Saturday, October 19
Towson, Md.
4 p.m.
Bucknell University
at
#20/18 Towson
Photo by: Gil McGlynn
Bucknell Football Closes Non-Conference Play at No. 20/18 Towson
10/15/2019 9:04:00 AM | Football
LEWISBURG, Pa. – The Bucknell football team wraps up non-conference play at No. 20/18 Towson on Saturday, Oct. 19. Kickoff between the Bison and Tigers, who are meeting for the first time since 2003, is set for 4 p.m.
The complete media notes can be viewed here.
When: Saturday, Oct. 19 – 4 p.m.
Where: Johnny Unitas Stadium – Towson, Md.
Tickets: TowsonTigers.com
Internet Video: FloFootball ($)
Radio: Eagle 107 (107.3 WEGH)
Internet Radio: BucknellBison.com
Live Stats: TowsonTigers.com
Follow on Twitter: @Bucknell_FB
Media Notes: BucknellBison.com
With a victory the Bison would...
• knock off a ranked team for the first time since 2013
• defeat a current Colonial Athletic Association member for the first time since 2003
Bucknell at a Glance
• The Bison are 1-5 (1-1 PL) following their 32-14 victory at Colgate on Oct. 12. Â
• Bucknell wrapped up the 2018 campaign with a 1-10 (1-5 PL) record. The Bison, who took seventh in the Patriot League a year ago, were chosen to finish in the same spot in the 2019 preseason poll.
• Bucknell is in its first campaign under head coach Dave Cecchini, who spent the previous five seasons at Valparaiso.
• The Bison returned a total of 52 letterwinners in 2019, a group that includes two fifth years, 19 seniors, 21 juniors and 10 sophomores. Fifth-year P Alex Pechin is a four-time letterwinner while six seniors—TE Marcus Ademilola, WR Justin Bethea, QB John Chiarolanzio, LB Sam Chitty, LB Jon Fox and DL John Hunt—are three-time letterwinners.
• Pechin is serving as team captain in 2019. He is the 11th Bison to serve as team captain more than once and the seventh to do so since 1950.
Inside the Colgate Box Score
• Bolstered by a strong defensive performance and a pair of touchdowns by freshman RB Alex Barnard, Bucknell downed defending Patriot League Colgate, 32-14.
• QB Logan Bitikofer orchestrated a Bison offense that posted 359 yards of total offense, completing 18 of 29 passes for 250 yards and two touchdowns. WR Dominic Lyles (81), WR Brandon Sanders (64) and RB Jared Cooper (51) all surpassed 50 receiving yards while Cooper added a game-best 76 rushing yards on 21 carries.
• Defensively, Bucknell was paced by LB Simeon Page, who filled the stat sheet with six tackles, three sacks for a loss of 21 yards and two pass breakups; Page also returned a fumble for a touchdown that put an exclamation mark on the Bison's commanding victory with 44 seconds remaining.
• LB Rick Mottram made a game-best nine tackles while DL Roger Mellado registered two sacks, one of which was the strip sack that led to Page's touchdown.
• The Bison raced out to an early 14-0 lead, with Barnard finding the end zone on their first two possessions. Both of Bucknell's scoring drives covered more than 75 yards.
• At halftime, the Bison led by a 20-7 margin. Through the first 30 minutes, they held significant advantages in total offense (258-127), first downs (14-5) and third-down conversions (4-of-8 to 1-of-6).
• Early in the third quarter, Bucknell answered a Colgate touchdown with one of its own; that scoring drive was extended by P Alex Pechin, who successfully faked a punt and ran for 12 yards on a 4th and 1 near midfield.
• Late in the fourth quarter, the Bison made a goal-line stand, highlighted by LB Gerrit Van Itallie's sack for a loss of 14 yards and Page's pass breakup on 4th and goal.
• Handling kicking duties for the first time since his sophomore year, Pechin booted two field goals in the second quarter. He also kicked two extra points to match his career high of eight points set in the 2016 opener at Marist.
• Bucknell finished with advantages in total offense (359-305), first downs (22-19) and third-down conversions (6-of-14 to 2-of-12). Overall, the defense totaled eight sacks for a loss of 51 yards and 11 tackles for a loss of 54 yards.
• For their efforts, Page (Defensive Player) and Pechin (Special Teams) captured Patriot League weekly awards. Page was also an Honorable Mention STATS FCS Defensive Player of the Week selection and the Bison Athlete of the Week.
Towson at a Glance
• Towson is No. 20 in the AFCA FCS Coaches Poll and No. 18 in the STATS FCS Top 25 this week. The Tigers fell out of the top 10 after being upset by UAlbany, 38-21, on Oct. 12 at home.
• Towson, which is 3-3 (1-2 CAA), has been ranked as high as fifth nationally this season. The Tigers were in the top 10 from week two to week seven and vaulted to fifth after bludgeoning then No. 7/9 Maine, 45-23, in Orono, Maine. The following week, they fell to then No. 18 Villanova, 52-45, in an overtime classic at home.
• Towson was picked to place second in the Colonial Athletic Association in the 2019 preseason poll. QB Tom Flacco, the little brother of long-time Baltimore Raven quarterback Joe Flacco, was selected as the CAA Preseason Offensive Player of the Year.
• In 2018, Towson went 7-5 (5-3 CAA) and earned an at-large bid to the FCS playoffs. The Tigers ultimately fell to NEC champion Duquesne, 31-10, in the first round.
• Following that season, Flacco was recognized as a Walter Payton Award finalist and as the CAA and ECAC Offensive Player of the Year.
The Bucknell/Towson Series
• Bucknell and Towson are tied, 8-8, in an all-time series that dates back to 1982.
• The Tigers hold a 5-2 lead on their home turf; they won the two most recent games played in Towson, Md., which came in 2002 (20-14) and 2000 (15-13). Â
 • The Bison own the series's longest winning streak, taking five in a row from 1994 to 1998. Because of that stretch, they are 7-3 against Towson in their past 10 meetings.
• Twelve of Bucknell's tilts with the Tigers came consecutively between 1992 and 2003; the two teams also squared off in 1989 and 1990.
• From 1997 to 2003, Towson was an associate member of the Patriot League. The Tigers, who played the next two seasons in the Atlantic 10 Football Conference, joined their current conference, the Colonial Athletic Association, in 2007.
The Last Meeting with the Tigers Â
Bucknell 14 – Towson 10 (Oct. 18, 2003 – Lewisburg, Pa.)
• The Bison topped the Tigers, 14-10, in a hard-hitting defensive struggle on Homecoming. After spotting Towson a 10-0 lead, Bucknell scored two unanswered touchdowns and played lock-down defense the rest of the way to emerge victorious.
• Despite playing without S Virgil Rush, the Patriot League's leading tackler who left late in the second quarter with an injury, the Bison blanked the Tigers in the second half while yielding only 148 total yards.
• RB Blamah Sarnor rushed for 107 yards and both Bucknell touchdowns,
• Bucknell played the majority of the game without starting QB Daris Wilson. John Henry Jackson, the Bison's third QB of the day, was most effective in relief, completing 9 of 11 passes for 129 yards.
• LB Kevin Ransome totaled an impressive 17 tackles while LB Mike Leatherman came up with a key interception that led to Bucknell's first scoring drive.
Bucknell vs. Ranked Opponents
• Towson is Bucknell's third ranked opponent of the 2019 campaign; the Bison have previously fallen to then No. 23/22 Villanova (10-45) and then No. 23/RV Princeton (23-56) at Christy Mathewson-Memorial Stadium.
• A year ago, Bucknell faced two ranked teams: then No. 14/15 Villanova (L, 7-49) and then No. 20/21 Colgate (L, 3-27).
• The Bison most recently upset a ranked foe on Oct. 26, 2013. In that game, a 48-10 victory over No. 15 Lehigh at Christy Mathewson-Memorial Stadium, RB C.J. Williams rushed for 154 yards and three touchdowns, WR Will Carter caught six passes for 130 yards and QB Brandon Wesley completed 16-for-21 passes for 213 yards.
• Bucknell is 1-9 in its last 10 games against ranked opponents.
Bucknell's Wins Over Ranked Teams (since 2000)
Bucknell 31, No. 14 Fordham 10 (Oct. 4, 2003)
Bucknell 42, No. 22 Colgate 7 (Nov. 13, 2004)
Bucknell 38, No. 18 Fordham 24 (Nov. 17, 2007)
Bucknell 23, No. 13 Holy Cross 17 (Nov. 21, 2009)
Bucknell 48, No. 15 Lehigh 10 (Oct. 26, 2013)
Bison vs. the Colonial Athletic Association
• Bucknell is 34-64-2 (.350) all-time against current Colonial Athletic Association teams.
• The Bison have faced Delaware (11-23), Maine (3-3), New Hampshire (0-4), Rhode Island (1-1), Richmond (0-3), Stony Brook (0-2), Towson (8-8), Villanova (11-14-2) and William & Mary (0-6).
• Towson and Villanova are on Bucknell's 2019 schedule; the Bison previously fell to the then No. 23/22 Wildcats, 45-10, on Sept. 14 in their home opener.
• Bucknell last defeated a current CAA member in 2003, a 14-10 victory over Towson. The Bison have lost 11-straight games to current CAA members.
Inside the Bucknell Depth Chart
• Bucknell's 11 projected starters on offense have made a combined 102 starts, with OL P.J. Barr (25) and TE Alex Twiford (22) accounting for just over 46 percent of them. Â
• Bucknell's 11 projected starters on defense have made a combined 121 starts; entering the Towson game, that group has changed for the first time this season.
• On offense, one senior, five juniors, four sophomores and one freshman are expected to start. On defense, one senior, eight juniors and two sophomores are projected to start.
• Two fifth years, eight seniors, 19 juniors, nine sophomores and nine freshmen appear on this week's two deep.
• Three Bison have at least 20 career starts: Barr (25), DL Roger Mellado (23) and Twiford (22).
• Fifteen Bison—seven juniors, five seniors and three sophomores—have at least 10 career starts. With a start at Towson, QB Logan Bitikofer and LB Rick Mottram will join that group.
• DL Grayson Cherubino became the first member of the class of 2022 to reach the double digits in career starts with his start against Princeton. RB Jared Cooper and WR Brandon Sanders joined him with their starts at Colgate.
• Barr (25), Mellado (23) and Twiford (16) boast starting streaks in the double digits; all three are members of the junior class.
• P Alex Pechin, who was granted a fifth year of eligibility due to a season-ending injury suffered as a sophomore, has a team-best 41 games under his belt. He made his 40th career appearance against Holy Cross on Oct. 5, 2019,
• Two juniors, Barr and Mellado, have appeared in all 28 of the Bison's games since they arrived in Lewisburg.
• Eleven Bison have made their first career start in 2019, including three freshmen: CB WR Connor Holmes, CB Gavin Pringle and OL Zack Tarburton.
Bison in the NCAA FCS Top 10
• P Alex Pechin: 1st in punting average (49.1), 1st in career punting average (44.4)
• LB Simeon Page: t-3rd in career sacks per game (0.80), 5th in career tackles for a loss per game (1.30)
• CB Gavin Pringle and S Gerrit Van Itallie: t-4th in interception return touchdowns (1)
• WR Brandon Sanders: t-7th in receptions per game (7.8)
• CB Gavin Pringle: t-10th in passes defended per game (1.5), total t-1st among freshmen
School Record Holders on the 2019 Roster
• LB Simeon Page: Single Game Sacks (4.0, 11/18/17), Rookie Season Sacks (9.0, 2017)
• P Alex Pechin: Career Punting Average (44.4), Season Punting Average (45.1, 2017)
• WR Brandon Sanders: Single Game Receptions (14, 10/5/19)
Milestone Met at Colgate
• S Brandon Benson: Made his 150th career tackle; now has 153
• LB Simeon Page: Moved to seventh in school history with 18.5 career sacks
Milestone Watch
• S Brandon Benson: Needs 22 solo tackles to reach 100 in his career
• QB Logan Bitikofer: Needs 95 passing yards to reach 1,000 on the season
• LB Sam Chitty: Needs 11 tackles to reach 100 in his career
• WR Dominic Lyles: Needs 150 receiving yards to reach 500 on the season
• LB Rick Mottram: Needs two tackles to reach 50 on the season; needs seven to reach 100 in his career
• LB Simeon Page: Needs 0.5 sacks to move to sixth in Bucknell history with 19; needs 1.5 to become the fifth Bison with at least 20 in his career; needs 3.5 to vault to fourth
• P Alex Pechin: Needs 14 punts of at least 50 yards to reach 100 in his career
• S Conner Romango: Needs seven tackles to reach 50 on the season
• WR Brandon Sanders: Needs 108 receiving yards to reach 500 on the season
Bison Award Winners
• The Bison returned an All-American in P Alex Pechin. In 2018, Pechin captured six All-America awards, most notably becoming the first Bison specialist to make an AFCA or AP squad. In 2017, he was honored on the STATS Third Team.
• Pechin was one of seven punters to make the initial watch list for the 2020 Reese's Senior Bowl; of that group, he was the only one from the FCS ranks.
• In addition, Pechin was named to the watch list for the FCS Punter of the Year Award and was tabbed as a 2019 Preseason First Team All-American by STATS and Phil Steele.
• Bucknell returned two All-Patriot League players in Pechin (1st in '18, '17 & '15) and LB Simeon Page (1st in '18, 2nd in '17). Both were voted to the 2019 Preseason All-Patriot League Team.
• The Bison graduated All-Patriot League honorees WR Alan Butler (2nd in '18), OL Pat Finn (2nd in '18) and CB Bryan Marine (1st in '16, 2nd in '18) following the 2018 season.
• At the conclusion of the 2018-19 school year, Pechin became the third football player to be recognized as the Patriot League Male Scholar-Athlete of the Year. Earlier that year, he became the Patriot League's fifth repeat Football Scholar-Athlete of the Year.
• Pechin is a semifinalist for the 2019 William V. Campbell Trophy®, commonly referred to as the "Academic Heisman." He was one of 39 FCS players, and three Patriot League student-athletes, to be recognized as a semifinalist.
• LB Rick Mottram captured CoSIDA Academic All-District II honors in 2018. At least one Bison has received this distinction 16 of the 19 seasons since 2000.
Head Coach Dave Cecchini Â
• Dave Cecchini, the 27th head coach in program history, is in his first season at the helm. He was announced as Bucknell's head coach on Feb. 6, 2019.
• Most recently the head coach at Valparaiso, Cecchini has a long track record of building explosive offenses at elite academic institutions. Previously the offensive coordinator at Lehigh, The Citadel and Harvard, 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.
Inside the 2019 Schedule
• This is the 134th season of football at Bucknell. The Bison played their first game in 1883 and have played continuously since 1887.
• Bucknell's 2019 opponents went a combined 65-59 (.524) a year ago, with its five non-conference foes going an impressive 37-20 (.650). Colgate (10-2) and Princeton (10-0) reached the 10-win threshold, each winning a league title. In addition, three other teams posted a winning record while three finished a single game below .500.
• Temple took part in the Walk-On's Independence Bowl while Colgate and Towson made the NCAA Division I Football Championship. At various points in the 2018 campaign, Colgate, Princeton, Towson and Villanova appeared in the FCS's top 10.
• Temple was Bucknell's first FBS foe since 2015, when the Bison put up a strong fight in a 21-14 loss at Army West Point.
• The Bison entered the season with a 178-253-120 (.417) record against their 2019 opponents, including winning marks against Fordham (18-16), Georgetown (18-12-1) and Temple (20-16-8). They are also .500 against Sacred Heart (2-2) and Towson (8-8).
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 Colgate, Lafayette and Fordham will air on the Patriot League Network (PatriotLeague.tv).
• Bucknell's home contests against Princeton and Lehigh are among nine Patriot League tilts that will be carried on Stadium's family of over-the-air channels and streaming services.
• Bucknell's game against Temple will be carried on ESPN3. The Bison's contests at Sacred Heart (NEC Front Row) and Towson (FloSports) will also be streamed live.
• The Bison are active on Twitter (@Bucknell_FB) and Instagram (Bucknell_FB). Interact with the team using the hashtags #ACT and #rayBucknell.
Up Next
• The Bison resume Patriot League play with a 3:30 p.m. game at Pennsylvania rival Lafayette on Saturday, Oct. 26.
The complete media notes can be viewed here.
When: Saturday, Oct. 19 – 4 p.m.
Where: Johnny Unitas Stadium – Towson, Md.
Tickets: TowsonTigers.com
Internet Video: FloFootball ($)
Radio: Eagle 107 (107.3 WEGH)
Internet Radio: BucknellBison.com
Live Stats: TowsonTigers.com
Follow on Twitter: @Bucknell_FB
Media Notes: BucknellBison.com
With a victory the Bison would...
• knock off a ranked team for the first time since 2013
• defeat a current Colonial Athletic Association member for the first time since 2003
Bucknell at a Glance
• The Bison are 1-5 (1-1 PL) following their 32-14 victory at Colgate on Oct. 12. Â
• Bucknell wrapped up the 2018 campaign with a 1-10 (1-5 PL) record. The Bison, who took seventh in the Patriot League a year ago, were chosen to finish in the same spot in the 2019 preseason poll.
• Bucknell is in its first campaign under head coach Dave Cecchini, who spent the previous five seasons at Valparaiso.
• The Bison returned a total of 52 letterwinners in 2019, a group that includes two fifth years, 19 seniors, 21 juniors and 10 sophomores. Fifth-year P Alex Pechin is a four-time letterwinner while six seniors—TE Marcus Ademilola, WR Justin Bethea, QB John Chiarolanzio, LB Sam Chitty, LB Jon Fox and DL John Hunt—are three-time letterwinners.
• Pechin is serving as team captain in 2019. He is the 11th Bison to serve as team captain more than once and the seventh to do so since 1950.
Inside the Colgate Box Score
• Bolstered by a strong defensive performance and a pair of touchdowns by freshman RB Alex Barnard, Bucknell downed defending Patriot League Colgate, 32-14.
• QB Logan Bitikofer orchestrated a Bison offense that posted 359 yards of total offense, completing 18 of 29 passes for 250 yards and two touchdowns. WR Dominic Lyles (81), WR Brandon Sanders (64) and RB Jared Cooper (51) all surpassed 50 receiving yards while Cooper added a game-best 76 rushing yards on 21 carries.
• Defensively, Bucknell was paced by LB Simeon Page, who filled the stat sheet with six tackles, three sacks for a loss of 21 yards and two pass breakups; Page also returned a fumble for a touchdown that put an exclamation mark on the Bison's commanding victory with 44 seconds remaining.
• LB Rick Mottram made a game-best nine tackles while DL Roger Mellado registered two sacks, one of which was the strip sack that led to Page's touchdown.
• The Bison raced out to an early 14-0 lead, with Barnard finding the end zone on their first two possessions. Both of Bucknell's scoring drives covered more than 75 yards.
• At halftime, the Bison led by a 20-7 margin. Through the first 30 minutes, they held significant advantages in total offense (258-127), first downs (14-5) and third-down conversions (4-of-8 to 1-of-6).
• Early in the third quarter, Bucknell answered a Colgate touchdown with one of its own; that scoring drive was extended by P Alex Pechin, who successfully faked a punt and ran for 12 yards on a 4th and 1 near midfield.
• Late in the fourth quarter, the Bison made a goal-line stand, highlighted by LB Gerrit Van Itallie's sack for a loss of 14 yards and Page's pass breakup on 4th and goal.
• Handling kicking duties for the first time since his sophomore year, Pechin booted two field goals in the second quarter. He also kicked two extra points to match his career high of eight points set in the 2016 opener at Marist.
• Bucknell finished with advantages in total offense (359-305), first downs (22-19) and third-down conversions (6-of-14 to 2-of-12). Overall, the defense totaled eight sacks for a loss of 51 yards and 11 tackles for a loss of 54 yards.
• For their efforts, Page (Defensive Player) and Pechin (Special Teams) captured Patriot League weekly awards. Page was also an Honorable Mention STATS FCS Defensive Player of the Week selection and the Bison Athlete of the Week.
Towson at a Glance
• Towson is No. 20 in the AFCA FCS Coaches Poll and No. 18 in the STATS FCS Top 25 this week. The Tigers fell out of the top 10 after being upset by UAlbany, 38-21, on Oct. 12 at home.
• Towson, which is 3-3 (1-2 CAA), has been ranked as high as fifth nationally this season. The Tigers were in the top 10 from week two to week seven and vaulted to fifth after bludgeoning then No. 7/9 Maine, 45-23, in Orono, Maine. The following week, they fell to then No. 18 Villanova, 52-45, in an overtime classic at home.
• Towson was picked to place second in the Colonial Athletic Association in the 2019 preseason poll. QB Tom Flacco, the little brother of long-time Baltimore Raven quarterback Joe Flacco, was selected as the CAA Preseason Offensive Player of the Year.
• In 2018, Towson went 7-5 (5-3 CAA) and earned an at-large bid to the FCS playoffs. The Tigers ultimately fell to NEC champion Duquesne, 31-10, in the first round.
• Following that season, Flacco was recognized as a Walter Payton Award finalist and as the CAA and ECAC Offensive Player of the Year.
The Bucknell/Towson Series
• Bucknell and Towson are tied, 8-8, in an all-time series that dates back to 1982.
• The Tigers hold a 5-2 lead on their home turf; they won the two most recent games played in Towson, Md., which came in 2002 (20-14) and 2000 (15-13). Â
 • The Bison own the series's longest winning streak, taking five in a row from 1994 to 1998. Because of that stretch, they are 7-3 against Towson in their past 10 meetings.
• Twelve of Bucknell's tilts with the Tigers came consecutively between 1992 and 2003; the two teams also squared off in 1989 and 1990.
• From 1997 to 2003, Towson was an associate member of the Patriot League. The Tigers, who played the next two seasons in the Atlantic 10 Football Conference, joined their current conference, the Colonial Athletic Association, in 2007.
The Last Meeting with the Tigers Â
Bucknell 14 – Towson 10 (Oct. 18, 2003 – Lewisburg, Pa.)
• The Bison topped the Tigers, 14-10, in a hard-hitting defensive struggle on Homecoming. After spotting Towson a 10-0 lead, Bucknell scored two unanswered touchdowns and played lock-down defense the rest of the way to emerge victorious.
• Despite playing without S Virgil Rush, the Patriot League's leading tackler who left late in the second quarter with an injury, the Bison blanked the Tigers in the second half while yielding only 148 total yards.
• RB Blamah Sarnor rushed for 107 yards and both Bucknell touchdowns,
• Bucknell played the majority of the game without starting QB Daris Wilson. John Henry Jackson, the Bison's third QB of the day, was most effective in relief, completing 9 of 11 passes for 129 yards.
• LB Kevin Ransome totaled an impressive 17 tackles while LB Mike Leatherman came up with a key interception that led to Bucknell's first scoring drive.
Bucknell vs. Ranked Opponents
• Towson is Bucknell's third ranked opponent of the 2019 campaign; the Bison have previously fallen to then No. 23/22 Villanova (10-45) and then No. 23/RV Princeton (23-56) at Christy Mathewson-Memorial Stadium.
• A year ago, Bucknell faced two ranked teams: then No. 14/15 Villanova (L, 7-49) and then No. 20/21 Colgate (L, 3-27).
• The Bison most recently upset a ranked foe on Oct. 26, 2013. In that game, a 48-10 victory over No. 15 Lehigh at Christy Mathewson-Memorial Stadium, RB C.J. Williams rushed for 154 yards and three touchdowns, WR Will Carter caught six passes for 130 yards and QB Brandon Wesley completed 16-for-21 passes for 213 yards.
• Bucknell is 1-9 in its last 10 games against ranked opponents.
Bucknell's Wins Over Ranked Teams (since 2000)
Bucknell 31, No. 14 Fordham 10 (Oct. 4, 2003)
Bucknell 42, No. 22 Colgate 7 (Nov. 13, 2004)
Bucknell 38, No. 18 Fordham 24 (Nov. 17, 2007)
Bucknell 23, No. 13 Holy Cross 17 (Nov. 21, 2009)
Bucknell 48, No. 15 Lehigh 10 (Oct. 26, 2013)
Bison vs. the Colonial Athletic Association
• Bucknell is 34-64-2 (.350) all-time against current Colonial Athletic Association teams.
• The Bison have faced Delaware (11-23), Maine (3-3), New Hampshire (0-4), Rhode Island (1-1), Richmond (0-3), Stony Brook (0-2), Towson (8-8), Villanova (11-14-2) and William & Mary (0-6).
• Towson and Villanova are on Bucknell's 2019 schedule; the Bison previously fell to the then No. 23/22 Wildcats, 45-10, on Sept. 14 in their home opener.
• Bucknell last defeated a current CAA member in 2003, a 14-10 victory over Towson. The Bison have lost 11-straight games to current CAA members.
Inside the Bucknell Depth Chart
• Bucknell's 11 projected starters on offense have made a combined 102 starts, with OL P.J. Barr (25) and TE Alex Twiford (22) accounting for just over 46 percent of them. Â
• Bucknell's 11 projected starters on defense have made a combined 121 starts; entering the Towson game, that group has changed for the first time this season.
• On offense, one senior, five juniors, four sophomores and one freshman are expected to start. On defense, one senior, eight juniors and two sophomores are projected to start.
• Two fifth years, eight seniors, 19 juniors, nine sophomores and nine freshmen appear on this week's two deep.
• Three Bison have at least 20 career starts: Barr (25), DL Roger Mellado (23) and Twiford (22).
• Fifteen Bison—seven juniors, five seniors and three sophomores—have at least 10 career starts. With a start at Towson, QB Logan Bitikofer and LB Rick Mottram will join that group.
• DL Grayson Cherubino became the first member of the class of 2022 to reach the double digits in career starts with his start against Princeton. RB Jared Cooper and WR Brandon Sanders joined him with their starts at Colgate.
• Barr (25), Mellado (23) and Twiford (16) boast starting streaks in the double digits; all three are members of the junior class.
• P Alex Pechin, who was granted a fifth year of eligibility due to a season-ending injury suffered as a sophomore, has a team-best 41 games under his belt. He made his 40th career appearance against Holy Cross on Oct. 5, 2019,
• Two juniors, Barr and Mellado, have appeared in all 28 of the Bison's games since they arrived in Lewisburg.
• Eleven Bison have made their first career start in 2019, including three freshmen: CB WR Connor Holmes, CB Gavin Pringle and OL Zack Tarburton.
Bison in the NCAA FCS Top 10
• P Alex Pechin: 1st in punting average (49.1), 1st in career punting average (44.4)
• LB Simeon Page: t-3rd in career sacks per game (0.80), 5th in career tackles for a loss per game (1.30)
• CB Gavin Pringle and S Gerrit Van Itallie: t-4th in interception return touchdowns (1)
• WR Brandon Sanders: t-7th in receptions per game (7.8)
• CB Gavin Pringle: t-10th in passes defended per game (1.5), total t-1st among freshmen
School Record Holders on the 2019 Roster
• LB Simeon Page: Single Game Sacks (4.0, 11/18/17), Rookie Season Sacks (9.0, 2017)
• P Alex Pechin: Career Punting Average (44.4), Season Punting Average (45.1, 2017)
• WR Brandon Sanders: Single Game Receptions (14, 10/5/19)
Milestone Met at Colgate
• S Brandon Benson: Made his 150th career tackle; now has 153
• LB Simeon Page: Moved to seventh in school history with 18.5 career sacks
Milestone Watch
• S Brandon Benson: Needs 22 solo tackles to reach 100 in his career
• QB Logan Bitikofer: Needs 95 passing yards to reach 1,000 on the season
• LB Sam Chitty: Needs 11 tackles to reach 100 in his career
• WR Dominic Lyles: Needs 150 receiving yards to reach 500 on the season
• LB Rick Mottram: Needs two tackles to reach 50 on the season; needs seven to reach 100 in his career
• LB Simeon Page: Needs 0.5 sacks to move to sixth in Bucknell history with 19; needs 1.5 to become the fifth Bison with at least 20 in his career; needs 3.5 to vault to fourth
• P Alex Pechin: Needs 14 punts of at least 50 yards to reach 100 in his career
• S Conner Romango: Needs seven tackles to reach 50 on the season
• WR Brandon Sanders: Needs 108 receiving yards to reach 500 on the season
Bison Award Winners
• The Bison returned an All-American in P Alex Pechin. In 2018, Pechin captured six All-America awards, most notably becoming the first Bison specialist to make an AFCA or AP squad. In 2017, he was honored on the STATS Third Team.
• Pechin was one of seven punters to make the initial watch list for the 2020 Reese's Senior Bowl; of that group, he was the only one from the FCS ranks.
• In addition, Pechin was named to the watch list for the FCS Punter of the Year Award and was tabbed as a 2019 Preseason First Team All-American by STATS and Phil Steele.
• Bucknell returned two All-Patriot League players in Pechin (1st in '18, '17 & '15) and LB Simeon Page (1st in '18, 2nd in '17). Both were voted to the 2019 Preseason All-Patriot League Team.
• The Bison graduated All-Patriot League honorees WR Alan Butler (2nd in '18), OL Pat Finn (2nd in '18) and CB Bryan Marine (1st in '16, 2nd in '18) following the 2018 season.
• At the conclusion of the 2018-19 school year, Pechin became the third football player to be recognized as the Patriot League Male Scholar-Athlete of the Year. Earlier that year, he became the Patriot League's fifth repeat Football Scholar-Athlete of the Year.
• Pechin is a semifinalist for the 2019 William V. Campbell Trophy®, commonly referred to as the "Academic Heisman." He was one of 39 FCS players, and three Patriot League student-athletes, to be recognized as a semifinalist.
• LB Rick Mottram captured CoSIDA Academic All-District II honors in 2018. At least one Bison has received this distinction 16 of the 19 seasons since 2000.
Head Coach Dave Cecchini Â
• Dave Cecchini, the 27th head coach in program history, is in his first season at the helm. He was announced as Bucknell's head coach on Feb. 6, 2019.
• Most recently the head coach at Valparaiso, Cecchini has a long track record of building explosive offenses at elite academic institutions. Previously the offensive coordinator at Lehigh, The Citadel and Harvard, 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.
Inside the 2019 Schedule
• This is the 134th season of football at Bucknell. The Bison played their first game in 1883 and have played continuously since 1887.
• Bucknell's 2019 opponents went a combined 65-59 (.524) a year ago, with its five non-conference foes going an impressive 37-20 (.650). Colgate (10-2) and Princeton (10-0) reached the 10-win threshold, each winning a league title. In addition, three other teams posted a winning record while three finished a single game below .500.
• Temple took part in the Walk-On's Independence Bowl while Colgate and Towson made the NCAA Division I Football Championship. At various points in the 2018 campaign, Colgate, Princeton, Towson and Villanova appeared in the FCS's top 10.
• Temple was Bucknell's first FBS foe since 2015, when the Bison put up a strong fight in a 21-14 loss at Army West Point.
• The Bison entered the season with a 178-253-120 (.417) record against their 2019 opponents, including winning marks against Fordham (18-16), Georgetown (18-12-1) and Temple (20-16-8). They are also .500 against Sacred Heart (2-2) and Towson (8-8).
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 Colgate, Lafayette and Fordham will air on the Patriot League Network (PatriotLeague.tv).
• Bucknell's home contests against Princeton and Lehigh are among nine Patriot League tilts that will be carried on Stadium's family of over-the-air channels and streaming services.
• Bucknell's game against Temple will be carried on ESPN3. The Bison's contests at Sacred Heart (NEC Front Row) and Towson (FloSports) will also be streamed live.
• The Bison are active on Twitter (@Bucknell_FB) and Instagram (Bucknell_FB). Interact with the team using the hashtags #ACT and #rayBucknell.
Up Next
• The Bison resume Patriot League play with a 3:30 p.m. game at Pennsylvania rival Lafayette on Saturday, Oct. 26.
Players Mentioned
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