Oct. 30, 2010
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LEWISBURG, Pa. - Quarterback Marc Quilling came off the Lafayette sideline to lead Lafayette to a 33-22 win at Bucknell on Saturday at Christy Mathewson Stadium. The senior threw three touchdowns after taking over late in the second quarter and completed 9-of-10 passes in the second half as the Leopards won their ninth in a row over the Bison.
Quilling finished the game 13-of-20 for 213 yards and three touchdowns. He took over for starter Ryan O'Neil who was 5-of-11 for 116 yards with one touchdown. Beating Bucknell with his arm is not new territory for Quilling who stepped in for an injured Rob Curley in 2008 and was 17-of-26 for 274 yards and three TD's.
The Leopards (2-, 1-1) held the momentum from the outset. On the second play from scrimmage, O'Neil hit Pat Mputu for a 75-yard catch and run. Mitchell Bennett's block on the outside helped seal off the play and spring Mputu for the 7-0 lead.
The teams exchanged punts on the next two possessions. Bucknell took over on its own 11 before Mike Schmidlein sacked Bucknell QB Brandon Wesley in the end zone for the Leopards' first safety since Nov. 22, 2008.
Late in the first quarter, Bucknell faced 3rd-and-goal at the Lafayette two-yard line. Wesley ran around the end and reached for the endzone, but Greg Mandile knocked the ball loose, causing a touchback in the end zone.
Lafayette returned the favor on the following drive, turning it over on its own 26. The odd string of ballhandling miscues continued. With the Leopards driving, O'Neil fumbled at the Bucknell 17.
The Bison took advantage. Wesley eluded a sack and threw a 79-yard touchdown toss to Frank DeNick. Lafayette led 9-7 with 8:44 left in the half.
Head coach Frank Tavani and offensive coordinator Mickey Fein made the decision to go to Quilling with 8:35 left in the half. On Quilling's second drive, he connected with Kyle Hayes for a 35-yard score with 3:50 left.
The Leopards' offense received one more chance at the end of the first half when Brandon Ellis picked off Wesley at the 43, but Lafayette's four passes intended for Hayes resulted in incompletions and a 16-7 halftime score.
Bucknell opened the second half quickly moving the ball down the field. The Leopards forced a 26-yard field goal attempt by Alex Eckard that missed wide left.
The Leopards registered two scores in quick order in the third quarter. Quilling hit Hayes (17) and Alan Elder (29) for big gainers before a 30-yard strike to Bennett put the senior wideout in the endzone. For the game, Elder did the bulk of his work on the ground where he cranked out 104 yards on 27 carries.
On the ensuing kickoff, Hayes forced a fumble that Sam Stuart recovered. Lafayette scored on its third play of the drive when Quilling reached Hayes for a 31-yard TD with Hayes' outstretched arm just crossing the goal line. Lafayette led 30-7. It was Hayes' team-leading fifth touchdown of the season.
Bucknell chopped the lead to two scores with a 33-yard halfback pass from Tyler Smith to Victor Walker for a 30-14 score.
With eight minutes left in the game, Lafayette had the ball 3rd-and-8 at the Bucknell 10. It looked as if Quilling would have his career-best fourth touchdown, but a holding penalty forced the Leopards to settle for a field goal for a 33-13 lead.
Bucknell cut it to 33-22 with four and a half minutes. Walker showed off more of his "escapability," finding Victor Walker for 35 yards. Tyler Smith punched in a 1-yard run, but time ran out on the Bison (2-6, 1-1).
Defensively, Lafayette gave up 76 rushing yards, the lowest opponent output of the season. Lafayette registered six sacks against the rookie quarterback, all by different players. Schmidlein and fellow linebacker Ben Eaton led the team with eight tackles apiece.
Lafayette completes its three-game road swing at Colgate (4-4, 1-2) on Nov. 6. The Raiders are coming off a 44-14 loss to Lehigh on Saturday when Colgate QB Greg Sullivan was knocked from the game
NOTES: Pat Mputu (ankle) and DeOliver Davis (toe) were knocked from the game in the first half with injuries. Anthony Buffolino joined that group after leaving in the second half.
Lafayette's 484 offensive yards were the second most for the squad in 2010 (Georgetown 509).
The six sacks were the most by the Lafayette defense since Lafayette had six at Yale on Oct. 2, 2009.
