BUCKNELL UNIVERSITY
2024 BISON FOOTBALL MEDIA NOTES
Aug. 31 at Navy 49-21 L
Sept. 7 at VMI 35-28 W
Sept. 14 MERRIMACK 31-21 L
Sept. 21 MARIST 34-18 W
Sept. 28 at Lehigh* (2OT) 38-35 W
Oct. 12 at Penn 31-21 L
Oct. 19 CORNELL (HC) 34-21 L
Oct. 26 at Georgetown* 21-20 L
Nov. 2 LAFAYETTE* 21-14 W
Nov. 9 FORDHAM* 28-27 W
Nov. 16 at Holy Cross* 40-38 L
Nov. 23 COLGATE* 1 p.m.
* Patriot League game; HC Homecoming Home games in CAPS and played at Christy Mathewson-Memorial Stadium All times Eastern and subject to change
FOLLOW THE BISON
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Internet Audio BucknellBison.com
Radio Bison Sports Network
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Hashtag #ACT | #rayBucknell
MEDIA INFORMATION
MID-WEEK INTERVIEWS: All interview requests for Cecchini and Bison players should be directed to Jon Terry at terry@bucknell.edu or 570-577-3121.
POST-GAME INTERVIEWS: After the NCAAmandated 10-minute “cooling off” period, Cecchini and Bison players will be available for interviews. Check with the host SID for interview location. Please submit player requests to Jon Terry no later than five minutes before the end of regulation.
CREDENTIAL REQUESTS: Requests for media credentials at Bucknell home games are required and are issued to working members of the press only. Season credentials will be granted to media members who cover Bucknell football on a regular basis. Requests for single-game credentials should arrive no later than three days prior to the game. All singlegame credentials may be picked up in the Christy Mathewson-Memorial Stadium press box on game day. Please contact Jon Terry to request a credential.
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PROJECTED BUCKNELL STARTERS
QB 10 Ralph Rucker IV
4x PL Offensive Player of Week, school-record 5 TD passes last week at HC RB 7 Tariq Thomas
WR 17 Nate Anderson
WR 3 Josh Gary Jr. 5-11
WR 2 Eric Weatherly Jr. 5-8
LT 70 Xavier Allen So. 6-5
LG 74 Casey Stephenson 5th 6-2
C 78 John Ohnegian Jr. 6-2
RG 75 Jake Guy
Sr. 6-2
RT 56 Mark Mulhern Jr. 6-6
TE 82 Charlie Kreinbucher Jr. 6-5
4x PL Rookie of Week; Jerry Rice Award Watch List; 5th in PL in rushing
508 yards on 41 receptions this season; 3 TDs in last 2 weeks, 5 on season
Career-high 13 catches at Penn; 3 of 47 grabs in 2024 are for TDs
180 1,294 yards, 13 TD catches in 2 seasons as a Bison; 2 TDs last week at HC
315 Made 7 starts at left tackle as a freshman and started 10 of 11 games this year
300 12th multi-year captain in team history, one of two 5th-yr. seniors, 29 starts
304 Captain, 22 consecutive starts, team’s 2023 Most Outstanding Lineman Award
314 23 starts, missed 2023 with injury, start at VMI was 1st since Nov. 19, 2022
331 4 starts this season
260 25 starts, 18 catches for 136 yards and a TD this season
Pos. No. Name Cl. Ht. Wt. Fast Fact
DE 30 William Caneer So. 6-3
N 15 Cade Rooney Sr. 6-3
DE 90 Aneesh Vyas Sr. 6-2
LB 33 Brad Jamison
Sr. 6-2
238 6 of 21 tackles are for loss this season
295 19 career starts, 2 INTs last season, 30 tackles and 3 TFL this season
300 26 career starts, 2 passes batted down this season, 5 career blocked kicks
240 Captain, 2nd Tm All-PL, 2023 team tackles leader, 53 tackles & 3 sacks this year
LB 13 Gavin Willis So. 6-0 230 National Player of Week on 11/11; leads all NCAA divisions in FRs (5)
LB 23 Nick Hoying So. 6-0
S 45 John Schlendorf Sr. 5-10
207 Team’s No. 2 tackler this season with 84 (5.5 TFL); INT at Navy
195 33 consecutive starts (leads team), strip-sack at VMI, 77 tackles
S 20 Mason Taylor Sr. 6-2 195 20 career starts, 35 tackles & INT this year
S 6 Alex Smith Jr. Sr. 6-2 210 Captain, 25 starts, 6 career INTs, 54 tackles this year, pick-6 vs. Marist
CB 5 Roman Pearson Jr. 6-2 195 18 starts, 36 tackles, 9 PBUs, 2 INT this season
CB 16 Aaron Davis Jr. 5-11
Pos. No. Name
PK 62 Matt Schearer
62 Matt Schearer
Led all NCAA divisions with 21 PBUs at Wheeling in 2023; 3 INTs this season
SPECIAL TEAMS
Ht. Wt. Fast Fact
Frosh has handled KO duties since Week 3
GENERAL INFORMATION
Location
Lewisburg, Pa.
Founded (Enrollment) 1846 (3,950)
Affiliation
NCAA Division I
Nickname Bison
Colors ........................................................................................ Blue and Orange
Conference The Patriot League
President Dr. John C. Bravman
Vice President/Athletics & Recreation
ATHLETIC COMMUNICATIONS
Jermaine Truax
Associate AD/Football Contact Jon Terry
E-Mail terry@bucknell.edu
Office 570-577-3121
Cell 570-850-9603
Web BucknellBison.com
Athletics Twitter (Football Twitter) @Bucknell_Bison (@Bucknell_FB)
Athletics Instagram (Football Instagram) BucknellBison (Bucknell_FB)
Athletics Facebook ................................................................... Bucknell Athletics
COACHING & SUPPORT STAFF
Head Coach Dave Cecchini
Alma Mater Lehigh University, ‘95
Record at Bucknell 18-41 (6th season)
Career Record 35-79 (11th season)
Offensive Coordinator John Bear
Defensive Coordinator Chris Bowers
Special Teams Coordinator Brad Jarman
Assistant Coaches Vinny Giacalone, McNeil Parker, Sean Pearson, Braelon Roberts, Jalen Banks, Codey Cole, Ashley Cornwell, Roger Wright-Lester
Strength & Conditioning Coach Mark Kulbis
Video Coordinator ........................................................................... Kiem LeGrant
Athletic Trainers Kaiti Hager, Rayna Murphy, Maddy Miller
Equipment Manager Liel Karstetter
FOOTBALL HISTORY
First Season 1883
All-Time Record 620-635-51
All-Time Patriot League Record ............................................................. 85-130-1
Patriot League Championships 1 (1996)
MAC Championships 1 (1965)
Lambert Cup Titles 2 (1960,1964)
AP All-Americans 59 (most recent Alex Pechin, ’19)
AFCA All-Americans 12 (most recent Alex Pechin, ’19)
Academic All-Americans 25 (most recent Rick Mottram, ’19)
NFL Draft Picks 7 (most recent Julién Davenport, ’17)
NFL in 2024 Julién Davenport ’16 (Falcons), Abdullah Anderson ’17 (Titans)
TEAM INFORMATION
2024 Patriot League Preseason Poll 7th
2023 Record 4-7
2023 Patriot League Record (Finish).................................................... 1-5 (T-6th)
Offensive Starters Returning/Lost 6/5
Defensive Starters Returning/Lost 6/5
Letterwinners Returning/Lost 42/32
Newcomers 33
Captains Brad Jamison, John Ohnegian, Alex Smith Jr., Casey Stephenson
Returning All-Patriot League Selections Brad Jamison (LB) (2nd Team in 2023)
2024 Preseason All-Patriot League Selections Matt Schearer (K)
The 2024 regular season comes to a close on Saturday when Bucknell hosts Colgate on Senior Day at Christy Mathewson-Memorial Stadium. The Bison are looking to bounce back from a gut-wrenching 40-38 loss at Holy Cross in a first-place battle last week in Worcester, and beyond finishing with a win over longtime rival Colgate, Bucknell has plenty to play for on Saturday.
First and foremost, the Bison still have a chance to be Patriot League co-champions. At 3-2 in the Patriot League, they sit one game behind Holy Cross and Lehigh. So a win over Colgate combined with losses by Lehigh (vs. Lafayette) and Holy Cross (at Georgetown) would create a three-way tie for the title. In that case, every tiebreaker would be a wash, and the Patriot League’s representative in the FCS Playoffs would be decided by a vote of the four nonaffected athletic directors.
Bucknell is also seeking six overall wins and a winning Patriot League record for the first time since 2014. To do so, they will have to defeat Colgate at home for the first time since 2006. The Raiders have won the last seven meetings at Christy Mathewson-Memorial Stadium, although the Bison have won three times in Hamilton since then, including a 49-34 win last season.
Close games have been the norm for the Bison in Patriot League play this season. Their three wins have come by a field goal in double overtime at Lehigh, by seven points against Lafayette, and by one point against Fordham. The losses were a one-point decision at Georgetown and a two-point verdict at Holy Cross.
Colgate comes in at 2-9 overall and 1-4 in the Patriot League, and the Raiders are looking to break a four-game losing streak and finish the season on a positive note.
WITH A VICTORY, BUCKNELL WOULD...
• finish 4-2 in Patriot League play, its best league record since 2014.
• win six total games in a season for the first time since 2014 (8-3).
• ... earn a share of the Patriot League title if Lafayette defeats Lehigh and Georgetown defeats Holy Cross.
• ... snap a seven-game home losing streak to Colgate and beat the Raiders at home for the first time since 2006.
• ... beat the Raiders in consecutive seasons for just the third time (1962-1963 & 1995-1996).
RUCKER’S RECORDS
• QB Ralph Rucker IV continues to splash his name all over the Bucknell record book. The Oklahoma transfer is in his second season with the Bison, and in just 20 games he has become one of the most prolific passers in team history.
• Rucker has four Patriot League Player of the Week awards this season, including each of the last three. Last week at Holy Cross, he tied the Bucknell record with five TD passes, and he broke his own team mark for completions in a season with 213.
• Rucker needs one more touchdown pass this week against Colgate to hit Bucknell’s singleseason and career records. Hall-of-Famer Scott Auchenbach’s career mark of 42 touchdown passes has been in the books since 1989, and Rucker now has 41 in just two seasons with the Bison. His 20 TD tosses this season are also one shy of the school record. Rucker threw 21 TD passes last season, and Todd Hatajik also had 21 in 1990.
Bucknell Career Passing Yards Leaders
1. Brandon Wesley (2010-13) 6277
2. Scott Auchenbach (1986-89) 5256
3. R.J. Nitti (2013-16) 5171
4. Ralph Rucker IV (2023-24) 4926
5. Jim Given (1985-87) 4790
Bucknell Career Passing Touchdown Leaders
1. Scott Auchenbach (1986-89) 42
2. Ralph Rucker IV (2023-24) 41
3. R.J. Nitti (2013-16) 34
4. Marcello Trigg (2006-09) 31
5. Bob Gibbon (1983-84) 30
Bucknell Single-Season Passing Touchdown Leaders
1. Ralph Rucker IV (2023) 21 Todd Hatajik (1990) 21
3. Ralph Rucker IV (2024) 20
4. Scott Auchenbach (1989) 19
5. Scott Auchenbach (1988) 17
BRANDON BIAGIARELLI (10) 2024
INDIVIDUAL HONORS & AWARDS START CHART
• Patriot League Rookie of Week (9/9)
TJ CADDEN (80) 2024
• 3X Patriot League Special Teams Player of Week (9/9), (9/23), (9/30)
• 2X Stats Perform FCS National Special Teams Player of Week honorable mention (9/9), (9/23)
JUSTIN FISHER (99) 2021
• Patriot League Rookie of Week (9/6)
• HM STATS National Freshman of Week (9/6)
BRAD JAMISON (33) 2024
• NFF Campbell Trophy Smifinalist 2023
• Second Team All-Patriot League
RALPH RUCKER (10) 2024
• Patriot League Offensive Player of Week (9/23, 11/4, 11/11, 11/18) 2023
• Patriot League Offensive Player of Week (10/30)
MATT SCHEARER (62) 2024
• Preseason All-Patriot League Team 2023
• Preseason All-Patriot League Team 2022
• Two-time Patriot League Rookie of Week (10/24), (11/14)
TARIQ THOMAS (7) 2024
• Four-time Patriot League Rookie of Week (9/30, 10/14, 10/21, 11/4)
• Jerry Rice Award Watch List (FCS Rookie of Year)
• Stats Perform FCS National Rookie of Week honorable mention (10/28)
ANEESH VYAS (90) 2023
• Patriot League Special Teams Player of Week (9/25)
GAVIN WILLIS (13) 2024
• Patriot League Player of Week (9/30, 11/11)
• Stats Perform FCS National Defensive Player of Week (11/11)
• Stats Perform FCS National Defensive Player of Week honorable mention (9/30)
ALEX SMITH JR. (6) 2024
• Patriot League Defensive Player of the Week (11/4)
John Schlendorf 33 (33)
Casey Stephenson 29 (1)
Charlie Kreinbucher 27 (25)
Aneesh Vyas 26 (3)
Alex Smith Jr. 24 (22)
Jake Guy 23 (1)
John Ohnegian 22 (22)
Brad Jamison 21 (7)
Ralph Rucker IV 20 (4)
Mason Taylor 20 (11)
Cade Rooney 19 (12)
Eric Weatherly 18 (11)
Roman Pearson 18 (11)
Josh Gary 18 (11)
Xavier Allen 17 (2)
Gavin Willis 16 (10)
Fredrick Sturgis 14 (0)
Mason Jones 11 (0)
Nathan Natoli 10 (0)
Nate Anderson 10 (8)
Tariq Thomas 9 (1)
Aaron Davis 8 (1)
Jack Barnes 7 (0)
Marques Owens .............................
Christian Spugnardi
Nick Hoying
Chris Sims
Deuce Geter
Kyle Fontes
(0)
(0)
(0)
(0)
(0)
(0)
William Caneer 5 (3)
Mark Mulhern 4 (1)
Justin Fisher 3 (0)
Grant Laws
(0)
Brad Gerken 2 (0)
Brandon Biagiarelli
Michael Hardyway
(1)
(0) Jack Goheen
Bucknell Single-Season Passing Yards Leaders 1. Ralph Rucker IV (2023) 2537
R.J. Nitti (2015) 2477
Ralph Rucker IV (2024) 2389
4. Scott Auchenbach (1989) 2385
5. Todd Wenrich (2001) 2327
Bucknell Career Passing Completion Leaders
1. Brandon Wesley (2010-13) 571
2. Ralph Rucker IV (2023-24) 424 3. Scott Auchenbach (1986-89) 418
4. Jim Given (1985-87) 417
5. R.J. Nitti (2013-16) 416
Bucknell Single-Season Passing Completion Leaders
1. Ralph Rucker IV (2024) 213
2. Ralph Rucker IV (2023) 211
3. Todd Wenrich (2001) 209
4. R.J. Nitti (2015) 205
5. Jim Fox (1995) 192
Bucknell Career Completion Percentage Leaders
1. Ralph Rucker IV (2023-24) .644
2. Daris Wilson (2001-04) .631
3. Bob Gibbon (1983-84) .604
4. Todd Hatajik (1987-90) .589
5. Matt Muh (2014-17) .588
Bucknell Single-Season Completion Percentage Leaders
1. Marcello Trigg (2008) .671
2. Ralph Rucker IV (2024) .670
3. Daris Wilson (2004) .660
4. Travis Kopp (1992) .657
5. Bob Gibbon (1983) .629
WILLIS NAMED NATIONAL PLAYER OF WEEK AMID BIG SEASON
(0) TJ Cadden
Michael Cadden
Takai Whitmore
(0)
(0)
• Sophomore LB Gavin Willis has stacked up impressive performances throughout the season, most notably a monster effort in the win over Fordham, which landed him the Stats Perform FCS National Defensive Player of the Week award.
(0) Paul Neel
Derrick Anderson Jr.
Danny Meuser
(0)
(0)
(0)
Note: Number in parentheses indicates streak of consecutive starts
• Willis made 13 tackles against Fordham, and he recorded his national-best fourth and fifth fumble recoveries of the season. The first of those he returned 79 yards for the game’s first touchdown, and the other recovery came at the Bucknell 4-yard line with the Bison protecting a 21-14 lead late in the third quarter. Willis also recorded a pass breakup and a quarterback hurry that led to an interception.
• The Louisville, Ky., native has 117 tackles (66 solo) in 11 games this season His 10.6 tackles per game rank third in FCS behind only Blake Gotcher of Northwestern State (13.3) and Cole Kozlowski of Colgate (11.0).
• Willis’ five fumble recoveries are tied for the most in all of college football, including the FBS, FCS, Division II, and Division III levels. The only other players with five are Sam Howard of Tulane and Andrew Esmay of Division III Martin Luther.
• Willis found a new way to impact the game last week at Holy Cross when he blocked two kicks (one field goal, one PAT).
THOMAS IN GOOD COMPANY
• Freshman RB Tariq Thomas recently earned Patriot League Rookie of the Week honors four times in a six-week stretch, and he was named one of 30 players named to the Jerry Rice Award Watch List. The Jerry Rice Award, which is named after the legendary Hall of Fame wide receiver, is presented to the Division I Football Championship Subdivision (FCS) Rookie of the Year.
• Montana’s Eli Gillman received the award last season, and past recipients include familiar names such as Shedeur Sanders (Jackson State 2021), Trey Lance (North Dakota State 2019), Chase Edmonds (Fordham 2014), and Cooper Kupp (Eastern Washington 2013).
• Thomas has set career rushing highs in three consecutive games. He ran for a career-high 94 yards on nine carries – an average of 10.4 yards per carry — against Cornell; he logged 136 yards and two touchdowns at Georgetown the following week; and he ran for 141 yards on 29 attempts in the win over Lafayette.
• Thomas started eight straight games before missing the Fordham game two weeks agao with an injury. He leads the team and ranks fifth in the Patriot League with 709 rushing yards on the season.
Overall Patriot League Streak W-L Pct. W-L Pct.
Lehigh 7-3 .700 4-1
W4
W1
PATRIOT LEAGUE SCHEDULE/RESULTS
Saturday, Nov. 16 at Lehigh 45, Colgate 17 at Holy Cross 40, Bucknell 38 at Lafayette 42, Stonehill 10 at Fordham 31, Georgetown 3
Saturday, Nov. 23 Lafayette at Lehigh, 12 Holy Cross at Georgetown, 12 Colgate at Bucknell, 1 Merrimack at Fordham, 1
PATRIOT LEAGUE PRESEASON POLL
Number in parentheses indicates first-place votes
PATRIOT LEAGUE PLAYERS OF THE WEEK
9/9 TJ Cadden STPOTW 40yd punt return TD, 141 all-purpose 9/9 Brandon Biagiarelli ROTW 3 tackles, 1 sack 9/23 Ralph Rucker IV OPOTW 272 yards, 3 TDs, 77.8% compl. 9/23 TJ Cadden STPOTW 73yd punt return TD, 1 rec. TD
9/30 Gavin Willis DPOTW 9 tackles, 2 sacks, 2 FR 9/30 TJ Cadden STPOTW 100yd KO return TD 9/30 Tariq Thomas ROTW 77 rush yards
10/14 Tariq Thomas ROTW 57 rush yards, 2 TDs 10/21 Tariq Thomas ROTW 9 carries, 94 yards
11/4 Ralph Rucker IV OPOTW 2 rush TDs, tiebreaking TD pass 11/4 Alex Smith DPOTW 13 tackles, sack, 2 PBUs 11/4 Tariq Thomas ROTW 29 carries, 141 yards 11/11 Ralph Rucker IV OPOTW 27-45, 322 yards, 3 TDs 11/11 Gavin Willis DPOTW 13 tackles, 2 FRs, 79-yard TD 11/18 Ralph Rucker IV OPOTW 34-43, 351 yards, 5 TDs
Ryan Sakamoto, Patriot League Media Relations Director (FB) rsakamoto@patriotleague.com >> 610-289-1963 >> PatriotLeague.com
BISON NOTES
BISON BITS
• As an offensive unit, Bucknell ranks second in the Patriot League in both points (27.1) and yards (372.5) per game. The Bison have the top passing offense in the league at 253.0 yards per game. They also lead the PL in pass completions (246) and completion percentage (.654).
• On Saturday the Bison face a Colgate team that allows the most passing yards in the Patriot League at 252.7 per game.
• Bucknell has three defensive touchdowns this season after Gavin Willis’ 79-yard scoop and score two weeks ago against Fordham. Aaron Davis and Alex Smith Jr. have both returned interceptions for TDs.
• Bucknell’s defense has been on the field for more than 33 minutes per game, which is the seventhmost in all of FCS.
• Before suffering an injury against Lafayette, TJ Cadden was in the midst of a historic special teams season for the Bison, as he added to his two punt return touchdowns with a 100-yard kickoff return TD at Lehigh. Cadden leads the nation in return TDs.
• Michael Cadden, a freshman, is TJ’s younger brother. Both have reached the end zone this season. Michael scored on a 2-yard run in the Navy game on opening day.
• Eric Weatherly and Josh Gary have both surpassed the 1,000 mark in career receiving yards this season. Weatherly is in his second season at Bucknell after transferring from Duke. Weatherly ranks fourth in the Patriot League in receiving yards per game with 62.8 per game this season. Gary is close behind Weatherly, ranking sixth in receiving yards with 51.7 yards per game.
• Weatherly (691), Gary (569), and Nate Anderson (508) have all eclipsed the 500-yard mark in receiving yards this season. The Bison are the only team in the Patriot League with three. That trio has accounted for 14 touchdown catches this season, led by Weatherly with six.
• The Bison were picked to finish seventh in the 2024 Patriot League Football Preseason Poll after finishing the 2023 campaign in a tie for sixth with a 4-7 (1-5 PL) record.
• K Matt Schearer was named to the 2024 Preseason All-Patriot League Team for a second season in a row. The Bison also landed eight on the Phil Steele 2024 Patriot League Preseason All-Conference Team.
• Bucknell is in its sixth season under head coach Dave Cecchini, who was voted as the Patriot League Dick Biddle Coach of the Year during the 2021 spring campaign for leading the Bison to a spot in the first-ever Patriot League Championship Game following the abbreviated season. Cecchini’s team is coming off a record-setting campaign in 2023 that saw the offense average 38.8 points per game over the final four contests.
• Bucknell returned a total of 42 letterwinners in 2023, a group that includes two fifth-year seniors, 18 seniors, 14 juniors and eight sophomores. 11 Bison are three-time letterwinners, and fifth-year RB Danny Meuser is a four-time letterwinner. Bucknell lost 32 letterwinners last year.
• Bucknell welcomed 33 newcomers this season, including 27 freshmen. Five newcomers transferred to Bucknell.
• Fifth-year senior OL Casey Stephenson, senior LB Brad Jamison, senior S Alex Smith Jr., and junior OL John Ohnegian were selected by their teammates to serve as team captains for the 2024 season. Stephenson is just the 12th multi-year captain in program history.
• The “CD” stickers Bucknell is wearing on its helmets are to honor fallen teammate Calvin Dickey, who tragically passed away in July.
MILESTONES
TO WATCH
• Ralph Rucker IV needs one touchdown pass to tie Scott Auchenbach’s school record of 42, which has stood since 1989. He also needs one TD pass to equal the Bucknell single-season record.
• Rucker needs 74 passing yards for 5,000 in his career.
• Josh Gary needs five catches to reach 100 in his career.
BISON AWARD WINNERS
• The National Football Foundation announced the 203 semifinalists for the 2024 William V. Campbell Trophy®, college football’s premier scholar-athlete award. Bucknell senior linebacker Brad Jamison was among the semifinalists this year. Only Bucknell and Dayton have had a Campbell Trophy semifinalist each of the past 19 years.
• Bucknell has earned 15 Patriot League weekly awards this season, including Ralph Rucker IV this week.
• Gavin Willis was named the Stats Perform FCS National Defensive Player of the Week on Nov. 11 after a huge day against Fordham. In that game he had 13 tackles, four tackles for loss, and two fumble recoveries, one of which he returned 79 yards for a touchdown.
• TJ Cadden has twice been an honorable mention for Stats Perform FCS National Special Teams Player of the Week this season, and Willis earned the same distinction on defense after the Lehigh game.
• The Bison returned one All-Patriot League player, LB Brad Jamison.
• K Matt Schearer was named to the Preseason All-Patriot League Team in July. It was his second time being named to the Preseason All-Patriot League Team after earning the honor in 2023 as well.
• Eight Bison were named to the 2024 Phil Steele Patriot League Preseason All-Conference Team: K Schearer (1st Tm), LB Jamison (2nd Tm), QB Ralph Rucker (3rd Tm), WR Eric Weatherly (3rd Tm),
PLAYERS
1. Marques Owens MARCUS
4. Danny Meuser MUE-zer
6. Christian Petruzzello PET-tra-ZELL-oh
7. Tariq Thomas ta-REEK
9. Michael Hardyway HARDY-way
10. Brandon Biagiarelli BEE-ah-jer-REL-ee
14. Takai Whitmore ta-KYE
18. Bradley Pao POW
22. Nick Severin SEV-rin
24. Rostand Olama ROE-stond o-LA-ma
25. JJ Sebert SEE-burt
26. Deuce Geter GEE-tur (hard G)
28. Anthony DiLascio di-LASS-ee-oh
30. William Caneer ca-NEER
31. Drew Cormier COR-meer
32. Finn Sposato spo-SA-to
33. Brad Jamison JAM-i-son
35. Charlie Meehleib MEE-lybe
40. Charlie McIntyre MACK-in-tire
41. Jack Bohm-Squicciarini BOME squich-a-REE-nee
44. Caden Allard KAY-den AL-ard
45. John Schlendorf SCHLEN-dorf
49. Jason Ussery US-erry
56. Mark Mulhern MULL-hern
57. Jack Inserra in-SERR-a
58. Aidan Catania cuh-TAHN-ya
59. Dante Mascio MASS-ee-oh
60. Kieran Coscia KEE-ran KOSHA
61. Ryan Jedlicka jed-LICK-uh
66. Herschel Johal JOE-hall
67. Gustav Steffelin GOO-stav STEFF-eh-linn
76. Ashton Sempervive semper-VEE-vee
78. John Ohnegian oh-NEE-gee-ann (hard G)
81. Christian Spugnardi spug-NAR-dee
82. Charlie “Chuck” Kreinbucher CRANE-buck-er
90. Aneesh Vyas uh-NEESH VEE-oss
92. Daniel Sierk SEE-rk
94. Nick Niemynski ni-MIN-ski
96. Juan Garanton GARE-on-TONN
97. Dara Adeyemi DAR-uh ah-dee-YEM-ee
98. Seo Buffington SAY-oh
COACHES
Dave Cecchini cha-KEE-nee
Vinny Giacalone JACK-a-loan
Mark Kulbis ......................................................................................... KUL-bis
Braelon Roberts BRAY-lon
BISON NOTES
OL Xavier Allen (3rd Tm), OL Casey Stephenson (3rd Tm), OL John Ohnegian (3rd Tm) and S John Schlendorf (3rd Tm).
• The Bison lost First Team All-Patriot League CB Ethan Robinson as well as First Team All-Patriot League KR and Second Team All-League RB Coleman Bennett from last season.
• Bucknell returned one of its three Academic All-Patriot League honorees from last season: OL Ohnegian.
HAPPY 100TH BIRTHDAY, CMMS!
• Bucknell Athletics is proudly celebrating Christy Mathewson-Memorial Stadium’s 100th anniversary season in 2024. The actual 100th anniversary of the first game ever played in the facility was two weeks ago. On Oct. 18, 1924, Bucknell lost its Homecoming game to Lafayette 21-3. It was one of only two losses in an 8-2 season.
• Over the course of 10 decades, the historic landmark has played host to more than 450 football games along with countless other athletic events and community gatherings. The Bison are celebrating a century of tradition throughout the 2024-25 academic year
• The picturesque Christy Mathewson-Memorial Stadium was dedicated in 1924 and was known originally as Memorial Stadium as a tribute to Bucknell’s numerous war veterans. The stadium underwent a major renovation in 1989, and at that time it was rededicated to honor the iconic Christy Mathewson, who was a three-sport star and model student-athlete during his playing days at Bucknell.
• Bucknell is 258-188-10 all-time at Christy Mathewson-Memorial Stadium.
HEAD COACH DAVE CECCHINI
• Dave Cecchini, one of the all-time great wide receivers in Patriot League history who has since gone on to achieve tremendous success in the coaching ranks, was named the 27th Bob Odell Head Football Coach at Bucknell University on February 6, 2019.
• Cecchini was voted as the 2021 Spring Patriot League Dick Biddle Coach of the Year for guiding the team to a spot in the Patriot League Championship Game. In addition, he was selected as a finalist for the Eddie Robinson Award, presented by STATS to the FCS Coach of the Year, for the second time in his career.
• In his first season at the helm, Cecchini led the Bison to a third-place finish in the Patriot League, their highest placement since they were the 2014 runners-up. Their Patriot League victories came over defending champion Colgate (32-14), rival Lehigh (20-10) and Georgetown (2017); two of their three league losses came by a touchdown or less.
• In 2017 while at Valparaiso, Cecchini was a finalist for the American Football Coaches Association’s FCS National Coach of the Year and the STATS FCS Coach of the Year awards; he was also voted as the Pioneer Football League Coach of the Year and the AFCA FCS Region 4 Coach of the Year.
• Since arriving at Bucknell, Cecchini’s players have combined to earn 24 All-Patriot League First/ Second Team awards as well as one First Team All-American.
FACILITY UPGRADES
• The Bison officially opened the doors to the Pascucci Team Center on April 15, 2024, completing a plethora of enhancements in and around Christy Mathewson-Memorial Stadium in recent years that were made possible through the generous support of Michael Pascucci ’58, P’81, P’87, G’21, G’22.
• Standing prominently between the turf practice field and the north end zone of the stadium, the new facility is a 16,000-square-foot athletics hub that features a state-of-the-art strength and conditioning facility with an expansive weight room that overlooks the turf practice field. Adjacent to the weight room is a sports medicine center.
• Specifically designed to bridge the practice and game-day fields, the team center’s south facade offers sweeping views of Christy Mathewson-Memorial Stadium. Inside, a spacious team meeting room and conference room allows teams to review film and gather for off-field training and learning events. A Bison Fuel station ensures convenient access to nutritious snacks, supplements and hydration.
• Earlier phases of the project included the installation of a modern LED video board at the south end zone of Christy Mathewson-Memorial Stadium in 2021 and the completion of a turf practice field in 2022.
• The Bucknell football team’s locker room, located within Christy Mathewson-Memorial Stadium, was also redone over the summer and includes brand-new lockers, a player’s lounge, and more.
HOW TO FOLLOW THE BISON
• All of Bucknell’s games this season will be broadcast on ESPN+ with the exception of the season opener at Navy, which was shown on CBS Sports Network.
• All of the Bison’s games are aired on local radio on WKOK 1070 AM. The broadcast will also be available for internet streaming on BucknellBison.com.
• Bucknell is active on X (@Bucknell_FB) and Instagram (Bucknell_FB). Interact with the team using the hashtags #ACT and #rayBucknell.
BUCKNELL TWO DEEP VS. COLGATE
OFFENSE DEFENSE SPECIAL TEAMS
WIDE RECEIVER
3 — Josh Gary (Jr. / 5-11 / 210 / Upper Marlboro, Md.)
84 — Sam Milligan (So. / 6-3 / 220 / Swathmore, Pa.)
LEFT TACKLE
70 — Xavier Allen (So. / 6-5 / 315 / Silver Spring, Md.)
60 Kieran Coscia (Jr. / 6-3 / 300 / Pittsfield, Mass.)
LEFT GUARD
74 — Casey Stephenson (5th. / 6-2 / 300 / Philadelphia, Pa.)
73 — Mason Jones (Sr. / 6-6 / 326 / Franklin, Tenn.)
CENTER
78 — John Ohnegian (Jr. / 6-2 / 304 / Ramsey, N.J.)
71 — Fredrick Sturgis (Sr. / 6-4 / 300 / Cincinnati, Ohio)
RIGHT GUARD
75 — Jake Guy (Sr. / 6-2 / 314 / Philadelphia, Pa.)
53 — Tim Andersen (So. / 6-2 / 295 / Madison, N.J.)
RIGHT TACKLE
56 — Mark Mulhern (So. / 6-6 / 331 / Chicago, Ill.)
77 — Nathan Natoli (Jr. / 6-6 / 295 / Olney, Md.)
TIGHT END
82 — Charlie Kreinbucher (Jr. / 6-5 / 260 / Butler, Pa.)
87 — Kyle Fontes (Jr. / 6-4 / 242 / York, Pa.)
WIDE RECEIVER
2 — Eric Weatherly (Jr. / 5-8 / 180 / St. John’s, Fla.)
84 — Sam Milligan (So. / 6-3 / 220 / Swathmore, Pa.)
WIDE RECEIVER
17 — Nate Anderson (Jr. / 6-0 / 185 / Fort Wayne, Ind.)
8 — Alex Brown (Jr. / 6-3 / 205 / Rumson, N.J.)
RUNNING BACK
7 Tariq Thomas (Fr. / 5-11 / 185 / Springfield, Mass.)
21 — Paul Neel (Sr. / 5-10 / 205 / Charlotte, N.C.)
QUARTERBACK
10 — Ralph Rucker IV (Sr. / 6-0 / 210 / Lucas, Texas)
9 — Michael Hardyway (Sr. / 6-0 / 208 / Oceanside, Calif.)
DEFENSIVE END
30 — William Caneer (So. / 6-3 / 238 / Huntsville, Ala.)
52 — Jack Barnes (Sr. / 6-2 / 245 / Fayetteville, N.C.)
NOSE
15 — Cade Rooney (Sr. / 6-3 / 295 / Berwyn, Pa.)
95 — Grant Laws (Sr. / 6-3 / 325 / Halifax, Mass.)
DEFENSIVE END
90 — Aneesh Vyas (Sr. / 6-2 / 300 / West Chester, Ohio)
99 — Justin Fisher (Sr. / 6-6 / 270 / King of Prussia, Pa.)
LINEBACKER
33 — Brad Jamison (Sr. / 6-2 / 240 / Upper Township, N.J.)
47 — Jack Goheen (Jr. / 6-2 / 236 / Fishers, Ind.)
LINEBACKER
13 — Gavin Willis (So. / 6-0 / 230 / Louisville, Ky.)
10 — Brandon Biagiarelli (Fr. / 6-3 / 226 / Pittsburgh, Pa.)
LINEBACKER
23 — Nick Hoying (So. / 6-0 / 207 / Kings Mills, Ohio)
40 — Charlie McIntyre (So. / 6-0 / 200 / Wyomissing, Pa.)
SAFETY
6 — Alex Smith Jr. (Sr. / 6-2 / 210 / Charlotte, N.C.)
9 — Terian Williams II (Jr. / 5-11 / 190 / Atlanta, Ga.)
SAFETY
20 — Mason Taylor (Sr. / 6-2 / 195 / San Pedro, Calif.)
34 — Darius Day (Fr. / 5-11 / 185 / Wayland, Mass.)
SAFETY
45 — John Schlendorf (Sr. / 5-10 / 195 / Toms River, N.J.)
25 — JJ Sebert (Fr. / 6-0 / 185 / Powell, Ohio)
CORNERBACK
5 — Roman Pearson (Jr. / 6-2 / 195 / Pickerington, Ohio) 14 — Takai Whitmore (So. / 5-11 / 180 / Boston, Mass.)
CORNERBACK
16 — Aaron Davis (Jr. / 5-11 / 190 / Brandywine, Md.)
11 — Chris Sims (Sr. / 5-9 / 185 / Haverford, Pa.)
GAME-BY-GAME STARTERS
PLACE KICKER
62 — Matt Schearer (Jr. / 5-11 / 187 / Canonsburg, Pa.)
96 — Juan Garanton (Fr. / 5-11 / 170 / Tampa, Fla.)
KICKOFF SPECIALIST
96 — Juan Garanton (Fr. / 5-11 / 170 / Tampa, Fla.)
91 — Matt Karic (Jr. / 5-8 / 170 / Los Altos, Calif.)
PUNTER
62 — Matt Schearer (Jr. / 5-11 / 187 / Canonsburg, Pa.)
96 — Juan Garanton (Fr. / 5-11 / 170 / Tampa, Fla.)
LONG SNAPPER
61 — Ryan Jedlicka (Jr. / 5-10 / 230 / Greenwich, Conn.)
46 — Michael Crabtree (So. / 5-10 / 185 / Winhall, Vt.)
HOLDER
91 — Matt Karic (Jr. / 5-8 / 170 / Los Altos, Calif.)
9 — Michael Hardyway (Sr. / 6-0 / 208 / Oceanside, Calif.)
KICKOFF RETURN
2 — Eric Weatherly (Jr. / 5-8 / 180 / St. John’s, Fla.)
3 — Josh Gary (Jr. / 5-11 / 210 / Upper Marlboro, Md.)
PUNT RETURN
17 — Nate Anderson (Jr. / 6-0 / 185 / Fort Wayne, Ind.)
2 — Eric Weatherly (Jr. / 5-8 / 180 / St. John’s, Fla.)
J.
N.
T. Thomas* R. Rucker MERRIMACK E. Weatherly X. Allen C. Stephenson J. Ohnegian J. Guy N. Natoli C. Kreinbucher J.
MARIST* E. Weatherly X. Allen C. Stephenson J. Ohnegian J. Guy N. Natoli C. Kreinbucher J.
N.
Rucker
T. Thomas R. Rucker at Lehigh E. Weatherly X. Allen C. Stephenson J. Ohnegian J. Guy N. Natoli C. Kreinbucher J. Gary N. Anderson T. Thomas R. Rucker at Penn E. Weatherly X. Allen C. Stephenson J. Ohnegian J. Guy M. Mulhern* C. Kreinbucher J. Gary N. Anderson T. Thomas R. Rucker
CORNELL E. Weatherly X. Allen C. Stephenson J. Ohnegian J. Guy M. Mulhern C. Kreinbucher J. Gary N. Anderson T. Thomas M. Hardyway* at Georgetown E. Weatherly X. Allen C. Stephenson J. Ohnegian M. Jones M. Mulhern C. Kreinbucher J. Gary N. Anderson T. Thomas R. Rucker
LAFAYETTE E. Weatherly J. Ohnegian C. Stephenson J. Guy M. Jones N. Natoli C. Kreinbucher J. Gary N. Anderson T. Thomas R. Rucker FORHAM E. Weatherly X. Allen F. Sturgis J. Ohnegian M. Jones N. Natoli C. Kreinbucher J. Gary N. Anderson M. Cadden* R. Rucker at Holy Cross E. Weatherly X. Allen C. Stephenson J. Ohnegian J. Guy M. Mulhern C. Kreinbucher J. Gary N. Anderson T. Thomas R. Rucker
COLGATE
Opponent
Vyas C. Rooney G. Laws N. Hoying* G. Willis B. Jamison J. Schlendorf M. Taylor A. Smith Jr. T. Whitmore* R. Pearson MERRIMACK W. Caneer* C. Rooney A. Vyas J.
2024 BUCKNELL ROSTER
COACHING & SUPPORT STAFF
Head Coach: Dave Cecchini (Lehigh ’95), sixth season Coordinators: John Bear (Trinity International ’06) (Offensive/QBs); Chris Bowers (Wittenberg ’99) (Defensive); Brad Jarman (Missouri State ’18) (Special Teams/LBs); Offensive Assistant Coaches: Vinny Giacalone (Carnegie Mellon ’10) (Asst. Head Coach/TEs); Sean Pearson (Wagner ’14) (OL); Braelon Roberts (Utah State ‘17) (WRs); Jalen Banks (Vanderbilt ’16) (RBs); Ashley Cornwell (Wisconsin ’22) (Asst. OL/Run Game Analyst) Defensive Assistant Coaches: McNeil Parker (Kenyon College ’10) (Safeties); Codey Cole (Kansas ’19) (DL); Roger Wright-Lester (American Military University ’13) (CBs) Strength & Conditioning Coach: Mark Kulbis (Bowling Green ’13)
Sport Administrator: Tim Pavlechko (Bucknell ’91) (Deputy AD)
Support Staff: Doug Birdsong (Marshall ’87) (Voice of the Bison); Jon Terry (Bucknell ‘93) (Athletic Communications); Kiem LeGant (Shippensburg ’16) (Video); Kaiti Hager (Cal U (Pa.) ’12) (Athletic Training); Rayna Murphy (Ball State ’17) (Athletic Training); Liel Karstetter (Lock Haven ’10) (Equipment); Tom Ford (Cazenovia College ’19) (Ticketing)
ALPHABETICAL ROSTER
38 Gerken, Brad
Geter, Deuce
Goheen, Jack
Guy, Jake
Hardyway, Michael
Hoying, Nick
Inserra, Jack
Jamison, Brad
Jedlicka, Ryan
Biagiarelli, Brandon
Bohm-Squicciarini, Jack
Bosch, AJ
Brown, Alex
Seo
Burgess, Braylen
Bush, Logan
Cadden, Michael
Cadden, TJ
Catania, Aidan
Johal, Herschel
Jones, Mason
Karic, Matt
Kennedy, Rourke
Kim, D.K.
Kreinbucher, Charlie
Laws, Grant
Logan, Reuben
LoGrasso, David
Mascio, Dante
McGill, Jack
McGwin, Rowan
McIntyre, Charlie
Meehleib, Charlie
Menconi, Tristan
Meuser, Danny
Milligan, Sam
Mulhern, Mark
Natoli, Nathan
Neel, Paul
Niemynski, Nick
Nowinski, Jackson
Ohnegian, John
Olama, Rostand
Owens, Marques
Rooney, Cade
Rucker IV, Ralph
Sansone, Marco
Schearer, Matt
Schlendorf, John
Sebert, JJ
Sempervive, Ashton
Severin, Nick
Shuster, Daniel
Sierk, Daniel
Sims, Chris
Skoronski, Ryan
Smith Jr., Alex....................................................
Sposato, Finn
Spugnardi, Christian
Steffelin, Gustav
Stephenson, Casey
Sturgis, Fredrick
Taylor, Mason
Thomas, Tariq
Ussery, Jason
Vyas, Aneesh
Eric
Whitmore, Takai
Williams II, Terian
Willis, Gavin
Wright, Noah
Note: Bold indicates captain
Alex Smith, Christian Spugnardi, Casey Stephenson, Fredrick Sturgis
ROSTER BREAKDOWN
BISON MAJORS
97 Dara Adeyemi
0 Derrick Anderson Jr. Economics 17 Nate Anderson Comparative/Digital Humanities
65 Tristan Arndt Undeclared
52 Jack Barnes Religious Studies
10 Brandon Biagiarelli Undeclared Management
41 Jack Bohm-Squicciarini Biology
85 AJ Bosh Undeclared Management
8 Alex Brown Economics
98 Seo Buffington Undeclared
86 Braylen Burgess Undeclared
29 Logan Bush Undeclared
36 Michael Cadden Undeclared
80 TJ Cadden Undeclared Management
30 William Caneer Biology
58 Aidan Catania Political Science
31 Drew Cormier Undeclared
60 Kieran Coscia Economics
46 Michael Crabtree ............................. Undeclared 27 Myles Cunningham Undeclared
16 Aaron Davis Critical Black Studies
34 Darius Day Undeclared
28 Anthony DiLascio Undeclared
89 Anthony DiMarco Undeclared Management
99 Justin Fisher Political Science
HEAD COACH DAVE CECCHINI
Dave Cecchini, one of the all-time great wide receivers in Patriot League history who has since gone on to achieve tremendous success in the coaching ranks, was named the 27th Bob Odell Head Football Coach at Bucknell University on February 6, 2019.
During the 2021 spring campaign, Cecchini was voted the Patriot League Dick Biddle Coach of the Year for leading Bucknell to a spot in the first-ever Patriot League Championship Game. Bucknell, picked to finish last in the preseason poll, knocked off Pennsylvania rivals Lafayette and Lehigh to earn a date with defending champion Holy Cross. In addition, Cecchini was selected as a finalist for the Eddie Robinson Award, presented by STATS to the FCS Coach of the Year, for the second time in his career.
Cecchini’s Bison placed 11 on the 2021 Spring All-Patriot League Team, headlined by a school-record seven First Team selections. Senior linebacker Simeon Page became the fifth Bison to make four All-Patriot League Teams; he later joined Patriot League Scholar-Athlete of the Year Rick Mottram on the Academic All-Patriot League Team.
In total, the Bison have combined for 24 All-Patriot League Team honors during Cecchini’s tenure, including 12 First Team honorees, and 12 have landed on the Academic All-Patriot League Team.
Cecchini’s 2023 team displayed one of the most prolific passing offenses in program history and rewrote the Bucknell record book in terms of passing numbers. The Bison set new single-season standards for passing completions (242), passing yards (2,854) and touchdown passes (24). Transfer quarterback Ralph Rucker set individual records in completions (211), passing yards (2,537) and total offense (2,667), and he tied the program’s single-season passing touchdowns mark (21). Additionally, receivers Damian Harris and Eric Weatherly both eclipsed 600 yards receiving with the former setting the single-game receptions record (15) and the latter hauling in seven touchdowns on the year.
Bucknell achieved its highest win total during the Cecchini era in 2023, highlighted by a dominant victory on the road at Colgate (49-34). In Hamilton, the Bison recorded the secondmost single-game total yardage (593) in school history, while Rucker broke the single-game passing yards record (387) and threw for four touchdowns, completing 33 of 44 attempts. The 49 points were the most Bucknell had ever scored on the Raiders.
Three Bison received All-Patriot League Team accolades following the 2023 campaign, with Coleman Bennett earning First Team honors as a return specialist and Second Team honors as a running back. Cornerback Ethan Robinson was named to the First Team Defense, and linebacker Brad Jamison received a Second Team nod. Bucknell also landed three players on the Academic All-Patriot League Team for a second consecutive season.
In 2019, Cecchini led the Bison to a third-place finish in the Patriot League, their highest placement since they were the 2014 runners-up. Their Patriot League victories came over defending champion Colgate (32-14), rival Lehigh (20-10) and Georgetown (20-17); two of their three league losses came by a touchdown or less. Bucknell faced a grueling non-conference schedule, featuring FBS opponent Temple and three nationally ranked FCS teams; the Bison ultimately finished the year with a 3-8 overall record.
Cecchini’s offense set then-school records in completions (229) and passing attempts (426) during the 2019 season. All-Patriot League First Team wide receiver Brandon Sanders became the sixth Bison to make at least 50 catches in a single campaign while quarterback Logan Bitikofer cracked Bucknell’s top 10 in single-season completions and single-season passing attempts. Defensively, the Bison excelled, leading the Patriot League in conference action in yards per play allowed (4.4), takeaways (14), sacks (32) and defensive touchdowns (4); they also finished second in total defense (319.7) and rushing defense (96.3).
Following the 2019 campaign, five Bison were recognized on the All-Patriot League Team while two made the Academic All-Patriot League squad. Punter Alex Pechin closed his recordbreaking career by capturing numerous awards. Most notably, he was honored as an AllAmerican by every entity that selects an All-America team, became the first football player
to earn three-straight Patriot League Scholar-Athlete of the Year awards, won the inaugural FCS Punter of the Year award and was presented the prestious STATS FCS Doris Robinson ScholarAthlete Award.
In 2021, Bucknell faced another challenging schedule highlighted by road games at then No. 11/12 Villanova and FBS opponent Army West Point. The Bison were a young team that sent 30 first-time starters to the field, a group that included two seniors, four juniors, 12 sophomores and 12 freshmen and represented just over 30 percent of the roster. At the conclusion of the season, wide receiver Dominic Lyles, who matched the school standard with three touchdown catches in a tight loss to Georgetown, and safety Brent Jackson, who became the first nonsenior to be presented the Bison Gridiron Club Award as Team MVP since 2012, were voted to the Academic All-Patriot League Team.
Bucknell made massive strides defensively during the 2022 season, allowing nearly 10 fewer points per game than the year prior and finishing third in the Patriot League in points allowed per game. The Bison also gave up the fewest passing yards among Patriot League teams and led the league in interceptions. Four Bison landed on the All-Patriot League Team. Highlighting the AllLeague honorees was Jackson, who received the Bison Gridiron Club Award for a second time after leading the FCS in solo tackles per game.
The 2022 Bison pulled out several dramatic victories, defeating Pennsylvania-rival Lehigh with a last-minute field goal and upending Georgetown on the road in the team’s first overtime victory since 2017. Bucknell won its last two games of the season, concluding with a 24-13 win over Marist at home.
The head coach at Valparaiso University from 2014 to 2018, Cecchini has a long track record of building explosive offenses at elite academic institutions. Previously the offensive coordinator at Lehigh, The Citadel and Harvard University, his offenses have shattered school records at his every stop, propelling his teams to a combined seven conference championships. An All-American wide receiver at Lehigh during his playing days in the early 1990s, Cecchini spent 13 of his previous 24 seasons as a coach at his alma mater.
In 2014, Cecchini took over a Valparaiso football program that had won just three games, all against the same opponent, in the four seasons before his arrival. The 2017 campaign saw Valparaiso reach new heights thanks to a potent offense that totaled 330 points and 4,398 yards, both good for second in school history. Picked to finish 10th of 11 teams in the Pioneer Football League, Valparaiso tied for third with a 5-3 record, its most league wins since 1961. Overall, Valparaiso finished above .500, at 6-5, for the first time since 2003.
For guiding Valparaiso’s turnaround, Cecchini was a finalist for the American Football Coaches Association’s FCS National Coach of the Year and the STATS FCS Coach of the Year awards; he was also voted as the Pioneer Football League Coach of the Year and the AFCA FCS Region 4 Coach of the Year.
Cecchini left Valparaiso as the program’s winningest coach through 50 games since 1986. Other highlights of his time at Valparaiso included defeating rival Butler in back-to-back seasons for the first time since 2005, going 4-0 in conference games at Brown Field in 2017 and sending two student-athletes to the 2018 FCS National Bowl, which showcases the FCS’s top players.
Before becoming the 17th head football coach in Valparaiso history, Cecchini spent four seasons as the offensive coordinator/ quarterbacks coach at Lehigh. During his second stint on the
HEAD COACH DAVE CECCHINI
Mountain Hawk staff, Cecchini built one of the most proficient and explosive offenses in the nation. In 2011, Lehigh ranked in the FCS’s top five in total offense (469.6) and passing offense (340.6) while averaging a Patriot League-best 32.5 points per game. Ten offensive players captured All-Patriot League laurels that season, headlined by Offensive Player of the Year Chris Lum. Lum, who was also the runner-up for the Walter Payton Award, broke the Patriot League’s single-season record for passing yards (4,378) and touchdown passes (32). For his role in Lehigh’s success, Cecchini was a finalist for the FootballScoop FCS Coordinator of the Year award.
With Cecchini guiding the offense, the Mountain Hawks went a combined 39-9 and won two Patriot League titles. Wide receiver Lee Kurfis led the nation in receiving yards per game (122.8) in 2013 while quarterback Mike Colvin finished fifth nationally in total offense (326.64) the year before. Under Cecchini’s watch, four Mountain Hawks garnered All-America honors.
From 2007 to 2009, Cecchini served as The Citadel’s offensive coordinator/wide receivers coach. During his first season in Charleston, the Bulldogs finished with their best record in 15 years, bolstered by an offense that set 16 school records, including points per game (39.5) and total offense (437.6). Cecchini mentored wide receiver Andre Roberts, a First Team AllAmerican who set Citadel records in single-season receptions (95), receiving yards (1,334) and touchdown catches (15). Roberts was selected by the Arizona Cardinals in the third round of the 2010 National Football League Draft and played 13 season, earning First Team All-Pro honors in 2018 and Second Team All-Pro honors in 2020 and 2021.
Beginning in 2003, Cecchini spent three seasons as the offensive coordinator/quarterbacks and wide receivers coach at Harvard. His fast-paced offense paid immediate dividends, as the Crimson averaged 461 yards per game during his first campaign, a figure good for fourth nationally. The next season, Harvard went 10-0 and won the Ivy League championship. After the Crimson led the Ivy League in aggregate offense, the AFCA selected Cecchini as its 2005 Mike Campbell Top Assistant Coach Award winner.
Under Cecchini’s tutelage, 14 Harvard records fell, including points per game (33.9). Among his charges was quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick, the 2004 Ivy League Player of the Year who was selected by the St. Louis Rams in the 2005 NFL Draft and spent time with nine different organizations over his 17-season pro career.
Before his tenure in Cambridge, Cecchini spent nine seasons on his alma mater’s staff. In 2000, Cecchini’s first campaign as offensive coordinator, Lehigh went 11-0 during the regular season and reached the Division I-AA (now FCS) quarterfinals. Following that season, Cecchini was promoted to assistant head coach while retaining his responsibilities as offensive coordinator. In 2001, his up-tempo offense averaged 38.3 points per game, helping the Mountain Hawks secure their second-straight undefeated regular season and championship quarterfinal appearance. In Cecchini’s first three seasons directing the offense, Lehigh posted a combined 31-6 record and captured two Patriot League titles.
During his playing days at Lehigh, Cecchini became a consensus First Team All-American after leading the nation in receptions and receiving yards per game in 1993. That season, he set Patriot League records in receptions (88), receiving yards (1,318) and touchdown receptions (15); his 15 touchdown catches remain the Patriot League standard to this day. Cecchini, who was later named to the Patriot League 15th Anniversary Team, graduated from Lehigh in 1995 with a bachelor of science degree in marketing.
Cecchini first joined the Mountain Hawk football staff as a tight ends coach. He also served as a running backs coach, quarterbacks coach and wide receivers coach before being promoted to offensive coordinator. During Cecchini’s first stint in Bethlehem, Lehigh averaged more than 350 yards of offense and over 26 points per game.
Cecchini and his wife, Tammy, have two sons: Evan and Will. Tammy serves as Bucknell’s head women’s tennis coach.
Personal
Date of Birth: March 9, 1972
Hometown: Bloomington, Minnesota
Wife: Tammy (head women’s tennis coach at Bucknell)
Children: Sons Evan and Will
Education
Lehigh University, B.S. in marketing, 1995
Head Coaching Career Year School Record Pct.
2014 Valparaiso 4-8 .333
2015 Valparaiso 1-9 .100
2016 Valparaiso 4-7 .364
2017 Valparaiso 6-5 .545
2018 Valparaiso 2-9 .182
2019 Bucknell 3-8 .273
2021 Spring Bucknell 2-2 .500
2021 Bucknell 1-10 .091
2022 Bucknell 3-8 .273
2023 Bucknell 4-7 .364
2024 Bucknell 5-6 .455
Totals 35-79 .307
Coaching Experience Years School Position
1994-02 Lehigh Tight Ends (1994) Running Backs (1995) Quarterbacks (1996) Wide Receivers (1997-99) Offensive Coordinator/WR (2000) Assistant Head Coach/ Offensive Coordinator/QB (2001-02)
2003-05 Harvard Offensive Coordinator/QB/WR 2006-09 The Citadel Offensive Coordinator/WR 2010-13 Lehigh Offensive Coordinator/QB 2014-18 Valparaiso Head Coach
2019-pres. Bucknell Head Coach
Career Highlights
• Winner of seven conference championships
• 2021 Spring Patriot League Dick Biddle Coach of the Year
• 2021 Spring STATS FCS National Coach of the Year Finalist
• 2017 AFCA FCS National Coach of the Year Finalist
• 2017 STATS FCS National Coach of the Year Finalist
• 2017 FCA FCS Region 4 Coach of the Year
• 2017 Pioneer Football League Coach of the Year
• 2011 FootballScoop FCS Coordinator of the Year
• Coached WR Andre Roberts, a 2010 NFL Draft pick, at The Citadel
• 2005 AFCA Mike Campbell Top Assistant Coach Award
• Coached QB Ryan Fitzpatrick, a 2005 NFL Draft pick, at Harvard
• 1993 consensus First Team All-American as Lehigh wide receiver
• Voted to the Patriot League 15th Anniversary Team
Shut out an opponent
Was shut out by an opponent
THE LAST TIME A BUCKNELL TEAM...
Finished a game with a tie score
Scored 40-49 points
Scored 50-59 points
Scored 60-69 points
Scored 70-79 points
Allowed 40-49 points
Allowed 50-59 points
Allowed 60-69 points
Allowed 70-79 points
Allowed 80+ points
Did not punt
Did not commit a turnover
Forced five turnovers
Forced six turnovers
Forced seven turnovers
Committed five or more turnovers
Did not commit a penalty
Was penalized for at least 100 yards
Won an overtime game
Played an overtime game
Had two 100-yard rushers in the same game
Had two 100-yard receivers in the same game
Defeated a nationally ranked opponent
Played a nationally ranked opponent
Played an FBS opponent
Apr. 3, 2021 at Lehigh (6-0)
Oct. 8, 2022 at Holy Cross (0-57)
Nov. 14, 1987 vs. Lehigh (21-21)
Nov. 11, 2023 vs. Georgetown (47-50 OT)
Nov. 1, 2003 vs. Holy Cross (53-31)
Oct. 24, 1987 vs. Columbia (62-20)
Oct. 10, 1964 vs. Ohio Wesleyan in Newark, Del. (72-0)
Nov. 16, 2024 at Holy Cross (38-40)
Nov. 11, 2023 vs. Georgetown (47-50 OT)
Nov. 13, 2021 at Army West Point (10-63)
Nov. 25, 1916 at Georgetown (0-78)
Oct. 8, 1966 at Temple (28-82)
Oct. 12, 2024 at Penn (21-31)
Nov. 9, 2024 vs. Fordham (28-27)
Oct. 15, 2022 at Yale (4 INT, 1 fumble) (9-29)
Sept. 3, 2016 at Marist (4 INT, 2 fumbles) (26-10)
Oct. 29, 2011 at Lafayette (3 INT, 4 fumbles) (39-13)
Apr. 17, 2021 vs. Holy Cross (5 INT) (10-33)
Sept. 19, 2009 at Cornell (9-33)
Oct. 17, 2015 at Army West Point (105) (14-21)
Sept. 28, 2024 at Lehigh (38-35)
Sept. 28, 2024 at Lehigh (38-35)
Sept. 26, 2007 vs. Marist (Terrance Wilson 108 & Justin Pulgrano 101) (17-16)
Oct. 28, 2023 at Colgate (Josh Gary 139 & Eric Weatherly 132) (49-34)
Oct. 26, 2013 vs. No. 15 Lehigh (48-10)
Oct. 7, 2023 vs. No. 12/12 Holy Cross (27-55)
Aug. 31, 2024 at Navy (21-49)
Won 10 games 1997 (10-1)
Won eight games 2014 (8-3)
Had a winning season 2014 (8-3)
Had 30 rushing attempts
Had 40 rushing attempts
Had 100 yards rushing
Had 200 yards rushing
Had a 60+ yard run
Had a 70+ yard run
Had three rushing touchdowns
Had four rushing touchdowns
Had five rushing touchdowns
Completed a 50+ yard pass
Had three passing touchdowns
Had four passing touchdowns
Had five passing touchdowns
Had 30 completions
Had 50 passing attempts
Had 60 passing attempts
Had 300 yards passing
Had 100 yards receiving
Had 200 yards receiving
Had 10 receptions
Had 15 receptions
Had two touchdown receptions
Had three touchdown receptions
Made a 40-yard field goal
Made a 50-yard field goal
Had three field goals in a game
Had four field goals in a game
Passed for a two-point conversion
Rushed for a two-point conversion
Made seven extra points
Made 10 extra points
Had 10+ punts
Had a 70+ yard punt
Had an 80+ yard punt
Returned a punt for a touchdown
Returned a kickoff for a touchdown
Returned an interception for a touchdown
Returned a fumble for a touchdown
Returned a blocked punt for a touchdown
Recorded two interceptions in a game
Recorded three interceptions in a game
Recorded four interceptions in a game
Forced two fumbles in a game
Recovered two fumbles in a game
Had 15 tackles in a game
Had 20 tackles in a game
Had two sacks in a game
Had three sacks in a game
Had four sacks in a game
Had four tackles for a loss in a game
Blocked a punt
Blocked an extra point attempt
Blocked a field goal attempt
Nov. 12, 2016 (Joey DeFloria (31) at Georgetown, 21-7)
Oct. 29, 2011 (Tyler Smith (42) at Lafayette, 39-13)
Nov 2, 2024 (Tariq Thomas (141) vs. Lafayette, 21-14)
Nov. 12, 2011 (Tyler Smith (204) at Fordham, 21-0)
Oct. 15, 2022 (Rushawn Baker (75) at Yale, 9-29)
Oct. 15, 2022 (Rushawn Baker (75) at Yale, 9-29)
Nov. 11, 2023 (Rushawn Baker vs. Georgetown, 47-50 OT)
Sept. 30, 2000 (Jabu Powell vs. Duquesne, 35-14)
Nov. 13, 2004 (Daris Wilson vs. Colgate, 42-7)
Nov. 11, 2023 (Ralph Rucker to Derrick Anderson Jr. (65) vs. Georgetown, 47-50 OT)
Nov. 16, 2024 (Ralph Rucker 5 at Holy Cross, 38-40)
Nov. 16, 2024 (Ralph Rucker 5 at Holy Cross, 38-40)
Nov. 16, 2024 (Ralph Rucker 5 at Holy Cross, 38-40)
Nov. 16, 2024 (Ralph Rucker (34) at Holy Cross, 38-40)
Nov. 23, 2019 (Logan Bitikofer (50) at Fordham, 14-31)
Oct. 27, 2001 (Todd Wenrich (67) at Fordham, 12-17)
Nov. 16, 2024 (Ralph Rucker (351) at Holy Cross, 38-40)
Nov. 16, 2024 (Eric Weatherly (129) at Holy Cross, 38-40)
Oct. 11, 2014 (Will Carter (246) at Lehigh, 45-24)
Nov. 16, 2024 (Eric Weatherly (10) at Holy Cross, 38-40)
Nov. 18, 2023 (Damian Harris (15) at Marist, 38-21)
Nov. 16, 2024 (Eric Weatherly and Sam Milligan at Holy Cross, 38-40)
Oct. 23, 2021 (Dominic Lyles vs. Georgetown, 21-29)
Sept. 28, 2024 (Matt Schearer (42) at Lehigh, 38-35 OT)
Nov. 12, 2022 (Matt Schearer (50) at Georgetown, 24-21 OT)
Nov. 12, 2022 (Matt Schearer at Georgetown, 24-21 OT)
Oct. 14, 2017 (John Burdick at Cornell, 26-18)
Nov. 4, 2023 (Ralph Rucker to Damian Harris at Fordham, 21-27)
Nov. 11, 2023 (Ralph Rucker vs. Georgetown, 47-50 OT)
Oct. 16, 1999 (Chris Lundberg vs. Duquesne, 49-20)
Oct. 10, 1964 (Mike Seigfried vs. Ohio Wesleyan in Newark, Del., 72-0)
Oct. 19, 2019 (Alex Pechin (11) at Towson, 7-56)
Nov. 23, 2019 (Alex Pechin (70) at Fordham, 14-31)
Sept. 22, 1984 (Mike Morrow (80) at Northeastern, 33-34)
Sept. 21, 2024 (TJ Cadden (73) vs. Marist, 34-18)
Sept. 28, 2024 (TJ Cadden (100) at Lehigh, 38-35 OT)
Sept. 28, 2024 (Aaron Davis (79) at Lehigh, 38-35 OT)
Nov. 23, 2019 (Rick Mottram (5) at Fordham, 14-31)
Oct. 13, 2018 (Gerrit Van Itallie (0) at Monmouth, 19-36)
Sept. 15, 2018 (Bryan Marine at Penn, 17-34)
Nov. 20, 2004 (Dante Ross at Duquesne, 30-20)
Sept. 30, 2000 (Kevin Eiben vs. Duquesne, 35-14)
Oct. 16, 2021 (Ben Allen at Fordham, 22-66)
Nov. 9, 2024 (Gavin Willis vs. Fordham, 28-27)
Oct. 19, 2024 (Gavin Willis (19) vs. Cornell, 21-34)
Aug. 30, 2014 (Evan Byers (23) at VMI, 42-38)
Sept. 28, 2024 (Gavin Willis at Lehigh, 38-35 OT)
Nov. 23, 2019 (Grayson Cherubino at Fordham, 14-31)
Nov. 18, 2017 (Simeon Page at Fordham, 9-20)
Nov. 9, 2024 (Gavin Willis vs. Fordham, 28-27)
Nov. 4, 2023 (Charlie Kreinbucher at Fordham, 21-27)
Nov. 16, 2024 (Gavin Willis at Holy Cross, 38-40)
Nov. 16, 2024 (Gavin Willis at Holy Cross, 38-40)
Recorded a safety Nov. 19, 2016 vs. Fordham (22-36)
FOOTBALL INFORMATION
Head Coach: Stan Dakosty
Record at Colgate: 16-28 (4th season)
Career Record: 16-28 (4th season)
Conference: Patriot League
Stadium: Crown Field at Andy Kerr Stadium
Capacity: 10,221
Surface: FieldTurf
2023 Record: 6-5
2023 Conference Record: 4-2 (3rd)
GENERAL INFORMATION
Location: Hamilton, N.Y.
Founded: 1819
Enrollment: 3,274
Nickname: Raiders
Colors: Maroon, Gray & White
President: Dr. Brian W. Casey
Athletic Director: Yariv Amir
Website: ColgateAthletics.com
Record
Record at neutral site 1-0
Streak Bucknell 1
Last meeting in Lewisburg Oct. 29, 2022 .............................................................Colgate 13, Bucknell 7
Last Bison win in Lewisburg ........................ Nov. 18, 2006
............................................................. Bucknell 31, Colgate 28
Last Bison win ....................... ..... Oct. 28, 2023 (Hamilton, N.Y.)
............................................................. Bucknell 49, Colgate 34
Last Raiders win Oct. 29, 2022 (Lewisburg, Pa.)
............................................................... Colgate 13, Bucknell 7
1894 Scranton, PA BU, 12-8
1917 Hamilton, NY CU, 24-0
1950 Hamilton, NY CU, 23-12
1951 Hamilton, NY BU, 21-20
1952 Lewisburg, PA CU, 28-0
1953 Hamilton, NY CU, 19-12
1954 Hamilton, NY CU, 20-14
1955 Lewisburg, PA CU, 35-7
1956 Hamilton, NY CU, 26-12
1957 Hamilton, NY CU, 27-0
1958 Lewisburg, PA CU, 7-0
1959 Hamilton, NY CU, 16-13
1960 Hamilton, NY BU, 12-8
1961 Hamilton, NY CU, 13-0
1962 Lewisburg, PA BU, 32-14
1963 Hamilton, NY BU, 14-0
1964 Lewisburg, PA CU, 14-6
1965 Hamilton, NY CU, 21-7
1966 Lewisburg, PA CU, 20-0
1967 Hamilton, NY CU, 38-0
1968 Lewisburg, PA CU, 48-34
1969 Hamilton, NY CU, 28-7
1970 Lewisburg, PA CU, 44-14
1971 Hamilton, NY CU, 47-24
1972 Lewisburg, PA BU, 41-7
TALE OF THE TAPE
1973 Hamilton, NY CU, 41-23
1974 Lewisburg, PA CU, 34-21
1975 Hamilton, NY BU, 24-16
1976 Lewisburg, PA CU, 24-13
1977 Hamilton, NY CU, 49-17
1978 Lewisburg, PA BU, 7-0
1979 Hamilton, NY CU, 20-2
1980 Lewisburg, PA CU, 17-14
1981 Hamilton, NY CU, 24-6
1986 Lewisburg, PA BU, 40-39
1987 Hamilton, NY CU, 31-28
1988 Lewisburg, PA CU, 14-13
1989 Hamilton, NY BU, 37-27
1990 Lewisburg, PA CU, 28-27
1991 Hamilton, NY CU, 38-6
1992 Lewisburg, PA BU, 28-21
1993 Hamilton, NY CU, 13-8
1994 Lewisburg, PA CU, 31-7
1995 Hamilton, NY BU, 21-14 OT
1996 Lewisburg, PA BU, 28-27 OT
1997 Hamilton, NY CU, 48-14
1998 Lewisburg, PA CU, 38-21
1999 Hamilton, NY BU, 21-16
2000 Lewisburg, PA CU, 24-21
2001 Hamilton, NY CU, 15-13
2002 Lewisburg, PA CU, 13-10 OT
2003 Hamilton, NY CU, 50-6
2004 Lewisburg, PA BU, 42-7
2005 Hamilton, NY CU, 16-10
2006 Lewisburg, PA BU, 31-28
2007 Hamilton, NY CU, 28-24
2008 Lewisburg, PA CU, 52-28
2009 Hamilton, NY CU, 29-14
2010 Lewisburg, PA CU, 31-7
2011 Hamilton, NY CU, 21-6
2012 Lewisburg, PA CU, 47-33
2013 Hamilton, NY BU, 28-7
2014 Lewisburg, PA CU, 21-6
2015 Hamilton, NY CU, 14-10
2016 Lewisburg, PA CU, 27-7
2017 Hamilton, NY CU, 40-3
2018 Lewisburg, PA CU, 27-3
2019 Hamilton, NY BU, 32-14
2021 Hamilton, NY CU, 33-10
2022 Lewisburg, PA CU, 13-7
2023 Hamilton, NY BU, 49-34
THE LAST TIME BUCKNELL AND COLGATE MET
Bucknell’s Offense Explodes in 49-34 Victory at Colgate
Bucknell’s offense exploded to the tune of 593 total yards and seven touchdowns in a 49-34 win over Colgate on the road at Andy Kerr Stadium. They were the most points the Bison have scored in a game since 2003, and the 593 yards were tied for second most in program history. It was Bucknell’s first Patriot League win of the season and snapped a three-game win streak for the Raiders.
GAME NOTES
• Bucknell posted 593 yards (2nd most in school history), including 400 yards in the first half to dispatch the Raiders 49-34 on the road.
• The Bison scored 27 unanswered points in the second quarter.
• QB Ralph Rucker completed 33 of 45 passes for a school-record 387 yards and four touchdowns.
• WRs Eric Weatherly combined for 19 receptions and three touchdowns, and both were over 100 yards.
• TE Charlie Kreinbucher was also on the receiving end of a Rucker TD.
• RB Rushawn Baker led the team with 107 yards and a TD, and RB Coleman Bennett rushed for 91 yards and two TDs. Bennett finished the game with 233 all-purpose yards, including 112 on four kick returns.
Leading the effort was quarterback Ralph Rucker, who posted an incredible stat line of 33 for 44 passing for 387 yards and four touchdowns. His passing yards broke the Bucknell single-game record last set in 1994. His 33 completions were the most by a Bison since 2001. Wide receivers Eric Weatherly and Josh Gary both eclipsed 100 receiving yards with 132 and 139, respectively. It was the first time since 2014 that two Bison recorded 100 yards receiving in the same game. Weatherly’s 10 receptions were the most since 2021.
Bucknell’s passing game wasn’t the only thing working for the offense on Saturday. Running backs Coleman Bennett and Rushawn Baker combined for three touchdowns and both averaged over five yards per carry. Baker finished the game with 107 net yards on 18 carries and a touchdown, and Bennett registered 91 yards on 17 carries and two scores. Bennett racked up 233 all-purpose yards, adding 30 more on three receptions and 112 on four kick returns.
The Bison defense made plays throughout the game as well, coming up with three takeaways. Cade Rooney grabbed his second interception in three weeks after a Jack Goheen tipped pass, Ethan Robinson intercepted his third pass of the season in the fourth quarter, and John Schlendorf scooped up a Colgate fumble and returned it 25 yards after Justin Fisher rushed a Raiders offensive lineman into quarterback Michael Brescia in the second quarter. The defense also held Colgate scoreless in the second frame.
It was in the second quarter that Bucknell began to take over the game, as the Bison posted 258 yards and 27 points during those 15 minutes. Bucknell scored touchdowns on four consecutive drives in the quarter. Bucknell had over 400 yards of offense by halftime and a 34-13 lead.
Both offenses were awake early in the contest and scored on the first three drives of the game. Colgate went 75 yards on eight plays on its first drive, and the Bison went 70 yards on 10 plays on their first. Bucknell’s first touchdown was a 20-yard completion to Charlie Kreinbucher. Colgate scored again on its second drive thanks to a 68-yard touchdown rush by running back Chris Gee, but it would be the last time the Raiders would score until the third quarter.
In the second quarter, Bucknell’s defense limited the Raiders to 38 yards and one of five on third down attempts. The Bison, meanwhile, benefited from extremely efficient play by Rucker, Bennett and Baker. Rucker completed 14 of 16 passes for 162 yards. Bennett gained 61 yards on five carries and scored two touchdowns. His first was a 23-yarder that was set up by a 32-yard reception by Weatherly. Later in the quarter, Baker carried the ball five times for 35 yards and a four-yard touchdown run. After a 32-yard pass to Gary got the Bison into Raider territory on a later drive in the second quarter, Bennett scored again on a 31-yard carry.
The Bison put an exclamation point on the half with under a minute to play, as the Schlendorf recovered fumble led to a 13-yard touchdown from Rucker to Weatherly. Bennett then scored a twopoint conversion to carry a 21-point lead into the locker rooms.
The run game slowed down for Bucknell in the third quarter, but Rucker stayed hot. He connected on five of eight pass attempts for 85 more yards, including a short pass to Gary that he took 49 yards for a score. In the fourth quarter, Rucker threw a deep ball to Weatherly that went for 35 yards and another touchdown.
Rucker became the first Bison to throw four touchdowns in a game since R.J. Nitti in 2015. His 387 yards broke Rob Glus’ record-383 set against Fordham in 1994. The last time Bucknell had 593 yards of offense was against Towson in 1998. The school record of 698 was set against Buffalo in 1951.
SCORING SUMMARY
BUC 2nd 13:54
BUC
BUC 2nd 00:21 Weatherly 13yd pass from Rucker Bennett pass from Rucker
3rd 10:11
1st
2nd
3rd Quarter
4th Quarter
3rd Down Conversions 9 of 17 8 of 14
4th
• Bucknell’s defense generated three turnovers, including two picks and a fumble.
• Colgate QB Michael Brescia scored two TDs on the ground and one through the air.
• RB Chris Gee rushed for a team-high 106 yards, including a 68-yard TD run.
BUC 3rd 06:08 Schearer 27yd field goal -- 12-34 03:54 37-20
BUC 3rd 03:38 Gary 49yd pass from Rucker Schearer kick
COL 3rd 02:14 Brescia 38yd rush Jaworski kick 4-67 01:22 43-27
BUC 4th 13:39 Weatherly 35yd pass from Rucker Rucker pass failed 7-41 03:35 49-27
COL 4th 02:33 Wamp 6yd pass from Stearney Jaworski kick 12-61 04:19 49-34
TEAM LEADERS
Bucknell led in time of possession with 33:34 and was a perfect three for three on fourth down conversions. The Bison also converted on nine of 17 third down attempts. Special teams were another big factor on Saturday, as Bucknell had one field goal and two extra points blocked. Bennett returned a kickoff 40 yards in the third quarter. BUCKNELL
DARA ADEYEMI (97)
DL | SO | 6-7 | 250
Tackles: 3 at Georgetown (10/26/24)
DERRICK ANDERSON JR. (0)
WR | JR | 6-3 | 175
Receptions: 6 vs. Holy Cross (10/7/23)
Receiving Yards: 115 vs. Holy Cross (10/7/23)
Long Reception: 65 vs. Georgetown (11/11/23)
Receiving Touchdowns: 2 vs. Holy Cross (10/7/23)
NATE ANDERSON (17)
WR | JR | 6-0 | 185
Receptions: 8 at Holy Cross (11/16/24)
Receiving Yards: 80 at Holy Cross (11/16/24)
Long Reception: 47 at Navy (8/31/24)
Receiving Touchdowns: 2 vs. Fordham (11/9/24)
JACK BARNES (52)
DL | SR | 6-2 | 220
Tackles: 7 at Villanova (9/11/21)
Tackles for Loss: 1, 5X (last vs. Fordham, 11/9/24)
Forced Fumbles: 1 vs. Lafayette (10/1/22)
Blocked Punts: 1 vs. Holy Cross (11/20/21)
Pass Breakups: 1, 2 times (last at Lafayette, 9/30/23)
BRANDON BIAGIARELLI (10)
LB | FR | 6-3 | 226
Tackles: 7 vs. Marist (9/21/24)
Tackles for Loss: 2 vs. Marist (9/21/24)
Sacks: 2 vs. Marist (9/21/24)
ALEX BROWN (8)
WR | JR | 6-3 | 195
Passing Attempts: 9 vs. Fordham (11/5/22)
Passing Completions: 5 vs. Fordham (11/5/22)
Passing Yards: 62 vs. Colgate (10/29/22)
Long Pass: 40 vs. Fordham (11/5/22)
Rushing Attempts: 11 vs. Colgate (10/29/22)
Rushing Yards: 39 vs. Colgate (10/29/22)
Long Rush: 14 at Holy Cross (10/8/22)
Receptions: 1 at Lafayette (9/30/23)
Receiving Yards: 4 at Lafayette (9/30/23)
LOGAN BUSH (29)
RB | FR | 5-10 | 208
Rushing Attempts: 4 vs. Marist (9/21/24)
Rushing Yards: 13 vs. Marist (9/21/24)
Long Rush: 5 vs. Marist (9/21/24)
Rushing Touchdowns: 1 vs. Cornell (10/19/24)
MICHAEL CADDEN (36)
RB | FR | 5-10 | 190
Rushing Attempts: 8 vs. Fordham (11/9/24)
Rushing Yards: 71 vs. Marist (9/21/24)
Long Rush: 32 vs. Marist (9/21/24)
Rushing Touchdowns: 1 at Navy (8/31/24)
TJ CADDEN (80)
WR | SO | 6-0 | 185
Receptions: 7 vs. Cornell (10/19/24)
Receiving Yards: 97 at Navy (8/31/24)
Receiving Touchdowns: 1, 3X (last vs. Cornell, 10/19/24)
Long Reception: 37 at Navy (8/31/24)
Punt Returns: 4 at VMI (9/7/24)
Punt Return Yards: 78 vs. Marist (9/21/24)
Long Punt Return: 73 (TD) vs. Marist (9/21/24)
Punt Return Touchdowns: 1, 2X (last vs. Marist, 9/21/24)
Kickoff Returns: 2, 4X (last vs. Cornell, 10/19/24)
Kick Return Yards: 117 at Lehigh (9/28/24)
Long Kick Return: 100 (TD) at Lehigh (9/28/24)
WILLIAM CANEER (30)
DL | SO | 6-3 | 238
Tackles: 7 vs. Cornell (10/19/24)
Forced Fumbles: 1 vs. Lafayette (11/2/24)
Tackles for Loss: 2 at Lehigh (9/28/24)
Sacks: 1 vs. Cornell (10/19/24)
AARON DAVIS (16)
CB | JR | 5-11 | 190
Tackles: 7 vs. Marist (9/21/24)
Interceptions: 1, 3X (last vs. Cornell, 10/19/24)
Pass Breakups: 4 vs. Lafayette (11/2/24)
Long INT Return: 79 (TD) at Lehigh (9/28/24)
DARIUS DAY (34)
S | FR | 5-11 | 185
Tackles: 2 vs. Marist (9/21/24)
Pass Breakups: 1 vs. Marist (9/21/24)
JUSTIN FISHER (99)
DL | SR | 6-6 | 235
Tackles: 9 at Sacred Heart (9/4/21)
Tackls for Loss: 0.5 vs. Lafayette (11/2/24)
Sacks: 0.5 at Colgate (10/28/23)
Pass Breakups: 1 vs. Marist (9/21/24)
KYLE FONTES (87)
TE | SR | 6-4 | 220
Receptions: 3 at VMI (9/10/22)
Receiving Yards: 15 at Cornell (10/14/23)
Receiving TDs: 1 at VMI (9/10/22)
Long Reception: 15 at Cornell (10/14/23)
LUKE FREEMAN (12)
S | JR | 6-2 | 190
Tackles: 2, 3X (last vs. Marist, 9/21/24)
JOSH GARY (3)
WR | JR | 5-11 | 190
Receptions: 13 at Penn (10/12/24)
Receiving Yards: 139 at Colgate (10/28/23)
Receiving Touchdowns: 2 at VMI (9/7/24)
Long Reception: 49 at Colgate (10/28/23)
Kickoff Returns: 1, 4X (last at Lehigh 9/28/24)
Long Kickoff Return: 88 vs. Lehigh (10/21/23)
Kickoff Return TDs: 1 vs. Lehigh (10/21/23)
BRAD GERKEN (38)
S | SO | 5-11 | 195
Tackles: 7 vs. Georgetown (11/11/23)
Pass Breakups: 1, 3X (last at Marist, 11/18/23)
Tackles for Loss: 1 vs. Georgetown (11/11/23)
Sacks: 1 vs. Georgetown (11/11/23)
Fumble Recoveries: 1 at Fordham (11/4/23)
DEUCE GETER (26)
S | SO | 6-1 | 205
Tackles: 7 at Cornell (10/14/23)
Pass Breakups: 1, 3 times (last vs. Lehigh, 10/21/23)
JACK GOHEEN (47)
LB | JR | 6-2 | 210
Tackles: 7 vs. Lehigh (10/21/23)
Tackles for Loss: 0.5 at Fordham (11/4/23)
Pass Breakups: 1 at Colgate (10/28/23)
MICHAEL HARDYWAY (9)
QB | SR | 6-0 | 180
Passing Completions: 21 vs. Cornell (10/19/24)
Passing Attempts: 39 vs. Cornell (10/19/24)
Passing Yards: 214 vs. Cornell (10/19/24)
Long Pass: 37 at Navy (8/31/24)
Passing Touchdowns: 2 vs. Cornell (10/19/24)
Rushing Attempts: 7 vs. Cornell (10/19/24)
Rushing Yards: 11 vs. Cornell (10/19/24)
Long Rush: 15 vs. Cornell (10/19/24)
NICK HOYING (23)
S/LB | SO | 6-0 | 195
Tackles: 12 vs. Lafayette (11/2/24)
Tackles for Loss: 3 vs. Marist (9/21/24)
Sacks: 1.5 vs. Fordham (11/9/24)
Pass Breakups: 1 at VMI (9/7/24)
Interceptions: 1 at Navy (8/31/24)
JACK INSERRA (57)
DL | SO | 6-2 | 215
Tackles: 2, 2X (last at Marist, 11/18/23)
BRAD JAMISON (33)
LB | SR | 6-2 | 220
Tackles: 12 vs. VMI (9/9/23)
Tackles for Loss: 2 at Lafayette (9/30/23)
Sacks: 1, 5X (last vs. Fordham, 11/9/24)
Pass Breakups: 2 vs. Lehigh (10/21/23)
Interceptions: 1 vs. Georgetown (11/11/23)
Interception Return Yards: 18 vs. Georgetown (11/11/23)
CHARLIE KREINBUCHER (82)
TE | JR | 6-5 | 230
Receptions: 4 vs. Fordham (11/9/24)
Receiving Yards: 43 vs. Fordham (11/5/22)
Long Reception: 34 vs. Fordham (11/5/22)
Receiving Touchdowns: 1, 4X (last vs. Marist, 9/21/24)
Punt Blocks: 1 at Fordham (11/4/23)
DANNY MEUSER (4)
RB | 5TH | 6-0 | 200
Rushing Attempts: 21 vs. Penn (9/18/21)
Rushing Yards: 90 vs. Penn (9/18/21)
Long Rush: 36 at Yale (10/15/22)
Rushing TDs: 1 at Fordham (10/16/21), vs. Penn (9/18/21)
Receptions: 4 vs. Fordham (11/5/22)
Receiving Yards: 13 vs. Fordham (11/5/22)
Long Reception: 10 vs. Fordham (4/10/21)
All-Purpose Yards: 92 vs. Penn (9/18/21)
Blocked Punts: 1 vs. Lehigh (11/6/21)
SAM MILLIGAN (84)
WR | SO | 6-3 | 200
Receptions: 6 at Holy Cross (11/16/24)
Receiving Yards: 78 at Holy Cross (11/16/24)
Long Reception: 36 at Georgetown (10/26/24)
Receiving Touchdowns: 2 at Holy Cross (11/16/24)
Kickoff Returns: 2 vs. Georgetown (11/11/23)
Kickoff Return Yards: 19 vs. Georgetown (11/11/23)
Long Kickoff Return: 11 vs. Georgetown (11/11/23)
Punt Returns: 1 vs. Georgetown (11/11/23)
Punt Return Yards: 3 vs. Georgetown (11/11/23)
Long Punt Return: 3 vs. Georgetown (11/11/23)
PAUL NEEL (21)
RB | SR | 5-10 | 190
Rushing Attempts: 12 at Navy (8/31/24)
Rushing Yards: 60 at Navy (8/31/24)
Long Rush: 18 at Navy (8/31/24)
Rushing Touchdowns: 1, 2X (last at VMI, 9/7/24)
Receptions: 3, 2X (last vs. Fordham, 11/9/24)
Receiving Yards: 47 vs. Fordham (11/9/24)
Long Reception: 44 vs. Fordham (11/9/24)
Receiving Touchdowns: 1 vs. Fordham (11/9/24)
MARQUES OWENS (1)
WR | SR | 5-10 | 170
Receptions: 4, 2X (last at Georgetown, 11/12/22)
Receiving Yards: 69 at Colgate (10/30/21)
Long Reception: 40 vs. Fordham (11/5/22)
Kickoff Returns: 7 vs. Holy Cross (11/20/21)
Kickoff Return Yards: 111 vs. Holy Cross (11/20/21)
Long Kickoff Return: 21 vs. Holy Cross (11/20/21)
All-Purpose Yards: 128 vs. Holy Cross (11/20/21)
ROMAN PEARSON (5)
CB | JR | 6-2 | 180
Tackles: 6 at VMI (9/7/24)
Pass Breakups: 3 vs. Cornell (10/19/24)
Interceptions: 1, 5X (last at Georgetown, 10/26/24)
Forced Fumbles: 1 vs. Georgetown (11/11/23)
CADE ROONEY (15)
DL | SR | 6-3 | 250
Tackles: 6 vs. Holy Cross (11/20/21)
Tackles for Loss: 1.5 vs. Fordham (11/9/24)
Interceptions: 1, 2 times (last at Colgate, 10/28/23)
RALPH RUCKER (10)
QB | SR | 6-0 | 207
Passing Attempts: 48 at Fordham (11/4/23)
Passing Completions: 34 at Holy Cross (11/16/24)
Passing Yards: 387 at Colgate (10/28/23)
Passing Touchdowns: 5 at Holy Cross (11/16/24)
Long Pass: 65 vs. Georgetown (11/11/23)
Rushing Attempts: 15 vs. VMI (9/9/23)
Rushing Yards: 47 vs. VMI (9/9/23)
Long Rush: 19, 2X (most recent vs. Lafayette (11/2/24)
Rushing Touchdowns: 2 vs. Lafayette (11/2/24)
MATT SCHEARER (62)
K | JR | 5-11 | 170
Field Goals: 3 at Georgetown (11/12/22)
Long Field Goal: 50 at Georgetown (11/12/22)
PATs Made: 5 at VMI (9/7/24)
Punts: 7 at Georgetown (10/26/24)
Punt Yards: 286 at Georgetown (10/26/24)
Punting Average: 50.0 vs. Merrimack (9/14/24)
Long Punt: 63, 2X (last at VMI, 9/7/24)
Punts Inside 20: 3 at Georgetown (10/26/24)
JOHN SCHLENDORF (45)
S | SR | 5-10 | 180
Tackles: 14, 2 times (last vs. Penn, 9/23/23)
Sacks: 1, 5X (last at Penn, 10/12/24)
Tackles for Loss: 2 vs. Lafayette (11/2/24)
Pass Breakups: 2, 6X (last vs. Lafayette 11/2/24)
Forced Fumbles: 1, 2X (last at VMI, 9/7/24)
Fumble Recoveries: 1, 2 times (last at Colgate, 10/28/23)
Interceptions: 1 vs. Lehigh (10/21/23)
CHRIS SIMS (11)
CB | SR | 5-9 | 170
Tackles: 7 at Cornell (10/14/23)
Pass Breakups: 1, 5X (last at Fordham, 11/4/23)
Interceptions: 1, 2X (last at VMI, 9/7/24)
Interception Return Yards: 21 at VMI (9/7/24)
Fumble Recoveries: 1 at Georgetown (10/26/24)
ALEX SMITH JR. (6)
S | SR | 6-2 | 185
Tackles: 13 vs. Lafayette (11/2/24)
Tackles for Loss: 2 vs. Merrimack (9/14/24)
Interceptions: 1, 6X (last vs. Fordham, 11/9/24)
Interception Return Yards: 38 vs. Marist (9/21/24)
Interception Return Touchdowns: 1 vs. Marist (9/21/24)
Sacks: 1, 2X (last vs. Lafayette 11/2/24)
Pass Breakups: 2, 4X (last vs. Lafayette, 11/2/24)
Forced Fumbles: 1, 3X (last at Holy Cross, 11/16/24)
CHRISTIAN SPUGNARDI (81)
TE | SR | 6-6 | 215
Receptions: 5 at Army West Point (11/13/21)
Receiving Yards: 30 at Army West Point (11/13/21)
Long Reception: 11 vs. Fordham (11/5/22)
Receiving TDs: 2 vs. Towson (9/3/22)
MASON TAYLOR (20)
S | SR | 6-2 | 185
Tackles: 6 at Holy Cross (11/16/24)
Tackles for Loss: 0.5 vs. Cornell (10/2/21)
Pass Breakups: 1, 5X (last at Holy Cross, 11/18/24)
Interceptions: 1 at Penn (10/12/24)
TARIQ THOMAS (7)
RB | FR | 5-11 | 185
Rushing Attempts: 29 vs. Lafayette (11/2/24
Rushing Yards: 141 vs. Lafayette (11/2/24)
Rushing TDs: 2, 2x (most recent at G’town, 10/26/24)
Long Rush: 47 vs. Cornell (10/19/24)
Receptions: 2, 5X (most recent at Holy Cross, 11/16/24)
Receiving Yards: 13, 2X. (Most recent vs Laf (11/2/24)
Long Reception: 10 at Lehigh (9/28/24)
Kickoff Returns: 3 at Navy (8/31/24)
Kickoff Return Yards: 58 at Navy (8/31/24)
Long Kickoff Return: 29 at Navy (8/31/24)
ANEESH VYAS (90)
DL | SR | 6-2 | 265
Tackles: 6 vs. Lafayette (10/1/22)
Tackles for a Loss: 1, 2 times (last at Georgetown, 11/12/22)
Sacks: 0.5 vs. Lafayette (10/1/22)
Forced Fumbles: 1 at Fordham (10/16/21)
Fumble Recoveries: 2 at Fordham (10/16/21)
Pass Breakup: 1, 4X (last vs, Merrimack, 9/14/24)
Blocked kicks: 2 vs. Penn (9/23/23)
ERIC WEATHERLY (2)
WR | JR | 5-7 | 171
Receptions: 10, 2X (last at Holy Cross, 11/16/24)
Receiving Yards: 132 at Colgate (10/28/23)
Long Reception: 40, 2X (last vs. Holy Cross, 10/7/23)
Receiving Touchdowns: 2, 4x (last at Holy Cross, 11/16/24)
Rushing Attempts: 6 at Marist (11/18/23)
Rushing Yards: 20 at Marist (11/18/23)
Long Rush: 7 at Marist (11/18/23)
Rushing Touchdowns: 1 at Marist (11/18/23)
Punt Returns: 3 at Navy (8/31/24)
Punt Return Yards: 23 vs. Holy Cross (10/7/23)
Long Punt Return: 23 vs. Holy Cross (10/7/23)
Kick Returns: 3, 2X (last vs. Fordham, 11/9/24)
Kick Return Yards: 57 at Cornell (10/14/23)
Long Kick Return: 31 vs. Georgetown (11/11/23)
TAKAI WHITMORE (14)
CB | SO | 5-11 | 170
Tackles: 4 at Georgetown (10/26/24)
Forced Fumbles: at Georgetown (10/26/24)
TERIAN WILLIAMS II (9)
CB | JR | 5-11 | 190
Tackles: 10 vs. Cornell (10/19/24)
Tackles for Loss: 1, 2X (last vs. Cornell, 10/19/24)
Sacks: 1 vs. Marist (9/21/24)
Interceptions: 1 at Navy (8/31/24)
GAVIN WILLIS (13)
LB | SO | 6-0 | 212
Tackles: 19 vs. Cornell (10/19/24)
Tackles for Loss: 4 vs. Fordham (11/9/24)
Sacks: 2 at Lehigh (9/28/24)
Fumble Recoveries: 2, 2X (last vs. Fordham, 11/9/24)
FR Touchdowns: 1 vs. Fordham (11/9/24)
Blocked Kicks: 2 at Holy Cross (11/16/24)
2024 GAME REPORTS: GAME 1
BUCKNELL 7 0 7 7 21 NAVY 6 22 7 `14 49 Aug. 31
TEAM STATISTICS
GAME NOTES
• Bucknell got off to an exciting start against the Mids with an opening-drive 47-yard touchdown pass from Ralph Rucker to Nate Anderson, but Navy went on to score 35 unanswered points and held on for a 49-21 win.
• The Mids piled up 437 yards on total offense, gaining 264 on the ground.
• RB Paul Neel led Bucknell’s rushing attack in his first career start. The senior carried 12 times for 60 yards and a third-quarter touchdown.
• Rucker added 34 net rushing yards in addition to his 122 pass yards. He was under duress much of the game, absorbing four sacks.
Football Drops Season Opener at Navy, 49-21
The Bucknell football team opened its 2024 season with a hard-fought 49-21 loss to Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) opponent Navy on Saturday afternoon before 28,763 fans at Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium. The Bison got out to an electric start with Ralph Rucker IV connecting with Nate Anderson on a 47-yard touchdown pass on the very first possession of the day, but the Midshipmen flipped the game around with a 22-point second quarter.
Rucker, who was under pressure for much of the contest, completed 11 of 24 passes for 122 yards and the touchdown to Anderson, a Western Michigan transfer making his Bison debut. Bucknell gained 337 total yards, including 131 on the ground, with starting running back Paul Neel leading the way with 60 yards and a touchdown on 12 carries.
TJ Cadden made a team-high five catches for 97 yards and was also impactful on special teams with a 24-yard punt return and a 52-yard kickoff return. Anderson, Josh Gary, and Eric Weatherly caught two passes apiece.
Nick Hoying led the defense with 11 total tackles, surpassing his total of 10 from his freshman season in 2023, and he also notched his first career interception. Stanford transfer Terian Williams II also intercepted a pass in his first game as a Bison.
“I thought our guys would fight for 60 minutes, and they absolutely did that,” said head coach Dave Cecchini after the game. “They did not give up, they did not quit. They played just as hard on the last play of the game as the first play of the game; 60 minutes of football in hot, humid conditions.”
Rucker found Anderson wide open down the left sideline for the opening score only 1:23 into the contest, but Navy answered about three minutes later when big fullback Daba Fofanabroke ran loose up the middle for a 49-yard touchdown run. The Bison remained in the lead when the extra point was shoved wide to the right. Bucknell looked good to expand on the margin when Rucker engineered a 13-play drive down to the Navy 19, but the Midshipmen came up with a stop on 4th-and-2.
After the defense forced another punt, Neel started a drive with a good run up the middle, but on replay review it was ruled that Navy knocked the ball loose just before his knee went down, and the Mids were awarded the ball. Navy then took its first lead of the day on Alex Tecza’s 3-yard TD run on the first play of the second quarter.
Blake Horvath tossed a pair of touchdown passes later in the period, and Navy took a 28-7 lead to the locker room.
Eli Heidenreich’s second TD catch of the game made it 35 unanswered points for Navy before the Bison ended the run on Neel’s 3-yard run that was set up by the Hoying interception. Rucker piled up 27 of his 34 rushing yards on the scoring drive.
Bucknell added one more touchdown in the final minute in a nice moment for the Cadden brothers. TJ caught a beautifully thrown deep ball by Michael Hardyway for a 37-yard hookup down to the two, and then younger brother Michael ran it in on the next play for the freshman’s first career score.
Navy gained 264 yards on the ground, led by Fofana’s 82 yards. Quarterbacks Horvath and Braxton Woodson combined to complete 10 of 19 passes for 173 yards and three touchdowns. The Midshipmen had a 437-337 edge in total yards and led 33:01-26:59 in time of possession.
SCORING SUMMARY
1st
2nd
3rd Quarter 7:15 7:45
4th Quarter 5:59 9:01
3rd Down Conversions 6 of 17 10 of 17
4th Down Conversions 1 of 3 1 of 1
Red-Zone Scores-Chances 2-4 5-5 Touchdowns 2-4 5-5 Field Goals 0-4
• WR TJ Cadden hauled in five receptions for a career-high 97 receiving yards. He added a 52-yard kickoff return and a 24-yard punt return. His younger brother, freshman RB Michael Cadden, scored a late Bison touchdown in his first collegiate game.
• Sophomore Nick Hoying led Bucknell’s defensive efforts with 11 tackles and his first career interception. Terian Williams also grabbed an interception, and Brad Jamison recorded Bucknell’s lone sack.
TEAM LEADERS
Bucknell and Navy were meeting for the first time since 1925. BUCKNELL
2024 GAME REPORTS: GAME 2
Big Second Half Lifts Bucknell to 35-28 Win at VMI
TEAM STATISTICS
GAME NOTES
• Ralph Rucker completed 14 of 15 pass attempts for 201 yards and three touchdowns in the second half to defeat VMI on the road. Rucker was 8 for 8 in the third quarter and led Bucknell to touchdowns on its first two possessions of the half.
• The Bison scored 21 unanswered points in the second half after being tied at 14-all at halftime. Josh Gary caught both touchdown passes on Bucknell’s back-to-back scoring drives to open the third quarter.
• TJ Cadden registered 87 receiving yards and a touchdown in addition to his 40-yard punt return touchdown in the first half. It was Bucknell’s first punt return touchdown in 10 years. Eric Weatherly led all receivers with nine receptions for 105 yards.
A big second half that saw 21 unanswered points propelled the Bucknell football team to a 35-28 win over VMI at Alumni Memorial Field on Saturday. After VMI took an early lead on a first quarter pick six, Ralph Rucker IV was outstanding the rest of the way and guided the Bison to their first victory of the season. The Bison quarterback completed 28 of 37 passing attempts (75.7%) for 340 yards and three touchdowns.
The Bison and Keydets were tied at 14-14 at halftime, but junior wide receiver Josh Gary was on the receiving end of two Rucker touchdowns on Bucknell’s first two drives of the third quarter to build a 28-14 lead. Sophomore TJ Cadden, who scored on a 40-yard punt return in the first quarter, caught another Rucker pass early in the fourth to put Bucknell up 35-14. Junior Eric Weatherly led all players with nine receptions for 105 yards. Paul Neel accounted for Bucknell’s other touchdown, scoring in the first quarter on one of his eight carries for 37 yards.
In the second half, Rucker completed 14 of 15 attempts for 201 yards and three touchdowns, missing just once in the fourth quarter.
Bucknell racked up 457 yards of offense for the game, while VMI totaled 378.
The Bison defense gave up just one touchdown in the first half when running back Hunter Rice ran up the middle for a 58-yard score. The Keydets added two late scores with under nine minutes to play in the game to pull within a touchdown, but the Bison were able to kneel out the final 29 seconds to defeat VMI for a second year in a row.
Rice led the Keydets with 166 yards and two touchdowns on 18 carries. He also hauled in three catches. VMI quarterback Collin Shannon completed 21 of 32 passes for 129 yards, and backup Chandler Wilson completed 3 of 5 passes and a touchdown on the final VMI drive.
Rucker became just the second Bucknell quarterback to post three 300-yard passing games in his career, joining Jim Given ‘87. Seven of Rucker’s passes were for 15 yards or longer, including a 33yard completion to Weatherly that led to the first touchdown in the third quarter, a 41-yard touchdown pass to Gary that came on a 4th-and-2 play, and a 35-yard touchdown to Cadden.
Cadden’s 40-yard punt return touchdown comes one week after he logged a 24-yard punt return and a 52-yard kickoff return at Navy. He ended the day with 141 all-purpose yards. It was the first Bucknell punt return touchdown since Josh Brake took one 62 yards to the house in a win over VMI on Aug. 30, 2014.
Gavin Willis led all Bison with 12 tackles, including six solo stops. Both Brandon Biagiarelli and John Schlendorf registered sacks. Schlendorf’s sack on the opening drive of the game knocked the ball loose from VMI’s quarterback’s hand, but the Keydets recovered. The Bison would get their lone turnover of the game late in the third quarter when Chris Sims intercepted a pass in the end zone and returned it 21 yards.
SCORING SUMMARY
1st
2nd
3rd Quarter 6:22 8:38
4th Quarter 5:41 9:19
3rd
4th
• Rucker, who totaled 340 passing yards, became just the second Bison quarterback with three career 300-yard games, joining Jim Given ’87.
• Chris Sims came up with Bucknell’s only turnover, intercepting a pass in the third quarter. John Schlendorf forced a fumble that was recovered by VMI, and Gavin Willis led all Bison with 12 tackles.
TEAM LEADERS
BUCKNELL
2024 GAME REPORTS: GAME 3
MERRIMACK 3 14 14 0 31
TEAM STATISTICS
GAME NOTES
• Bucknell and Merrimack traded leads four times in the first half, but the visiting Warriors took the lead for good with 1:46 remaining in the second quarter and scored 21 unanswered points to build a 31-14 lead by the middle of the third.
• Merrimack eclipsed 400 yards of offense, including 258 rushing yards. Running back Jermaine Corbett accounted for 166 rushing yards and a touchdown on 19 carries.
• The Warriors also added a defensive score on a sack-fumble returned for a touchdown in the third quarter.
• Bucknell snapped its scoring drought with a touchdown pass in the final minute of the game to cut the final deficit to 31-21.
Football Falls to Merrimack 31-21 in Home Opener
Bucknell and Merrimack traded leads four times in the first half, but the Warriors went on to score 21 unanswered to take control of the game and hand the Bison a 31-21 loss in their home opener at Christy Mathewson-Memorial Stadium Saturday evening.
Merrimack piled up 405 yards of offense compared to Bucknell’s 260 and added a defensive score. Bucknell’s offense got off to a hot start, scoring on two of its first three drives to go up 14-10 early in the second quarter. Merrimack’s defense buckled down from that point on and forced three Bucknell turnovers in the game while holding the Bison off the scoreboard for the entire third quarter and most of the fourth. Bucknell’s Michael Hardyway threw a touchdown pass to Sam Milligan in the final minute of the game to cut the Seahawk lead to 10.
The Warriors sacked Ralph Rucker IV seven times. The Bison quarterback ended the game 16 of 27 for 141 yards. Rucker’s lone touchdown through the air came in the first quarter when he capped a 10-play, 73-yard drive with a 10-yard pass to Josh Gary in the end zone that put Bucknell in front, 7-3. Merrimack regained the lead on its first possession of the second quarter. The Bison responded immediately with another long drive that ended with an 11-yard touchdown scamper by Rucker.
Merrimack running back Jermaine Corbett led the Merrimack offense with 166 yards on 19 carries. His 25-yard touchdown run late in the second quarter gave the Warriors a 17-14 lead heading into halftime and started the 21-0 run.
Merrimack quarterback Ayden Pereira hit Brendon Wyatt on a 13-yard touchdown early in the third to go up double digits, and the deficit grew to 21 when a sack-fumble was returned by defensive lineman Nicholas Lenon 26 yards for a touchdown. Merrimack finished the game 7 for 13 on third downs.
Bucknell freshman running back Tariq Thomas led the Bison ground game with 51 yards on just seven carries. He also pulled down two catches for 13 yards. Eric Weatherly led all Bucknell receivers with 77 yards on six catches. Nick Hoying registered a teamhigh 10 tackles on defense. TJ Cadden, the reigning Patriot League Special Teams Player of the Week, made another splash play with a 37-yard punt return in the first quarter.
Both Bucknell and Merrimack moved to 1-2 on the season following Saturday’s result.
SCORING SUMMARY
MER 3rd 08:04 Lenon 52yd fumble recovery Davis kick 14-31
BUC 4th 00:46 Milligan 23yd pass from Hardyway Schearer kick
TEAM LEADERS
MERRIMACK
3rd
• Ralph Rucker led two touchdown drives in the first half. He threw a 10-yard touchdown pass to Josh Gary to cap a 9-play, 73yard drive in the first quarter. In the second, Rucker ran 11 yards for a score to cap a 5-play, 65-yard drive. He finished the game with 141 passing yards on 16 completions.
• The Merrimack defense sacked Rucker seven times in the contest and intercepted two passes.
2024 GAME REPORTS: GAME 4
MARIST 7 0 0 11 19
TEAM STATISTICS
GAME NOTES
• Bucknell scored touchdowns on offense, defense and special teams to jump out to a 27-7 lead over Marist by halftime. The Bison held on to win 34-18, defeating the Red Foxes for a 10th consecutive time.
• Bucknell’s offense rolled to 458 yards of total offense. Ralph Rucker completed 21 of 27 passes for 272 and three touchdowns.
• TJ Cadden registered a 73-yard punt return touchdown and also caught a touchdown pass in the game. He finished with 155 all-purpose yards.
• Alex Smith Jr. intercepted a Marist pass in the second quarter and returned it 38 yards for a touchdown. It was Bucknell’s first pick-six since the 2021 season.
Bison Football Rides Big First Half to 34-18 Win Over Marist
The Bucknell football team scored three unanswered touchdowns in just over three minutes of game time to jump out to a commanding 27-7 lead over the visiting Marist Red Foxes by halftime, and the Bison added one more score in the second half on the way to a 34-18 Family Weekend win at Christy Mathewson-Memorial Stadium on Saturday evening. It was Bucknell’s 10th consecutive win in the Marist series and evened its season record at 2-2.
Ralph Rucker IV completed 21 of 27 passes for 272 yards and three touchdowns, and TJ Cadden notched his second punt-return touchdown of the season to lead the Bison. Cadden, Eric Weatherly, and Charlie Kreinbucher all caught TD passes as Bucknell moved to 1-1 in home games.
Bucknell’s offense rolled to 458 yards of total offense, but it was a strong showing by the Bison in all three phases of the game as they added touchdowns on defense and special teams. Rucker, who completed his first 13 pass attempts of the game, threw his second touchdown pass of the game to Kreinbucher early in the second quarter to break a 7-7 tie. Cadden returned a punt 73 yards for a touchdown just several plays later, and Alex Smith Jr. returned an interception 36 yards on the following drive to make it three Bison scores in 3:22 of game time.
Aaron Davis joined Smith with an interception, while Gavin Willis’ nine tackles led a Bucknell defense that held Marist to a single score through three quarters. Brandon Biagiarelli registered two of Bucknell’s four sacks. Marist managed to total 435 yards of offense, including 209 passing yards by quarterback Sonny Mannino, but the Red Foxes’ opening drive touchdown was its only score until it converted a field goal to open the fourth quarter.
Marist’s first-quarter touchdown came in response to Bucknell’s opening drive, which saw Rucker lead the offense 79 yards down field and connect with Weatherly on a 36-yard touchdown. It was Weatherly’s first score of the season. Rucker’s touchdown to Kreinbucher was from just two yards out, and the dagger to Cadden was a 12-yard score with 5:51 to play. Rucker reached eight passing touchdowns on the season and is one shy of 30 in his brief Bucknell career.
Bucknell has now scored in the 30s in two games this season and in five of its last eight dating back to last season.
Cadden, who became the first Bison in a decade return a punt for a touchdown in the win over VMI, now has four total touchdowns on the season. He ranks near the top of all FCS players with 607 all-purpose yards. Michael Cadden, TJ’s younger brother, led all Bison with 71 yards on just five carries in the fourth quarter. Paul Neel finished the game with 44 rushing yards on eight carries, and Tariq Thomas ran 12 times for 40 yards.
Smith is the first Bucknell player to return an interception for a touchdown since Blake Leake in 2021.
SCORING SUMMARY
Team QT Time Scoring Play Conversion
1st 12:14 Weatherly
MAR 1st 08:25 Downes 28yd pass from Arjona Mendini
BUC 2nd 12:37 Kreinbucher 2yd pass from Rucker Schearer kick
BUC 2nd 10:33 T. Cadden 73yd punt return Schearer kick
BUC 2nd 09:15 Smith Jr. 38yd interception return Schearer kick
MAR 4th 13:23 Mendini 25yd field goal --- 7-52 04:03 27-10
BUC 4th 05:51 Cadden 12yd pass from Rucker Schearer kick 7-34 02:18 34-10
MAR 4th 01:13 Dexter 5yd pass from Mannino Cardillo pass 7-52 01:03 34-18
TEAM LEADERS
Punt:
1st
2nd
3rd Quarter 9:20 5:40
4th Quarter 6:15 8:45
3rd Down Conversions 6 of 14 6 of 12
4th Down Conversions 0 of 2 0 of 1
Red-Zone Scores-Chances 2-3 2-4 Touchdowns 1-3 2-4 Field
• Freshman running back Michael Cadden led all Bison with 71 rushing yards on just five carries, all of which came in the fourth quarter. Paul Neel rushed eight times for 44 yards, and Tariq Thomas carried the ball 12 times for 40 yards.
• Eric Weatherly was Rucker’s top target, hauling in five catches for 74 yards and a score. Charlie Kreinbucher also caught a touchdown.
• Brandon Biagiarelli logged seven tackles and two sacks.
2024 GAME REPORTS: GAME 5
Bison Football Rides Big First Half to 34-18 Win Over Marist
TEAM STATISTICS
GAME NOTES
• TJ Cadden, who already had two punt return touchdowns this season, set a Goodman Stadium record and tied the Bucknell record with his 100-yard kickoff return.
• Bison head coach Dave Cecchini improved to 4-2 against his alma mater in six seasons with the Bison.
• It was Bucknell’s third straight road win over Lehigh, and fifth-year seniors Casey Stephenson and Danny Meuser became the first Bison ever to go 3-0 at Goodman Stadium.
• Bucknell had not had a pick-six in three seasons but now has one in two straught games. Alex Smith Jr. ran one back against Marist last week and Aaron Davis snapped the fourth-quarter tie with an INT TD at Lehigh.
Senior linebacker Brad Jamison forced a fumble in the second overtime of a wild Patriot League opener to give Bucknell a 38-35 win over Lehigh at muddy Goodman Stadium. It was a resilient effort by the Bison, who erased a 14-0 second quarter deficit and scored touchdowns on offense, defense and special times for a second week in a row. The Bison improved to 3-2 and achieved their best start to a season since 2015. The Mountain Hawks entered the game leading the Patriot League with a 3-1 record.
Bucknell trailed 21-14 in the third quarter and again at 35-28 after Lehigh’s offense scored first in the first overtime. Ralph Rucker IV connected with Eric Weatherly for a 12-yard touchdown on Bucknell’s first overtime try, and Matt Schearer drilled a 42-yard field goal in the second overtime. Jamison stripped Lehigh Luke Yoder on 1st-and-10 from the Bucknell 20-yard line, and Gavin Willis recovered his second fumble of the day to seal the victory.
Rucker finished the game 15 for 22 for 150 yards and two touchdowns, both of which Weatherly caught.
In the second quarter, the Lehigh offense marched 97 yards down field after a Bucknell fumble and scored its second passing touchdown of the first half to take a 14-0 lead with 4:11 to play, but the Bison immediately snatched the momentum thanks to a 100-yard kickoff return touchdown by TJ Cadden, a forced fumble by Mason Taylor, and a 31-yard touchdown pass by Ralph Rucker IV. The wild sequence of events, which all took place in 62 seconds of game time, tied the game by the time the teams entered the locker rooms.
Lehigh regained the lead in the third quarter, but Bucknell answered again with a 7-yard touchdown rush by Rucker. Bucknell took its first lead of the game with just over six minutes to play in the fourth when Aaron Davis picked off a Lehigh pass and returned it 79 yards for a touchdown. It was Bucknell’s second pick-six in as many weeks.
Lehigh managed to tie the game at 28-28 with 1:36 to play in the fourth, but Bucknell had one more chance to win in regulation. The Bison offense drove to Lehigh’s 35-yard line, including a fourth-down conversion on the final offensive play where Rucker connected with Thomas, and Schearer lined up for a 52-yard field goal attempt. The kick had plenty of distance, but the ball bounced off the upright and sent the two teams to overtime. The Bison still made good on one of two field goals and connected on four extra points with backup long snapper Michael Crabtree called into action.
Bucknell finished the game with 270 total yards of offense compared to an even 500 for the Mountain Hawks. 150 of Bucknell’s yards came on the ground, including a season-high by freshman running back Tariq Thomas. Paul Neel rushed seven times for 38 yards. Lehigh’s Yoder rushed 22 times for 137 yards and three touchdowns.
SCORING SUMMARY
1st
2nd Quarter 8:59 6:01
3rd Quarter 9:20 5:40
4th Quarter 6:15 8:45
3rd Down Conversions 5 of 12 7 of 14
4th Down Conversions 1 of 1 2 of 4
Red-Zone Scores-Chances 3-4 3-3
Sacks: Total - Yards 2-21 5-21
PAT: Total - Made 5-5 5-5
2PT Conversion: Total - Made 0-0 0-0
Field Goals: Total - Made 1-2 0-0
• Bucknell won despite being outgained 500-270. The defensive and special teams touchdowns along with another one-play TD drive meant Lehigh had a couple of extra possessions and a 16:38 edge in time of possession.
• QB Ralph Rucker IV threw two touchdown passes and ran for another score; all three TDs came with the Bison trailing by seven points, including the critical toss to Eric Weatherly in overtime.
TEAM LEADERS
BUCKNELL
2024 GAME REPORTS: GAME 6
Penn Parlays Big Third Quarter into 31-21 Win at Franklin Field
Malachi Hosley ran for 146 yards and two big third-quarter touchdowns to help Penn pull away and snap Bucknell’s two-game winning streak, 31-21 on a sunny afternoon at Franklin Field. The Bison piled up 429 total yards, including 314 through the air, five times they lamented coming away without points on drives to at least the Penn 33-yard line.
TEAM STATISTICS
GAME NOTES
• Penn posted its 10th straight series win over the Bison, with Bucknell’s last win coming in 1999.
• It was only the third Division I game ever in which neither team punted. The others were Georgia Southern vs. James Madison in 1986 and Hawai’i vs. San Jose State in 2019.
• Bucknell saw its two game winning streak snapped. The Bison were trying for their first three-game run since 2014.
• The Bison fell despite making a seaon-high 28 first downs and outgaining Penn 429-394.
• RB Tariq Thomas’ two touchdown runs were the first two of his career.
• WR Josh Gary caught 13 passes for 137 yards. The 13 receptions were two shy of Damian Harris’ school record of 15, set last season in a win over Marist.
• The Bison are now 3-3 under head coach Dave Cecchini in the week following a bye.
• Penn improved to 2-2 on the season, with both wins coming against Patriot League teams (Colgate, Bucknell). The Quakers have now won eight straight games against the PL.
Ralph Rucker IV completed his first 13 passes of the day and was 26 of 34 for 241 yards before leaving with an injury on the first play of the fourth quarter. Backup Michael Hardyway was just as effective, hitting on 6 of 9 passes for 53 yards and engineering a fourth-quarter scoring drive that kept Bucknell within striking distance.
Josh Gary caught a career-high 13 passes — two shy of the team record — on 15 targets for 137 yards, and Eric Weatherly (7) and Nate Anderson (6) accounted for another 13 catches. Freshman Tariq Thomas paced the ground attack with 57 yards on 21 carries and two touchdowns.
Bucknell got out to a promising start when FCS kickoff return leader TJ Cadden ran the opening kickoff out to midfield. The Bison picked up a couple of first downs but were ultimately stopped on 4th-and-1 at the Penn 20.
The Quakers, boosted by the fourth-down stop, drove 80 yards in eight plays to take the lead. The key play was a 44-yard catch and run on a wide receiver screen by Bisi Owens on a 3rd-and-8 down to the Bucknell 22. After a Penn holding penalty, Hosley ran it 27 yards down to the 5 and then Jamal Bing scored on the next play for a 7-0 Quakers lead.
Bucknell immediately responded, driving 78 yards in 10 plays, knotting the game on a 9-yard run by Thomas and the PAT by Matt Schearer. Rucker was 6-for-6 for 53 yards on the drive, plus a big 14-yard scramble on 3rd-and-13.
John Schlendorf’s sack on 3rd-and-5 from the Bucknell 6 forced Penn to settle for a 30-yard Sam Smith field goal with 9:22 left in the second quarter, and Penn escaped with that 10-7 lead into the halftime break after the Bison missed two field goals in the final 5:13.
Penn broke it open in the third quarter with two more Hosley touchdown runs of 32 and 13 yards stretching the margin to 24-7.
Rucker connected with Anderson on an 11-yard fade route in the left corner of the end zone to make it 24-14, but the Quakers answered in only three plays, with Aidan Sayin hitting Jared Richardson on a 49-yard strike. Hardyway led an 11-play touchdown drive, culminating with Thomas’ 4-yard run with 11:56 to go in the fourth. Alex Smith Jr. broke up a fourth-down pass to give the Bison the ball back at their own 21 with 8:14 to go, and they drove all the way to the Penn 32 with a chance to make it a one-score game. Hardyway called his own number to pick up a 4th-and-3, and four completions to Gary set up a 49-yard field goal attempt, but it was off the mark with 3:10 to go, and the Quakers made two first downs to run out the clock.
SCORING SUMMARY
TEAM LEADERS
2024 GAME REPORTS: GAME 7
CORNELL 21 6 7 0 34
TEAM STATISTICS
GAME NOTES
• Bucknell had won three straight and five of the previous six in the series. The three-game streak was Bucknell’s longest in the 60-game series that dates back to 1888.
• LB Gavin Willis smashed his career high with 19 tackles, which is the highest total for a Bison since Evan Byers had 23 against VMI in 2013.
• DB Terrian Williams joined Willis in double figures with 10 tackles, S John Schlendorf had eight tackles and two pass breakups, and DL Will Caneer tallied seven tackles and a sack..
• RB Tariq Thomas broke off a career-long 47-yard run in the fourth quarter.
• WR TJ Cadden caught a career-high seven passes. His TD in the final minute of the first half was his sixth score of the season (three receiving and three on returns).
Turnovers Prove Costly as Bison Drop Homecoming Game to Cornell, 34-21
Jameson Wang completed 32 of 49 passes for 274 yards and three touchdowns to lead Cornell to a 34-21 victory over Bucknell at Christy Mathewson-Memorial Stadium. Bison quarterback Michael Hardyway, a senior making his first career start, threw TD passes to TJ Cadden and Sam Milligan, and freshman Logan Bush ran one in for his first career score, but the Bison could not overcome four turnovers as the Big Red spoiled Homecoming and snapped their three-game series losing streak.
Hardyway, in for the injured Ralph Rucker IV, completed 21 of 39 passes for 214 yards and the two touchdowns. Cadden led the receiver corps with seven catches for 84 yards, and freshman running back Tariq Thomas had another strong game with 94 yards on nine carries.
Defensively, Gavin Willis piled up a career-high 19 tackles and Aaron Davis and Roman Pearson both picked off passes, but Cornell’s vaunted offense, which came in ranked 10th nationally in pass efficiency, logged 465 total yards.
The Big Red outscored the Bison 21-0 in the first quarter, with turnovers playing a big role. After Cornell scored on the game’s opening drive, Bucknell was in position to tie it right back up as Hardyway scrambled toward the end zone. But Luke Banbury, who had a monster game for Cornell, poked the ball loose and recovered the fumble at the 1-yard line.
The Big Red drove 95 yards to the Bison 4, but Davis made a huge play getting inside position on the receiver for an interception in the end zone. The Bison could not take advantage, as three plays later Banbury picked off a pass and brought it back 26 yards for a touchdown. After a threeand-out, Wang and Sam Musungu hooked up for the second time in the game, this one from 14 yards out to make it 21-0.
Bush’s first career touchdown got the Bison on the board midway through the second half, and Hardyway engineered a terrific drive to get his team back in the game just before the half. A Cornell field goal made it a 27-7 game, but an unnecessary roughness penalty at the end of the kickoff gave the Bison good field position at its own 47.
Michael Cadden picked up a key first down on a 4th-and-2 carry, and three plays later Hardyway hit older brother TJ Cadden on a 12-yard scoring strike with 14 seconds left to make it a 27-14 game at the half.
Bucknell limited Cornell to only seven points in the second half, and a terrific 28-yard catch and run by Sam Milligan brought the Bison within 34-21 with 12:03 still to play. Milligan caught a slant pass at the 12 and dragged three defenders across the goal line for his second TD of the season.
After a punt, Thomas streaked 47 yards to the Cornell 31 on the first play of the next series, but the very next snap sailed over Hardyway’s head, resulting in a loss of 23 yards. The Bison had to punt with 6:27 remaining, and they were not able to threaten again.
SCORING SUMMARY
1st
1st
2nd
COR 2nd 1:10 Zhao 34 FG
BUCK 2nd 0:14 TJ Cadden 12 pass from Hardyway Schearer kick
COR 3rd 8:33 Woodring 10 pass from Wang Zhao kick 4-24 1:31
BUCK 4th 12:03 Milligan 28 pass from Hardyway Schearer kick
TEAM LEADERS
4th Quarter 10:17 4:43
3rd Down Conversions 8-20 3-15
Sacks:
2PT Conversion: Total - Made 0-0 0-0 Field Goals: Total - Made 2-2 0-0
• Cornell entered the game leading the nation in fewest sacks allowed at 0.5 per game. The Bison had only one, which was credited to Caneer on an intentional grounding penalty.
• Cornell was penalized 12 times for 120 yards in the first half and did not have a single flag in the second.
2024 GAME REPORTS: GAME 8
Bison Clipped at Georgetown, 21-20
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Bucknell freshman Tariq Thomas ran for a career-high 136 yards and two touchdowns, but Georgetown erased an early 14-0 deficit and held off the Bison 21-20 at Cooper Field.
TEAM STATISTICS
GAME NOTES
• This has been an evenly matched series in recent years. The two previous Bucknell-Georgetown games had gone to overtime, and this one was decided by one point.
• Bucknell now leads the all-time series 20-15-1 dating back to 1904.
• RB Tariq Thomas posted the first 100-yard rushing game by a Bison back since Rushawn Baker last season at Colgate.
• DB Takai Whitmore gave the Bison some good reps off the bench, finishing with four tackles and a forced fumble.
• Georgetown came into the game ranked third in FCS in sacks per game (3.0) and tallied four in this one, including the game-ending play.
• DB Roman Pearson intercepted a pass for the second straight game.
Ralph Rucker IV, back after a one-week injury absence, completed 17 of 29 pass attempts for 240 yards. He tried to engineer two potential go-ahead drives in the closing minutes, but one ended on a missed field goal and the other on a fourth-down sack at the Georgetown 45-yard line, which sent the Hoyas into victory formation.
Thomas was the catalyst as the Bison jumped out to the 14-0 lead. Rucker was 3-for-3 and Thomas carried four times for 29 yards on Bucknell’s first drive of the game, a 75-yard march that ended with the freshman’s 15-yard sprint through a gaping hole.
Chris Sims’ fumble recovery after a strip by Takai Whitmore set up Bucknell’s second touchdown. On the second play of the second quarter, Thomas took the ball on a sweep to the left, made a great cut back to the inside, and scored from 27 yards out.
Savion Hart’s 40-yard dash put the Hoyas on the board with 4:29 left in the half, and the hosts tied it on an 11-yard pass from Lauter to Nicholas Dunneman with only 14 seconds left in the half.
Georgetown’s kickoff went out of bounds, and the Bison got aggressive in the closing seconds of the half. Rucker twice connected with Nate Anderson on sideline routes, setting up a Matt Schearer 43-yard field goal as time expired.
The Hoyas took their first lead of the day at 21-17 on a Bryce Cox one-yard plunge with 5:56 left in the third. The Bison thought they had taken the lead early in the fourth on a nice drive that was keyed by a 36-yard pass from Rucker to Sam Milligan on a 3rd-and-3 play. Rucker later ran it in from the 6, but the touchdown was nullified by a holding call. A dropped pass in the end zone on third down set up Schearer’s 32-yard field goal to make it a 21-20 game.
Roman Pearson intercepted a deep ball at his own 12 with 6:55 to play, and Rucker hit Josh Gary on a 45-yard pass down the right sideline to get the ball into Georgetown territory. The Bison could not capitalize, however, as Schearer’s 36-yard field goal attempt missed wide to the right.
The Bison defense came up with another stop with two minutes to play. A third-down pass from Rucker to Thomas, followed by a Rucker scramble for 10 yards set them up with a first down at the Georgetown 45. After three incompletions, GianCarlo Rufo sacked Rucker on fourth down to end it. Georgetown outgained the Bison 404-368 and won the possession time battle 37:20 to 22:40. The Hoyas had two backs go over 100 yards rushing. Hart carried 17 times for 112 yards, and Cox tallied 104 yards on 17 totes. Georgetown ran for 274 yards as a team.
Gavin Willis, coming off a 19-tackle performance against Cornell, led the Bison with 13 tackles. Brad Jamison had eight and Nick Hoying seven.
SCORING SUMMARY
1st Quarter
2nd Quarter
3rd Quarter 4:01 9:56
4th Quarter 6:57 8:03
3rd Down Conversions 3-13 6-14
4th Down Conversions 0-1 1-2
Red-Zone Scores-Chances 2-3 2-2
Sacks: Total - Yards 0-0 4-30
PAT: Total - Made 2-2 3-3
2PT Conversion: Total - Made 0-0 0-0
Field Goals: Total - Made 2-3 0-0
• K Matt Schearer’s 43-yard field goal was a season long. He also dropped three punts inside the 20.
• DB Ralph Rucker IV eclipsed 4,000 passing yards in his two-year Bucknell career. He is just the sixth Bison signal caller to reach that milestone.
TEAM LEADERS
2024 GAME REPORTS: GAME 9
LAFAYETTE 7 0 7 0 14 BUCKNELL 7 0 0 14 21
TEAM STATISTICS
GAME NOTES
• Bucknell is now 38-57-6 all-time against Lafayette. This was Bucknell’s first win since Spring 2021 where the Bison defeated the Leopards 38-13.
• Both of last week’s starting tackles missed this game due to injury, and senior Jake Guy, normally a guard, returned from injury to play his former position of center. That moved John Ohnegian from center to left tackle, and right tackle Nathan Natoli also returned after a threegame injury absence.
• RB Tariq Thomas set a career high with 141rushing yards. This was Thomas’ second straight game with 100 yards on the ground.
• The Bison set a season high with 187 rushing yards
Bison Keep PL Title Hopes Alive with 21-14 Win over Lafayette
LEWISBURG, Pa. -- Bucknell quarterback Ralph Rucker IV accounted for three touchdowns, freshman running back Tariq Thomas set another career high with 141 ground yards, and the Bison defense registered a number of critical plays down the stretch in a 21-14 victory over defending Patriot League champion Lafayette on Saturday at Christy Mathewson-Memorial Stadium.
The Bison defense, which limited the Leopards to scores on its first drive of each half, came up big in the final five minutes. Lafayette had a first-and-goal from the 2 before moving back five yards on false start penalty. William Caneer tackled Troy Bruce for no gain, and then on second down Jack Barnes got pressure on quarterback Dean DeNobile, forcing him to flip a pass to offensive tackle Ryder Langsdale. Knowing he was not an eligible receiver Langsdale caught the ball and immediately spiked it to the ground, but that resulted in a live ball fumble, and Gavin Willis recovered for the Bison at the 15-yard line with 1:19 to play.
The game had the makings of a shootout early, as both teams scored a touchdown in the first six minutes of the game. The Bison stalled on its first couple of plays before Thomas broke out for a 45-yard rush on a 3rd-and-16. Four plays later, Rucker escaped the pocket and found the end zone for a 19-yard touchdown.
The Leopards came right back down the field, completing a seven-play, 62-yard drive in just 2:59. DeNobile got a pass out quickly to Chris Carasia, who made a defender miss before taking the pass 38 yards to the house for the touchdown.
The Leopards started with possession in the third quarter, making a big 13-play, 70-yard drive to take a 14-7 lead. DeNobile notched his second passing touchdown of the game, finding Ethan Hosak for an 8-yard score to complete the drive.
The Bison answered with a good drive down to the Lafayette 2 but were stopped on fourth down. After the defense forced another quick punt thanks to a John Schlendorf tackle for loss on 3rd-and-2, the Bison tied it up in the early stages of the fourth quarter.
On 3rd-and-goal from the 1, Rucker fooled the defense on the RPO for his second rushing touchdown of the game to even the score.
Smith’s third-down sack gave the Bison the ball back with 9:33 remaining, and one of the best catches of the season set up the go-ahead touchdown. Nate Anderson went up high to corral Rucker’s deep ball down the left seam, giving Bucknell a first down at the Lafayette 5. Two plays later, Rucker picked out Weatherly in the back of the end zone for a 21-14 lead.
Rucker finished 18-for-30 for 210 yards with Josh Gary (6) and Weatherly (5) combining for 11 of the receptions.
Smith and Willis led the defense with 13 tackles each, Nick Hoying made 12 stops, and Schlendorf had nine.
SCORING SUMMARY
1st
2nd Quarter 8:22 6:38
3rd Quarter 9:24 5:36
4th Quarter 8:17 6:20
3rd Down Conversions 11-19 8-16
4th Down Conversions 0-1 1-4
Red-Zone Scores-Chances 1-2 3-5
Sacks: Total - Yards 3-12 2-7
PAT:
2PT
Field
TEAM LEADERS
BUCKNELL
• DB Aaron Davis set a career-high with four pass breakups. DBs Alex Smith Jr., John Schlendorf, and Roman Pearson each had two pass breakups. Terian Williams had one pass breakup.
• QB Ralph Rucker’s 4,253 career passing yards moves him into fifth place on Bucknell’s career passing yards list, pasing Marcello Trigg. Rucker’s 33 passing TD are third-most in Bison history; just one behind R.J. Nitti and nine behind Scott Auchenbach
2024 GAME REPORTS: GAME 10
Football Moves Into Tie for First Place with Narrow 28-27 Win Over Fordham
LEWISBURG, Pa. — Bucknell quarterback Ralph Rucker IV threw for 322 yards and three touchdowns, including a beautifully floated game-winning touchdown to Nate Anderson with 2:35 remaining to help the Bison take a narrow 28-27 win over Fordham. Bucknell improved to 3-1 in the Patriot League and tied for first place with Lehigh and Holy Cross heading into a key road showdown with the Crusaders.
TEAM STATISTICS
GAME NOTES
• Ralph Rucker IV is now second on Bucknell’s alltime passing touchdowns list with 36 career touchdowns in his second season with Bucknell. Rucker’s second touchdown passed R.J. Nitti’s mark of 34 career touchdowns.
• Gavin Willis had two fumble recoveries in a game for the second time this season, and he now leads all NCAA divisions with five on the season.
• In addition to the two fumble recoveries, Alex Smith Jr. intercepted his sixth career pass. The Bison did not turn the ball over and were +3 in TO margin.
• It was back-and-forth all game, as neither team had a drive last over five minutes, with just four drives in the game eclipsing four minutes.
After the Rams took their first lead of the day at 27-21 with 4:18 remaining, Rucker IV and the Bison drove down the field in just 1:36 to take back its lead. Rucker IV hit Josh Gary for 23 yards then Eric Weatherly for 19 yards on consecutive plays before hitting a wide-open Anderson with a touch pass on a 3rd and 10.
A big sack from Nick Hoying and John Schlendorf slowed the Rams final drive of the game, helping the Bison make a big defensive stand on 4th and 2 to get the ball back with :35 remaining.
The Rams out-gained the Bison by nearly 200 yards, but Bucknell made big defensive stands throughout the game to keep the Rams at bay. Twice, the Bison stopped 4th down conversions in the red zone while also making the big fourth-down stand late in the game. The Rams went 0-3 on fourth down conversions, coming into the game leading all Division I schools in fourth-down conversion attempts (31) while converting 48.5 percent.
In the absence of freshman running back Tariq Thomas, who totaled 371 yards and two touchdowns over the previous three weeks, the Bison could not get the run game going. Bucknell ran the ball 25 times for just 41 yards. Senior running back Paul Neel made a big impact in the passing game with three catches for 47 yards including a 44-yard touchdown on a screen play in the third quarter.
Sophomore linebacker Gavin Willis recovered his FCS-leading fourth and fifth fumbles. Willis’s first recovery flipped the momentum early, taking a fumble 79 yards to the house for his first career touchdown. His second came in the third quarter as Jack Barnes stripped Rams quarterback Jack Capaldi on the Bucknell 4-yard line. Overall, it was a day to remember for Willis who led the team with 13 tackles, including four total tackles for a loss. Willis was also credited with a quarterback hurry and a pass breakup in the game.
Starting from their own 35-yard line down 27-21 late in the game, it took three plays for the Bison to get to the Fordham 15-yard line. On 3rd and 10, Anderson broke free over the middle, and Rucker IV floated the pass just over a leaping linebacker for the touchdown.
Jack Capaldi was 18-for-27 in the air for 310 yards and two touchdowns for Fordham. Thornton, Gonzalez II, and Felton combined for 14 of the receptions. Thornton led the Rams with six receptions for 130 yards. Julius Loughridge was dominant on the ground, rushing for 155 yards on 26 carries.
SCORING SUMMARY
1st Quarter 10:36 4:24
2nd Quarter 5:41 9:19
3rd Quarter 10:05 4:55
4th Quarter 7:01 7:59
3rd Down Conversions 2-11 6-15
4th Down Conversions 0-3 0-1
Red-Zone Scores-Chances 2-5 1-2
Sacks: Total - Yards 3-8 3-14
PAT: Total -
2PT Conversion:
Field
• Nick Hoying logged nine tackles and 1.5 sacks. Brad Jamison also had a sack, and John Schlendorf shared one with Hoying.
• Bucknell snapped an 11-game series losing streak to Fordham. The last win over the Rams was a 27-24 verdict in Lewisburg in 2012.
TEAM LEADERS
2024 GAME REPORTS: GAME 11
Bison Drop Heartbreaker at Holy Cross in First-Place Showdown
TEAM STATISTICS
GAME NOTES
• Sam Milligan caught all six of his targets for 78 yards and two touchdowns; all of which are career-highs.
• Milligan, Eric Weatherly, and Nate Anderson combined for 24 catches for 287 yards and five TDs in the game.
• Tariq Thomas came back from a one-game injury absence and carried 20 times for 75 yards.
• Gavin Willis led the team with seven tackles and also blocked two kicks.
• Ralph Rucker IV became the second quarterback in Bucknell history to throw five touchdown passes in a game and the first since Rob Glus on Sep. 24, 1994 against Colgate.
WORCESTER, Mass. – The Bucknell football team came up just short in a 40-38 thriller at Holy Cross at Fitton Field. The Bison led 21-3 with a minute remaining in the second half, but a touchdown in the final minute of the half and in the first minute of the second half swung momentum back in the Crusaders’ favor. The Bison answered throughout the second half, but a blocked punt return touchdown and a pick-six by Holy Cross propelled the Crusaders to the comeback victory.
The Bison ran 20 more plays and out-gained the Crusaders by nearly 100 yards, but costly mistakes kept Holy Cross in the game.
Trailing 31-17 late in the third, the Crusaders scored three touchdowns in just eight minutes of play to take a 37-31 lead. It began with a blocked punt in Bison territory, and Holy Cross came away with the touchdown to make it a one-score game.
Bucknell punted away its next possession, and Holy Cross came right down the field with a 75-yard reception to Jacob Peterson to set up a 2-yard rush by Jayden Clerveaux to tie the game 31-31. With the Bison driving down the field on its next drive, Curtis Harris-Lopez picked off Ralph Rucker IV and took it all the way in for the touchdown to give Holy Cross its first lead of the day. The Bison blocked the extra point, almost proving costly for the Crusaders late in the game.
Rucker and the Bison answered right back with an eight-play, 72-yard drive to take the lead back at 38-37. Rucker was 6-for-6 on the drive for 68 yards. Weatherly took a big hit, but held on for the five-yard touchdown reception and his second of the day to complete the drive.
The Bison made a big defensive stand on 4th and 2 to get the ball back with 5:43 remaining, but Holy Cross forced a three-and-out to get the ball back quickly to set up its game-winning drive.
The Crusaders drove down the field quickly, getting the ball to the Bison 5-yard line at the two-minute timeout. Another defensive stand for the Bison forced a Holy Cross field goal with 59 seconds left, giving the Bison a shot to win the game trailing 40-38.
It was Holy Cross that came away with the biggest play of the game. The Crusaders brought pressure immediately on Bucknell’s first play as Joseph Townsend came in for the strip-sack to win the game.
Rucker threw for 339 yards and five touchdowns, including two each to Sam Milligan and Eric Weatherly. Milligan caught two touchdown passes in the first quarter to help the Bison get out to an early 21-3 lead. Rucker found Milligan on the sideline who bounced off of the initial hit by his defender and walked into the endzone for the first score of the game. The Bison then converted a big 3rd and 10 on its next drive before Milligan caught his second touchdown to put the Bison up 14-0. Milligan lost his defender with a slick route, and Rucker found him for the 15-yard strike.
SCORING SUMMARY
Fumble: Total - Yards - TDs 0-0-0 0-0-0 MISCELLANEOUS Miscellaneous Yards 11 0
Possession Time 33:39 26:21
1st Quarter 9:!4 5:46
2nd Quarter 6:35 8:25
3rd Quarter 9:53 5:07
4th Quarter 7:57 7:03
3rd Down Conversions 7-15 4-12
4th Down Conversions 0-0 0-2
Red-Zone Scores-Chances 5-5 4-5
Sacks: Total - Yards 0-0 5-28
PAT: Total
2PT
• Bucknell outgained Holy Cross 434-336 and held a 7+ minute edge in time of possession.
• This was the first time all season the Bison lost when leading after three quarters.
TEAM LEADERS
Team Results
08/31/2024 at Navy L
09/07/2024 at VMI W 35-28 6295
09/14/2024 Merrimack L 21-31 1943
09/21/2024 Marist W 34-18 2474
* 09/28/2024 at Lehigh Wot2
10/12/2024 at Penn L
10/19/2024 Cornell L
* 10/26/2024 at Georgetown L
* 11/02/2024 Lafayette W 21-14
* 11/09/2024 Fordham W 28-27 881
* 11/16/2024 at Holy Cross L 38-40 11357
Rushing
Tariq
Passing
Receiving
Game Records
Team Statistics
Interceptions
Team Defense
Bucknell Averages
Tariq Thomas 155-709/4 6-15/0 9-23/0 7-51/0 12-40/0 18-77/0 21-57/2 9-94/0
Ralph Rucker IV 81-105/4 10-34/0 6-21/0 13--10/1 5-6/0 9--10/1 9-44/0
Paul Neel 60-240/2 12-60/1 8-37/1 4-3/0 8-44/0 7-38/0 2-9/0 4-9/0 2-6/0
Michael Cadden 34-165/1 5-12/1 4-9/0 5-36/0 5-71/0 1-5/0 1--4/0 4-16/0
Danny Meuser 13-43/0 5-11/0 4-24/0 1-0/0
Hardyway
Nate Anderson 4-19/0
Eric Weatherly 4-10/0 - 1--1/0 1-5/0
Josh Gary 1--1/0 - 1--1/0
Receiving
1-1/0 1-5/0
Eric Weatherly 64-691/6 2-10/0 9-105/0 6-77/0 5-74/1 5-55/2 7-61/0 4-17/0 5-57/0 5-38/1 6-68/0 10-129/2
Josh Gary 47-569/3 2-15/0 3-54/2 3-17/1 2-28/0 1-5/0 13-137/0 3-57/0 4-66/0 6-71/0 7-97/0 3-22/0
Nate Anderson 41-508/5 2-61/1 3-32/0 2-21/0 4-47/0 5-49/0 6-52/1 1-3/0 3-41/0 2-46/0 5-76/2 8-80/1
TJ Cadden 27-378/3 5-97/0 6-87/1 - 3-30/1 1-21/0 3-24/0 7-84/1 1-13/0 1-22/0 DNP DNP
Charlie Kreinbucher 18-136/1 - 1-5/0 1-1/0 2-10/1 - 1-20/0 2-16/0 2-23/0 1-12/0 4-26/0 4-23/0
Sam Milligan 15-235/4 1-9/0 1-6/0 1-23/1 1-32/0 1-2/0 1-13/0 1-28/1 1-36/0 1-8/0 - 6-78/2
Paul Neel 11-96/1 1-5/0 3-18/0 1-9/0 - - - 2-10/0 - - 3-47/1 1-7/0
Tariq Thomas 11-58/0 - - 2-13/0 - 1-10/0 2-7/0 1--1/0 1-4/0 2-13/0 DNP 2-12/0
Derrick Anderson Jr. 4-60/0 - 2-33/0 1-3/0 1-24/0 DNP - - - - - -
Michael Cadden 4-22/0 - - - 2-14/0 - - - - - 2-8/0 -
Kyle Fontes 2-17/0 1-4/0 - - 1-13/0 DNP DNP DNP DNP - DNP -
Marques Owens 1-8/0 DNP DNP DNP - 1-8/0 DNP DNP DNP - DNP DNP
Danny Meuser 1-5/0 1-5/0 - - - - DNP DNP DNP DNP DNP DNP
Gavin Willis 66-51 117
John Schlendorf 55-22 77
Alex Smith Jr. 36-18 54 4-2
Brad Jamison 30-23 53
Terian Williams 26-26 52 1-0
Roman Pearson 29-7 36 2-0
Mason Taylor 22-13 35 1-0 2-1 3-1 1-1
Aaron Davis 26-7 33 1-0
Cade Rooney 15-15 30 3-1 1-0
Brandon Biagiarelli 14-15 29 0-1 2-1 2-1 3-4
Aneesh Vyas 10-13 23 1-2 1-2
Will Caneer 15-6 21 - -
Chris Sims 13-7 20 - -
Jack Barnes 9-8 17 2-2 1-1
Whitmore 13-2 15
Justin Fisher 5-8 13
Deuce Geter 7-4 11
Jack Goheen
Dara Adeyemi
Daniel Sierk
Brown
Cormier
Karic
Danny Meuser
Josh Gary
Hardyway
Charlie McIntyre
Jack Inserra
Catania
LoGrasso
Cadden
Nate Anderson
Ryan Jedlicka
Punt Returns
Kick Returns
Eric Weatherly 9-175
Tariq Thomas 7-133 3-58 1-17
Nate Anderson 1--5
Interceptions Returns
Fumble Returns
Bucknell Inside Opponent Red-Zone
Opponents Inside Bucknell Red-Zone
Bucknell - Game Highs
YARDS RUSHING
(11/02/2024)
Lafayette (11/02/2024) YARDS PER RUSH
Marist (09/21/2024) TD RUSHES
Lafayette (11/02/2024) 2 at Georgetown (10/26/2024) 2 at Penn (10/12/2024) 2 at Navy (08/31/2024)
(11/09/2024)
PASS COMPLETIONS
at Holy Cross (11/16/2024) YARDS PASSING
YARDS PER PASS
at Holy Cross (11/16/2024)
Marist (09/21/2024) TD PASSES
at Holy Cross (11/16/2024) TOTAL PLAYS
(10/12/2024)
(09/21/2024)
Marist (09/21/2024) POINTS
at Holy Cross (11/16/2024)
at Lehigh (09/28/2024) SACKS BY
DOWNS
Marist (09/21/2024)
at Penn (10/12/2024)
Marist (09/21/2024) PENALTY YARDS
Marist (09/21/2024) TURNOVERS 4 Cornell (10/19/2024)
7 Fordham (11/09/2024) 7 at Georgetown (10/26/2024) PUNTING
Merrimack (09/14/2024) LONG PUNT 63 at VMI (09/07/2024) 63 at Navy (08/31/2024)
PUNTS INSIDE 20 3 Fordham (11/09/2024) 3 at Georgetown (10/26/2024)
LONG PUNT RETURN 73 Marist (09/21/2024)
Opponent - Game Highs
RUSHES
YARDS RUSHING
at Navy (08/31/2024)
at Georgetown (10/26/2024) YARDS PER RUSH
at VMI (09/07/2024)
(08/31/2024)
PASS
(10/19/2024) PASS
(10/19/2024) YARDS
(11/16/2024)
(10/19/2024)
(08/31/2024)
Cornell (10/19/2024)
(11/09/2024)
(11/09/2024)
(08/31/2024) SACKS
Merrimack (09/14/2024)
(10/19/2024)
(10/19/2024)
Cornell (10/19/2024)
(11/09/2024)
(09/28/2024) PUNTS
(09/07/2024)
at Lehigh (09/28/2024)
(09/07/2024)
Bucknell - Game Lows
RUSHES
25 Fordham (11/09/2024)
YARDS RUSHING 41 Fordham (11/09/2024)
YARDS PER RUSH 1.6 Fordham (11/09/2024)
TD RUSHES
0 at Holy Cross (11/16/2024)
0 Fordham (11/09/2024)
0 Marist (09/21/2024)
PASS ATTEMPTS 22 at Lehigh (09/28/2024)
PASS COMPLETIONS 15 at Lehigh (09/28/2024) 15 at Navy (08/31/2024)
YARDS PASSING 150 at Lehigh (09/28/2024)
YARDS PER PASS 5.5 Merrimack (09/14/2024)
TD PASSES 0 at Georgetown (10/26/2024)
TOTAL PLAYS 58 at Lehigh (09/28/2024)
TOTAL OFFENSE 260 Merrimack (09/14/2024)
(09/14/2024)
POINTS 20 at Georgetown (10/26/2024)
SACKS BY 0 at Holy Cross (11/16/2024) 0 at Georgetown (10/26/2024)
FIRST DOWNS 14 at Navy (08/31/2024)
PENALTIES 4 Lafayette (11/02/2024)
4 Merrimack (09/14/2024)
PENALTY YARDS 25 Lafayette (11/02/2024)
INTERCEPTIONS BY 0 at Holy Cross (11/16/2024)
0 Lafayette (11/02/2024)
0 Merrimack (09/14/2024)
PUNTS
0 at Penn (10/12/2024)
PUNTING AVG 0.0 at Penn (10/12/2024)
LONG PUNT
0 at Penn (10/12/2024)
PUNTS INSIDE 20 0 at Penn (10/12/2024)
LONG PUNT RETURN
0 at Holy Cross (11/16/2024)
0 Cornell (10/19/2024)
0 at Penn (10/12/2024)
0 at Lehigh (09/28/2024)
Opponent - Game Lows
(09/21/2024)
(11/02/2024)
(10/19/2024)
(09/21/2024)
(11/16/2024)
(10/26/2024)
(10/12/2024)
(09/14/2024)
(09/07/2024)
DOWNS
INTERCEPTIONS BY
PUNTS
(11/02/2024)
(10/19/2024) 2 Marist (09/21/2024)
at Holy Cross (11/16/2024)
(11/02/2024)
at Penn (10/12/2024)
Lafayette (11/02/2024)
0 Fordham (11/09/2024)
0 at Georgetown (10/26/2024)
0 at Penn (10/12/2024)
0 at Lehigh (09/28/2024)
0 at Navy (08/31/2024)
0 at Penn (10/12/2024)
PUNTING AVG 0.0 at Penn (10/12/2024)
LONG PUNT 0 at Penn (10/12/2024)
PUNTS INSIDE
LONG PUNT RETURN
0 at Holy Cross (11/16/2024)
0 Fordham (11/09/2024)
0 Lafayette (11/02/2024)
0 Cornell (10/19/2024)
0 at Penn (10/12/2024)
0 at Lehigh (09/28/2024)
0 at VMI (09/07/2024)
0 Fordham (11/09/2024)
0 Lafayette (11/02/2024)
0 at Penn (10/12/2024)
0 at Lehigh (09/28/2024)
0 Marist (09/21/2024)
Bucknell - Individual Game Highs
RUSHES
YARDS RUSHING
Tariq Thomas vs Lafayette (11/02/2024)
Tariq Thomas vs Lafayette (11/02/2024) TD RUSHES
Ralph Rucker IV vs Lafayette (11/02/2024) 2 Tariq Thomas at Georgetown (10/26/2024)
2 Tariq Thomas at Penn (10/12/2024)
LONG RUSH
PASS ATTEMPTS
Tariq Thomas vs Cornell (10/19/2024)
Ralph Rucker IV vs Fordham (11/09/2024) PASS COMPLETIONS
Ralph Rucker IV at Holy Cross (11/16/2024)
YARDS PASSING
Ralph Rucker IV at Holy Cross (11/16/2024) TD PASSES
Ralph Rucker IV at Holy Cross (11/16/2024) LONG
Ralph Rucker IV at Navy (08/31/2024)
Josh Gary at Penn (10/12/2024) YARDS RECEIVING
Josh Gary at Penn (10/12/2024) TD RECEPTIONS
Eric Weatherly at Holy Cross (11/16/2024) 2 Sam Milligan at Holy Cross (11/16/2024)
2 Nate Anderson vs Fordham (11/09/2024)
2 Eric Weatherly at Lehigh (09/28/2024)
2 Josh Gary at VMI (09/07/2024)
LONG RECEPTION
47 Nate Anderson at Navy (08/31/2024)
Matt Schearer vs Fordham (11/09/2024) 7 Matt Schearer at Georgetown (10/26/2024) PUNTING AVG
Matt Schearer vs Merrimack (09/14/2024)
LONG PUNT 63 Matt Schearer at VMI (09/07/2024) 63 Matt Schearer at Navy (08/31/2024) PUNTS INSIDE
3 Matt Schearer vs Fordham (11/09/2024) 3 Matt Schearer at Georgetown (10/26/2024)
TJ Cadden vs Marist (09/21/2024)
TJ Cadden at Lehigh (09/28/2024) TACKLES 19 Gavin Willis vs Cornell (10/19/2024) SACKS 2 Gavin Willis at Lehigh (09/28/2024)
TACKLES FOR LOSS
2 Brandon Biagiarelli vs Marist (09/21/2024)
Gavin Willis vs Fordham (11/09/2024)
Opponent - Individual Game Highs
RUSHES
YARDS RUSHING
TD RUSHES
26 Julius Loughridge vs Fordham (11/09/2024)
166 Jermaine Corbett vs Merrimack (09/14/2024)
166 Hunter Rice at VMI (09/07/2024)
3 Luke Yoder at Lehigh (09/28/2024)
LONG RUSH 58 Hunter Rice at VMI (09/07/2024)
PASS ATTEMPTS 49 Jameson Wang vs Cornell (10/19/2024)
PASS COMPLETIONS 32 Jameson Wang vs Cornell (10/19/2024)
YARDS PASSING
310 Jack Capaldi vs Fordham (11/09/2024)
TD PASSES 3 Jameson Wang vs Cornell (10/19/2024)
LONG PASS 75 Joe Pesansky at Holy Cross (11/16/2024)
RECEPTIONS 14 Samuel Musungu vs Cornell (10/19/2024)
YARDS RECEIVING 136 Geo rey Jamiel at Lehigh (09/28/2024)
TD RECEPTIONS 2 Samuel Musungu vs Cornell (10/19/2024)
2 Geo rey Jamiel at Lehigh (09/28/2024)
2 Eli Heidenreich at Navy (08/31/2024)
LONG RECEPTION
FIELD GOALS
LONG FIELD GOALS
75 Jacob Petersen at Holy Cross (11/16/2024)
2 Daniel Porto at Holy Cross (11/16/2024)
2 Alan Zhao vs Cornell (10/19/2024)
Alan Zhao vs Cornell (10/19/2024)
PUNTS 7 Ben Shrewsbury at VMI (09/07/2024)
PUNTING AVG 45.0 Connor Poole at Lehigh (09/28/2024)
LONG PUNT 54 Ben Shrewsbury at VMI (09/07/2024)
PUNTS INSIDE 20 3 Riley Riethman at Navy (08/31/2024)
LONG PUNT RETURN 23 Eli Heidenreich at Navy (08/31/2024)
LONG KICKOFF RETURN
TACKLES
SACKS
TACKLES FOR LOSS
INTERCEPTIONS
53 Alijah Cason at Holy Cross (11/16/2024)
15 Saiku White vs Lafayette (11/02/2024)
15 Kouri Crump at VMI (09/07/2024)
4 Nicholas Lenon vs Merrimack (09/14/2024)
4 Nicholas Lenon vs Merrimack (09/14/2024)
1 Curtis Harris-Lopez at Holy Cross (11/16/2024)
1 Frankie Monte at Holy Cross (11/16/2024)
1 Saiku White vs Lafayette (11/02/2024)
1 Luke Banbury vs Cornell (10/19/2024)
1 Nate Robinson Jr. vs Marist (09/21/2024)
1 Grant Jackson vs Merrimack (09/14/2024)
1 Donte Williams vs Merrimack (09/14/2024)
1 Asa Locks at VMI (09/07/2024)
4
5
9
9
12
16
22 Nick Severin
23 Nick Hoying
Deuce Geter
32 Finn Sposato 0/0
33 Brad Jamison 10/10
34 Darius Day 1/0
35 Charlie Meehleib
36 Michael Cadden
37 Tristan Menconi 0/0
38 Brad Gerken 0/0
39 Jackson Nowinski 0/0
40 Charlie McIntyre
41 Jack Bohm-Squicciarini 3/0
42 Ryan Skoronski 0/0
43 Owen Garwood 1/0
44 Caden Allard 0/0
45 John Schlendorf
46 Michael Crabtree
47 Jack Goheen
49 Jason Ussery 0/0
52 Jack
54 Reuben Logan
56 Mark Mulhern
57 Jack Inserra
58 Aidan Catania 1/0
59 Dante Mascio 0/0
60 Kieran Coscia 9/0
61 Ryan Jedlicka
62 Matt Schearer
64 David LoGrasso
65 Tristan Arndt 0/0
66 Herschel Johal 1/0
67 Gustav Ste elin 1/0
68 D.K. Kim 3/0
70 Xavier Allen 10/10
71 Fredrick Sturgis 10/1
72 Noah Wright 0/0
73 Mason Jones 11/4
74 Casey Stephenson 10/10
75 Jake Guy 8/8
76 Ashton Sempervive 10/0
77 Nathan Natoli 8/7
78 John Ohnegian 11/11
79 Rowan McGwin 0/0
80 TJ Cadden 9/1
82 Charlie Kreinbucher 11/11
83 Rourke Kennedy 0/0
85 AJ Bosch 1/0
86 Braylen Burgess 1/0
87 Kyle Fontes 6/0
88 Will Rich 0/0
89 Anthony DiMarco 0/0
90 Aneesh Vyas 11/9
93 Jack McGill 0/0 94 Nick Niemynski 0/0
Juan Garanton
Dara Adeyemi
98 Seo Bu ngton 3/0
99 Justin