LEWISBURG -- As long as quarterback Dominic Randolph is able to stand in the pocket, opposing defenses have little chance of stopping the Holy Cross offensive juggernaut.
Bucknell, with just 11 sacks in the first seven games, knew that as well as anyone.
Down by two touchdowns but with a glimmer of hope after scoring, the Bison forced a third-down incompletion and a likely punt at the Crusaders' 35-yard line late in the first quarter. Then the least expected thing happened.
The least penalized team in the nation was flagged for roughing the passer. Fifteen yards, a first down and a shift in momentum.
Seven plays later, Randolph hit favorite target Thomas Harrison with a back-breaking 16-yard touchdown pass -- Harrison's first catch of the game, but, perhaps, the most important.
After that, the rout was on. Randolph led the nation's third-ranked offense to touchdowns on its first five series and Holy Cross' first-team offense didn't punt in a 45-21 win Saturday afternoon at Christy Mathewson-Memorial Stadium.
Randolph completed 30 of 43 passes for 363 yards and three scores in just more than three quarters of play as Holy Cross, 6-2 overall, 3-0 in the Patriot League, is set for a visit to Fordham (4-0 PL) in a battle for first place.
"I know I'd be frustrated if another team threw the ball as much and you can't get to the quarterback," Holy Cross coach Tom Gilmore said. "I think (the late hit) was clear. You knew it was going to be called.
"Our drive stalled, but then we were able to go down and score."
The Crusaders racked up 590 yards of total offense, running 52 more plays than the Bison, and had the ball for 41 minutes, 37 seconds. The Holy Cross first-team offense averaged nearly eight yards per play.
"They are hitting on all cylinders," Bucknell coach Tim Landis said. "They are going to be very difficult to beat. They have the best offense I've seen this year."
Terrance Gass ran for 125 yards on just 12 carries and Jon Brock had a game-high eight catches for 99 yards for Holy Cross.
"One thing that has definitely improved is their running game," Landis added of the Crusaders. "Since early in the year, they've really gotten better. Against Dartmouth, they just lined up and ran it down their throats.
"It's a very formidable running game, so it's a double-edged sword. What do you try to stop?"
Holy Cross has scored on 13 of its last 15 possessions, dating back to last week's win at Lehigh.
A.J. Kizekai was a bright spot for Bucknell with a 16-yard touchdown reception, and an 80-yard scoring run in the fourth quarter on his only carry other than Bucknell's first offensive play of the game. Trigg threw the touchdown pass and ran for an 11-yard score early in the third quarter.
Coming off a thrashing of host Lehigh and with Fordham in the near future, Holy Cross could have been unfocused. Instead, it was sharp from the start.
The Crusaders scored three touchdowns on their first 22 offensive plays before the personal foul call prolonged a 12-play drive to build a 28-7 lead early in the second quarter.
Holy Cross scored again, driving 89 yards in 11 plays for a 28-point cushion, before coming up empty on its last series of the first half when Ryan McGuire was flagged for offensive pass interference on his touchdown catch.
Bucknell scored on the opening drive of the second half on Trigg's run off the left side, but Holy Cross needed just seven plays to respond.
Randolph's touchdown pass to Ryan Maher restored order at the 10:01 mark of the third quarter, 42-14.
Notes: Casey Williams and Brigham Farrand each had 10 tackles to lead the Bison. Josh Eden and Ryan Slater each added nine. Slater also had a fourth-quarter interception of backup quarterback Brian McSharry. "Â? Slater and Will Braaf each had a sack. Holy Cross had allowed only 10 sacks all season entering Saturday. "Â? Bucknell punter Phil Azarik didn't dress because of an ankle injury. It is the second time in two years in which he missed a game with an injury suffered while exercising. Wide receiver Alex Odenbach made his first college appearance as a punter. "Â? Kevin Mullen started in place of injured Josh DeStefano at fullback. Linebacker Marques Morgan made his second start in place of Sam Williams, who did play after not dressing last week with an injury. "Â? Shaun Pasternak made his first career start at wide receiver in place of Josh Lovett. "Â? Trigg's fourth-quarter interception was his first since the opening game at Duquesne. "Â? Bucknell visits Lafayette next Saturday at 1 p.m.
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