Bucknell University Athletics
Bucknell University
3-7 , 1-5
Georgetown
5-5 , 3-2
| Team | 1st | 2nd | 3rd | 4th | OT | Final F |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Georgetown | 16 | 7 | 14 | 7 | 6 | 50 |
| Bucknell | 0 | 8 | 15 | 21 | 3 | 47 |
Football Suffers Senior Day Heartbreak in 50-47 Overtime Loss to Georgetown
11/11/2023 6:26:00 PM | Football
LEWISBURG, Pa. – Saturday's home finale at Christy Mathewson-Memorial Stadium between Bucknell and Georgetown had a little bit of everything. The Bison scored 29 unanswered at one point, erasing a 22-point deficit and taking the lead with 3:14 to play in the fourth, but the Hoyas tied the game to send it to overtime and outscored the Bison 6-3 in the final frame to escape with the 50-47 win. They were the second-most combined points scored in a Bucknell game behind the 1966 82-29 loss to Temple.
It was the second year in a row the Bison and Hoyas remained tied trough four quarters, and Matt Schearer's 41-yard field goal in overtime this year was a yard shorter than his game winner in Washington, D.C. 364 days ago. The Bison were unable to get a final stop this year, as Georgetown's Joshua Stakely ran into the end zone one final time to end it. It was the 13th touchdown scored on Saturday.
"I was surprised at the slow start. I was surprised at how poorly we handled the first quarter of the football game, but these guys had it in them, and they did great things. Unfortunately, we just fell one play short," said head coach Dave Cecchini.
Three touchdowns were scored on the ground by Bucknell, all of which belonged to Rushawn Baker. The junior became the first Bison to rush for three scores since 2017, and he ended the game with 97 net yards. At one point, Baker had six carries for -4 yards and two touchdowns.
Three Bison touchdowns came through the air, as Ralph Rucker finished four yards shy of a third-consecutive 300-yard passing game, which no Bison has ever achieved. All three of his touchdown tosses came in the fourth quarter after a rocky start, as the Bison had -20 offensive yards through the first 15 minutes. Rucker hit three different receivers on scores through the air, and leading the way was Christian Tait with 85 receiving yards and the go-ahead touchdown late in the fourth. It was a career day for Tait, who was one of 27 seniors to be recognized before kickoff.
While Bucknell struggled early on, Georgetown raced to a 23-8 lead by halftime. Hoya quarterback Tyler Knoop posted 361 yards passing with four touchdowns including a 95-yarder to Jimmy Kibble, who racked up 179 receiving yards and two scores.
Georgetown found creative ways to score on a number of occasions, recording a safety in the first quarter and returning a Bucknell onside kick 46 yards early in the third.
Bucknell benefited from solid starting field position several times thanks to a number of shanked Georgetown punts. At one point in the third quarter, the Hoyas netted just 10 yards on a punt from their own 3-yard line, but Bucknell fumbled at the goal line on the ensuing drive resulting in one of their three turnovers. The Bison did, however, come away with two interceptions of their own in the game. Alex Smith Jr. picked off a Knoop pass on the first play of the second quarter, and Brad Jamison intercepted one in a crucial spot in the fourth quarter. Bucknell, trailing 37-30 with 7:10 to play, went for it on fourth-and-one at the Georgetown 49 and was stopped. Two plays later Jamison came up with the pick, and it led to the game-tying 32-yard touchdown pass to Eric Weatherly. Weatherly finished the game with a team-high five receptions and 74 yards. He also carried the ball three times after both Coleman Bennett and Baker left the game with injuries.
WE'RE TIED!!! Rucker ➡️ Weatherly! Bucknell trailed 37-15! @PatriotLeagueTV@ESPN https://t.co/mEhRih7apb pic.twitter.com/Hv2rloCyHh
— Bucknell Football (@Bucknell_FB) November 11, 2023
Rucker's touchdown pass to Derrick Anderson Jr. earlier in the fourth quarter, which cut the deficit to a single touchdown at 37-30, was his longest of the season at 65 yards. Bucknell's second-longest play of the game was a 38-yard touchdown run by Baker, which sparked the 29-0 scoring run. Rucker also had a solid game running the ball, picking up several first downs and netting 20 yards despite five sacks.
TOUCHDOWN BISON! A season-long 65-yard TD pass to Anderson, and the Bison trail by 7 with 9:22 to go! @PatriotLeagueTV@ESPN https://t.co/mEhRih7apb pic.twitter.com/yANB9QPmHZ
— Bucknell Football (@Bucknell_FB) November 11, 2023
On the final drive of overtime, Georgetown converted on a third-and-four and eventually got down to the goal line. Knoop, on a quarterback keeper, stretched for the goal line with the ball extended, and Tyler Alston knocked it free. Neither team knew whether it was a touchdown or a fumble, but upon further review it was determined knoop was down at the 1-yard line. On third-and-one, Stakely pounded it in for the win.
Alston finished the game with six tackles, 2.5 tackles for loss and two sacks. Ethan Robinson posted eight tackles and three pass breakups.
The Bison eclipsed the 400-yard mark for a third consecutive game, totaling 432 on 80 offensive play. 368 of those yards came in the second half.
Bucknell wraps up its 2023 season in Poughkeepsue, N.Y. next weekend when it faces Marsit. Kickoff is set for noon.
Team Stats
GEO 7, BUC 0
GEO - Biestek,Brock 20 yd pass from Knoop,Tyler (Ryan,Patrick kick) 9 plays, 72 yards, TOP 05:15
GEO 14, BUC 0
GEO - Kearney,Naieem 1 yd run (Ryan,Patrick kick), 4 plays, 29 yards, TOP 01:48
GEO 16, BUC 0
GEO - 0 yd safety
GEO 16, BUC 8
BUC - Baker, Rushawn 1 yd run (Weatherly,Eric pass), 10 plays, 64 yards, TOP 03:46
GEO 23, BUC 8
GEO - Dunneman,Nicholas 23 yd pass from Knoop,Tyler (Ryan,Patrick kick) 2 plays, 27 yards, TOP 00:40
GEO 23, BUC 15
BUC - Baker, Rushawn 2 yd run (Schearer,Matt kick), 5 plays, 65 yards, TOP 01:44
GEO 30, BUC 15
GEO - Mose,Naiteitei 46 yd kickoff return (Ryan,Patrick kick)
GEO 37, BUC 15
GEO - Kibble,Jimmy 95 yd pass from Knoop,Tyler (Ryan,Patrick kick) 1 plays, 95 yards, TOP 00:12
GEO 37, BUC 23
BUC - Baker, Rushawn 38 yd run (Rucker,Ralph rush), 7 plays, 60 yards, TOP 02:57
GEO 37, BUC 30
BUC - Anderson Jr.,Derrick 65 yd pass from Rucker,Ralph (Schearer,Matt kick) 3 plays, 80 yards, TOP 01:40
GEO 37, BUC 37
BUC - Weatherly,Eric 32 yd pass from Rucker,Ralph (Schearer,Matt kick) 4 plays, 44 yards, TOP 00:45
GEO 37, BUC 44
BUC - Tait,Christian 28 yd pass from Rucker,Ralph (Schearer,Matt kick) 2 plays, 40 yards, TOP 00:39
GEO 44, BUC 44
GEO - Kibble,Jimmy 25 yd pass from Knoop,Tyler (Ryan,Patrick kick) 4 plays, 69 yards, TOP 01:22
GEO 44, BUC 47
BUC - Schearer,Matt 41 yd field goal 4 plays, 1 yards, TOP 00:00
GEO 50, BUC 47
GEO - Stakely,Joshua 1 yd run (), 7 plays, 25 yards, TOP 00:00
