anderson Jr.,Derrick 3 yd pass from Semptimphelter,Nick (Weatherly,Eric rush) 9 plays, 87 yards, TOP 01:47
