POUGHKEEPSIE, N.Y. - Brandon Wesley threw two first-half touchdown passes as Bucknell opened its season by edging Marist, 19-17, on Saturday night.
The Bison, who were third in rushing defense last season in the Football Championship Subdivision, held the Red Foxes (1-1) to 57 rushing yards on 29 carries.
Wesley, who completed 20 of 27 passes for 190 yards with one interception, threw for scores of 6 yards to Travis Friend and 7 yards to Jake Flaherty, and Bucknell led 16-10 at halftime.
Sean Cobelli added a 36-yard fourth-quarter field goal for a 19-10 lead with 4:53 remaining after a 14-play Bucknell drive that took 7:29 off the clock.
Marist's Chuckie Looney, who completed 25 of 39 for 309 yards, threw an 11-yard touchdown pass to Matt Tralli with 31 seconds left, but Bucknell recovered the ensuing onside kick.
Bucknell ran for 142 yards on 38 carries, led by Jeremiah?Young, who rushed for 71 yards on 21 carries.
Victor Walker led Bucknell's receivers, reeling in six receptions for 81 yards. Travis Friend put the?Bison up first with a 6 yard grab from?Wesley before Marist's Calvin McCoy tied it up with a reception.
Bucknell used 22-yard field goal and a 7-yard touchdown pass from?Wesley to Jake Flaherty to take the lead for good in the second quarter.
The game started 68 minutes late after a thunderstorm delayed pregame warm-ups.
The Bison are on the road against next week at Delaware before playing their first home game against Lafayette on Sept. 21.
Bucknell7 9 0 3 - 19
Marist7 3 0 7
First Quarter
B-Friend 6 pass from?Wesley (Cobelli kick), 3:45.
M-McCoy 1 pass from?Looney?(Myers kick), 0:53.
Second?Quarter
B-Cobelli 22 field goal, 10:37.
B-Flaherty 7 pass from?Wesley (kick blocked), 5:48.
M-Myers 36 field goal, 1:42.
Fourth?Quarter
B-Cobelli 36 field goal, 4:50.
M-M. Tralli 11 pass from?Looney (Myers kick), 0:31.
TEAM?STATISTICS
BM
First downs1819
Rushes-yards38-14229-57
Passing yards190309
C-A-I 20-27-1 25-39-1
Return yards6435
Punts-avg.4-39.54-34.5
Fumbleslost1-11-1
Penalties-yards5-355-31
Time of Possession32:4927:11
INDIVIDUAL?STATISTICS
RUSHING-Bucknell, Young 21-71; Wsley 6-29; Ty.?Smith 5-19;?Thompson 3-17;?Walker 1-6;?Lauletta 1-1;?Team 1-(-1).?Marist, McCoy 12-40;?Jacquest 3-10;?Cotrone 3-5; Looney 11-2.
PASSING-Bucknell, Wesley 20-27-1 190.?Marist, Looney 25-39-1 309.
RECEIVING-Bucknell, Walker 6-81; Friend 4-25; Thompson 3-15; Lebo 2-23;?Brake 1-13; Gatto 1-12; Young 1-8;?Flaherty 1-7;?Kelly 1-6. Marits, M.?Tralli 7-76; A. Martin 7-75; Rios 5-82;?Royce 2-53; McCoy 2-6; D.?Diomede 1-16; Calcagni 1-1.
