Box Score Nov. 12, 2011
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Bronx, N.Y. -
Bucknell's Tyler Smith rushed for 204 yards and two touchdowns on Saturday, as the Bison handed the Fordham Rams a 21-0 loss at Jack Coffey Field to put the Rams record at 1-9 on the season.
Both squads opened with drives that ended in a punt, as Fordham went three-and-out, while Bucknell's drive was stalled by a sack by Benjamin Daley and Anthony Pesanello on Brandon Wesley.
After another stalled drive by Fordham, Bucknell put the first points on the scoreboard with a 71-yard drive over five plays. At its own 29 yard line, Tyler Smith opened with a 21-yard run to give Bucknell a first down at midfield. After a short completion, Smith busted out a 36-yard run to set-up a first and goal at the Fordham seven-yard line. Two plays later, Smith finished what he started with a two-yard touchdown run.
On the ensuing kickoff, Fordham's Lourenzo Smith fumbled at the Fordham 28-yard line and was recovered by Bucknell's Ryan Morgan. The Fordham defense held Bucknell to a 40-yard field goal attempt, which Drew Orth missed wide left, keeping the score at 7-0.
Fordham took over at its own 23, getting a first down on a nine-yard completion from Ryan Higgins to Carlton Koonce to the Fordham 34. Three plays later on a third down, Higgins completed a pass to Brian Wetzel, but a hit by Derrick Palmer forced a fumble, which was recovered by the Bison's Tim Bolte.
Bucknell quickly took advantage of the turnover four plays later to open up a 14-0 lead. The Bison started with a 35-yard completion to Victor Walker, setting up first and goal at the Fordham seven-yard line. Two plays later, Jeremiah Young scored on a one-yard touchdown run to make it a 14-0 Bucknell lead.
The Rams looked to answer back over their final four drives of the first half, however, two of the drives ended in Higgins' interceptions, while a promising drive that reached the Bucknell 13-yard line materialized in a blocked 30-yard field goal attempt.
In the second half, the Rams, still down 14-0, had a promising start, forcing a Bucknell punt on the opening drive of the third quarter. The ensuing drive by Fordham began with a 13-yard completion to Brad Pierre. The drive was kept alive with two third down conversions, extending the drive into Bucknell territory. Fordham then had the ball third and two at the Bucknell 34, but the Rams were penalized for a delay of game, stalling the drive. Punter Patrick Murray though would pin Bucknell at its own four-yard line.
The Rams' defense held strong, keeping the Bison pinned inside the ten yard line and forcing a punt that Greg Wilson returned for 15 yards to the Bucknell 21. Fordham opened that possession with an 11-yard completion to Brad Pierre, setting up first-and-goal at the Bucknell 10. The Rams' offense stalled there, leading to a 28-yard field goal attempt by Michael Marando, which he missed wide right.
The score remained 14-0 in favor of Bucknell into the fourth quarter, when the Bison put together the final scoring drive of the game. The Bison went 85 yards in seven plays over a span of four minutes to make it a 21-0 score. The key play of the drive was a 52-yard run by Smith, which eventually set up his second touchdown of the game.
The Bison defense, which caused five Fordham turnovers on the day, was able to hold on for the shutout, limiting the Rams to 267 yards on the day.
For Fordham, Wetzel was the top Fordham performer netting seven catches for 79 yards. On defense, Michael Martin posted seven tackles, five of which were solo tackles.
The Fordham football team will conclude their season on Saturday, November 19th, when the Rams host Holy Cross at 1:00 PM on Jack Coffey Field.
