
Photo by: Marc Hagemeier
Bucknell Football Faces Penn in First Road Game
9/12/2018 10:20:00 AM | Football
LEWISBURG, Pa. – The Bucknell football team begins a three-game road swing on Saturday, Sept. 15 at Penn. The Bison, who last faced the Quakers in head coach Joe Susan's first season at the helm, are looking to move to 5-1 in their most recent six games against Ivy League opponents with a victory in their 3 p.m. contest at historic Franklin Field.
To follow the team on the road, sign up for the Bison Club's fan bus. Fans are also invited to register for a pre-game tailgate. For more information, visit this link.
When: Saturday, September 15 – 3 p.m.
Where: Franklin Field – Philadelphia, Pa.
Internet Video: ESPN+ ($)
Radio: Eagle 107 (107.3 WEGH)
Internet Radio: BucknellBison.com
Live Stats: PennAthletics.comÂ
Follow on Twitter: @Bucknell_FB
Â
 With a victory the Bison would...
• improve to 1-2 in non-conference action this season
• win their second-straight game against an Ivy League opponent
• move to 5-1 against Ivy League foes in their most recent six meetings
• top the Quakers for the first time since 1999, snapping a six-game losing streak
Bucknell at a Glance
• The Bison enter their three-game road stint at 0-2 (0-0 Patriot League) following their 30-14 loss to Sacred Heart.
• 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.
• The Bison have led the Patriot League in total defense six of the past seven seasons, including five years in a row from 2011 to 2015. In 2017, they finished fourth nationally in passing defense (148.3) and 11th in total defense (294.6).
• Bucknell currently ranks in the NCAA FCS's top 30 in the following statistical categories: red zone defense (t-19th, .667), net punting (22nd, 39.40), punt returns (26th, 11.83) and kickoff returns (t-27th, 23.40).
• QB John Chiarolanzio has thrown for 243 yards to date. A pair of freshmen, RB Jared Cooper and WR Brandon Sanders, are the team leaders in rushing yards (118) and receiving yards (82) respectively.
• Through two games, the Bison have three players with at least 15 tackles: Marine (22), Lauro (19) and Robinson (17). Robinson's total is a new career high while Marine and Lauro both rank in the NCAA FCS's top 50 in tackles per game.
Inside the Sacred Heart Box Score
• The Pioneers powered past the Bison, 30-14, behind strong showings by RB Jordan Meachum and QB Kevin Duke, who combined for 282 yards on the ground.
• While Bucknell took a 14-7 lead on a 54-yard pick 6 by CB Fisayo Oluleye in the middle of the second quarter, Sacred Heart scored 23 unanswered points the rest of the way to knock off its second-straight Patriot League opponent.
• The Pioneer defense had a strong showing, limiting the Bison to 178 yards of total offense and eight first downs over the course of the contest. In total, the Sacred Heart defense recorded five sacks for a loss of 36 yards and 11 tackles for a loss of 48 yards.
• Oluleye's interception was his second of the young season and Bucknell's first pick 6 since CB Colin Jonov and S Drew Newcomb both returned interceptions for touchdowns at Lafayette on Oct. 21, 2017.
• In his first collegiate start, RB Jared Cooper ran for 96 yards on 15 carries and added a team-high 28 receiving yards on two catches to pace the Bison with 124 all-purpose yards. He was later selected as the Patriot League Rookie of the Week on the strength of his performance.
• QB John Chiarolanzio finished with 100 yards on 17 for 35 passing while WRs Alan Butler (26) and Brandon Sanders (23) also recorded at least 20 receiving yards.
• Defensively, CB Bryan Marine led the way, matching his career high set in 2015 with 12 tackles (nine solo). LBs Matt Robinson and Sam Chitty each posted his first sack and set a new career high in tackles, at nine and eight respectively.
• Preseason All-American P Alex Pechin had a strong outing, averaging 48.4 yards per punt. His average was bolstered by five punts of at least 50 yards, one shy of the career high he set in 2017 finale at Fordham.
• For Sacred Heart, Duke posted 138 passing yards and 104 yards on the ground while Meachum set a new career high with 178 rushing yards. Their efforts helped their team build a 399-178 edge in total offense.
Penn at a Glance
• Penn is set to open its 2018 campaign against Bucknell. In 2017, the Quakers finished 6-4 (4-3 Ivy League).
• Penn won back-to-back Ivy League championships in 2016 and 2015.
• LB Nick Miller, a two-time All-Ivy League honoree, enters 2018 as a STATS FCS Preseason All-American and a member of the Watch List for the Buck Buchanan Award, which is given to the FCS's Defensive Player of the Year
• RB Karekin Brooks was named to the 2018 College Football Performance Awards FCS National Player of the Year Watch List. In 2017, he rushed for 840 yards and nine touchdowns. His average of 6.72 yards per carry ranked fourth in the NCAA FCS and set a new Penn single-season record.
• The Quakers lost WR Justin Watson to graduation. Watson, a two-time finalist for the Walter Payton Award as the FCS's Offensive Player of the Year, left Philadelphia with school records in receptions (286), receiving yards (3,777), receiving touchdowns (33) and all-purpose yards (4,116). Now a member of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, he also set Ivy League records in 100-yard games (19), consecutive games with a touchdown (10) and consecutive games with a reception (40).
The Bucknell/Penn Series
• Penn holds a 29-5 lead in the all-time series with Bucknell. The Quakers are 23-3 against the Bison on their home turf.
• The series dates back to 1895. Penn (142) and Bucknell (133) both rank in the top 10 among current NCAA FCS teams in seasons of competition, at fourth and ninth respectively.
• The Quakers have won their past six meetings with the Bison. The teams last squared off in 2010, head coach Joe Susan's first season at the helm.
• Bucknell last toppled Penn on Oct. 2, 1999, a 23-16 victory. RB Jabu Powell rushed for 102 yards while QB Don McDowell threw for 106 yards and one touchdown and also ran for two touchdowns to help the Bison snap a seven-game losing streak at Franklin Field.
The Last Meeting with the Quakers Â
Penn 31 – Bucknell 10 (Oct. 9, 2010 – Lewisburg, Pa.)
• The Quakers dispatched the Bison, 31-10, registering 437 yards of total offense.
• Penn scored four touchdowns in a 21-minute span from the end of the second quarter to the beginning of the fourth to erase a 7-3 first-half deficit.
• QB Brandon Wesley completed 14 of 21 passes for 118 yards while RB Tyler Smith posted a team-high 37 yards on the ground. Overall, the Bison offense totaled 165 yards, 84 of which came in the fourth quarter.
• CB Joseph Francis was solid on special teams, posting a team-high nine tackles, many coming on punt coverage. CB Donald Quarles recorded his first career interception while DE Josh Eden recovered a fumble for the second-straight contest and also blocked a field-goal attempt.
• For Penn, RB Brandon Colavita ran for a team-high 61 yards and a pair of touchdowns, while QB Ryan Becker completed 14 of 22 passes for 194 yards, including a 52-yarder to WR Ryan Mitchell that set up the Quakers' final score.
Bison vs. the Ivy League
• Bucknell is 41-103-3 all-time against Ivy League programs.
• The Bison have played at least one Ivy League team every year since 1978, a streak that reached 40-consecutive seasons with 2017's 26-18 victory at Cornell.
• Bucknell's 2016 loss to Cornell snapped a three-game winning streak over Ivy League opponents. In that stretch, the Bison downed Dartmouth (17-14 in 2013) and Cornell twice (20-7 in 2014, 19-14 in 2015).
• Bucknell has faced Cornell (57) more than any other Ivy League team. Penn (34), this Saturday's opponent, and Princeton (16) round out the top three.
Inside the Bucknell Depth Chart
• Bucknell's 11 projected starters on offense have made a combined 107 starts. Â
• Bucknell's 11 projected starters on defense have made a combined 79 starts, with CB Bryan Marine (26) and S Joe Lauro (19) accounting for almost 57 percent of them.
• On offense, three seniors, four juniors, three sophomores and one freshman are expected to start.
• On defense, five seniors, three juniors and three sophomores are projected to start.
• Twelve seniors, 12 juniors, 15 sophomores and 11 freshmen appear on the depth chart.
• Eight players on Bucknell's roster have made at least 10 career starts: Marine (26), WR Alan Butler (22), Lauro (19), TE/FB Andrew Owers (16), OL Noah Stephenson (13), OL Pat Finn (12), OL P.J. Barr (10) and QB John Chiarolanzio (10). Barr became the first member of the class of 2021 to start at least 10 contests against Sacred Heart. Â
• Butler and Stephenson lead the team with 13-consecutive starts. Barr rounds out the top three with 10 while Finn and DE Roger Mellado have each started eight games in a row.
• No member of the class of 2019 played in all 35 of Bucknell's games during his time in Lewisburg to date. CB Fisayo Oluleye and LB Matt Robinson are tied for first in their class with 32 career games played.
• Two Bison earned their first career start against the Pioneer last week: RB Jared Cooper and DE Joe Schiano. Cooper became the second freshman to start for Bucknell this season, joining WR Brandon Sanders.
• So far in 2018, eight Bison have earned their first career start: RB Marquis Carter, Cooper, OL Justis Peppers, DE Sean Naiman, Robinson, Sanders, Schiano and DL Jimmy Sheehan.
• Two Bison made their collegiate debut against Sacred Heart: S Sam Hildebrand and QB Renn Lints (in a special teams role).
Bison in the NCAA FCS Top 10
• CB Fisayo Oluleye: t-1st in interceptions per game (1.0), t-1st in interception return touchdowns (1) and 9th in interception return yards (54)
• CB Bryan Marine: t-2nd in solo tackles per game (8.0) and t-2nd in solo tackles (16)
• P Alex Pechin: 6th punting average (45.1)
• DE Joe Schiano: t-8th in fumbles recovered (1)
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 (43.4), Season Punting Average (45.1, 2017)
Milestone Watch
• S Brandon Benson: Needs 24 tackles to reach 100 in his career
• S Joe Lauro: Needs 32 tackles to reach 200 in his career
• CB Bryan Marine: Needs three interceptions to crack Bucknell's career top eight with 10
• CB Bryan Marine: Needs 11 solo tackles to reach 150 in his career
• CB Bryan Marine: Needs 21 tackles to reach 200 in his career
• LB Simeon Page: Needs 6.5 sacks to crack Bucknell's career top 10 with 16.5
• P Alex Pechin: Needs 2,877 punting yards to reach 10,000 in his career
Bison All-Americans
• The Bison return an All-American in P Alex Pechin. 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.
• Pechin's 45.1 punting average shattered his previous school record, set in 2015 as a freshman, by three full yards.
• Pechin has since been named to 2018 Preseason All-America First Teams by STATS, Phil Steele, Hero Sports, College Sports Madness and FreeAgentFootball.com
Bison All-Patriot League Selections
• Bucknell returned three All-Patriot League players in CB Bryan Marine (1st in '16), LB Simeon Page (2nd in '17) and P Alex Pechin (1st in '17 & '15).
• Two Bison made the 2018 Preseason All-Patriot League Team: OL Pat Finn and Pechin.
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 (90) and tied for sixth in career victories (37).
• Sept. 8's contest with Sacred Heart was Susan's 100th career game. Before his time at Bucknell, he was the head coach at Davidson in 2000; that season, he led the Wildcats to a 10-0 mark, a school record for wins in a season.
• Susan tied 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 Senior Day shutout of Georgetown on Nov. 11, 2017. Â
• At the conclusion of the 2017 campaign, Susan took sole possession of fourth place in career seasons, passing legendary coaches Odell and Tom Gadd.
Bison Scholar-Athletes
• In 2017, P Alex Pechin became the eighth Bison to be honored as the Patriot League Scholar-Athlete of the Year. He was joined on the Academic All-Patriot League Team by three seniors, giving Bucknell double the number of selections as the other Patriot League teams. It was also the highest number of Bison voted to the 14-man squad since 2010, when four were honored.
• Bucknell placed a program-record 48 student-athletes on the 2017 Patriot League Academic Honor Roll. Previously, the record stood at 46, which was set the year before.
• The team combined for a 3.09 GPA during the 2017 fall semester, bolstered by FB Cinjun Erskine (now a student assistant coach) and LB Rick Mottram's perfect 4.0s.
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.
• Nine of Bucknell's 11 opponents from 2017 remained on its 2018 schedule, with Penn and Villanova taking the place of Marist and Cornell.
• 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.
• Two of the Bison's 2018 foes reached the 2017 NCAA FCS Playoffs. Lehigh fell to Stony Brook, 59-29, while Monmouth was dispatched by Northern Iowa, 46-7, in the first round.
• Bucknell's five non-conference opponents hail from four different conferences: the Big South Conference (Monmouth), the Colonial Athletic Association (Villanova and William & Mary), the Ivy League (Penn) and the Northeast Conference (Sacred Heart).
• 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).
• Fans can watch the Bison's games at Penn and Monmouth on ESPN+. Their game at Villanova will be streamed on Villanova.com.
• 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 Watch.
• In addition, Bucknell's home game against Colgate and away contest at Georgetown will be streamed on Facebook Watch.
• The Bison are active on Twitter (@Bucknell_FB) and Instagram (Bucknell_FB). Interact with the team using the hashtag #BandOfBison.
Up Next
• Bucknell continues its three-game road stint by facing Villanova, currently ranked No. 10 in both the STATS FCS Top 25 and the AFCA FCS Coaches Poll, on Saturday, Sept. 22 at 6 p.m. It will be the first meeting between the Pennsylvania programs since 2005 and the Bison's final contest before they open Patriot League action at Holy Cross.
To follow the team on the road, sign up for the Bison Club's fan bus. Fans are also invited to register for a pre-game tailgate. For more information, visit this link.
When: Saturday, September 15 – 3 p.m.
Where: Franklin Field – Philadelphia, Pa.
Internet Video: ESPN+ ($)
Radio: Eagle 107 (107.3 WEGH)
Internet Radio: BucknellBison.com
Live Stats: PennAthletics.comÂ
Follow on Twitter: @Bucknell_FB
Â
 With a victory the Bison would...
• improve to 1-2 in non-conference action this season
• win their second-straight game against an Ivy League opponent
• move to 5-1 against Ivy League foes in their most recent six meetings
• top the Quakers for the first time since 1999, snapping a six-game losing streak
Bucknell at a Glance
• The Bison enter their three-game road stint at 0-2 (0-0 Patriot League) following their 30-14 loss to Sacred Heart.
• 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.
• The Bison have led the Patriot League in total defense six of the past seven seasons, including five years in a row from 2011 to 2015. In 2017, they finished fourth nationally in passing defense (148.3) and 11th in total defense (294.6).
• Bucknell currently ranks in the NCAA FCS's top 30 in the following statistical categories: red zone defense (t-19th, .667), net punting (22nd, 39.40), punt returns (26th, 11.83) and kickoff returns (t-27th, 23.40).
• QB John Chiarolanzio has thrown for 243 yards to date. A pair of freshmen, RB Jared Cooper and WR Brandon Sanders, are the team leaders in rushing yards (118) and receiving yards (82) respectively.
• Through two games, the Bison have three players with at least 15 tackles: Marine (22), Lauro (19) and Robinson (17). Robinson's total is a new career high while Marine and Lauro both rank in the NCAA FCS's top 50 in tackles per game.
Inside the Sacred Heart Box Score
• The Pioneers powered past the Bison, 30-14, behind strong showings by RB Jordan Meachum and QB Kevin Duke, who combined for 282 yards on the ground.
• While Bucknell took a 14-7 lead on a 54-yard pick 6 by CB Fisayo Oluleye in the middle of the second quarter, Sacred Heart scored 23 unanswered points the rest of the way to knock off its second-straight Patriot League opponent.
• The Pioneer defense had a strong showing, limiting the Bison to 178 yards of total offense and eight first downs over the course of the contest. In total, the Sacred Heart defense recorded five sacks for a loss of 36 yards and 11 tackles for a loss of 48 yards.
• Oluleye's interception was his second of the young season and Bucknell's first pick 6 since CB Colin Jonov and S Drew Newcomb both returned interceptions for touchdowns at Lafayette on Oct. 21, 2017.
• In his first collegiate start, RB Jared Cooper ran for 96 yards on 15 carries and added a team-high 28 receiving yards on two catches to pace the Bison with 124 all-purpose yards. He was later selected as the Patriot League Rookie of the Week on the strength of his performance.
• QB John Chiarolanzio finished with 100 yards on 17 for 35 passing while WRs Alan Butler (26) and Brandon Sanders (23) also recorded at least 20 receiving yards.
• Defensively, CB Bryan Marine led the way, matching his career high set in 2015 with 12 tackles (nine solo). LBs Matt Robinson and Sam Chitty each posted his first sack and set a new career high in tackles, at nine and eight respectively.
• Preseason All-American P Alex Pechin had a strong outing, averaging 48.4 yards per punt. His average was bolstered by five punts of at least 50 yards, one shy of the career high he set in 2017 finale at Fordham.
• For Sacred Heart, Duke posted 138 passing yards and 104 yards on the ground while Meachum set a new career high with 178 rushing yards. Their efforts helped their team build a 399-178 edge in total offense.
Penn at a Glance
• Penn is set to open its 2018 campaign against Bucknell. In 2017, the Quakers finished 6-4 (4-3 Ivy League).
• Penn won back-to-back Ivy League championships in 2016 and 2015.
• LB Nick Miller, a two-time All-Ivy League honoree, enters 2018 as a STATS FCS Preseason All-American and a member of the Watch List for the Buck Buchanan Award, which is given to the FCS's Defensive Player of the Year
• RB Karekin Brooks was named to the 2018 College Football Performance Awards FCS National Player of the Year Watch List. In 2017, he rushed for 840 yards and nine touchdowns. His average of 6.72 yards per carry ranked fourth in the NCAA FCS and set a new Penn single-season record.
• The Quakers lost WR Justin Watson to graduation. Watson, a two-time finalist for the Walter Payton Award as the FCS's Offensive Player of the Year, left Philadelphia with school records in receptions (286), receiving yards (3,777), receiving touchdowns (33) and all-purpose yards (4,116). Now a member of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, he also set Ivy League records in 100-yard games (19), consecutive games with a touchdown (10) and consecutive games with a reception (40).
The Bucknell/Penn Series
• Penn holds a 29-5 lead in the all-time series with Bucknell. The Quakers are 23-3 against the Bison on their home turf.
• The series dates back to 1895. Penn (142) and Bucknell (133) both rank in the top 10 among current NCAA FCS teams in seasons of competition, at fourth and ninth respectively.
• The Quakers have won their past six meetings with the Bison. The teams last squared off in 2010, head coach Joe Susan's first season at the helm.
• Bucknell last toppled Penn on Oct. 2, 1999, a 23-16 victory. RB Jabu Powell rushed for 102 yards while QB Don McDowell threw for 106 yards and one touchdown and also ran for two touchdowns to help the Bison snap a seven-game losing streak at Franklin Field.
The Last Meeting with the Quakers Â
Penn 31 – Bucknell 10 (Oct. 9, 2010 – Lewisburg, Pa.)
• The Quakers dispatched the Bison, 31-10, registering 437 yards of total offense.
• Penn scored four touchdowns in a 21-minute span from the end of the second quarter to the beginning of the fourth to erase a 7-3 first-half deficit.
• QB Brandon Wesley completed 14 of 21 passes for 118 yards while RB Tyler Smith posted a team-high 37 yards on the ground. Overall, the Bison offense totaled 165 yards, 84 of which came in the fourth quarter.
• CB Joseph Francis was solid on special teams, posting a team-high nine tackles, many coming on punt coverage. CB Donald Quarles recorded his first career interception while DE Josh Eden recovered a fumble for the second-straight contest and also blocked a field-goal attempt.
• For Penn, RB Brandon Colavita ran for a team-high 61 yards and a pair of touchdowns, while QB Ryan Becker completed 14 of 22 passes for 194 yards, including a 52-yarder to WR Ryan Mitchell that set up the Quakers' final score.
Bison vs. the Ivy League
• Bucknell is 41-103-3 all-time against Ivy League programs.
• The Bison have played at least one Ivy League team every year since 1978, a streak that reached 40-consecutive seasons with 2017's 26-18 victory at Cornell.
• Bucknell's 2016 loss to Cornell snapped a three-game winning streak over Ivy League opponents. In that stretch, the Bison downed Dartmouth (17-14 in 2013) and Cornell twice (20-7 in 2014, 19-14 in 2015).
• Bucknell has faced Cornell (57) more than any other Ivy League team. Penn (34), this Saturday's opponent, and Princeton (16) round out the top three.
Inside the Bucknell Depth Chart
• Bucknell's 11 projected starters on offense have made a combined 107 starts. Â
• Bucknell's 11 projected starters on defense have made a combined 79 starts, with CB Bryan Marine (26) and S Joe Lauro (19) accounting for almost 57 percent of them.
• On offense, three seniors, four juniors, three sophomores and one freshman are expected to start.
• On defense, five seniors, three juniors and three sophomores are projected to start.
• Twelve seniors, 12 juniors, 15 sophomores and 11 freshmen appear on the depth chart.
• Eight players on Bucknell's roster have made at least 10 career starts: Marine (26), WR Alan Butler (22), Lauro (19), TE/FB Andrew Owers (16), OL Noah Stephenson (13), OL Pat Finn (12), OL P.J. Barr (10) and QB John Chiarolanzio (10). Barr became the first member of the class of 2021 to start at least 10 contests against Sacred Heart. Â
• Butler and Stephenson lead the team with 13-consecutive starts. Barr rounds out the top three with 10 while Finn and DE Roger Mellado have each started eight games in a row.
• No member of the class of 2019 played in all 35 of Bucknell's games during his time in Lewisburg to date. CB Fisayo Oluleye and LB Matt Robinson are tied for first in their class with 32 career games played.
• Two Bison earned their first career start against the Pioneer last week: RB Jared Cooper and DE Joe Schiano. Cooper became the second freshman to start for Bucknell this season, joining WR Brandon Sanders.
• So far in 2018, eight Bison have earned their first career start: RB Marquis Carter, Cooper, OL Justis Peppers, DE Sean Naiman, Robinson, Sanders, Schiano and DL Jimmy Sheehan.
• Two Bison made their collegiate debut against Sacred Heart: S Sam Hildebrand and QB Renn Lints (in a special teams role).
Bison in the NCAA FCS Top 10
• CB Fisayo Oluleye: t-1st in interceptions per game (1.0), t-1st in interception return touchdowns (1) and 9th in interception return yards (54)
• CB Bryan Marine: t-2nd in solo tackles per game (8.0) and t-2nd in solo tackles (16)
• P Alex Pechin: 6th punting average (45.1)
• DE Joe Schiano: t-8th in fumbles recovered (1)
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 (43.4), Season Punting Average (45.1, 2017)
Milestone Watch
• S Brandon Benson: Needs 24 tackles to reach 100 in his career
• S Joe Lauro: Needs 32 tackles to reach 200 in his career
• CB Bryan Marine: Needs three interceptions to crack Bucknell's career top eight with 10
• CB Bryan Marine: Needs 11 solo tackles to reach 150 in his career
• CB Bryan Marine: Needs 21 tackles to reach 200 in his career
• LB Simeon Page: Needs 6.5 sacks to crack Bucknell's career top 10 with 16.5
• P Alex Pechin: Needs 2,877 punting yards to reach 10,000 in his career
Bison All-Americans
• The Bison return an All-American in P Alex Pechin. 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.
• Pechin's 45.1 punting average shattered his previous school record, set in 2015 as a freshman, by three full yards.
• Pechin has since been named to 2018 Preseason All-America First Teams by STATS, Phil Steele, Hero Sports, College Sports Madness and FreeAgentFootball.com
Bison All-Patriot League Selections
• Bucknell returned three All-Patriot League players in CB Bryan Marine (1st in '16), LB Simeon Page (2nd in '17) and P Alex Pechin (1st in '17 & '15).
• Two Bison made the 2018 Preseason All-Patriot League Team: OL Pat Finn and Pechin.
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 (90) and tied for sixth in career victories (37).
• Sept. 8's contest with Sacred Heart was Susan's 100th career game. Before his time at Bucknell, he was the head coach at Davidson in 2000; that season, he led the Wildcats to a 10-0 mark, a school record for wins in a season.
• Susan tied 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 Senior Day shutout of Georgetown on Nov. 11, 2017. Â
• At the conclusion of the 2017 campaign, Susan took sole possession of fourth place in career seasons, passing legendary coaches Odell and Tom Gadd.
Bison Scholar-Athletes
• In 2017, P Alex Pechin became the eighth Bison to be honored as the Patriot League Scholar-Athlete of the Year. He was joined on the Academic All-Patriot League Team by three seniors, giving Bucknell double the number of selections as the other Patriot League teams. It was also the highest number of Bison voted to the 14-man squad since 2010, when four were honored.
• Bucknell placed a program-record 48 student-athletes on the 2017 Patriot League Academic Honor Roll. Previously, the record stood at 46, which was set the year before.
• The team combined for a 3.09 GPA during the 2017 fall semester, bolstered by FB Cinjun Erskine (now a student assistant coach) and LB Rick Mottram's perfect 4.0s.
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.
• Nine of Bucknell's 11 opponents from 2017 remained on its 2018 schedule, with Penn and Villanova taking the place of Marist and Cornell.
• 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.
• Two of the Bison's 2018 foes reached the 2017 NCAA FCS Playoffs. Lehigh fell to Stony Brook, 59-29, while Monmouth was dispatched by Northern Iowa, 46-7, in the first round.
• Bucknell's five non-conference opponents hail from four different conferences: the Big South Conference (Monmouth), the Colonial Athletic Association (Villanova and William & Mary), the Ivy League (Penn) and the Northeast Conference (Sacred Heart).
• 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).
• Fans can watch the Bison's games at Penn and Monmouth on ESPN+. Their game at Villanova will be streamed on Villanova.com.
• 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 Watch.
• In addition, Bucknell's home game against Colgate and away contest at Georgetown will be streamed on Facebook Watch.
• The Bison are active on Twitter (@Bucknell_FB) and Instagram (Bucknell_FB). Interact with the team using the hashtag #BandOfBison.
Up Next
• Bucknell continues its three-game road stint by facing Villanova, currently ranked No. 10 in both the STATS FCS Top 25 and the AFCA FCS Coaches Poll, on Saturday, Sept. 22 at 6 p.m. It will be the first meeting between the Pennsylvania programs since 2005 and the Bison's final contest before they open Patriot League action at Holy Cross.
Players Mentioned
(Coaches Camera) Bucknell Men's Water Polo Vs. George Washington University (10/4/25)
Tuesday, September 30
Bucknell Men's Water Polo Vs. George Washington University (10/4/25)
Tuesday, September 30
In The Herd: Lafayette Game Preview And Henna Andican Feature
Tuesday, September 30
Michigan State at Bucknell Field Hockey Highlights 9-28-2025
Sunday, September 28