Nitti's 5 TDs leads Bucknell past Lafayette 35-24

EASTON, Pa. (AP) R.J. Nitti threw for four touchdowns and ran for a fifth as Bucknell pulled away from Lafayette in the fourth quarter for a 35-24 victory

EASTON, Pa. (AP) R.J. Nitti threw for four touchdowns and ran for a fifth as Bucknell pulled away from Lafayette in the fourth quarter for a 35-24 victory Saturday.

The Leopards (1-8, 0-4 Patriot League) took a 14-0 first-quarter lead, but Nitti answered with a 4-yard toss to Andrew Owers followed by a 56-yard strike to Marcus Ademilola to knot the score at 14-14 with 1:26 left in the first half. Jacob Bissell kicked a 43-yard goal with 10 seconds left to send Lafayette into halftime with a 17-14 lead.

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Nitti found Bobby Kaslander with a 2-yard toss to give the Bison the lead, but Drew Reed answered with a 12-yard touchdown pass to Tim Vangelas to start the fourth quarter and give Lafayette a 24-21 lead.

Nitti found Will Carter from 55-yards out to put Bucknell (4-4, 1-2) ahead for good, then capped the scoring with a 5-yard run with 1:56 left.