Saturday, November 10
Washington, D.C.
12:30 p.m.
Bucknell University
at
Georgetown
Photo by: Linda Naiman
Bucknell Football Travels to Georgetown for Final Road Game
11/7/2018 6:00:00 AM | Football
LEWISBURG, Pa. – The Bucknell football team is set to take on Georgetown in its final road game of the 2018 campaign on Saturday, Nov. 10 at 12:30 p.m.
Though Saturday's game will not be ticketed, capacity at Cooper Field will be monitored. Hoya staff will provide a wristband to each fan at entry, beginning 90 minutes before kickoff. The stadium gates will open 60 minutes before kickoff. Georgetown encourages fans to arrive early to ensure their entry into Cooper Field.
When: Saturday, November 10 – 12:30 p.m.
Where: Cooper Field – Washington, D.C.
Internet Video: Patriot League Network or Facebook Watch
Radio: Eagle 107 (107.3 WEGH)
Internet Radio: BucknellBison.com
Live Stats: GUHoyas.com
Follow on Twitter: @Bucknell_FB
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With a victory the Bison would...
• run their winning streak over the Hoyas to three games
• snap a four-game losing streak
Bucknell at a Glance
• The Bison are currently 1-8 (1-3 Patriot League) on the season. They finished winless in non-conference play, at 0-5, for the first time since 2010 (also 0-5).
• Bucknell finished 2017 with a 5-6 (2-4 PL) record. The Bison, who took sixth in the Patriot League a year ago, were chosen to tie for fifth with Lafayette in the 2018 preseason poll, as voted on by the league's coaches and sports information directors.
• Bucknell returned a total of 41 letterwinners in 2018. That group includes 14 seniors, 17 juniors and 10 sophomores. Eight seniors—WR Alan Butler, DL Alex Jordan, S Joe Lauro, CB Bryan Marine, CB Fisayo Oluleye, TE/FB Andrew Owers, P Alex Pechin and LB Matt Robinson—are three-time letterwinners.
• OL Pat Finn, Lauro, Marine and Pechin are serving as team captains in 2018.
• QB Logan Bitikofer, who missed the Lehigh game, has completed 103 of 187 passes for 1,050 yards and seven touchdowns. A pair of freshmen have made a big impact offensively; RB Jared Cooper is the team leader in rushing yards (491) while WR Brandon Sanders has paced the Bison in receiving yards (388).
• Four Bison have made at least 60 tackles: Lauro (76), Marine (69), LB Matt Robinson (63) and LB Sam Chitty (62). Chitty has paced the Bison in tackles for a loss (11.5) while LB Simeon Page is the team leader in sacks (4.5).
• Bucknell is currently tied for fifth in the FCS with 23 turnovers gained on 12 fumble recoveries and 11 interceptions. The Bison are just two outside of first.
• Ten different Bison have recovered a fumble, with Marine and DE Roger Mellado recovering two apiece; Marine, Page and Robinson are tied for the team lead with two forced fumbles each. Seven different Bison have picked off a pass, led by Marine (3), Oluleye (2) and CB Sterling Deary (2).
Inside the Lehigh Box Score
• The Mountain Hawks raced past the Bison, 45-17, behind multiple lengthy scoring plays, including two touchdown throws by QB Brad Mayes to WR Jorge Portorreal that covered at least 55 yards. Mayes finished the game with 335 yards, connecting with Portorreal nine times for 216 of them. Â
• Lehigh, which led by a touchdown at halftime, broke open the game in the second half. After the teams traded field goals, the Mountain Hawks scored three unanswered touchdowns, beginning with a 72-yard bomb by Mayes to Portorreal at the third quarter's 4:07 mark; that touchdown came 16 seconds after K Ethan Torres booted a career-long 35-yard field goal to trim Bucknell's deficit to 24-17.
• QB Tarrin Earle looked strong in his first career start at quarterback, completing 17 of 40 passes for 174 yards and two touchdowns. Earle, who became the 40th different Bucknell player to earn a start this season, also ran for 35 yards on the ground.
• WR Brandon Sanders was Earle's favorite target, amassing 80 yards on six catches. RB Jared Cooper ran for a team-best 44 yards and added 21 receiving yards.
• S Joe Lauro led all players with 11 tackles (nine solo) while S Gerrit Van Itallie was second among Bison, matching his career high with eight (seven solo).
• CB Sterling Deary picked off his second career pass while LB Sam Chitty recovered a fumble forced by CB Bryan Marine.
• Marine cracked Bucknell's single-season top 10 in both punt return yards and kickoff returns. With his 49 punt return yards, he improved his season total to 254, good for eighth in school history. His career-best 118 kickoff return yards moved his season total to 540, the ninth-best mark in the Bison annals.
• Lehigh's defense was impressive in the second half, limiting the Bison to 68 yards, five first downs and a single field goal. Overall, the Mountain Hawks held advantages in first downs (20-15) and total offense (550-255).
Georgetown at a Glance
• The Hoyas are currently 4-5 (3-1 Patriot League) on the season. Despite being picked to finish last in the Patriot League Preseason Poll, they are second to undefeated Colgate (8-0, 5-0 Patriot League), which already clinched a share of the title.
• Georgetown started 3-0 in league play by topping Fordham (23-11), Lafayette (13-6) and Lehigh (22-16 2OT). The Hoyas' victory over the Mountain Hawks, their first since 1925, secured their first 3-0 start to conference play since joining the Patriot League in 2001.
• With a win over the Bison, Georgetown will set a new school record in Patriot League victories. During the 2011 campaign, the Hoyas went 3-2 to finish in a tie for second with Holy Cross behind Lehigh; they have won two Patriot League games five times, most recently in 2015.
• Georgetown's defense has led to its surprising success; the Hoyas stand in the FCS's top 30 in total defense (16th, 315.4), scoring defense (t-21st, 21.9), rushing defense (t-23rd, 124.0), passing defense (t-26th, 191.4) and team sacks (t-29th, 2.56).
• DB Blaise Brown (75) and LB Wes Bowers (71) have eclipsed 70 tackles while DL Khristian Tate is the team leader in sacks (7.5) and tackles for a loss (10.5).
• QB Gunther Johnson, who transferred from Arizona in 2017, has had a strong year, completing 136 of 259 passes for 1,523 yards and seven touchdowns.
The Bucknell/Georgetown Series
• Bucknell leads the all-time series, 18-11-1, and has won eight of the past 10 meetings. All but three of those games were decided by 10 or fewer points.
• The Bison and Hoyas first met in 1904. They didn't face off from 1938 to 2000, the year before Georgetown joined the Patriot League as an associate member.
• Bucknell rides a two-game winning streak over Georgetown into Saturday's contest. The Bison won the 2016 (21-7) and 2017 (12-0) meetings behind strong defensive performances.
• The teams last squared off at Cooper Field, which is currently undergoing extensive renovations, in 2016. In that game, RBs Joey DeFloria (2 TDs, 150 yards) and Chad Freshnock (1 TD, 47 yards) provided all of the offense the Bison needed to emerge victorious from a battle between the Patriot League's top defenses.
• DeFloria became the 10th Bucknell running back to surpass 1,000 rushing yards in a single season. He finished with 1,070, which ranks eighth in school history.
The Last Meeting with the Hoyas Â
Bucknell 12 – Georgetown 0 (Nov. 11, 2017 – Lewisburg, Pa.)
• The Bison sent their 19-man senior class out in style by scoring a Senior Day shutout of Georgetown. They held the Hoyas to 214 yards of total offense and didn't allow them to reach the red zone en route to their 12-0 victory.
• It was Bucknell's first shutout since Sept. 5, 2015, a 17-0 whitewashing of Marist at Christy Mathewson-Memorial Stadium.
• CB Colin Jonov led the stifling Bison defense with a career-high nine tackles. He finished with more solo tackles (8) than his previous career high in tackles (6).
• DL Abdullah Anderson registered two sacks for a loss of 12 yards.
• Offensively, the Bison used two field goals booted by K John Burdick to stake themselves a 6-0 lead early in the third quarter. With eight seconds remaining in that frame, QB John Chiarolanzio connected with TE Marcus Ademilola for a 36-yard touchdown while under pressure to bring the score to 12-0.
• RBs Joey DeFloria and Chad Freshnock split Bucknell's carries and finished with 97 and 78 yards respectively.
• Georgetown was the first team Bucknell did not allow to reach the red zone in 2017.
• The Bison finished .500 at Christy Mathewson-Memorial Stadium in 2017, at 3-3. They last posted a record of at least .500 at home in 2014 (3-2).
• With the win, the 37th of his Bucknell career, head coach Joe Susan tied Bob Odell for sixth in program history.
Inside the Bucknell Depth Chart
• Bucknell's 11 projected starters on offense have made a combined 142 starts. Â
• Bucknell's 11 projected starters on defense have made a combined 121 starts, with CB Bryan Marine (33) and S Joe Lauro (26) accounting for nearly 49 percent of them.
• On offense, three seniors, two juniors, four sophomores and two freshmen are expected to start. On defense, three seniors, one junior, five sophomores and two freshmen are projected to start.
• Twelve seniors, nine juniors, 15 sophomores and 11 freshmen are on the depth chart.
• Fifteen players on Bucknell's roster have made at least 10 career starts, with Marine (33), WR Alan Butler (29) and Lauro (26) each surpassing 20.
• Butler (20), OL P.J. Barr (17) and DE Roger Mellado (15) are the only Bison with starting streaks in the double digits. They are among eight Bison who have started all nine 2018 games, joining LB Sam Chitty, Lauro, Marine, OL Justis Peppers and LB Matt Robinson.
• Marine became the first member of the class of 2019 to reach the 30-start plateau against Colgate on Oct. 6, 2018. Butler will join him with a start at Georgetown.
• LB Matt Robinson leads the senior class with 39 career games played. He and Marine, who has played in 38 career games, are the only members of the class of 2019 who can crack the 40-game plateau. Â
• QB Tarrin Earle started his first game at Lehigh. He became the fifth freshman to earn a start in 2018, joining DE Grayson Cherubino, RB Jared Cooper, CB Sterling Deary and WR Brandon Sanders.
• A total of 40 different Bison have started a game in 2018, a figure that represents over 48 percent of the team's 83-man roster. To date, 19 Bison have earned their first career start.
Bison Among Active NCAA FCS Career Leaders
• P Alex Pechin: 3rd in punting average (43.6), 3rd in punting yards (9,497)
• CB Bryan Marine: 3rd in passes defended (39), 6th in solo tackles per game (4.74), t-6th in interceptions (10)
• LB Simeon Page: 2nd in sacks per game (0.84), 3rd in tackles for loss per game (1.38),
Bison in the NCAA FCS Top 10
• P Alex Pechin: 1st in punting yards (3,005), t-5th in punting average (44.2)
• CB Bryan Marine: 4th in combined kick returns (794), t-5th in solo tackles per game (6.2), t-5th in solo tackles (56)
• S Gerrit Van Itallie: t-9th in blocked kicks (2)
School Record Holders on the 2018 Roster
• LB Simeon Page: Single Game Sacks (4.0, 11/18/17), Rookie Season Sacks (9.0, 2017)
• P Alex Pechin: Career Punting Average (43.6), Season Punting Average (45.1, 2017)
Alex Pechin: Setting an All-American Standard
• P Alex Pechin is tied for fifth in the NCAA FCS ranks with a 44.2 punting average; the FCS leader in punts (68), he is the only punter with more than 3,000 yards (3,005).
• Pechin's career punting average of 43.6 is third among all active FCS punters.
• After averaging a career-best 51.0 yards on nine punts at No. 14/15 Villanova, Pechin received Honorable Mention National Special Teams Player of the Week laurels from STATS.
• Pechin's 51.0 punting average against the Wildcats was a single yard shy of the school record, set in 1962; he had five punts sail for at least 50 yards, including a 71-yard bomb.
• Pechin owns Bucknell's third- (71, 2018), seventh- (67, 2017) and 10th- (64, 2017) longest punts in school history.
• Pechin was named to 2018 Preseason All-America First Teams by STATS, Phil Steele, Hero Sports, College Sports Madness and FreeAgentFootball.com
• Pechin was honored on the 2017 STATS All-America Third Team after finishing third in the NCAA FCS ranks with a 45.1 punting average. His average shattered his previous school record, set in 2015 as a freshman, by three full yards.
Bryan Marine: Writing His Name in the Bucknell Annals
• CB Bryan Marine cracked Bucknell's single-season top 10 in both punt return yards and kickoff returns at Lehigh on Nov. 3.
• With his 49 punt return yards, Marine improved his season total to 254, good for eighth in school history. His career-best 118 kickoff return yards moved his season total to 540, the ninth-best mark in the Bison annals.
• Marine has two more games to continue to rise in the all-time rankings; he is just 28 punt return yards away from claiming sole possession of third and is on pace to become the seventh Bison to record at least 600 kickoff return yards in a single campaign.
• Earlier this year at Monmouth, Marine became the 12th Bison to reach the double digits in career interceptions.
• Marine was a semifinalist for the 2018 William V. Campbell Trophy®. Only Bucknell and Dayton have had a semifinalist for the "Academic Heisman" each of the past 13 years.
Milestone Watch
• WR Alan Butler: Needs 58 receiving yards to reach 1,000 in his career
• S Joe Lauro: Needs six solo tackles to reach 150 in his career
• CB Bryan Marine: Needs one interception to enter tie for seventh in career annals with 11
• CB Bryan Marine: Needs seven punt return yards to claim sole possession of seventh in Bucknell's history in single-season punt return yards (261); needs 12 to claim sole possession of sixth (266); needs 23 to claim sole possession of fifth (277); needs 28 to claim sole possession of third (282)
• CB Bryan Marine: Needs 24 tackles to reach 250 in his career Â
• CB Bryan Marine: Needs eight kickoff return yards to claim sole possession of eighth in Bucknell's history in single-season kickoff return yards (548); needs 19 to claim sole possession of seventh (559); needs 60 to become the seventh Bison with at least 600
• P Alex Pechin: Needs 12 punts to break Bucknell's single-season record with 80
• P Alex Pechin: Needs 503 punting yards to reach 10,000 in his career
• LB Matt Robinson: Needs 14 tackles to reach 100 in his career
Head Coach Joe Susan Â
• Joe Susan, the 26th head coach in program history, is in his ninth season at the helm and currently ranks third in career games (97) and sixth in career victories (38).
• Susan broke a tie with Bob Odell, who coached the Bison from 1958 to 1964 and was enshrined in the Bucknell Athletics Hall of Fame in 1987, for sixth in career wins with Bucknell's victory at Holy Cross on Sept. 29, 2018. He needs two wins to tie George Hoskins (1899-1906, 1909) for fifth.
Inside the 2018 Schedule
• This is the 133rd season of football at Bucknell. The Bison played their first game in 1883 and have played continuously since 1887.
• Bucknell's 2018 opponents went a combined 50-72 (.410) in 2017. Of that group, Monmouth (9-3), Colgate (7-4) and Penn (6-4) finished at or above .500. At 5-6, the Bison had a better 2017 record than seven of their opponents and matched one other's mark.
• The Bison entered the campaign with a 151-244-12 (.371) record against their 2018 opponents, including winning marks against Fordham (18-15), Georgetown (18-11-1) and Sacred Heart (2-1).
How to Follow the Bison
• Every game will be broadcast on Eagle 107 (WEGH 107.3) and BucknellBison.com.
• All five of Bucknell's home games and its road contests at Holy Cross, Lehigh and Georgetown will air on the Patriot League Network (PatriotLeague.tv).
• Bucknell's home contests against Sacred Heart and Fordham and away game at Lehigh are among 10 Patriot League tilts that will be carried on Stadium's family of over-the-air channels and streaming services. All three will also be carried on Facebook Live.
• In addition, Bucknell's home game against Colgate and away contest at Georgetown will be streamed on Facebook Live.
• The Bison are active on Twitter (@Bucknell_FB) and Instagram (Bucknell_FB). Interact with the team using the hashtag #BandOfBison.
Up Next
• The Bison wrap up their 2018 campaign on Saturday, Nov. 17 against Fordham at Christy Mathewson-Memorial Stadium. Before the 12 p.m. game, they will honor their 17-man senior class: OL Derek Bastinck, WR Alan Butler, K Jack Chambers, student AC Cinjun Erskine, OL Pat Finn, DL Alex Jordan, S Joe Lauro, CB Bryan Marine, S Drew Newcomb, CB Fisayo Oluleye, TE/FB Andrew Owers, P Alex Pechin, S Chanse Riley, LB Matt Robinson, DE Joe Schiano, S Brice Sydnor and DL Nick Zarkoski.
Though Saturday's game will not be ticketed, capacity at Cooper Field will be monitored. Hoya staff will provide a wristband to each fan at entry, beginning 90 minutes before kickoff. The stadium gates will open 60 minutes before kickoff. Georgetown encourages fans to arrive early to ensure their entry into Cooper Field.
When: Saturday, November 10 – 12:30 p.m.
Where: Cooper Field – Washington, D.C.
Internet Video: Patriot League Network or Facebook Watch
Radio: Eagle 107 (107.3 WEGH)
Internet Radio: BucknellBison.com
Live Stats: GUHoyas.com
Follow on Twitter: @Bucknell_FB
Â
With a victory the Bison would...
• run their winning streak over the Hoyas to three games
• snap a four-game losing streak
Bucknell at a Glance
• The Bison are currently 1-8 (1-3 Patriot League) on the season. They finished winless in non-conference play, at 0-5, for the first time since 2010 (also 0-5).
• Bucknell finished 2017 with a 5-6 (2-4 PL) record. The Bison, who took sixth in the Patriot League a year ago, were chosen to tie for fifth with Lafayette in the 2018 preseason poll, as voted on by the league's coaches and sports information directors.
• Bucknell returned a total of 41 letterwinners in 2018. That group includes 14 seniors, 17 juniors and 10 sophomores. Eight seniors—WR Alan Butler, DL Alex Jordan, S Joe Lauro, CB Bryan Marine, CB Fisayo Oluleye, TE/FB Andrew Owers, P Alex Pechin and LB Matt Robinson—are three-time letterwinners.
• OL Pat Finn, Lauro, Marine and Pechin are serving as team captains in 2018.
• QB Logan Bitikofer, who missed the Lehigh game, has completed 103 of 187 passes for 1,050 yards and seven touchdowns. A pair of freshmen have made a big impact offensively; RB Jared Cooper is the team leader in rushing yards (491) while WR Brandon Sanders has paced the Bison in receiving yards (388).
• Four Bison have made at least 60 tackles: Lauro (76), Marine (69), LB Matt Robinson (63) and LB Sam Chitty (62). Chitty has paced the Bison in tackles for a loss (11.5) while LB Simeon Page is the team leader in sacks (4.5).
• Bucknell is currently tied for fifth in the FCS with 23 turnovers gained on 12 fumble recoveries and 11 interceptions. The Bison are just two outside of first.
• Ten different Bison have recovered a fumble, with Marine and DE Roger Mellado recovering two apiece; Marine, Page and Robinson are tied for the team lead with two forced fumbles each. Seven different Bison have picked off a pass, led by Marine (3), Oluleye (2) and CB Sterling Deary (2).
Inside the Lehigh Box Score
• The Mountain Hawks raced past the Bison, 45-17, behind multiple lengthy scoring plays, including two touchdown throws by QB Brad Mayes to WR Jorge Portorreal that covered at least 55 yards. Mayes finished the game with 335 yards, connecting with Portorreal nine times for 216 of them. Â
• Lehigh, which led by a touchdown at halftime, broke open the game in the second half. After the teams traded field goals, the Mountain Hawks scored three unanswered touchdowns, beginning with a 72-yard bomb by Mayes to Portorreal at the third quarter's 4:07 mark; that touchdown came 16 seconds after K Ethan Torres booted a career-long 35-yard field goal to trim Bucknell's deficit to 24-17.
• QB Tarrin Earle looked strong in his first career start at quarterback, completing 17 of 40 passes for 174 yards and two touchdowns. Earle, who became the 40th different Bucknell player to earn a start this season, also ran for 35 yards on the ground.
• WR Brandon Sanders was Earle's favorite target, amassing 80 yards on six catches. RB Jared Cooper ran for a team-best 44 yards and added 21 receiving yards.
• S Joe Lauro led all players with 11 tackles (nine solo) while S Gerrit Van Itallie was second among Bison, matching his career high with eight (seven solo).
• CB Sterling Deary picked off his second career pass while LB Sam Chitty recovered a fumble forced by CB Bryan Marine.
• Marine cracked Bucknell's single-season top 10 in both punt return yards and kickoff returns. With his 49 punt return yards, he improved his season total to 254, good for eighth in school history. His career-best 118 kickoff return yards moved his season total to 540, the ninth-best mark in the Bison annals.
• Lehigh's defense was impressive in the second half, limiting the Bison to 68 yards, five first downs and a single field goal. Overall, the Mountain Hawks held advantages in first downs (20-15) and total offense (550-255).
Georgetown at a Glance
• The Hoyas are currently 4-5 (3-1 Patriot League) on the season. Despite being picked to finish last in the Patriot League Preseason Poll, they are second to undefeated Colgate (8-0, 5-0 Patriot League), which already clinched a share of the title.
• Georgetown started 3-0 in league play by topping Fordham (23-11), Lafayette (13-6) and Lehigh (22-16 2OT). The Hoyas' victory over the Mountain Hawks, their first since 1925, secured their first 3-0 start to conference play since joining the Patriot League in 2001.
• With a win over the Bison, Georgetown will set a new school record in Patriot League victories. During the 2011 campaign, the Hoyas went 3-2 to finish in a tie for second with Holy Cross behind Lehigh; they have won two Patriot League games five times, most recently in 2015.
• Georgetown's defense has led to its surprising success; the Hoyas stand in the FCS's top 30 in total defense (16th, 315.4), scoring defense (t-21st, 21.9), rushing defense (t-23rd, 124.0), passing defense (t-26th, 191.4) and team sacks (t-29th, 2.56).
• DB Blaise Brown (75) and LB Wes Bowers (71) have eclipsed 70 tackles while DL Khristian Tate is the team leader in sacks (7.5) and tackles for a loss (10.5).
• QB Gunther Johnson, who transferred from Arizona in 2017, has had a strong year, completing 136 of 259 passes for 1,523 yards and seven touchdowns.
The Bucknell/Georgetown Series
• Bucknell leads the all-time series, 18-11-1, and has won eight of the past 10 meetings. All but three of those games were decided by 10 or fewer points.
• The Bison and Hoyas first met in 1904. They didn't face off from 1938 to 2000, the year before Georgetown joined the Patriot League as an associate member.
• Bucknell rides a two-game winning streak over Georgetown into Saturday's contest. The Bison won the 2016 (21-7) and 2017 (12-0) meetings behind strong defensive performances.
• The teams last squared off at Cooper Field, which is currently undergoing extensive renovations, in 2016. In that game, RBs Joey DeFloria (2 TDs, 150 yards) and Chad Freshnock (1 TD, 47 yards) provided all of the offense the Bison needed to emerge victorious from a battle between the Patriot League's top defenses.
• DeFloria became the 10th Bucknell running back to surpass 1,000 rushing yards in a single season. He finished with 1,070, which ranks eighth in school history.
The Last Meeting with the Hoyas Â
Bucknell 12 – Georgetown 0 (Nov. 11, 2017 – Lewisburg, Pa.)
• The Bison sent their 19-man senior class out in style by scoring a Senior Day shutout of Georgetown. They held the Hoyas to 214 yards of total offense and didn't allow them to reach the red zone en route to their 12-0 victory.
• It was Bucknell's first shutout since Sept. 5, 2015, a 17-0 whitewashing of Marist at Christy Mathewson-Memorial Stadium.
• CB Colin Jonov led the stifling Bison defense with a career-high nine tackles. He finished with more solo tackles (8) than his previous career high in tackles (6).
• DL Abdullah Anderson registered two sacks for a loss of 12 yards.
• Offensively, the Bison used two field goals booted by K John Burdick to stake themselves a 6-0 lead early in the third quarter. With eight seconds remaining in that frame, QB John Chiarolanzio connected with TE Marcus Ademilola for a 36-yard touchdown while under pressure to bring the score to 12-0.
• RBs Joey DeFloria and Chad Freshnock split Bucknell's carries and finished with 97 and 78 yards respectively.
• Georgetown was the first team Bucknell did not allow to reach the red zone in 2017.
• The Bison finished .500 at Christy Mathewson-Memorial Stadium in 2017, at 3-3. They last posted a record of at least .500 at home in 2014 (3-2).
• With the win, the 37th of his Bucknell career, head coach Joe Susan tied Bob Odell for sixth in program history.
Inside the Bucknell Depth Chart
• Bucknell's 11 projected starters on offense have made a combined 142 starts. Â
• Bucknell's 11 projected starters on defense have made a combined 121 starts, with CB Bryan Marine (33) and S Joe Lauro (26) accounting for nearly 49 percent of them.
• On offense, three seniors, two juniors, four sophomores and two freshmen are expected to start. On defense, three seniors, one junior, five sophomores and two freshmen are projected to start.
• Twelve seniors, nine juniors, 15 sophomores and 11 freshmen are on the depth chart.
• Fifteen players on Bucknell's roster have made at least 10 career starts, with Marine (33), WR Alan Butler (29) and Lauro (26) each surpassing 20.
• Butler (20), OL P.J. Barr (17) and DE Roger Mellado (15) are the only Bison with starting streaks in the double digits. They are among eight Bison who have started all nine 2018 games, joining LB Sam Chitty, Lauro, Marine, OL Justis Peppers and LB Matt Robinson.
• Marine became the first member of the class of 2019 to reach the 30-start plateau against Colgate on Oct. 6, 2018. Butler will join him with a start at Georgetown.
• LB Matt Robinson leads the senior class with 39 career games played. He and Marine, who has played in 38 career games, are the only members of the class of 2019 who can crack the 40-game plateau. Â
• QB Tarrin Earle started his first game at Lehigh. He became the fifth freshman to earn a start in 2018, joining DE Grayson Cherubino, RB Jared Cooper, CB Sterling Deary and WR Brandon Sanders.
• A total of 40 different Bison have started a game in 2018, a figure that represents over 48 percent of the team's 83-man roster. To date, 19 Bison have earned their first career start.
Bison Among Active NCAA FCS Career Leaders
• P Alex Pechin: 3rd in punting average (43.6), 3rd in punting yards (9,497)
• CB Bryan Marine: 3rd in passes defended (39), 6th in solo tackles per game (4.74), t-6th in interceptions (10)
• LB Simeon Page: 2nd in sacks per game (0.84), 3rd in tackles for loss per game (1.38),
Bison in the NCAA FCS Top 10
• P Alex Pechin: 1st in punting yards (3,005), t-5th in punting average (44.2)
• CB Bryan Marine: 4th in combined kick returns (794), t-5th in solo tackles per game (6.2), t-5th in solo tackles (56)
• S Gerrit Van Itallie: t-9th in blocked kicks (2)
School Record Holders on the 2018 Roster
• LB Simeon Page: Single Game Sacks (4.0, 11/18/17), Rookie Season Sacks (9.0, 2017)
• P Alex Pechin: Career Punting Average (43.6), Season Punting Average (45.1, 2017)
Alex Pechin: Setting an All-American Standard
• P Alex Pechin is tied for fifth in the NCAA FCS ranks with a 44.2 punting average; the FCS leader in punts (68), he is the only punter with more than 3,000 yards (3,005).
• Pechin's career punting average of 43.6 is third among all active FCS punters.
• After averaging a career-best 51.0 yards on nine punts at No. 14/15 Villanova, Pechin received Honorable Mention National Special Teams Player of the Week laurels from STATS.
• Pechin's 51.0 punting average against the Wildcats was a single yard shy of the school record, set in 1962; he had five punts sail for at least 50 yards, including a 71-yard bomb.
• Pechin owns Bucknell's third- (71, 2018), seventh- (67, 2017) and 10th- (64, 2017) longest punts in school history.
• Pechin was named to 2018 Preseason All-America First Teams by STATS, Phil Steele, Hero Sports, College Sports Madness and FreeAgentFootball.com
• Pechin was honored on the 2017 STATS All-America Third Team after finishing third in the NCAA FCS ranks with a 45.1 punting average. His average shattered his previous school record, set in 2015 as a freshman, by three full yards.
Bryan Marine: Writing His Name in the Bucknell Annals
• CB Bryan Marine cracked Bucknell's single-season top 10 in both punt return yards and kickoff returns at Lehigh on Nov. 3.
• With his 49 punt return yards, Marine improved his season total to 254, good for eighth in school history. His career-best 118 kickoff return yards moved his season total to 540, the ninth-best mark in the Bison annals.
• Marine has two more games to continue to rise in the all-time rankings; he is just 28 punt return yards away from claiming sole possession of third and is on pace to become the seventh Bison to record at least 600 kickoff return yards in a single campaign.
• Earlier this year at Monmouth, Marine became the 12th Bison to reach the double digits in career interceptions.
• Marine was a semifinalist for the 2018 William V. Campbell Trophy®. Only Bucknell and Dayton have had a semifinalist for the "Academic Heisman" each of the past 13 years.
Milestone Watch
• WR Alan Butler: Needs 58 receiving yards to reach 1,000 in his career
• S Joe Lauro: Needs six solo tackles to reach 150 in his career
• CB Bryan Marine: Needs one interception to enter tie for seventh in career annals with 11
• CB Bryan Marine: Needs seven punt return yards to claim sole possession of seventh in Bucknell's history in single-season punt return yards (261); needs 12 to claim sole possession of sixth (266); needs 23 to claim sole possession of fifth (277); needs 28 to claim sole possession of third (282)
• CB Bryan Marine: Needs 24 tackles to reach 250 in his career Â
• CB Bryan Marine: Needs eight kickoff return yards to claim sole possession of eighth in Bucknell's history in single-season kickoff return yards (548); needs 19 to claim sole possession of seventh (559); needs 60 to become the seventh Bison with at least 600
• P Alex Pechin: Needs 12 punts to break Bucknell's single-season record with 80
• P Alex Pechin: Needs 503 punting yards to reach 10,000 in his career
• LB Matt Robinson: Needs 14 tackles to reach 100 in his career
Head Coach Joe Susan Â
• Joe Susan, the 26th head coach in program history, is in his ninth season at the helm and currently ranks third in career games (97) and sixth in career victories (38).
• Susan broke a tie with Bob Odell, who coached the Bison from 1958 to 1964 and was enshrined in the Bucknell Athletics Hall of Fame in 1987, for sixth in career wins with Bucknell's victory at Holy Cross on Sept. 29, 2018. He needs two wins to tie George Hoskins (1899-1906, 1909) for fifth.
Inside the 2018 Schedule
• This is the 133rd season of football at Bucknell. The Bison played their first game in 1883 and have played continuously since 1887.
• Bucknell's 2018 opponents went a combined 50-72 (.410) in 2017. Of that group, Monmouth (9-3), Colgate (7-4) and Penn (6-4) finished at or above .500. At 5-6, the Bison had a better 2017 record than seven of their opponents and matched one other's mark.
• The Bison entered the campaign with a 151-244-12 (.371) record against their 2018 opponents, including winning marks against Fordham (18-15), Georgetown (18-11-1) and Sacred Heart (2-1).
How to Follow the Bison
• Every game will be broadcast on Eagle 107 (WEGH 107.3) and BucknellBison.com.
• All five of Bucknell's home games and its road contests at Holy Cross, Lehigh and Georgetown will air on the Patriot League Network (PatriotLeague.tv).
• Bucknell's home contests against Sacred Heart and Fordham and away game at Lehigh are among 10 Patriot League tilts that will be carried on Stadium's family of over-the-air channels and streaming services. All three will also be carried on Facebook Live.
• In addition, Bucknell's home game against Colgate and away contest at Georgetown will be streamed on Facebook Live.
• The Bison are active on Twitter (@Bucknell_FB) and Instagram (Bucknell_FB). Interact with the team using the hashtag #BandOfBison.
Up Next
• The Bison wrap up their 2018 campaign on Saturday, Nov. 17 against Fordham at Christy Mathewson-Memorial Stadium. Before the 12 p.m. game, they will honor their 17-man senior class: OL Derek Bastinck, WR Alan Butler, K Jack Chambers, student AC Cinjun Erskine, OL Pat Finn, DL Alex Jordan, S Joe Lauro, CB Bryan Marine, S Drew Newcomb, CB Fisayo Oluleye, TE/FB Andrew Owers, P Alex Pechin, S Chanse Riley, LB Matt Robinson, DE Joe Schiano, S Brice Sydnor and DL Nick Zarkoski.
Players Mentioned
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/ FootballMichigan State at Bucknell Field Hockey Highlights 9-28-2025
Sunday, September 28
Saint Francis at Bucknell Football Highlights 9-27-2025
Sunday, September 28
Post Game Interview vs. SFU
Sunday, September 28
Saint Francis at Bucknell Football Highlights 9-27-2025
Sunday, September 28