Nov. 14, 2009

HAMILTON, N.Y. - C.J. Hopson posted his third 100-yard rushing game of the season and Bucknell trailed by just one point in the fourth quarter, but Colgate capitalized on a pair of fourth-quarter Bison fumbles and defeated Bucknell 29-14 on an overcast, but unseasonably warm fall Saturday at Andy Kerr Stadium. The loss was the fifth in a row for the Bison, who fell to 3-7 overall and 1-4 in Patriot League play. The Raiders concluded their 2009 campaign with a 9-2 record, including a 4-2 Patriot League mark.

Bucknell started C.J. Hopson at quarterback for the first time in three games and focused on running the ball. He rushed a career-high 27 times for 134 yards and a pair of scores. He came up two shy of equaling his career high for yards in a game as Bucknell piled up a season-high 214 yards on the ground.

The Bison also forced three turnovers (2 INT, 1 fumble) and stopped Colgate on a fourth down attempt in the first half. Greg Jones and Ahkiel White registered the interceptions for Bucknell. Jones now has three interceptions this year, while White has a team-high four.

The game was close throughout as neither team led by more than one score until Colgate's 14-point fourth quarter. Bucknell got on the board first as Hopson scored from five yards out with just under nine minutes to play in the second quarter. The keys to the 10-play, 55-yard scoring drive were a 15-yard run by freshman Robert Owoyele on his first career carry and a third-and-four completion by Hopson to a diving Ryan Smith along the right sideline.

Colgate answered back on its next drive, covering 64 yards on 11 plays and eating up nearly six minutes off the clock. Nate Eachus, who finished the game with 99 yards, scored on a nine-yard run, but Evan Colborne missed the extra point, preserving the Bison lead.

It looked as though Bucknell would take a lead into halftime for the first time this season when it took possession with 2:38 remaining in the half, but it was forced to punt. Colgate capitalized on the extra possession and the short field as Greg Sullivan found Pat Simonds for 32 yards on the first play, putting the Raiders in field goal range. Colborne then split the uprights on a 34-yard field goal with 20 seconds to play, making the halftime score 9-7.

Bucknell took its first second-half lead since defeating Georgetown last month early in the third as Hopson scored on a quarterback sneak. A 43-yard completion to Justin Pulgrano over the middle where he outran the Colgate defensive backs set up the score. It was the longest pass completion of Hopson's career.

It appeared as though Bucknell gained momentum, especially after White's eighth career interception on the next drive, but the Bison went three-and-out on their ensuing possession.

Colgate took hold of the game after that as Sullivan found Simonds for a 34-yard touchdown and then Austin Douglas sacked Hopson on a fourth-and-13 from the Colgate 32.

Bucknell gave it one last push as Tyler Anderson recovered a Sullivan fumble on the Bucknell four-yard line, but six plays later Tyler Smith gave it right back with a fumble of his own. Sullivan then found Simonds for another touchdown, his Colgate single-season record-breaking 14th of the year.

A fumble by Josh Lee on the ensuing kickoff all but sealed the outcome as Colgate scored its final touchdown three plays later on a 31-yard rush by Sullivan with less than six minutes to play.

Hopson finished the game 4 of 14 passing for 59 yards, 43 of which came on the long pass to Pulgrano. Travis Nissley led the team with 12 tackles, while Jones added nine, giving him a career-high 97 on the year.

Sullivan, Eachus and Simonds dominated the contest for the Raiders. Sullivan completed 12 of 20 passes for 212 yards and a pair of scores, while Simonds had nine catches for 167 yards. Jordan McCord added 51 yards rushing as all four of those Raiders registered at least 99 all-purpose yards.

Bucknell, which went 0-3 on its three-game road trip to Lafayette, Fordham and Colgate, will wrap up its 2009 season next Saturday at home against Patriot League regular-season champion Holy Cross. Kickoff is slated for 1 p.m. at Christy Mathewson-Memorial Stadium.