Final Stats |
Photo Gallery 
Oct. 31, 2015
EASTON, Pa. -- Lafayette’s offense broke out Saturday afternoon against Bucknell, with DeSean Brown rushing for a career-high 110 yards to lead the way, but two late Bison touchdowns ultimately made the difference in a 35-24 victory for the visitors.
The Leopards took a 24-21 lead with 12:22 remaining in the fourth quarter on a 12-yard touchdown pass from Drew Reed (20-33-3 for 2 TD’s and 242 yards) to Tim Vangelas. Bucknell (4-4, 1-2 PL), though, responded with a 55-yard TD pass of its own five minutes later, and a five-yard rush from quarterback R.J. Nitti iced the game with 1:56 to play.
Lafayette (1-8, 0-4 PL) quickly drove down the field on its first possession of the game. C.J. Amill got things started with a 51-yard scamper up the middle. That run, the longest of the season for the Leopards, set them up at the Bucknell 17, and Reed hit Joey Chenoweth for a 13-yard score three plays later.
Brown got into the act on Lafayette’s third possession, running for 66 yards on four carries. The last of those handoffs was a 42-yard outburst into the endzone to double the Maroon and White’s advantage.
The score remained 14-0 heading into the second quarter. The teams traded turnovers early on in the session. A botched Bison snap was recovered by Jerry Powe, who started at strike linebacker, at the Bucknell 44, but Brown fumbled on the first play of the ensuing Leopard drive to hand the ball back.
Bucknell took advantage of its second chance, driving 63 yards on nine plays for its first touchdown of the afternoon. Nitti found Andrew Owers on a four-yard pass to the back of the endzone.
The Bison tied up the score with 1:26 to play in the half, again using a Lafayette giveaway to its benefit. Two plays after a Bryan Marine interception of Reed, Nitti flipped a pass to Marcus Ademilola, who then scampered 56 yards downfield for the touchdown.
The Leopards regained the lead on a 43-yard field goal from Jacob Bissell with 10 seconds left on the clock. Reed put the Maroon and White in range with a 20-yard completion to Vangelas down the right sideline. Bissell’s field goal was his first since Sept. 12, as the accurate freshman has had several kicks blocked.
Bucknell began the third quarter with a lengthy drive, covering 75 yards on 14 plays. The Bison capped it with a two-yard Nitti pass to Bobby Kaslander for the score. On the drive, Bucknell converted three third-down plays of 18, 16 and 13 yards. The final conversion was a run by Matt DelMauro (12-107) that put Bucknell 1st-and-goal at the three-yard line.
Lafayette tried to respond, driving to the Bucknell 35-yard line. On 4th-and-1, the Leopards were stuffed at the line of scrimmage. Marine and the Bison defense added a second interception to end the third quarter.
The Bison were forced to punt on their resulting possession. After a bad snap, Lafayette took over on the Bucknell eight-yard line when Rajhan Meriwether recovered the errant snap. Two plays later, Reed hit Vangelas for the 12-yard TD as Lafayette led 24-21.
On the ensuing possession, Bucknell could not get things going. The Bison faced 4th-and-6 at their own 25 and opted for a fake punt. The attempt was incomplete and Lafayette took over at Bucknell 25-yard line. The Leopards couldn’t utilize the field position and turned the ball over on downs.
Bucknell took the lead for good as Nitti (15-26-0 for 241 yards, 4 TD’s) floated a 55-yard pass to a wide-open Will Carter. The Bison led 28-24 with seven minutes to play.
The Leopards were forced to punt on their next possession, after netting -12 yards on the crucial drive. Bucknell ran down the clock and sealed the win with Nitti’s five-yard run on 3rd-and-goal.
Lafayette closes out the home portion of the 2015 slate on Nov. 7, hosting Colgate at 1 p.m. on Senior Day.
NOTES:
Brown’s 110-yard rushing game was the first 100-yard game of the season, thanks in part to the return of junior offensive tackle Connor Staudle who started the game and had significant reps after missing five games.
Tight end Dylan Wadsworth also returned to the lineup after missing three games in the middle of the season. Wadsworth had a team-best five receptions for 82 yards.
