Football Knocks Off Bucknell, 59-17

Lewisburg, Pa. – It was a football game that resembled a basketball game for Fordham today at Christy Mathewson Memorial Stadium as the Rams used two long runs to pull out a 59-17 Patriot League win over Bucknell University. No, they weren't long runs from scrimmage but long scoring runs as Fordham closed out the first half with a 24 unanswered points and then scored the final 21 points of the game for the victory.
 
With the win Fordham improves to 7-2 overall, 3-1 in the Patriot League, while Bucknell falls to 1-8 overall, 1-4 in the League.
 
The game a team effort as three units for the Rams chipped in with the offense scoring seven touchdowns, the defense one, and special teams giving the offense excellent field position.
 
Senior quarterback Tim DeMorat completed 31 of 49 passes for 346 yards and five touchdowns with 12 of the receptions going to senior wide receiver Fotis Kokosioulis for 132 yards and two scores.
 
Defensively, grad linebacker Ryan Greenhagen recorded 12 total tackles, six solo, including one for loss, as he becomes the Fordham career leader with 235 solo tackles and 48.0 TFLs. Sophomore linebacker James Conway added eleven stops, five solo, and freshman defensive back Alex Kemper picked off a pair of passes, including one he brought back 22 yards for a score.
 
The game was tied at three early in the second quarter when the Rams scored three touchdown in the final 4:30 of the half to take a 24-3 lead at the break.
 
The Bison scored first in the third quarter to make it a24-10 game before DeMorat hit Mekai Felton with a 23-yard scoring strike to put Fordham up 31-10 at the end of the third.
 
Takeaways
• It was only the second game of the season that Fordham did not score in the first quarter.
 
• Freshman running back Jack Kaiser and junior running back Taj Barnes scored their first collegiate touchdowns.
 
• Freshman running back Chris Shaw had his first collegiate carry in the game and finished with two rushes for 37 yards.
 
• The offensive line was down two players as center Cody Johnson did not play and left guard Lucas Portes left the game with an injury.
 
• The Fordham kickoff coverage unit twice pinned Bucknell inside its own ten and once recovered a kickoff on the Bucknell 12 that the Rams turned into a score.
 
• Sophomore tight end Jaden Allen celebrated his birthday with a 12-yard touchdown reception.
 
• There were some four-legged fans in the stands today as Bucknell hosted a "Bring your dog to the gam" day.
 
• Field judge Milton Hagans officiated his 300^th division one game today.
 
By the Numbers
10 – Straight wins by Fordham over Bucknell.
 
31 – Career 200-yard passing games for Tim DeMorat, a new school record (former mark was 26 by John Skelton (2006-2009).
 
31 – Career touchdown receptions by Fotis Kokosioulis, third on the Rams' career list and fifth on the Patriot League career list.
 
43 – Passing touchdowns in 2022 for Tim DeMorat, a school and Patriot League record (old record as 35 by Fordham's Mike Nebrich in 2013).


48.0 – Career TFLs for Ryan Greenhagen, a school record.
 
57 – PATs on the season for junior kicker Brandon Peskin, third most on a season for a Ram (school record is 64 by Michael Marando in 2014).
 
110 – Career touchdown passes for Tim DeMorat, a school record and second all-time in the Patriot League (Patriot League record is 117 by Holy Cross' Dominic Randolph).

203 – Career receptions for Fotis Kokosioulis, moving him into third on the Fordham all-time list.

455 – Points scored by Fordham in 2022 (school record is 569 set by the 2014 team).
 
235 – Career solo tackles for Ryan Greenhagen, a new school record (former record was 232 by Ian Williams (2011-2014).

398 – Career tackles for Ryan Greenhagen, second on the Fordham career tackles list (school record is 409 by Mark Blazejewski (1988-92).
 
942 – Career completions for Tim DeMorat, a new school record (old record was 802 by John Skelton (2006-2009).
  
2,675 – Career receiving yards for Fotis Kokosioulis, moving him into fourth on the all-time list for the Rams.

2,651 – Career receiving yards for Dequece Carter, fifth place all-time at Fordham.

3,625 – Passing yards for Tim DeMorat this season, third most in a season for a Ram.
  
12,188 – Career passing yards for Tim DeMorat, a Fordham career record and second all-time in the Patriot League (Patriot League record is 13,455 by Holy Cross' Dominic Randolph).
 
What's Next?
• The Rams continue Patriot League play by hosting the Lafayette College Leopards on Jack Coffey Field on Saturday, November 12, at 1:00 p.m.
 
• It will be the 40th meeting between Fordham and Lafayette on the gridiron.
 
• The Leopards lead the all-time series, which started in 1903, 25- 13-1, but Fordham took last year's matchup, 42-41, on October 2 in Easton as Tim DeMorat scored from the two with 28 seconds left to provide the winning margin.