Bucknell Football Notes vs. Penn

SCHEDULE/RESULTS

Aug.

Sept.

Sept. 14

BUCKNELL UNIVERSITY

2024 BISON FOOTBALL MEDIA NOTES

Sept. 28 at Lehigh* (2OT) 38-35 W

Oct. 12 at Penn 1 p.m.

Oct. 19 CORNELL (HC) 1 p.m.

Oct. 26 at Georgetown* 2 p.m.

Nov. 2 LAFAYETTE* 1 p.m.

Nov. 9 FORDHAM* 1 p.m.

Nov. 16 at Holy Cross* Noon

23

FOLLOW THE BISON

Play-by-Play/Color Joe Tordy/Joe Valerio

Internet Audio BucknellBison.com

Radio Bison Sports Network

Flagship 1070 AM (WKOK)

Play-By-Play/Color Doug Birdsong (Charlie Fisher)

Twitter @Bucknell_FB

Instagram @Bucknell_FB

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 NCAA-mandated 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 single-game credentials may be picked up in the Christy Mathewson-Memorial Stadium press box on game day. Please contact Jon Terry to request a credential.

PROJECTED BUCKNELL STARTERS

Pos. No. Name Cl. Ht. Wt. Fast Fact

QB 10 Ralph Rucker IV Sr. 6-0

210 Leads PL, 15th in FCS in TD passes (10); PL OPOTW (9/23)

RB 7 Tariq Thomas Fr. 5-11 185 Career-high 77 rush yds at Lehigh led to PL ROW honor

WR 17 Nate Anderson Jr. 6-0

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 77 Nathan Natoli

TE 82 Charlie Kreinbucher

Jr. 6-6

Jr. 6-5

47yd TD at Navy, 210 yards on 16 receptions this season

2 TDs on back-to-back drives at VMI, 3 of 11 catches are for TDs

180 7 TDs in 2023 and 10 TDs in 16 games as a Bison

315 Made 7 starts at left tackle as a freshman and started all 5 games this year

300 12th multi-year captain in team history, one of two 5th-yr. seniors, 24 starts

304 Captain, 16 consecutive starts, team’s 2023 Most Outstanding Lineman Award

314 19 starts, missed 2023 with injury, start at VMI was 1st since Nov. 19, 2022

295 8 career starts, including all 5 games this season

260 21 starts, 12 rec. for 95 yds and 3 TDs last season, receiving TD vs. Marist

Pos. No. Name Cl. Ht. Wt. Fast Fact

DE 52 Jack Barnes

N 15 Cade Rooney

DE 90 Aneesh Vyas

LB 33 Brad Jamison

Sr. 6-2

Sr. 6-3

Sr. 6-2

Sr. 6-2

LB 13 Gavin Willis So. 6-0

LB 23 Nick Hoying

S 45 John Schlendorf

So. 6-0

Sr. 5-10

245 5 career starts, 73 career tackles, 13 tackles and 2 TFL this season

295 13 career starts, 2 INTs last season, 12 tackles and 1 TFL this season

300 21 career starts, 2 passes batted down this season, 5 career blocked kicks

240 Captain, 2nd Tm All-PL, 2023 team tackles leader, 21 tackles & 2 sacks this year

230 Team-high 47 tackles; 9 tx/2 sacks/2 FR at Lehigh led to PL DPOW honor

207 Team’s No. 2 tackler this season with 40 (3 TFL); INT at Navy

195 27 consecutive starts (leads team), 1 PBU and sack-fumble at VMI, 38 tackles

S 20 Mason Taylor Sr. 6-2 195 Missed 9 games with injury in 2023, 14 career starts, 14 tackles this year

S 6 Alex Smith Jr. Sr. 6-2 210 Captain, 19 starts, 5 career INTs, 25 tackles this year, pick-6 vs. Marist

CB 5 Roman Pearson Jr. 6-2 195 12 starts, 1 INT and 6 pass breakups in 2023, 16 tackles this season

CB 16 Aaron Davis Jr. 5-11 190 Led all NCAA divisions with 21 PBUs at Wheeling in 2023; pick-6 at Lehigh

Pos. No. Name

Cl. Ht. Wt. Fast Fact

PK 62 Matt Schearer Jr. 5-11

KO 96 Juan Garanton Fr. 5-11

P 62 Matt Schearer Jr. 5-11

PR 80 TJ Cadden So. 6-0

2 Eric Weatherly

KR 80 TJ Cadden

3 Josh Gary

6-0

187 2x Preseason All-PL; career-long 50yd FG in 2022; 20-21 PAT, 1-4 FG in 2023

170 Averaging 59.2 yards on 16 KOs this season (1 TB)

187 Averaging 44.1 per punt, ranks 16th in FCS in punting average

2 PR TDs this season, 17.6 average is No. 3 in FCS

2 punt returns of 21 and 23 yds in 2023, 3 returns this season

100yd KOR TD at Lehigh; 39.5 average ranks No. 1 in FCS

3 career kickoff returns, returned an 88-yd touchdown vs. Lehigh in 2023 LS 61 Ryan Jedlicka

In second season as Bucknell’s

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 16-37 (6th season)

Career Record 33-75 (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 618-631-51

All-Time Patriot League Record ............................................................. 83-128-1

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)

Current NFL 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 Bison certainly enjoyed their bye week coming off back-to-back wins over Marist and Lehigh, the latter a wild 38-35 double-overtime affair in the first Patriot League game of the season. Bucknell’s third straight win in Bethlehem gave the Bison their best start since 2015, and now they will look to stay hot with two Ivy League foes up next on the schedule.

Bucknell this Saturday travels to historic Franklin Field for the first time since 2018, and the Bison will be looking to shed a nine-game series losing streak to the Quakers. Ray Priore has another talented squad in 2024. Penn is 1-2, but the losses were one-score margins against soon-to-be FBS Delaware (29-22) and reigning Ivy League co-champion Dartmouth (20-17). The Quakers’ win was a 27-17 verdict over Colgate from the Patriot League.

Saturday’s game is a 1 p.m. kickoff in Philadelphia, with TV/streaming coverage on ESPN+ along with Doug Birdsong’s local radio call on WKOK 1070 a.m.

WITH A VICTORY BUCKNELL WOULD...

• build its first three-game winning streak since 2014, when the Bison started 7-1 on the way to an 8-3 season.

• ... improve to 4-2 on the season, its best start since 2014.

• ... move to 3-1 in road games.

• ... snap a nine-game losing streak against Penn and pick up its first win over the Quakers since 1999 (23-16).

• ... improve 6-32 against Penn in a series that dates back to 1895.

• ... improve to 3-2 under Dave Cecchini in the week following a bye. The Bison were also coming off a bye week when they played Penn last season, and the Quakers won 37-21 in Lewisburg.

THE BOB ODELL CONNECTION

• National Football Foundation College Hall of Famer Bob Odell is also in the athletics halls of fame at both Bucknell and Penn. An All-America halfback for the Quakers, Odell won the 1943 Maxwell Award and was runner-up for the Heisman Trophy. Odell was Bucknell’s head coach from 1958-64 and led the 1960 and 1964 teams to Lambert Cup championships. He later served as head coach at Penn (1965-70) and Williams (1971-86), and the Bucknell head football coach position is now named in his honor.

BUCKNELL

AT A GLANCE

• Bucknell improved to 3-2 on the season by winning a 38-35 double-overtime thriller at Lehigh on Sept. 28. The Bison also have wins over VMI and Marist, with the losses coming to FBS Navy and Merrimack.

• Bucknell, Holy Cross, and Lafayette are all 1-0 in Patriot League play and have an early jump on the league leaders with lots of intraconference play still to come. There are two more PL games coming up this week with Georgetown visiting Lafayette and Fordham traveling to Holy Cross.

• Bucknell claimed three of the four Patriot League weekly awards after the Lehigh win. Gavin Willis was the Defensive Player of the Week, TJ Cadden was the Special Teams Player of the Week, and Tariq Thomas was the Rookie of the Week.

• The Bison are averaging 29.8 points per game to rank second in the Patriot League and 32nd nationally in FCS, and they have found a variety of ways to score those points. In the two back-to-back wins over Marist and Lehigh, Bucknell has scored on offense, defense, and special teams.

• TJ Cadden is 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 last week. Cadden leads the nation in return TDs and kickoff return average (39.5), and he is third nationally in punt return average (17.5).

• Defensively, it had been three seasons since a Bucknell player had returned an interception for a score, and now Alex Smith Jr. and Aaron Davis have done it in consecutive games.

• Bucknell has been a solid road team in recent years. Among its 10 victories over the last two-plus seasons, seven of them have come away from home, including wins at VMI and Lehigh this season.

• QB Ralph Rucker IV is in his second season leading the Bison offense after transferring from Oklahoma. In 15 games at Bucknell he has thrown for more than 3,500 yards, he has completed 63.3% of his passes, and he has 31 touchdown passes against only nine interceptions.

• Of Rucker’s 31 TD tosses over the last two seasons, 10 have gone to wideout Eric Weatherly. Weatherly has three TD receptions in the last two weeks, and three times in his career he has caught two TD passes in the same game. One of those was last year against Penn, when he hauled in his first two scores in a Bucknell uniform in a home loss to the Quakers.

• The Bison have rotated four running backs throughout the first five games, but freshman

INDIVIDUAL HONORS & AWARDS

BRANDON BIAGIARELLI (10) 2024

• 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) 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

• Patriot League Rookie of Week (9/30)

ANEESH VYAS (90) 2023

• Patriot League Special Teams Player of Week (9/25)

GAVIN WILLIS (13) 2024

• Patriot League Player of Week (9/30)

• Stats Perform FCS National Defensive Player of Week honorable mention (9/30)

START CHART

John Schlendorf 27 (27)

Casey Stephenson 24 (14)

Charlie Kreinbucher 21 (19)

Aneesh Vyas 21 (4)

Alex Smith Jr. 19 (16)

Jake Guy

(4)

John Ohnegian 16 (16)

Ralph Rucker IV 15 (9)

Brad Jamison

Mason Taylor

(1)

(5)

Fredrick Sturgis 13 (0)

Cade Rooney

Xavier Allen

Eric Weatherly

Roman Pearson

Josh Gary

Gavin Willis

Mason Jones

Nathan Natoli

(6)

(5)

(5)

(5)

(5)

(5)

(0)

(6)

Marques Owens 7 (0)

Christian Spugnardi

Chris Sims

Deuce Geter

(0)

(0)

BISON NOTES

Tariq Thomas has started to carry more of the load. The Springfield, Mass., native has started the last four games and he leads the team in rushing attempts (52) and yards (206). Thomas carried 18 times for 77 yards against Lehigh, both career highs. Paul Neel (39 carries), Michael Cadden (20), and Danny Meuser (13) have also seen time in the backfield.

• 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, and TJ has five touchdowns, with two TD catches in addtition to the three return scores.

• 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.

• 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.

(0) Kyle Fontes.....................................

Jack Barnes

Tariq Thomas

Nate Anderson

William Caneer

Nick Hoying

Aaron Davis

Grant Laws

Brad Gerken

Jack Goheen

TJ Cadden

Takai Whitmore

Justin Fisher

Derrick Anderson Jr.

Danny Meuser

(0)

(1)

(4)

(2)

(0)

(2)

(2)

(0)

(0)

(0)

(0)

(0)

(0)

(0)

(0)

Note: Number in parentheses indicates streak of consecutive starts

• The Bison welcomed a host of new faces to the staff during the offseason: special teams coordinator/linebackers coach Brad Jarman, running backs coach Jalen Banks, defensive line coach Codey Cole, assistant offensive line coach/run game analyst Ashley Cornwell, defensive quality control/cornerbacks coach Roger Wright-Lester, and video coordinator Kiem LeGrant.

• 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.

INSIDE THE BUCKNELL DEPTH CHART

• Bucknell’s projected starters on offense have made a combined 145 starts at Bucknell.

• Bucknell’s projected starters on defense have made a combined 142 starts at Bucknell.

• On offense, one fifth-year (OL Casey Stephenson), one senior, seven juniors, one sophomore, and one freshman are expected to start.

• On defense, seven seniors, two juniors and two sophomores are expected to start.

• 17 Bison have made at least 10 starts entering Saturday’s game. S John Schlendorf leads the team with 27 career starts. Schlendorf is joined by three other Bison that have started 20 or more games: Stephenson, TE Charlie Kreinbucher and DL Aneesh Vyas.

• 11 Bison in total have made their first career starts this season.

• Five Bison have starting streaks of 10 or more games in a row: Schlendorf (27), Kreinbucher (19), S Alex Smith Jr. (16), OL John Ohnegian (16) and Stephenson (14).

• Seniors Schlendorf and Smith Jr. have played in all 38 of the team’s games over their threeplus seasons.

IN THE RECORD BOOK

• TJ Cadden became just the third Patriot League player to return two punts for touchdowns in a single season, and his three total return touchdowns in a season is a school and league record.

• Cadden’s 100-yard kickoff return at Lehigh was just the second 100-yard play of any kind in Bucknell history. A.J. Kizekai had a 100-yard kickoff return against Lafayette in 2008.

• QB Ralph Rucker in 2023 set single-season records for passing completions (211), passing yards (2,537) and total yards (2,667). He also tied the single-season passing touchdowns mark (21).

• Rucker also tied for the second-most touchdown passes in a game (4) and set the record for the most passing yards in a single game (387). At VMI this season, Rucker became just the second Bucknell quarterback with three 300-yard passing games in his career, joining Jim Given ’87.

• On Bucknell’s all-time career lists, Rucker now ranks T-3rd in touchdown passes (31), 10th in passing yards (10), and 11th in completions (302) — all in just 15 games played.

• WR Eric Weatherly tied for fifth in single-season receiving touchdowns in 2023 with seven.

• Bucknell’s 400 passing attempts in 2023 were second-most in program history behind the 426 attempts in 2019. The team’s 242 completions, 2,854 passing yards and 24 touchdown passes were each records.

• The Bison set a new program record with 259.45 average yards per game in 2023.

PATRIOT LEAGUE SCHEDULE/RESULTS

Saturday, Oct. 5

Holy Cross 38, at Colgate 7 Lafayette 28, at Fordham 23

Saturday, Oct. 12

Georgetown at Lafayette, 12:30 Bucknell at Penn, 1 Fordham at Holy Cross, 1

Saturday, Oct. 19

Lehigh at Yale, 12 Holy Cross at Harvard, 12 Sacred Heart at Lafayette, 12:30 Georgetown at Colgate, 1 Cornell at Bucknell, 1

Saturday, Oct. 26

Fordham at Lehigh, 12 Colgate at Merrimack, 1 Holy Cross at Lafayette, 1:30 Bucknell at Georgetown, 2

PATRIOT LEAGUE PRESEASON POLL

MILESTONES TO WATCH

BISON NOTES

• Ralph Rucker IV needs 11 touchdown passes to tie Scott Auchenbach’s school record of 42, which has stood since 1989.

• Eric Weatherly needs 76 receiving yards to reach 1,000 in his Bucknell career.

• Josh Gary needs 336 receiving yards to reach 1,000 in his career.

• Derrick Anderson Jr. needs 8 receiving yards to reach 500 for his career.

• John Schlendorf needs 11 tackles for 200 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 seven Patriot League weekly awards this season.

• TJ Cadden has twice been an honorable mention for Stats Perform FCS National Special Teams Player of the Week this season, and Gavin 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), 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.

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.

7

PATRIOT LEAGUE PLAYERS OF THE WEEK

Week Player Honor Statistics

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

Ryan Sakamoto, Patriot League Media Relations Director (FB) rsakamoto@patriotleague.com >> 610-289-1963 >> PatriotLeague.com

INSIDE THE 2024 SCHEDULE

• This is the 139th season of football at Bucknell. The Bison played their first-ever game in 1883 and have played continuously since 1887.

• Bucknell is scheduled to play 12 games for just the third time in program history and for the first time since 2003. The Bison also played 12 games is 1916. Bucknell has six home games for the first time since 2017.

• The Bison opened the 2024 slate against FBS opponent Navy. It’s the fifth FBS team Bucknell has faced under head coach Dave Cecchini and the third time it has faced an FBS foe in the season opener.

• Bucknell went on the road again in week two to face VMI for a third season in a row. The Bison defeated the Keydets for a second straight season.

• Bucknell hosted Merrimack for its home opener on Sept. 14 for what was the first-ever meeting between the two programs. The Bison then defeated Marist a week later for Family Weekend on Sept. 21, making it three wins over the Red Foxes in as many seasons.

• This marks the 45th time in the last 46 seasons that Bucknell has had at least one Ivy League program on the schedule.

• Next week’s game against Cornell is part of Homecoming Weekend. Among the festivities is the annual Bucknell Athletics Hall of Fame induction ceremony. This year’s five-person class includes a football alumnus in Luke Rohrbaugh ’71.

• Bucknell’s 2024 opponents went a combined 63-69 last season.

BISON NOTES

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

2023 IN REVIEW

• Bucknell went 4-7 (1-5 PL) during the 2023 campaign but saw noticeable improvements in several areas, including a potent offense that set several school records. The four wins were the most in a single season by the Bison since 2017.

• The Bison earned wins over VMI, Cornell, Colgate and Marist. The 49-34 victory over Colgate was arguably the team’s best performance, as it posted 593 total yards and seven touchdowns. They were the most points the Bison had scored since 2003, and the 593 total yards tied for second in program history.

• Bucknell was also competitive in most of its losses, including a heartbreaking 50-47 overtime thriller against Georgetown, a narrow 27-21 loss at Fordham, and a decent first-half showing in the season opener at James Madison before the Dukes went on to start the season 10-0.

• Bucknell set program records for single-season passing yards (2,854), passing touchdowns (24), and average yards per game (259.45). Quarterback Ralph Rucker set records for single-season completions (211), passing yards (2,537), total yards (2,667) and tied the single-season passing touchdowns mark (21). He also set several single-game highs.

• Bucknell got stronger toward the end of the season, averaging 38.8 points over the final four contests.

• Three Bison earned All-Patriot League honors at the end of the 2023 campaign. Cornerback Ethan Robinson landed on the First Team, linebacker Brad Jamison landed on the Second Team, and Coleman Bennett received First Team honors as a kick returner and Second Team honors as a running back.

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.

CHRISTY MATHEWSON-MEMORIAL STADIUM’S 100TH ANNIVERSARY SEASON

• Bucknell Athletics proudly celebrates Christy Mathewson-Memorial Stadium’s 100th anniversary season in 2024. 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 will celebrate a century of tradition throughout the 2024-25 academic year, and the Oct. 19 home game vs. Cornell will serve as the football team’s official Christy Mathewson-Memorial Stadium 100th Anniversary Game during Homecoming Weekend.

• 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 256-187-10 all-time at Christy Mathewson-Memorial Stadium.

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.

UP NEXT

• Bucknell returns home next week to face Cornell on Homecoming. The 1 p.m. kickoff will mark the team’s final non-conference game of the regular season.

WIDE RECEIVER

BUCKNELL TWO DEEP AT PENN OFFENSE

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

77 — Nathan Natoli (Jr. / 6-6 / 295 / Olney, Md.)

56 — Mark Mulhern (So. / 6-6 / 331 / Chicago, Ill.)

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.)

80 — TJ Cadden (So. / 6-0 / 195 / Phoenixville, 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 (Jr. / 6-0 / 207 / Lucas, Texas.)

9 — Michael Hardyway (Sr. / 6-0 / 208 / Oceanside, Calif.)

DEFENSIVE END

52 — Jack Barnes (Sr. / 6-2 / 245 / Fayetteville, N.C.)

30 — William Caneer (So. / 6-3 / 238 / Huntsville, Ala.)

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

80 — TJ Cadden (So. / 6-0 / 195 / Phoenixville, Pa.)

3 — Josh Gary (Jr. / 5-11 / 210 / Upper Marlboro, Md.)

PUNT RETURN

80 — TJ Cadden (So. / 6-0 / 195 / Phoenixville, Pa.)

2 — Eric Weatherly (Jr. / 5-8 / 180 / St. John’s, Fla.)

LAFAYETTE

COLGATE

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 3-2 .600

Totals 33-75 .306

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 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)

Aug. 31, 2024 at Navy (21-49)

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)

Nov. 18, 2023 at Marist (38-21)

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 20 completions

Had 30 completions

Had 50 passing attempts

Had 60 passing attempts

Had 200 yards passing

Had 300 yards passing

Had 100 yards receiving

Had 200 yards receiving

Had 10 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 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)

Oct. 28, 2023 (Rushawn Baker (107) at Colgate, 49-34)

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)

Sept. 21, 2024 (Ralph Rucker vs. Marist, 34-18)

Oct. 28, 2023 (Ralph Rucker at Colgate, 49-34)

Sept. 24, 1994 (Rob Glus at Harvard, 42-23)

Sept. 21, 2024 (Ralph Rucker (21) vs. Marist, 34-18)

Nov. 4, 2023 (Ralph Rucker (32) at Fordham, 21-27)

Nov. 23, 2019 (Logan Bitikofer (50) at Fordham, 14-31)

Oct. 27, 2001 (Todd Wenrich (67) at Fordham, 12-17)

Sept. 21, 2024 (Ralph Rucker (272) vs. Marist, 34-18)

Sept. 7, 2024 (Ralph Rucker (340) at VMI, 35-28)

Sept. 7, 2024 (Eric Weatherly (105) at VMI, 35-28)

Oct. 11, 2014 (Will Carter (246) at Lehigh, 45-24)

Nov. 18, 2023 (Damian Harris (15) at Marist, 38-21)

Sept. 28, 2024 (Eric Weatherly at Lehigh, 38-35 OT)

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)

Sept. 28, 2024 (Gavin Willis at Lehigh, 38-35 OT)

Nov. 4, 2023 (Gavin Willis (15) at Fordham, 21-27)

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. 23, 2019 (Gerrit Van Itallie at Fordham, 14-31)

Nov. 4, 2023 (Charlie Kreinbucher at Fordham, 21-27)

Sept. 23, 2023 (Aneesh Vyas vs. Penn, 21-37)

Sept. 23, 2023 (Aneesh Vyas vs. Penn, 21-37)

Recorded a safety Nov. 19, 2016 vs. Fordham (22-36)

FOOTBALL INFORMATION

Head Coach: Ray Priore

Record at Penn: 49-34 (9th season)

Career Record: 49-34 (9th season)

Conference: Ivy League

Stadium: Franklin Field

Capacity: 52,958

Surface: Sprinturf

2023 Record: 6-4

2023 Conference Record: 3-4 (T-5th)

GENERAL INFORMATION

Location: Philadelphia, Pa.

Founded: 1740

Enrollment: 10,610

Nickname: Quakers

Colors: Red & Blue

President: J. Larry Jameson (interim)

Athletic Director: Alanna Wren

Website: PennAthletics.com

Record at neutral site

Streak Penn 9

Last meeting in Philadelphia Sept. 15, 2018 ...............................................................Penn 34, Bucknell 17

Last Bison win in Philadelphia ........................ Oct. 2, 1999 ...............................................................Bucknell 23, Penn 16

Last Bison win ........................ ................................ Oct. 2, 1999 ...............................................................Bucknell 23, Penn 16

Last Penn win Sept. 23, 2023 (Lewisburg, Pa.) ...............................................................Penn 37, Bucknell 21

ALL-TIME RESULTS

1895 Philadelphia, PA UP, 40-0

1896 Philadelphia, PA UP, 40-0

1897 Lewisburg, PA UP, 17-0

1897 Philadelphia, PA UP, 33-0

1899 Philadelphia, PA UP, 47-10

1901 Philadelphia, PA UP, 6-0

1902 Philadelphia, PA UP, 6-5

1903 Philadelphia, PA UP, 47-6

1907 Philadelphia, PA UP, 29-2

1908 Philadelphia, PA UP, 16-0

1917 Philadelphia, PA UP, 20-6

1919 Philadelphia, PA UP, 16-0

1920 Philadelphia, PA UP, 7-0

1965 Philadelphia, PA UP, 16-13

1966 Philadelphia, PA BU, 28-21

1967 Philadelphia, PA BU, 28-27

1968 Philadelphia, PA UP, 27-10

1969 Philadelphia, PA UP, 28-17

1986 Philadelphia, PA UP, 10-7

1987 Lewisburg, PA BU, 32-24

1988 Philadelphia, PA UP, 38-35

1989 Philadelphia, PA UP, 25-24

1993 Lewisburg, PA UP, 42-12

1995 Philadelphia, PA UP, 20-19

1996 Lewisburg, PA UP, 30-21 OT

1997 Lewisburg, PA BU, 20-16

(82nd)

(40th)

TALE OF THE TAPE

(101st)

(51st)

ALL-TIME RESULTS (CONT.)

1998 Philadelphia, PA UP, 20-10

1999 Philadelphia, PA BU, 23-16

2003 Philadelphia, PA UP, 14-13

2004 Lewisburg, PA UP, 32-25 2OT

2005 Philadelphia, PA UP, 53-7

2006 Lewisburg, PA UP, 34-24

2009 Philadelphia, PA UP, 21-3

2010 Lewisburg, PA UP, 31-10

2018 Philadelphia, PA UP, 34-17

2021 Lewisburg, PA UP, 30-6

2023 Lewisburg, PA UP, 37-21

Series Fun Facts:

• After Penn won the first 14 series meetings, Bucknell upset the Quakers and former BU coach Bob Odell 28-21 in 1966. QB Sam Havrilak came off the bench and led Bucknell to three second-half TDs.

• Bucknell won again at Franklin Field in 1967. Down 27-13 with four minutes remaining, the Bison scored a TD and 2-point conversion, recovered an onside kick, and won it on Havrilak’s run and Doug Marinek’s PAT with 14 seconds remaining.

• Penn’s first trip to Lewisburg came in 1987, and the Bison prevailed 32-24 as QB Jim Given rushed for two scores and threw for another. Bucknell led 32-8 before Penn scored two fourth-quarter TDs.

• Bucknell’s 20-16 win in 1997 was part of a record-setting 10-1 season. The Bison scored the game’s first 20 points before Penn tallied the next 16. But a 19-tackle performance from Willie Hill and a big fourth-quarter interception from Nate Musselman sealed the win.

• Bucknell’s most recent win in 1999 also came down to the wire. The Quakers had cut a 23-7 lead to 23-16 and had the ball deep in Bison territory in the final minute, but a strip-sack and recovery by Eric Green ended it.

THE LAST TIME THE BISON AND QUAKERS MET...

Football Downed by Penn at Home, 37-21

Bucknell’s offense came alive in the second half, scoring all 21 of its points and gaining 228 of its 239 yards over the final 30 minutes, but the Penn Quakers triumphed with a 37-21 victory. Penn (2-0) racked up 515 yards of total offense, including 354 through the air, to spoil Homecoming for Bucknell (1-2).

GAME NOTES

• Bucknell struggled to the tune of just 11 yards in the first half before the offense came alive over the final 30 minutes. Meanwhile, Penn totaled 515 yards of offense in the game.

• The Quakers built a 17-0 lead before the Bison got on the board. After Bucknell scored to cut it to 17-7, the Quakers scored two more quick touchdowns in five minutes to take a 30-7 lead into the fourth quarter.

• Eric Weatherly scored two touchdowns for the Bison, scoring on a 40-yard reception and a 31-yard reception. Ralph Rucker also threw a 13-yard touchdown to Josh Gary.

• Penn maintained a potent passing game throughout, as Aidan Sayin completed 35 of 49 attempts for 354 yards and three touchdowns.

• Bucknell was unable to get to the quarterback, but it did record two interceptions and did not commit a turnover in the game.

Penn jumped out to a 17-0 lead before the Bison made their way onto the scoreboard with one of Ralph Rucker’s three touchdown passes. The Quakers responded to the Bucknell score quickly, however, punching it in twice in four minutes to lead 30-7 heading into the fourth. Bucknell added two more scores in the fourth quarter to arrive at the 37-21 final.

Penn found most of its success through the air, as Aidan Sayin completed 35 of 49 attempts for 354 yards and three touchdowns. Jared Richardson was on the receiving end of most of those passes, finishing with 12 catches for 139 yards and a pair of touchdowns. The Quakers converted 9 of 17 third downs compared to Bucknell’s 3 of 12. The Quakers were also dominant with 41:29 in time of possession. Bucknell did win the turnover battle with two interceptions.

Penn also scored twice on the ground, as Jonathan Mulatu rushed for 64 yards and a touchdown, and Liam O’Brien gained 31 yards on six carries and a score.

The Bison managed just eight net rushing yards in the game against an outstanding Penn defensive front that finished second in the nation in rushing defense in 2022.

Eric Weatherly put together a breakout performance for the Bison, hauling in six receptions for 95 yards and a pair of touchdowns. He also flashed with a 21-yard punt return. Coleman Bennett finished with a game-high 160 all-purpose yards, including 58 receiving, 13 rushing and 89 on kick returns. Josh Gary caught Bucknell’s other touchdown, scoring for the first time in his career.

The Quakers led 10-0 at halftime with a 249-11 advantage in total yards. Bucknell’s defense and special teams units squandered two other potential scoring chances for Penn. With less than a minute remaining in the first quarter, Sayin threw a ball to the end zone from five yards out that was tipped by Blake Leake and intercepted by Roman Pearson. It was Pearson’s first career pick. Midway through the second, Penn attempted a 33-yard field goal that was blocked by Aneesh Vyas. Vyas later blocked an extra point, and the junior now has five blocked kicks in his career.

With 6:02 remaining in the third quarter and Bucknell trailing by 17, Ethan Robinson intercepted a Sayin pass at the Penn 44-yard line for his second pick of the season. On the very next play, Rucker climbed the pocket and threw deep to Weatherly, who hauled in the 40-yard touchdown. Weatherly’s other touchdown came on Bucknell’s first possession of the fourth quarter when he came in motion and took a shovel pass from Rucker, then weaved through traffic for 31 yards.

The Weatherly touchdown made it a two-score game, but the Bison were unable to slow Penn down in the fourth. Trailing 37-14 with just a minute remaining in the game, Rucker connected with Gary for a 13-yard touchdown. It was the first time a Bison quarterback had thrown three touchdowns in a game since October 2021. Rucker finished with 230 yards through the air. He was sacked four times.

John Schlendorf led the Bucknell defense with 14 tackles and a pass breakup. Leake and Gavin Willis posted 11 tackles each.

SCORING SUMMARY

BUC 4th 13:27

BUC

TEAM LEADERS

BUCKNELL

2nd Quarter 11:58 3:02

3rd Quarter 9:15 5:45

4th Quarter 9:51 5:09

3rd Down Conversions 9 of 17 3 of 12

4th Down Conversions 2 of 2 1 of 1

Red-Zone Scores-Chances 5-7 1-1 Touchdowns

• The Bison managed just eight net rushing yards in the contest.

• Aneesh Vyas recorded a blocked field goal and a blocked extra point in the game.

DARA ADEYEMI (97)

DL | SO | 6-7 | 250

Tackles: 1, 2X (last at Navy, 8/31/24)

ENGLAND ALLEN (19)

CB | SO | 5-10 | 180

Pass Breakups: 1 vs. Marist (9/21/24)

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: 5 at Lehigh (9/28/24)

Receiving Yards: 61 at Navy (8/31/24)

Long Reception: 47 at Navy (8/31/24)

Receiving Touchdowns: 1 at Navy (8/31/24)

JACK BARNES (52)

DL | SR | 6-2 | 220

Tackles: 7 at Villanova (9/11/21)

Tackles for Loss: 1, 4X (last at VMI, 9/7/24)

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)

MICHAEL CADDEN (36)

RB | FR | 5-10 | 190

Rushing Attempts: 5, 3X (last vs. Marist, 9/21/24)

Rushing Yards: 71 vs. Marist (9/21/24)

Long Rush: 32 vs. Marist (9/21/24)

Rushing Touchdowns: 1 at Navy (8/31/24)

Receptions: 2 vs. Marist (9/21/24)

Receiving Yards: 14 vs. Marist (9/21/24)

Long Receptions: 8 vs. Marist (9/21/24)

TJ CADDEN (80)

WR | SO | 6-0 | 185

Receptions: 6 at VMI (9/7/24)

Receiving Yards: 97 at Navy (8/31/24)

Receiving Touchdowns: 1, 2X (last vs. Marist, 9/21/24)

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, 3X (last at Lehigh 9/28/24)

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: 3, 2X (last at Lehigh 9/28/24)

Tackles for Loss: 2 at Lehigh (9/28/24)

AIDAN CATANIA (58)

LB | SR | 5-11 | 225

Tackles: 1 vs. Marist (9/21/24)

DREW CORMIER (31)

S | SO | 6-1 | 200

Tackles: 2 at Navy (8/31/24)

AARON DAVIS (16)

CB | JR | 5-11 | 190

Tackles: 7 vs. Marist (9/21/24)

Interceptions: 1, 2X (last at Lehigh 9/28/24)

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)

ANTHONY DILASCIO (28)

RB | SO | 5-11 | 190

Rushing Attempts: 1 at Marist (11/18/23)

Rushing Yards: 5 at Marist (11/18/23)

Long Rush: 5 at Marist (11/18/23)

JUSTIN FISHER (99)

DL | SR | 6-6 | 235

Tackles: 9 at Sacred Heart (9/4/21)

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)

JUAN GARANTON (96)

K/P | FR | 5-11 | 170

Kickoffs: 6 vs. Marist (9/21/24)

Kickoff Yards: 345 vs. Marist (9/21/24)

JOSH GARY (3)

WR | JR | 5-11 | 190

Receptions: 9 at Colgate (10/28/23)

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: 4 at Navy (8/31/24)

Passing Attempts: 5 at Navy (8/31/24)

Passing Yards: 84 at Navy (8/31/24)

Long Pass: 37 at Navy (8/31/24)

Passing Touchdowns: 1 vs. Merrimack (9/14/24)

Rushing Attempts: 1, 2X (last vs. Marist, 9/21/24)

Rushing Yards: 6 at Lafayette (10/9/21)

Long Rush: 6 at Lafayette (10/9/21)

NICK HOYING (23)

S/LB | SO | 6-0 | 195

Tackles: 11 at Navy (8/31/24)

Tackles for Loss: 3 vs. Marist (9/21/24)

Sacks: 1 vs. Marist (9/21/24)

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, 4X (last vs. Merrimack, 9/14/24)

Pass Breakups: 2 vs. Lehigh (10/21/23)

Interceptions: 1 vs. Georgetown (11/11/23)

Interception Return Yards: 18 vs. Georgetown (11/11/23)

MATT KARIC (92)

K | JR | 5-8 | 170

Kickoffs: 6 at VMI (9/7/24)

Kicoff Yards: 321 at VMI (9/7/24)

CHARLIE KREINBUCHER (82)

TE | JR | 6-5 | 230

Receptions: 2, 6X (last vs. Marist, 9/21/24)

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)

GRANT LAWS (95)

DL | SR | 6-3 | 280

Tackles: 2 vs. Marist (9/21/24)

Tackles for Loss: 0.5 at VMI (9/10/22)

CHARLIE MCINTYRE (40)

S | SO | 6-0 | 200

Tackles: 1 vs. Marist (9/21/24)

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)

Kickoff Returns: 1 vs. Cornell (10/2/21)

Kickoff Return Yards: 11 vs. Cornell (10/2/21)

Long Kickoff Return: 11 vs. Cornell (10/2/21)

Punt Returns: 1 vs. Lehigh (11/6/21)

Punt Return Yards: 19 vs. Lehigh (11/6/21)

Long Punt Return: 19 vs. Lehigh (11/6/21)

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: 1, 5X (last at Lehigh 9/28/24)

Receiving Yards: 32 vs. Marist (9/21/24)

Long Reception: 32 vs. Marist (9/21/24)

Receiving Touchdowns: 1 vs. Merrimack (9/14/24)

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 at VMI (9/7/24)

Receiving Yards: 18 at VMI (9/7/24)

Long Reception: 9 vs. Holy Cross (10/7/23)

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)

BRADLEY PAO (18)

CB | JR | 6-0 | 185

Tackles: 1, 4X (last vs. Marist, 9/21/24)

ROMAN PEARSON (5)

CB | JR | 6-2 | 180

Tackles: 6 at VMI (9/7/24)

Pass Breakups: 2, 2 times (last vs. Lehigh, 10/21/23)

Interceptions: 1, 2 times (last vs. Lehigh, 10/21/23)

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, 2X (last vs. Marist, 9/21/24)

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: 33 at Colgate (10/28/23)

Passing Yards: 387 at Colgate (10/28/23)

Passing Touchdowns: 4 at Colgate (10/28/23)

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 vs. Georgetown (11/11/23)

Rushing Touchdowns: 1, 2X (last vs. Merrimack, 9/13/24)

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: 5, 2X (last at VMI, 9/7/24)

Punt Yards: 229 at VMI (9/7/24)

Punting Average: 50.0 vs. Merrimack (9/14/24)

Long Punt: 63, 2X (last at VMI, 9/7/24)

Punts Inside 20: 2, 3X (last at Lehigh 9/28/24)

Kickoffs: 5, 2 times (last vs. Marist, 11/19/22)

Kickoff Average: 45.2 at Georgetown (11/12/22)

JOHN SCHLENDORF (45)

S | SR | 5-10 | 180

Tackles: 14, 2 times (last vs. Penn, 9/23/23)

Sacks: 1, 4X (last at VMI, 9/7/24)

Tackles for Loss: 1, 9X (last at Lehigh 9/28/24)

Pass Breakups: 2, 4X (last at Marist, 11/18/23)

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)

JJ SEBERT (25)

S | FR | 6-0 | 185

Tackles: 2 at Navy (8/31/24)

ASHTON SEMPERVIVE (76)

DL | JR | 6-2 | 260

Tackles: 1, 3X (last at Navy, 8/31/24)

DANIEL SIERK (92)

DL | JR | 6-5 | 250

Tackles: 1 at Central Michigan (9/17/22)

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)

ALEX SMITH JR. (6)

S | SR | 6-2 | 185

Tackles: 9 vs. Penn (9/23/23)

Tackles for Loss: 2 vs. Merrimack (9/14/24)

Interceptions: 1, 5X (last vs. Marist, 9/21/24)

Interception Return Yards: 38 vs. Marist (9/21/24)

Interception Return Touchdowns: 1 vs. Marist (9/21/24)

Sacks: 1 vs. Cornell (10/2/21)

Pass Breakups: 2, 3X (last at Fordham, 11/4/23)

Forced Fumbles: 1, 2 times (last vs. Lehigh, 10/21/23)

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: 5 at JMU (9/2/23)

Tackles for Loss: 0.5 vs. Cornell (10/2/21)

Pass Breakups: 1, 4X (last vs. Marist, 9/21/24)

TARIQ THOMAS (7)

RB | FR | 5-11 | 185

Rushing Attempts: 18 at Lehigh (9/28/24)

Rushing Yards: 77 at Lehigh (9/28/24)

Long Rush: 20 at Lehigh (9/28/24)

Receptions: 2 vs. Merrimack (9/14/24)

Receiving Yards: 13 vs. Merrimack (9/14/24)

Long Receptions: 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 at Colgate (10/28/23)

Receiving Yards: 132 at Colgate (10/28/23)

Long Reception: 40, 2 time (last vs. Holy Cross, 10/7/23)

Receiving Touchdowns: 2, 3 times (last at Lehigh 9/28/24)

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 at Cornell (10/14/23)

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: 3, 2X (last vs. Marist, 9/21/24)

TERIAN WILLIAMS II (9)

CB | JR | 5-11 | 190

Tackles: 9 vs. Merrimack (9/14/24)

Tackles for Loss: 1 vs. Marist (9/21/24)

Sacks: 1 vs. Marist (9/21/24)

Interceptions: 1 at Navy (8/31/24)

GAVIN WILLIS (13)

LB | SO | 6-0 | 212

Tackles: 15 at Fordham (11/4/23)

Tackles for Loss: 2 at Lehigh (9/28/24)

Sacks: 2 at Lehigh (9/28/24)

Pass Breakups: 1 vs. Lehigh (10/21/23)

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

BUC 1st 12:14

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

1st

3rd

4th

3rd

• 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

Team Results

Game Records

Rushing

Team Statistics

Passing

Receiving

Interceptions

Team Defense

Bucknell Averages

#9 Michael Hardyway

Rushing/Receiving

Rushing Player

Tariq Thomas 52-206/0 6-15/0 9-23/0 7-51/0 12-40/0 18-77/0

Ralph Rucker IV 43-41/2 10-34/0 6-21/0 13--10/1 5-6/0 9--10/1

Paul Neel 39-182/2 12-60/1 8-37/1 4-3/0 8-44/0 7-38/0

Michael Cadden 20-133/1 5-12/1 4-9/0 5-36/0 5-71/0 1-5/0

Danny Meuser 13-43/0 5-11/0 4-24/0 1-0/0 3-8/0 -

Logan Bush 6-24/0 DNP DNP 2-11/0 4-13/0 DNP

Nate Anderson 2-13/0 - - - 1-3/0 1-10/0

Eric Weatherly 2-4/0 - 1--1/0 1-5/0 - -

Michael Hardyway 1-1/0 - DNP - 1-1/0 DNP

Josh Gary 1--1/0 - 1--1/0 - - -

Receiving

Eric Weatherly 27-321/3 2-10/0 9-105/0 6-77/0 5-74/1 5-55/2

Nate Anderson 16-210/1 2-61/1 3-32/0 2-21/0 4-47/0 5-49/0

TJ Cadden 15-235/2 5-97/0 6-87/1 - 3-30/1 1-21/0

Josh Gary 11-119/3 2-15/0 3-54/2 3-17/1 2-28/0 1-5/0

Sam Milligan 5-72/1 1-9/0 1-6/0 1-23/1 1-32/0 1-2/0

Paul Neel 5-32/0 1-5/0 3-18/0 1-9/0 - -

Derrick Anderson Jr. 4-60/0 - 2-33/0 1-3/0 1-24/0 DNP

Charlie Kreinbucher 4-16/1 - 1-5/0 1-1/0 2-10/1 -

Tariq Thomas 3-23/0 - - 2-13/0 - 1-10/0

Kyle Fontes 2-17/0 1-4/0 - - 1-13/0 DNP

Michael Cadden 2-14/0 - - - 2-14/0 -

Marques Owens 1-8/0 DNP DNP DNP - 1-8/0

Danny Meuser 1-5/0 1-5/0 - - - -

Total Tackles

Player

Gavin Willis 25-22 47 4-6 6-6 2-5 6-3 7-2

Nick Hoying 25-15 40 6-5 4-3 6-4 6-1 3-2

John Schlendorf 28-10 38 4-5 4-2 4-1 5-0

Terian Williams 12-16 28 1-0 2-4 4-5 1-3 4-4

Alex Smith Jr. 14-11 25 4-2 1-3 3-4 2-0 4-2

Brad Jamison 11-10 21 5-2 1-3 4-3 DNP 1-2

Roman Pearson 12-4 16 2-0 5-1 3-1 - 2-2

Brandon Biagiarelli 7-8 15 0-1 2-1 2-1 3-4 0-1

Mason Taylor 10-4 14 1-0 2-1 3-1 1-1 3-1

Jack Barnes 7-6 13 2-2 1-1 0-1 1-1 3-1

Cade Rooney 7-5 12 3-1 1-0 0-3 2-0 1-1

Chris Sims 7-4 11 - - 2-2 1-0 4-2

Aaron Davis 7-3 10 1-0 DNP - 6-1

Jack Goheen 5-4 9 - 1-1 0-1 4-2 DNP

Takai Whitmore 7-1 8 3-0 1-0 1-0 2-1 -

Aneesh Vyas 3-5 8 1-2 1-2

Will Caneer 4-2 6 - - 1-2 - 3-0

Grant Laws 3-2 5 1-0 - 0-1

Luke

JJ Sebert

Bradley Pao

Drew Cormier

Darius

Matt Karic 1-1

Justin Fisher

Meuser

Josh Gary 1-0

Charlie McIntyre

Aidan Catania

Ashton Sempervive

TJ Cadden

Derrick Anderson Jr. 0-1

Nate Anderson

Jedlicka

Spugnardi

Sam Milligan

Juan Garanton 0-1

Dara Adeyemi 0-1

Punt Returns

Player No-Yds Navy VMI Merri Marist Lehigh

TJ Cadden 11-193 1-24 4-54 2-38 2-78 2--1

Eric Weatherly 3--3 3--3 - - - -

Kick Returns

Player No-Yds Navy VMI Merri Marist Lehigh

Tariq Thomas 7-133 3-58 1-17 2-47 1-11 -

TJ Cadden 6-237 1-52 - 1-21 2-47 2-117

Terian Williams 3-30 1-16 - - - 2-14

Josh Gary 1-8 - - - - 1-8

Interceptions Returns

Player No-Yds Navy VMI Merri Marist Lehigh

Aaron Davis 2-99 - DNP - 1-20 1-79

Alex Smith Jr. 1-38 - - - 1-38 -

Chris Sims 1-21 - 1-21 - - -

Nick Hoying 1-11 1-11 - - - -

Terian Williams 1-8 1-8 - - - -

Fumble Returns

Player

Gavin Willis 2-0 - - - - 2-0

Bucknell Inside Opponent Red-Zone

Opponents Inside Bucknell Red-Zone

Bucknell - Game Highs

RUSHES 39 Marist (09/21/2024) 39 at Navy (08/31/2024)

(09/21/2024)

(09/21/2024) TD RUSHES 2 at Navy (08/31/2024) PASS ATTEMPTS

at VMI (09/07/2024) PASS

at VMI (09/07/2024) YARDS PASSING

(09/21/2024)

(09/21/2024)

(09/07/2024)

(09/07/2024)

(09/21/2024)

Marist (09/21/2024)

(09/28/2024)

Marist (09/21/2024)

(09/21/2024)

(09/07/2024)

(09/21/2024)

Marist (09/21/2024) TURNOVERS 3 Merrimack (09/14/2024)

5 at Lehigh (09/28/2024) 5 at VMI (09/07/2024) 5 at Navy (08/31/2024)

Merrimack (09/14/2024)

PUNT 63 at VMI (09/07/2024) 63 at Navy (08/31/2024)

PUNTS INSIDE 20 2 at Lehigh (09/28/2024) 2 Merrimack (09/14/2024)

LONG PUNT RETURN 73 Marist (09/21/2024)

Opponent - Game Highs

RUSHES 53 at Navy (08/31/2024)

YARDS RUSHING 264 at Navy (08/31/2024)

YARDS PER RUSH 7.6 at VMI (09/07/2024)

TD RUSHES 4 at Navy (08/31/2024)

PASS ATTEMPTS

Marist (09/21/2024)

Marist (09/21/2024)

(09/21/2024)

(09/14/2024)

TD PASSES 3 at Navy (08/31/2024)

TOTAL PLAYS 77 at Lehigh (09/28/2024)

TOTAL OFFENSE

YARDS PER PLAY

at Lehigh (09/28/2024)

Merrimack (09/14/2024)

POINTS 49 at Navy (08/31/2024)

SACKS BY 7 Merrimack (09/14/2024)

at Lehigh (09/28/2024) PENALTIES 9 Marist (09/21/2024) 9 at VMI (09/07/2024)

PENALTY YARDS 67 at VMI (09/07/2024)

TURNOVERS 3 at Lehigh (09/28/2024) PUNTS 7 at VMI (09/07/2024)

PUNTING

at Lehigh (09/28/2024)

at VMI (09/07/2024) PUNTS INSIDE 20 3 at Navy (08/31/2024) LONG PUNT RETURN

at Navy (08/31/2024)

Bucknell - Game Lows

(09/14/2024)

(09/14/2024)

(09/14/2024)

(09/21/2024)

(09/28/2024) PASS COMPLETIONS

YARDS PASSING

(09/28/2024)

(08/31/2024)

at Lehigh (09/28/2024) YARDS PER PASS

Merrimack (09/14/2024) TD PASSES 1 at Navy (08/31/2024)

(09/28/2024)

(09/14/2024)

(09/14/2024)

(09/14/2024)

(08/31/2024)

(09/14/2024)

(09/14/2024)

(09/21/2024)

(09/28/2024)

Marist (09/21/2024) 1 at VMI (09/07/2024) 1 at Navy (08/31/2024)

LONG PUNT RETURN 0 at Lehigh (09/28/2024)

Opponent - Game Lows

RUSHES 28 at VMI (09/07/2024)

YARDS RUSHING 102 Marist (09/21/2024)

YARDS PER RUSH 3.4 Marist (09/21/2024) TD RUSHES 0 Marist (09/21/2024)

PASS ATTEMPTS 15 Merrimack (09/14/2024)

PASS COMPLETIONS 10 at Navy (08/31/2024)

YARDS PASSING 147 Merrimack (09/14/2024)

YARDS PER PASS 4.5 at VMI (09/07/2024) TD PASSES 1 Merrimack (09/14/2024) 1 at VMI (09/07/2024)

TOTAL PLAYS 60 Merrimack (09/14/2024) TOTAL OFFENSE 378 at VMI (09/07/2024) YARDS PER PLAY 5.8 Marist (09/21/2024) POINTS

Marist (09/21/2024) SACKS BY

Marist (09/21/2024) FIRST DOWNS 20 at VMI (09/07/2024) 20 at Navy (08/31/2024) PENALTIES 5 at Lehigh (09/28/2024)

PENALTY YARDS 43 at Lehigh (09/28/2024) INTERCEPTIONS BY 0 at Lehigh (09/28/2024) 0 at Navy (08/31/2024) PUNTS 3 at Lehigh (09/28/2024)

Marist (09/21/2024)

Marist (09/21/2024) PUNTS INSIDE

at Lehigh (09/28/2024) 0 at VMI (09/07/2024) LONG PUNT RETURN 0 at Lehigh (09/28/2024) 0 Marist (09/21/2024)

Bucknell - Individual Game Highs

RUSHES 18 Tariq Thomas at Lehigh (09/28/2024)

YARDS RUSHING 77 Tariq Thomas at Lehigh (09/28/2024)

TD RUSHES 1 Ralph Rucker IV at Lehigh (09/28/2024) 1 Ralph Rucker IV vs Merrimack (09/14/2024) 1 Paul Neel at VMI (09/07/2024) 1 Paul Neel at Navy (08/31/2024) 1 Michael Cadden at Navy (08/31/2024)

LONG RUSH

PASS ATTEMPTS

PASS COMPLETIONS

YARDS PASSING

Michael Cadden vs Marist (09/21/2024)

Ralph Rucker IV at VMI (09/07/2024)

Ralph Rucker IV at VMI (09/07/2024)

Ralph Rucker IV at VMI (09/07/2024)

Ralph Rucker IV vs Marist (09/21/2024)

Ralph Rucker IV at VMI (09/07/2024) LONG PASS

Ralph Rucker IV at Navy (08/31/2024) RECEPTIONS

Eric Weatherly at VMI (09/07/2024)

Eric Weatherly at VMI (09/07/2024)

Eric Weatherly at Lehigh (09/28/2024)

Josh Gary at VMI (09/07/2024) LONG RECEPTION

Nate Anderson at Navy (08/31/2024)

Matt Schearer at VMI (09/07/2024) 5 Matt Schearer at Navy (08/31/2024) 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

Matt Schearer at Lehigh (09/28/2024) 2 Matt Schearer vs Merrimack (09/14/2024) LONG PUNT

TJ Cadden at Lehigh (09/28/2024)

TJ Cadden vs Marist (09/21/2024) LONG KICKOFF RETURN

TACKLES 13 John Schlendorf at Lehigh (09/28/2024)

SACKS 2 Gavin Willis at Lehigh (09/28/2024) 2 Brandon Biagiarelli vs Marist (09/21/2024)

TACKLES FOR LOSS

Nick Hoying vs Marist (09/21/2024)

Opponent - Individual Game Highs

RUSHES

YARDS RUSHING

22 Luke Yoder at Lehigh (09/28/2024)

166 Jermaine Corbett vs Merrimack (09/14/2024)

166 Hunter Rice at VMI (09/07/2024)

TD RUSHES 3 Luke Yoder at Lehigh (09/28/2024)

LONG RUSH 58 Hunter Rice at VMI (09/07/2024)

PASS ATTEMPTS

PASS COMPLETIONS

Collin Shannon at VMI (09/07/2024)

Collin Shannon at VMI (09/07/2024)

YARDS PASSING 209 Sonny Mannino vs Marist (09/21/2024)

TD PASSES 2 Blake Horvath at Navy (08/31/2024)

LONG PASS 57 Ayden Pereira vs Merrimack (09/14/2024)

RECEPTIONS 9 Geo rey Jamiel at Lehigh (09/28/2024) 9 Mason Humphrey at Lehigh (09/28/2024)

YARDS RECEIVING 136 Geo rey Jamiel at Lehigh (09/28/2024)

TD RECEPTIONS 2 Geo rey Jamiel at Lehigh (09/28/2024) 2 Eli Heidenreich at Navy (08/31/2024)

LONG RECEPTION 57 Donovan Wadley vs Merrimack (09/14/2024)

FIELD GOALS 1 Connor Mendini vs Marist (09/21/2024) 1 Lliam Davis vs Merrimack (09/14/2024)

LONG FIELD GOALS

Connor Mendini vs Marist (09/21/2024) PUNTS 7 Ben Shrewsbury at VMI (09/07/2024)

PUNTING

LONG PUNT

Connor Poole at Lehigh (09/28/2024)

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 31 Isaiah Bryant at Navy (08/31/2024)

TACKLES 15 Kouri Crump at VMI (09/07/2024) SACKS

Nicholas Lenon vs Merrimack (09/14/2024)

Nicholas Lenon vs Merrimack (09/14/2024) TACKLES FOR

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)

2

4

4 Marco Sansone 0/0

5

6 Christian Petruzzello 0/0

6

8

9

10 Ralph Rucker IV 5/5 START START START START START

12

13

15 Daniel Shuster 0/0

16 Aaron Davis 4/3 START ... XXX START START

17 Nate Anderson 5/4 START START XXX START START

18 Bradley Pao 5/0 XXX XXX XXX XXX XXX

19 England Allen 2/0 XXX XXX

20 Mason Taylor 5/5 START START START START START

21 Paul Neel 5/1 START XXX XXX XXX XXX

22 Nick Severin 0/0

23 Nick Hoying 5/3 XXX START XXX START START

24 Rostand Olama 0/0 ... ... ... ... ...

25 JJ Sebert 5/0 XXX XXX XXX XXX XXX

26 Deuce Geter 0/0

27 Myles Cunningham 1/0 XXX

28 Anthony DiLascio 1/0 XXX

29 Logan Bush 2/0 XXX XXX

30 Will Caneer 5/2 XXX XXX START START XXX

31 Drew Cormier 1/0 XXX

32 Finn Sposato 0/0

33 Brad Jamison 4/4 START START START START

34 Darius Day 1/0 XXX

35 Charlie Meehleib 2/0 XXX XXX

36 Michael Cadden 5/0 XXX XXX XXX XXX XXX

37 Tristan Menconi 0/0

38 Brad Gerken 0/0

39 Jackson Nowinski 0/0 ... ... ... ... ...

40 Charlie McIntyre 1/0 XXX

41 Jack Bohm-Squicciarini 0/0

42 Ryan Skoronski 0/0

43 Owen Garwood 1/0 XXX

44 Caden Allard 0/0

45 John Schlendorf 5/5 START START START START START

46 Michael Crabtree 1/0 XXX

47 Jack Goheen 4/1 XXX XXX XXX START ...

49 Jason Ussery 0/0

52 Jack Barnes 5/3 START XXX START XXX START

53 Tim Andersen 5/0 XXX XXX XXX XXX XXX

54 Reuben Logan 0/0

56 Mark Mulhern 4/0 XXX XXX XXX XXX

57 Jack Inserra 4/0 XXX XXX XXX XXX

58 Aidan Catania 1/0 ... ... ... XXX ...

## Player GP-GS Navy VMI Merri Marist Lehigh

59 Dante Mascio 0/0

60 Kieran Coscia 4/0 XXX XXX XXX XXX

61 Ryan Jedlicka 4/0 XXX XXX XXX XXX

62 Matt Schearer 5/0 XXX XXX XXX XXX XXX

64 David LoGrasso 2/0 XXX XXX

65 Tristan Arndt 0/0

66 Herschel Johal 1/0 ... ... ... XXX ...

67 Gustav Ste elin 1/0 XXX

68 D.K. Kim 2/0 XXX XXX

70 Xavier Allen 5/5 START START START START START

71 Fredrick Sturgis 5/0 XXX XXX XXX XXX XXX

72 Noah Wright 0/0

73 Mason Jones 5/1 START XXX XXX XXX XXX

74 Casey Stephenson 5/5 START START START START START

75 Jake Guy 4/4 ... START START START START

76 Ashton Sempervive 5/0 XXX XXX XXX XXX XXX

77 Nathan Natoli 5/5 START START START START START

78 John Ohnegian 5/5 START START START START START

79 Rowan McGwin 0/0

80 TJ Cadden 5/1 XXX XXX START XXX XXX

81 Christian Spugnardi 5/0 XXX XXX XXX XXX XXX

82 Charlie Kreinbucher 5/5 START START START START START

83 Rourke Kennedy 0/0

84 Sam Milligan 5/0 XXX XXX XXX XXX XXX

85 AJ Bosch 1/0 XXX

86 Braylen Burgess 1/0 XXX

87 Kyle Fontes 4/0 XXX XXX XXX XXX

88 Will Rich 0/0

89 Anthony DiMarco 0/0

90 Aneesh Vyas 5/4 XXX START START START START

91 Matt Karic 5/0 XXX XXX XXX XXX XXX

92 Daniel Sierk 2/0 XXX XXX

93 Jack McGill 0/0

94 Nick Niemynski 0/0

95 Grant Laws 5/2 START START XXX XXX XXX

96 Juan Garanton 4/0 XXX XXX XXX XXX

97 Dara Adeyemi 5/0 XXX XXX XXX XXX XXX

98 Seo Bu ngton 2/0 XXX XXX

99 Justin Fisher 5/1 START XXX XXX XXX XXX