Oct. 27, 2009
What: Bucknell Bison (3-4, 1-1 PL) at Lafayette Leopards (6-1, 2-0 PL)
Where: Fisher Stadium, Easton, Pa.
When: Saturday, Oct. 31, 2009, 1 p.m.
TV: Lafayette Sports Network (RCN-4&8, WBPH-60)
Internet Video: GoLeopards.com
/PatriotLeague.com
Radio: Eagle 107 (107.3 WEGH)
Internet Radio: SportsJuice.com
Live Statistics: GameTracker 
Game Notes
Other Links:
Bucknell Football Luncheon
Bucknell-Lehigh Photo Gallery 
Bucknell-Lehigh Highlights
Q&A with senior LB Casey Williams
Q&A with senior LB Josh Andersen
With a Victory over Lafayette, Bucknell Would ...
- ... snap a five-game road losing streak.
- ... even its record at .500.
- ... defeat the Leopards for the first time since 2001.
- ... post a .500 record in October for the third time in the last four years.
- ... avoid its first three-game losing streak since 2008.
- ... post a win in its eighth game of the season for the first time since 2004, and the second time since 2001.
About the Game
Bucknell (3-4, 1-1 PL) and Lafayette (6-1, 2-0 PL) enter Saturday's game heading in opposite directions. The Bison are in the midst of their first losing streak of the season and are commencing a three-game road trip. The Leopards, who are part of a three-way tie for first place in the Patriot League, have won five in a row and will be playing the middle contest of a three-game homestand. The Bison have struggled offensively, averaging 11.8 points per game over their last five outings. Lafayette is averaging 27.2 points over that same span, which feature four victories over Ivy League opponents.
Bucknell vs. Lafayette Series Notes
- Lafayette leads 48-32-6.
- Lafayette has won seven straight.
- Lafayette has won last four meetings by 22 points per game.
- Bucknell was last shut out vs. Lafayette (31-0, Sept. 9, 2006)
- Bucknell has lost three straight to Lafayette at Fisher Stadium.
- Bucknell's 86 all-time meetings with Lafayette make it the most-played series in program history.
- Lafayette was Bucknell's only opponent in 1883, its first year of football.
- Bucknell has not scored more than 21 points in last eight games vs. Lafayette.
Last Time vs. Lafayette
Lafayette 38, Bucknell 21 (Nov. 8, 2008 - Lewisburg, Pa.)
- A.J. Kizekai broke the Bucknell single-game record with 210 kickoff return yards. Kizekai also set a Bucknell record with a 100-yard kickoff return that opened the Bison scoring.
- Shaun Pasternak caught two touchdown passes, giving him 10 on the season, equaling the Bucknell record.
- Lafayette doubled up Bucknell in total yards, 474-222.
- A.J. Kizekai totaled 285 all-purpose yards, the seventh-best total in program history.
- Bucknell's 21 points equaled the second-most Lafayette's defense yielded in 2008 and it was the most the Bison had scored against the Leopards since 2000.
Inside the Lehigh Box Score
- Shaun Pasternak made his first start of the year at wide receiver and registered his sixth career 100-yard receiving game with 127 yards on six catches.
- Bryce Robertson recorded a career-high nine tackles.
- Ahkiel White intercepted a pass for the third straight game.
- Lehigh won its 12th straight game in the series.
- Greg Jones tallied a game-high 10 tackles, marking the sixth time in the last seven home games he has registered double-figure stops.
- Bucknell recorded three plays of at least 30 yards after not registering a play of 30 yards since the season opener at Duquesne.
- Marcello Trigg moved into a tie for second place on the Bucknell career touchdown list with 30.
- Marcello Trigg became Bucknell's first 200-yard passer in 2009 with his first 200-yard outing since 2008 vs. Marist.
- Bucknell ended a first-half scoreless streak of 102:14 when Marcello Trigg scored on a 17-yard run with 1:38 left in the second quarter.
- Seven different Bison receivers caught a pass, marking the third time that has occurred this year.
- Bucknell did not record a sack for a second consecutive game for the first time since 2006.
- Lehigh had nine penalties, compared to two for Bucknell.
- Lehigh had the ball 36:56, while Bucknell possessed the ball for 23:04.
- Lehigh converted 10 of 20 third downs and accumulated 198 of its 461 total yards on third and fourth down.
Return of Pasternak
Junior Preseason All-American WR Shaun Pasternak made his first start of the year last Saturday against Lehigh and caught six passes for 127 yards and one touchdown. It was the sixth 100-yard game of Pasternak's career, and he now ranks second on the team with 139 receiving yards this season. He also stands 10th in program history with 1,485 career receiving yards.
Most 100-Yard Receiving Games (career)
1. Tom Mitchell (1963-65) - 11
2. Albert Marquardt (2000-03) - 6
Shaun Pasternak (2007-pres.) - 6
Touchdowns For Pasternak
WR Shaun Pasternak caught a 43-yard touchdown pass from Marcello Trigg against Lehigh last Saturday. It marked the seventh consecutive start where Pasternak has caught a touchdown. He has 15 career receiving touchdowns, three shy of equaling the program record shared by Tom Mitchell and Lester Erb.
Three-Game Road Trip
Bucknell commences a three-game road trip Saturday at Lafayette. The Bison last played three in a row on the road in 2005 and went 0-3, facing the same teams they will this year (Lafayette, Fordham, Colgate). Since the Patriot League era began in 1986, Bucknell has had 10 road trips of at least three games.
Long Road Trip Records (since 1986, at least three games)
1986: 0-3
1991: 0-3
1992: 1-2
1995: 1-2
1996: 2-1
1997: 3-0, 2-1
2002: 0-3
2003: 2-3
2005: 0-3
Common Opponents
Saturday's game will be the 87th all-time meeting between Bucknell and Lafayette. The Leopards are the most-played rival for the Bison. The series began in 1883, the first year of Bucknell football.
Bucknell's Most Common Opponents
1. Lafayette - 86 games
2. Lehigh - 73 games
3. Gettysburg - 64 games
4. Colgate - 57 games
Four-Game Home Winning Streak Snapped
Bucknell's loss to Lehigh last Saturday snapped a four-game home winning streak for the Bison, their longest since 2001. Bucknell will now try to end a five-game road losing streak at Lafayette. The Bison have not lost five in a row on the road since 2005-06 when they dropped seven straight.
Two Shy of Gadd
Bucknell seventh-year head coach Tim Landis is two games coached shy of equaling Tom Gadd for fourth in Bucknell history. Landis will be coaching his 75th game at Bucknell on Saturday. Gadd was at the helm of the Bison for 76 games over his seven years on the sidelines. Robert Curtis holds the program record with 101 games coached.
Three Straight INTs for White
Junior DB Ahkiel White has intercepted a pass in three consecutive games. He is the first Bison to pick off a pass in three straight games since Erich Muzi accomplished the feat in 1998 against Holy Cross, Lehigh and Towson. White is tied for the team lead with a career-high three interceptions this season and his seven career picks are the most by a Bucknell player since Dante Ross had seven from 2002-05.
Team Interceptions
Bucknell has 13 interceptions this year, ranking it first in the Patriot League and nearly doubling its total from all of 2008. The Bison have at least one interception in four consecutive games, their longest streak since picking off at least one pass in the final nine games of the 2007 campaign. Bucknell is tied for fifth nationally in interceptions.
FCS Interception Leaders
1. Southern 15
2. Arkansas Pine-Bluff 14
New Hampshire 14
Southern Illinois 14
5. Bucknell 13
Cal Poly 13
Old Dominion 13
South Dakota State 13
First-Half Struggles
Marcello Trigg weaved through the Lehigh defense for a 17-yard touchdown in the final two minutes of the first half last Saturday against Lehigh. The score broke a streak of 102 minutes, 14 seconds without a first-half point for the Bison. Bucknell's last first-half point came early in the second quarter against Marist.
Five Straight Under 20 Points
Bucknell has not exceeded 20 points since its 26-23 victory over Robert Morris in week two. It is the first time the Bison have failed to score 20 points in five consecutive games since 1993.
Touchdown Trigg
Senior QB Marcello Trigg connected with Shaun Pasternak on a 43-yard touchdown vs. Lehigh. It was the 30th touchdown pass of Trigg's career, tying him for second in program history with Bob Gibbon. After tossing 13 touchdowns last year, Trigg has just five this year. The touchdown pass was the first for a Bison quarterback since the Cornell game in mid-September. Trigg's 200 yards in the air against Lehigh also marked his first 200-yard outing since last October vs. Marist.
Red Zone Success
Bucknell and its last three opponents have combined to score on all 14 attempts inside the Red Zone. The Bison are 5-for-5 over that three-game span, while their opponents are 9-for-9.
Strong Defensive Opponents
Bucknell has faced some stout defenses this year, and that won't change this weekend. The Bison have already faced Penn (No. 3 defense), Marist (No. 13 defense) and Lehigh (No. 15 defense). Lafayette is ranked 26th nationally in total defense.
Yellow Flags
Bucknell was the least-penalized team in the nation in 2007 and 2008 and that seems to be continuing this year. The Bison rank first nationally in fewest penalties per game (3.57) and second nationally in fewest penalty yards per game (35.0). Bucknell has committed fewer penalties than its opponents in each of its last 12 outings. Over that span the Bison have been penalized 35 times for 330 yards, while their opponents have piled up 704 penalty yards on 78 penalties.
Fewest Penalties per game
1. Bucknell - 3.57
2. Villanova - 3.75
3. South Dakota State - 4.00
4. Liberty - 4.43
Davidson - 4.43
Delaware - 4.43
Fewest Penalty Yards per game
1. Villanova - 34.3
2. Bucknell - 35.0
Liberty - 35.0
4. Penn - 37.8
5. Dayton - 39.4
Big Plays Return for Bison
Bucknell registered three pass plays of longer than 30 yards last Saturday vs. Lehigh. It was the first time the Bison had an offensive play of at least 30 yards since the season opener at Duquesne. Bucknell now has five 30-plus yard plays, while its opponents have 15.
Double-Figure Tackles for Jones
Senior LB Greg Jones posted a game-high 10 tackles vs. Lehigh. It marked his fourth double-figure tackle game this year and it was the third time he paced the team in stops. Jones now has six double-figure tackle outings in his last seven home games and he has piled up 133 tackles in his last 13 games. Jones ranks fourth in the Patriot League with 64 tackles this year, bringing his career total to 220.
Scoring Average
Bucknell is averaging 14.9 points per game this season. That figure is its lowest since 2002 when it averaged 14.8 points.
Kizekai vs. Lafayette
Bucknell RB A.J. Kizekai has had success returning kicks against Lafayette in his career. Kizekai has returned 11 kicks for 326 yards (29.6 avg.) over the last two years opposite the Leopards. Included in those returns was a 100-yard touchdown last year that set a Bucknell record.
Returns for Kizekai
A.J. Kizekai has 533 kickoff return yards this year, placing him atop the Patriot League. That figure is also the seventh-best single-season total in program history. Not counting the top two single-season figures - which Kizekai owns - he would rank fifth.
Winning Turnover Battle
Bucknell is 8-0 in its last eight games where it has had fewer turnovers than its opponents.
Up Next
Bucknell will play the middle contest of a three-game road trip next Saturday at Fordham. Kickoff for the game is slated for 1 p.m. The Bison have won three in a row against the Rams.
