Undersized QB shredding opponents on the ground

Despite his small stature, Bucknell's elusive option quarterback has put up some big stats this season.

Last weekend against No. 14 Fordham, the 5'8", 175-pounder ran for 199 yards and two scores in a 31-10 win. Now, Daris Wilson looks for a repeat performance against the 15th-ranked Quakers at Franklin Field.

"As players, we don't mind going in as underdogs," Wilson said. "It gives us more fire to play against ranked opponents."

Through five games, Wilson is the Bison's leading rusher with 525 yards, 223 more than Bucknell's top running back.

And although he has only thrown the ball 47 times, the quarterback has an efficiency rating over 138.

"I think he's a good passer. He's very efficient," said Tim Landis, Bucknell's first-year head coach. "He only has one interception in five games this season.

"He's not really big, but he has a very strong arm. And he's gotten better each week."

Such was not always the case for Wilson. After a prolific high school passing career, he was relegated to wide receiver and special teams for his first two years with the Bison (3-2).

"They had run a West Coast-type offense, so their quarterbacks were more pocket passers," Landis said on the philosophy of his coaching predecessor, Tom Gadd. "They saw Daris, with his speed, at receiver."

A 2-7 record prompted a change in offensive philosophy for the final two games of last season. Wilson was chosen as the new signal caller as the Bison finished 2-9.

Landis, who took over in December, hasn't been disappointed.

"It was a lucky situation for me to come here and find someone who was an option quarterback in high school and had worked two games in the option last year," Landis said.

Under Wilson's direction, the Bison offense averages 284 yards rushing per game. Three players on the roster have run for more than 298 yards this season.

Penn is ready for the challenge.

"We all, as a defense, have a tremendous amount of respect for this kid," Penn (3-0, 1-0 Ivy) linebacker Ric San Doval said. "He's right up there with Jermaine Pugh from Lehigh.

"Any team that can put up 285 yards a game rushing, you have to be concerned. But I think we have a good game plan. If we all work together as a unit, I think we're going to stop this kid."

San Doval has a right to be confident. The Quakers' defense is giving up just 2.2 yards per carry to opponents, and 69 yards a game.

Still, they've not faced an opponent this year as run-oriented as Bucknell."

"They're going to run the ball 50, 60, 70 times," Penn coach Al Bagnoli said. "Even if you hold them to a four-yard average, that's 250 yards.

"You're trying to minimize big plays. You don't mind a wishbone team going two [yards], four, three, two -- you just don't want that 60-yarder."

With the Quakers focused on Wilson, Landis said the key is to get production from other players in the backfield.

"Certainly [Wilson] is the biggest threat running the ball," he said. "But we have a fullback who is darn good, Blamah Sarnor, and our slot back, Raphael Darrington.

"Both those guys, though, are more straight-ahead, power runners."

Sarnor exploded for 147 yards in Bucknell's season-opener against Duquesne. Darrington's best showing was a nine-carry, 107-yard day against Cornell.

"They've got really good team speed," Bagnoli said. "All their skill guys are a threat to be home run guys.

"They're not big kids, but they all have one common thing -- they can all run pretty well. They get their hands on the ball, you know they're going to have some speed."

But Wilson is the trigger man. He delivers the ball into everyone else's hands.

And he is ready to do anything to win, even if it means throwing the ball.

"Columbia kind of did the same thing bringing both safeties close to the line," he said of his 10-for-14, 208-yard performance. "We threw the ball pretty successfully.

"Whatever the defense gives us, we'll take."

Daris Wilson School: Bucknell Year: Junior Height: 5'8" Weight: 175 pounds Position: Quarterback

Ran for 199 yards last week against No. 14 Fordham Leads Bucknell in rushing with 525 yards, 223 more than next highest rusher

Please note All comments are eligible for publication in The Daily Pennsylvanian.