Oct. 4, 2008

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POUGHKEEPSIE, N.Y. - Marist senior running back Obozua Ehikioya (West Hempstead, N.Y.) set the program's all-time touchdown record with an 80-yard scoring run in the first quarter, but the Red Foxes allowed two fourth-quarter touchdowns in a 21-17 loss to Bucknell at Tenney Stadium at Leonidoff Field on Saturday. The touchdown was the 42nd of Ehikioya's career, enabling him to pass the late J.J. Allen on Marist's all-time list.

Ehikioya's record-setting touchdown was the longest run of his career and play itself was Marist's longest from scrimmage since Alfredo Riullano had a 96-yard touchdown run at Saint Peter's on Sept. 7, 2000.

Bucknell took the opening kickoff and drove to the Marist five-yard line. On fourth down, the Bison attempted a fake field goal, but Andrew Lair's pass was intercepted in the end zone by junior safety Nic Zivic (Coscob, Conn.). Ehikioya's 80-yard scoring run came on the next play, giving the Red Foxes a 7-0 lead with 9:35 left in the first quarter.

The Bison tied the game in the second quarter when quarterback Marcello Trigg rushed for a three-yard touchdown, which capped a 14-play, 94-yard drive. However, Marist took the lead on its next possession when freshman running back Ryan Dinnebeil (River Vale, N.J.) scored on a six-yard touchdown run, putting the Red Foxes up 14-7.

Marist took a 14-7 lead into halftime, and expanded it to 17-7 on a 26-yard field goal by sophomore kicker Kevin Pauly (Rochester, N.Y.) with 21 seconds left in the third quarter. Bucknell closed the gap to 17-14 with 9:14 left in the fourth on a nine-yard scoring strike from Trigg to Alex Odenbach.

The Red Foxes held the ball for 6:19 on their next drive, converting a third-and-seven and fourth-and-one. Bucknell then received the ball at its own six following a Pauly punt with 2:47 to play. A 42-yard pass from Trigg to Shaun Pasternak moved the ball into Marist territory with less than two minutes to play, and a 22-yard completion from Trigg to Pasternak put the ball at the Marist three with 1:09 to play. On the next play, Trigg completed his fourth pass to Pasternak on the drive, a three-yard scoring pass with put Bucknell up 21-17 with 1:02 to play.

The Red Foxes moved the ball just past midfield on their final drive, but were unable to convert a fourth-and-seven from the Bucknell 49, which enabled the Bison to run the clock out.

Ehikioya gained 156 yards on 25 carries for the Red Foxes. Junior quarterback Chris Debowski (Fountain Valley, Calif.) completed 14-of-21 passes for 140 yards. Junior wide receiver Will Brown (Windsor, Conn.) led the Red Foxes with six receptions for 45 yards. Defensively, sophomore safety John Van Aman (Landing, N.J.) led the way with eight tackles apiece.

Trigg completed 19-of-26 passes for 217 yards. Pasternak finished as Bucknell's leading receiver with six grabs for exactly 100 yards. A.J. Kizekai led the Bison with 51 rushing yards on 13 carries, as Marist outgained Bucknell on the ground 181-89. Defensively, Marques Morgan and Sam Nana-Sinkam led Bucknell with 10 tackles apiece.

Marist outgained Bucknell 321-306 in total yards, and the Red Foxes held a 36:37-23:23 edge in time possession. Marist held the ball for 22:01 in the second half, but the Bison outscored the Red Foxes 14-3 after the intermission.

Bucknell improved to 3-1, while the Red Foxes dropped their third straight to fall to 1-5. Marist will return to action next Saturday, when the Red Foxes play host to Bryant at 6 p.m. For ticket information, contact the Marist Ticket Office at (845) 575-3553.

Notes: Saturday's game was part of Homecoming Weekend at Marist. ... Former Marist men's basketball star Rik Smits (Class of '88) was present for the coin toss. Smits was the first Red Fox to be selected in the NBA Draft, when he was chosen second overall by the Indiana Pacers in 1988. Smits played all 12 of his years in the NBA with Indiana. ... Marist is now 0-4 lifetime against Bucknell. The previous three losses had been by a combined total of 80 points. ... The Bucknell-Marist game will air on tape delay on Time Warner Cable 6 on Monday at 8 p.m. It will be available after that on Time Warner's On Demand service. ... Next week's meeting between Bryant and Marist will be the first in series history.