Saturday, November 23
Bronx, N.Y.
1 p.m.
Bucknell University
at
Fordham
Photo by: Linda Naiman
Bucknell Football Vies for Fourth Patriot League Win in Finale at Fordham
11/19/2019 9:05:00 AM | Football
LEWISBURG, Pa. – The Bucknell football team wraps up its 2019 campaign on Saturday, Nov. 23 with a 1 p.m. game at Fordham.
The Bison, who won their past two games to move to 3-2 in Patriot League action, can clinch a share of the Patriot League title with a victory over the Rams and a Holy Cross loss to Georgetown. It would be Bucknell's second Patriot League championship.
The complete media notes can be viewed here.
When: Saturday, Nov. 23 – 1 p.m.
Where: Jack Coffey Field – Bronx, N.Y.
Tickets: FordhamSports.com
Internet Video: Patriot League Network
Radio: The Valley (WVLY-FM 100.9)
Internet Radio: BucknellBison.com
Live Stats: FordhamSports.com
Follow on Twitter: @Bucknell_FB
Media Notes: BucknellBison.com
With a victory the Bison would...
• earn a share of the Patriot League title with a Holy Cross loss to Georgetown
• finish as the Patriot League runners-up with a Holy Cross win over Georgetown
• win four Patriot League games for the first time since 2014, when they finished as the Patriot League runners-up to undefeated Fordham
• string together a three-game winning streak for the first time since 2014
• snap a six-game losing slide to Fordham that began in 2013
Bucknell at a Glance
• The Bison are 3-7 (3-2 PL) following their 20-17 comeback victory over Georgetown on Nov. 16. They are currently tied for second in the Patriot League standings with fellow Pennsylvania schools Lafayette and Lehigh; they can clinch a share of the Patriot League title with a victory over Fordham and a Holy Cross loss to Georgetown.
• If Bucknell earned a share of the Patriot League title, it would be the program's second. The Bison won the 1996 Patriot League Championship outright with a 4-1 conference ledger; that season, their second under legendary head coach Tom Gadd, they won five of their final six games after losing four of their first five tilts. Â
• If Bucknell finished second, it would be the seventh time in program history. The Bison previously finished as the Patriot League runners-up in 1989, 1990, 1995, 1997, 2013 and 2014.
• Bucknell has been statistically eliminated from representing the Patriot League in the FCS Playoffs. Only Holy Cross and Lafayette can clinch the Patriot League's automatic qualifying bid; the Bison's two conference losses came to those programs. 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.
• Chitty and Pechin are serving as team captains in 2019. Pechin is the 11th Bison to serve as team captain more than once and the seventh to do so since 1950.
Inside the Georgetown Box Score
• Bucknell scored two unanswered touchdowns in the fourth quarter to edge Georgetown, 20-17, at Christy Mathewson-Memorial Stadium. Trailing 17-6 at the end of the first three frames, the Bison found the end zone on back-to-back possessions to send their senior class out with a victory.
• Bucknell's first touchdown, a three-yard rushing score by RB Chad Freshnock, was set up by S Brent Jackson recovering a punt blocked by LB Simeon Page deep in the Hoya end; the go-ahead touchdown came on a 45-yard pass from QB Logan Bitikofer to WR Dominic Lyles down the home sideline.
• The Hoyas, who had one drive end in a S Conner Romango interception and one drive end in a punt, got the ball back with 21 seconds left to play after the Bison chewed 4:47 off the clock with a 10-play drive highlighted by a 32-yard Freshnock rumble on 3rd and 6. As was the case in Bucknell's victory over rival Lehigh, LB Gerrit Van Itallie iced the game by recovering a fumble, this one forced by CB Gavin Pringle.
• The Bucknell defense again set the tone, forcing four turnovers and posting three sacks for a loss of 27 yards and 10 tackles for a loss of 41 yards. S Brandon Benson (14), LB Rick Mottram (12) and Van Itallie (11) all reached the double digits in tackles, with Van Itallie recovering two fumbles. Four different Bison posted a sack and eight made at least one tackle for a loss, with DL Nnamdi Unachukwu accounting for two.
• Pringle got Bucknell on the board in the second quarter, returning a fumble forced by Unachukwu for a 55-yard touchdown. It was Pringle's second career defensive touchdown; he previously returned his first career interception 36 yards for a score at Temple.
• Offensively, the Bison stepped up in the fourth quarter, recording 146 of their 236 yards of total offense during that frame. Bitikofer completed three of four passes for 74 yards while Freshnock ran for 69 of his 92 yards in the fourth quarter.
• Bucknell emerged victorious when trailing at the end of the third quarter for the first time since Oct. 8, 2016, a 21-20 comeback victory at Holy Cross. The Bison had lost their previous 19 games in which they trailed entering the final frame.
• Georgetown's suffocating defense stymied the Bucknell offense for the majority of the first half. The Hoyas held a 209-37 advantage in total offense at the break; all but one of the Bison's yards came on the ground.
• Georgetown finished with advantages in first downs (23-14), total offense (362-236) and time of possession (35:04-24:56).
• For his efforts, Van Itallie earned his first Patriot League Defensive Player of the Week nod and his second Bison Athlete of the Week award; he (Honorable Mention FCS Defensive Player of the Week) and Pringle (Honorable Mention FCS Freshman Player of the Week) were also recognized by STATS.
Fordham at a Glance
• The Rams are 3-8 (1-4 PL) following their 49-27 loss to first-place Holy Cross on Nov. 16. They are currently on a four-game losing slide; their last win came at Georgetown by a 30-27 margin on Oct. 12.
• A year ago, Fordham went 2-9 (2-4 PL) and finished tied for fourth in the Patriot League. The Rams were selected to finish fourth in the 2019 preseason poll and placed LB Glenn Cunningham and DB Jesse Bramble on the Preseason All-Patriot League Team.
• Fordham is the Patriot League leader in total offense, averaging 364.3 yards per game. The Rams boast the Patriot League's leaders in rushing yards per game (RB Zach Davis, 89.4), passing yards per game (QB Tim DeMorat, 222.4), points per game (K Andrew Mevis, 6.3) and all-purpose yards per game (WR Fotis Kokosioulis, 131.7).
The Bucknell/Fordham Series
• While Bucknell holds an 18-16 advantage in the all-time series, Fordham has won the past six games.
• In four of those contests, the Rams' margin of victory was less than 10 points. The 2014 meeting was decided in overtime (30-27) while Fordham blocked a last-second field goal to win the 2013 game (21-23).The Rams were ranked in the nation's top 10 at the time of both of those meetings. Â
• In 2017 at Jack Coffey Field, Fordham used three scoring plays of at least 55 yards to clip the Bison, 20-9. LB Simeon Page exploded for six tackles for a loss, which is tied for seventh in FCS history. His four sacks matched a Bison record last equaled in 1998. In total, he caused Fordham to lose 33 yards during the contest.
• For his efforts, Page captured STATS National Freshman Player, Patriot League Defensive Player and Patriot League Rookie of the Week accolades.
• In 2018, Fordham spoiled Bucknell's Senior Day with a tight 17-14 win. That victory stretched the Rams' winning streak to six games, the longest such streak in the all-time series. Previously, the Bison owned the longest winning streak, a five-game streak strung together from 1993 to 1997.
The Last Meeting with the Rams Â
Bucknell 14 – Fordham 17 (Nov. 17, 2018 – Lewisburg, Pa.)
• Fordham outlasted Bucknell, 17-14, in the 2018 finale for both teams at Christy Mathewson-Memorial Stadium.
• On a day the Bison honored their 17-man senior class in a stadium framed on all sides by snow from a Thursday storm that pushed back the game's start time from noon to 1:30 p.m., the Rams used a trio of big plays to emerge victorious.
• Fordham needed less than a minute to complete both of its scoring drives. The Rams's second touchdown was a 70-yard interception return by DB Antonio Jackson with 12 seconds left before halftime.
• QB John Chiarolanzio completed 15 of 31 passes for 187 yards while QB Tarrin Earle went 7 for 11 for 45 yards and one touchdown.
• WR Brandon Sanders caught seven passes for 90 yards while RB Joe Fex, who started at running back in the place of an injured Jared Cooper, rushed for a career-high 56 yards and one touchdown on 22 carries.
• LB Rick Mottram was a force for Bucknell defensively, posting 14 tackles (10 solo), 3.5 tackles for a loss, two sacks and his fumble recovery. His 14 tackles were the most posted by a Bison in 2018, and his number of tackles for a loss and sacks both matched Bucknell's season-high total.
• P Alex Pechin had an impressive game, averaging 50.8 yards on five punts; his average was bolstered by a 70-yard bomb in the second quarter.
• The Bison held advantages in total offense (300-163), first downs (20-13) and time of possession (31:02-28:58).
Inside the Bucknell Depth Chart
• Bucknell's 11 projected starters on offense have made a combined 144 starts, with OL P.J. Barr (29) and TE Alex Twiford (26) accounting for over 38 percent of them. Â
• Bucknell's 11 projected starters on defense have made a combined 163 starts.
• On offense, six juniors and five sophomores are expected to start. On defense, one senior, seven juniors, two sophomores and one freshman are projected to start.
• Two fifth years, 11 seniors, 18 juniors, 10 sophomores and seven freshmen appear on this week's two deep.
• On offense, three Bison have started every 2019 game: Barr, WR John McGuire and Twiford. On defense, seven Bison have done the same: DL Grayson Cherubino, DL John Hunt, DL Roger Mellado, LB Rick Mottram, LB Simeon Page, S Conner Romango and DL Nnamdi Unachukwu.
• Five Bison have at least 20 career starts: Barr (29), Mellado (27), Twiford (26), Page (22) and Benson (20). Barr will reach a milestone with his 30th career start with a start at Fordham. Â
• Twenty one Bison—12 juniors, six seniors and three sophomores—have at least 10 career starts. Hunt joined the group with his start against Georgetown; OL Alex Bolinger, CB Micah Dennis, RB Chad Freshnock, OL Michael Killiri and OL Simon Krizak all have a chance to become its latest additions with a start at Fordham. Freshnock is a senior, Bolinger and Krizak juniors and Dennis and Killiri sophomores.
• 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 (29), Mellado (27), Twiford (20), Mottram (12) and Unachukwu (11) boast starting streaks that have spanned multiple seasons. By starting every game in 2019 to date, Cherubino, Hunt, McGuire, Page and Romango also have starting streaks in the double digits.
• 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 45 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 32 of the Bison's games since they arrived in Lewisburg.
• Twelve Bison have made their first career start in 2019, including four freshmen: WR Connor Holmes, S Brent Jackson, CB Gavin Pringle and OL Zack Tarburton.
Bison in the NCAA FCS Top 10
• P Alex Pechin: 1st in punting average (47.5), 1st in career punting average (44.5)
• LB Simeon Page: 2nd in career sacks per game (0.87), 5th in career tackles for a loss per game (1.29), t-8th in blocked kicks (2)
• CB Gavin Pringle: 2nd among freshmen in passes defended per game (1.2)
• LB Gerrit Van Itallie: t-2nd in fumble recoveries (3)
• WR Brandon Sanders: 9th in receptions per game (6.9)
• As a team, Bucknell is 1st in net punting (43.63) and t-8th in team sacks (3.00)
Patriot League Leaders
• LB Simeon Page: Blocked kicks (2)
• P Alex Pechin: Punting average (47.5)
• CB Gavin Pringle: Passes defended per game (1.2)
• WR Brandon Sanders: Receptions per game (6.9)
• LB Gerrit Van Itallie: Fumbles Recovered (3)
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 (44.5), Season Punting Average (45.1, 2017)
• WR Brandon Sanders: Single Game Receptions (14, 10/5/19)
Milestones Met Against Georgetown
• WR Dominic Lyles: Reached 500 receiving yards on the season; now has 528
• LB Simeon Page: Moved to third in Bucknell history in career sacks; now has 22.5
Â
Milestone Watch
• S Brandon Benson: Needs six solo tackles to reach 100 in his career
• LB Sam Chitty: Needs seven tackles to reach 100 in his career
• DL Roger Mellado: Needs 22 tackles to reach 100 in his career Â
• LB Rick Mottram: Needs nine tackles to reach 100 on the season; would become the first Bison to reach the triple digits in a single season since 2014 Â
• LB Simeon Page: Needs three sacks to match Bucknell's career school record with 25.5
• P Alex Pechin: Needs six punts of at least 50 yards to reach 100 in his career
• S Conner Romango: Needs 19 tackles to reach 100 in his career Â
• WR Brandon Sanders: Needs four receptions to move to fifth in Bucknell single-season history with 59; needs five to vault to fourth with 60; needs 16 to jump to third with 71
• WR Brandon Sanders: Needs one reception to become the 10th Bison to reach the century mark in his career
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.
• LB Rick Mottram captured CoSIDA Academic All-District II honors in both 2019 and 2018. DL Grayson Cherubino joined Mottram on the 2019 CoSIDA Academic All-District II Team. At least one Bison has received this distinction 17 of the 20 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.
• 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
• Because of the men's basketball team's game at Syracuse, the football team's game at Fordham will be broadcast on The Valley (WVLY-FM 100.9) instead of Eagle 107 (WEGH 107.3). The broadcast will still be available on 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).
• The Bison are active on Twitter (@Bucknell_FB) and Instagram (Bucknell_FB). Interact with the team using the hashtags #ACT and #rayBucknell.
The Bison, who won their past two games to move to 3-2 in Patriot League action, can clinch a share of the Patriot League title with a victory over the Rams and a Holy Cross loss to Georgetown. It would be Bucknell's second Patriot League championship.
The complete media notes can be viewed here.
When: Saturday, Nov. 23 – 1 p.m.
Where: Jack Coffey Field – Bronx, N.Y.
Tickets: FordhamSports.com
Internet Video: Patriot League Network
Radio: The Valley (WVLY-FM 100.9)
Internet Radio: BucknellBison.com
Live Stats: FordhamSports.com
Follow on Twitter: @Bucknell_FB
Media Notes: BucknellBison.com
With a victory the Bison would...
• earn a share of the Patriot League title with a Holy Cross loss to Georgetown
• finish as the Patriot League runners-up with a Holy Cross win over Georgetown
• win four Patriot League games for the first time since 2014, when they finished as the Patriot League runners-up to undefeated Fordham
• string together a three-game winning streak for the first time since 2014
• snap a six-game losing slide to Fordham that began in 2013
Bucknell at a Glance
• The Bison are 3-7 (3-2 PL) following their 20-17 comeback victory over Georgetown on Nov. 16. They are currently tied for second in the Patriot League standings with fellow Pennsylvania schools Lafayette and Lehigh; they can clinch a share of the Patriot League title with a victory over Fordham and a Holy Cross loss to Georgetown.
• If Bucknell earned a share of the Patriot League title, it would be the program's second. The Bison won the 1996 Patriot League Championship outright with a 4-1 conference ledger; that season, their second under legendary head coach Tom Gadd, they won five of their final six games after losing four of their first five tilts. Â
• If Bucknell finished second, it would be the seventh time in program history. The Bison previously finished as the Patriot League runners-up in 1989, 1990, 1995, 1997, 2013 and 2014.
• Bucknell has been statistically eliminated from representing the Patriot League in the FCS Playoffs. Only Holy Cross and Lafayette can clinch the Patriot League's automatic qualifying bid; the Bison's two conference losses came to those programs. 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.
• Chitty and Pechin are serving as team captains in 2019. Pechin is the 11th Bison to serve as team captain more than once and the seventh to do so since 1950.
Inside the Georgetown Box Score
• Bucknell scored two unanswered touchdowns in the fourth quarter to edge Georgetown, 20-17, at Christy Mathewson-Memorial Stadium. Trailing 17-6 at the end of the first three frames, the Bison found the end zone on back-to-back possessions to send their senior class out with a victory.
• Bucknell's first touchdown, a three-yard rushing score by RB Chad Freshnock, was set up by S Brent Jackson recovering a punt blocked by LB Simeon Page deep in the Hoya end; the go-ahead touchdown came on a 45-yard pass from QB Logan Bitikofer to WR Dominic Lyles down the home sideline.
• The Hoyas, who had one drive end in a S Conner Romango interception and one drive end in a punt, got the ball back with 21 seconds left to play after the Bison chewed 4:47 off the clock with a 10-play drive highlighted by a 32-yard Freshnock rumble on 3rd and 6. As was the case in Bucknell's victory over rival Lehigh, LB Gerrit Van Itallie iced the game by recovering a fumble, this one forced by CB Gavin Pringle.
• The Bucknell defense again set the tone, forcing four turnovers and posting three sacks for a loss of 27 yards and 10 tackles for a loss of 41 yards. S Brandon Benson (14), LB Rick Mottram (12) and Van Itallie (11) all reached the double digits in tackles, with Van Itallie recovering two fumbles. Four different Bison posted a sack and eight made at least one tackle for a loss, with DL Nnamdi Unachukwu accounting for two.
• Pringle got Bucknell on the board in the second quarter, returning a fumble forced by Unachukwu for a 55-yard touchdown. It was Pringle's second career defensive touchdown; he previously returned his first career interception 36 yards for a score at Temple.
• Offensively, the Bison stepped up in the fourth quarter, recording 146 of their 236 yards of total offense during that frame. Bitikofer completed three of four passes for 74 yards while Freshnock ran for 69 of his 92 yards in the fourth quarter.
• Bucknell emerged victorious when trailing at the end of the third quarter for the first time since Oct. 8, 2016, a 21-20 comeback victory at Holy Cross. The Bison had lost their previous 19 games in which they trailed entering the final frame.
• Georgetown's suffocating defense stymied the Bucknell offense for the majority of the first half. The Hoyas held a 209-37 advantage in total offense at the break; all but one of the Bison's yards came on the ground.
• Georgetown finished with advantages in first downs (23-14), total offense (362-236) and time of possession (35:04-24:56).
• For his efforts, Van Itallie earned his first Patriot League Defensive Player of the Week nod and his second Bison Athlete of the Week award; he (Honorable Mention FCS Defensive Player of the Week) and Pringle (Honorable Mention FCS Freshman Player of the Week) were also recognized by STATS.
Fordham at a Glance
• The Rams are 3-8 (1-4 PL) following their 49-27 loss to first-place Holy Cross on Nov. 16. They are currently on a four-game losing slide; their last win came at Georgetown by a 30-27 margin on Oct. 12.
• A year ago, Fordham went 2-9 (2-4 PL) and finished tied for fourth in the Patriot League. The Rams were selected to finish fourth in the 2019 preseason poll and placed LB Glenn Cunningham and DB Jesse Bramble on the Preseason All-Patriot League Team.
• Fordham is the Patriot League leader in total offense, averaging 364.3 yards per game. The Rams boast the Patriot League's leaders in rushing yards per game (RB Zach Davis, 89.4), passing yards per game (QB Tim DeMorat, 222.4), points per game (K Andrew Mevis, 6.3) and all-purpose yards per game (WR Fotis Kokosioulis, 131.7).
The Bucknell/Fordham Series
• While Bucknell holds an 18-16 advantage in the all-time series, Fordham has won the past six games.
• In four of those contests, the Rams' margin of victory was less than 10 points. The 2014 meeting was decided in overtime (30-27) while Fordham blocked a last-second field goal to win the 2013 game (21-23).The Rams were ranked in the nation's top 10 at the time of both of those meetings. Â
• In 2017 at Jack Coffey Field, Fordham used three scoring plays of at least 55 yards to clip the Bison, 20-9. LB Simeon Page exploded for six tackles for a loss, which is tied for seventh in FCS history. His four sacks matched a Bison record last equaled in 1998. In total, he caused Fordham to lose 33 yards during the contest.
• For his efforts, Page captured STATS National Freshman Player, Patriot League Defensive Player and Patriot League Rookie of the Week accolades.
• In 2018, Fordham spoiled Bucknell's Senior Day with a tight 17-14 win. That victory stretched the Rams' winning streak to six games, the longest such streak in the all-time series. Previously, the Bison owned the longest winning streak, a five-game streak strung together from 1993 to 1997.
The Last Meeting with the Rams Â
Bucknell 14 – Fordham 17 (Nov. 17, 2018 – Lewisburg, Pa.)
• Fordham outlasted Bucknell, 17-14, in the 2018 finale for both teams at Christy Mathewson-Memorial Stadium.
• On a day the Bison honored their 17-man senior class in a stadium framed on all sides by snow from a Thursday storm that pushed back the game's start time from noon to 1:30 p.m., the Rams used a trio of big plays to emerge victorious.
• Fordham needed less than a minute to complete both of its scoring drives. The Rams's second touchdown was a 70-yard interception return by DB Antonio Jackson with 12 seconds left before halftime.
• QB John Chiarolanzio completed 15 of 31 passes for 187 yards while QB Tarrin Earle went 7 for 11 for 45 yards and one touchdown.
• WR Brandon Sanders caught seven passes for 90 yards while RB Joe Fex, who started at running back in the place of an injured Jared Cooper, rushed for a career-high 56 yards and one touchdown on 22 carries.
• LB Rick Mottram was a force for Bucknell defensively, posting 14 tackles (10 solo), 3.5 tackles for a loss, two sacks and his fumble recovery. His 14 tackles were the most posted by a Bison in 2018, and his number of tackles for a loss and sacks both matched Bucknell's season-high total.
• P Alex Pechin had an impressive game, averaging 50.8 yards on five punts; his average was bolstered by a 70-yard bomb in the second quarter.
• The Bison held advantages in total offense (300-163), first downs (20-13) and time of possession (31:02-28:58).
Inside the Bucknell Depth Chart
• Bucknell's 11 projected starters on offense have made a combined 144 starts, with OL P.J. Barr (29) and TE Alex Twiford (26) accounting for over 38 percent of them. Â
• Bucknell's 11 projected starters on defense have made a combined 163 starts.
• On offense, six juniors and five sophomores are expected to start. On defense, one senior, seven juniors, two sophomores and one freshman are projected to start.
• Two fifth years, 11 seniors, 18 juniors, 10 sophomores and seven freshmen appear on this week's two deep.
• On offense, three Bison have started every 2019 game: Barr, WR John McGuire and Twiford. On defense, seven Bison have done the same: DL Grayson Cherubino, DL John Hunt, DL Roger Mellado, LB Rick Mottram, LB Simeon Page, S Conner Romango and DL Nnamdi Unachukwu.
• Five Bison have at least 20 career starts: Barr (29), Mellado (27), Twiford (26), Page (22) and Benson (20). Barr will reach a milestone with his 30th career start with a start at Fordham. Â
• Twenty one Bison—12 juniors, six seniors and three sophomores—have at least 10 career starts. Hunt joined the group with his start against Georgetown; OL Alex Bolinger, CB Micah Dennis, RB Chad Freshnock, OL Michael Killiri and OL Simon Krizak all have a chance to become its latest additions with a start at Fordham. Freshnock is a senior, Bolinger and Krizak juniors and Dennis and Killiri sophomores.
• 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 (29), Mellado (27), Twiford (20), Mottram (12) and Unachukwu (11) boast starting streaks that have spanned multiple seasons. By starting every game in 2019 to date, Cherubino, Hunt, McGuire, Page and Romango also have starting streaks in the double digits.
• 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 45 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 32 of the Bison's games since they arrived in Lewisburg.
• Twelve Bison have made their first career start in 2019, including four freshmen: WR Connor Holmes, S Brent Jackson, CB Gavin Pringle and OL Zack Tarburton.
Bison in the NCAA FCS Top 10
• P Alex Pechin: 1st in punting average (47.5), 1st in career punting average (44.5)
• LB Simeon Page: 2nd in career sacks per game (0.87), 5th in career tackles for a loss per game (1.29), t-8th in blocked kicks (2)
• CB Gavin Pringle: 2nd among freshmen in passes defended per game (1.2)
• LB Gerrit Van Itallie: t-2nd in fumble recoveries (3)
• WR Brandon Sanders: 9th in receptions per game (6.9)
• As a team, Bucknell is 1st in net punting (43.63) and t-8th in team sacks (3.00)
Patriot League Leaders
• LB Simeon Page: Blocked kicks (2)
• P Alex Pechin: Punting average (47.5)
• CB Gavin Pringle: Passes defended per game (1.2)
• WR Brandon Sanders: Receptions per game (6.9)
• LB Gerrit Van Itallie: Fumbles Recovered (3)
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 (44.5), Season Punting Average (45.1, 2017)
• WR Brandon Sanders: Single Game Receptions (14, 10/5/19)
Milestones Met Against Georgetown
• WR Dominic Lyles: Reached 500 receiving yards on the season; now has 528
• LB Simeon Page: Moved to third in Bucknell history in career sacks; now has 22.5
Â
Milestone Watch
• S Brandon Benson: Needs six solo tackles to reach 100 in his career
• LB Sam Chitty: Needs seven tackles to reach 100 in his career
• DL Roger Mellado: Needs 22 tackles to reach 100 in his career Â
• LB Rick Mottram: Needs nine tackles to reach 100 on the season; would become the first Bison to reach the triple digits in a single season since 2014 Â
• LB Simeon Page: Needs three sacks to match Bucknell's career school record with 25.5
• P Alex Pechin: Needs six punts of at least 50 yards to reach 100 in his career
• S Conner Romango: Needs 19 tackles to reach 100 in his career Â
• WR Brandon Sanders: Needs four receptions to move to fifth in Bucknell single-season history with 59; needs five to vault to fourth with 60; needs 16 to jump to third with 71
• WR Brandon Sanders: Needs one reception to become the 10th Bison to reach the century mark in his career
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.
• LB Rick Mottram captured CoSIDA Academic All-District II honors in both 2019 and 2018. DL Grayson Cherubino joined Mottram on the 2019 CoSIDA Academic All-District II Team. At least one Bison has received this distinction 17 of the 20 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.
• 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
• Because of the men's basketball team's game at Syracuse, the football team's game at Fordham will be broadcast on The Valley (WVLY-FM 100.9) instead of Eagle 107 (WEGH 107.3). The broadcast will still be available on 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).
• The Bison are active on Twitter (@Bucknell_FB) and Instagram (Bucknell_FB). Interact with the team using the hashtags #ACT and #rayBucknell.
Players Mentioned
TE
/ Football
S
/ Football
WR
/ Football
QB
/ Football
OL
/ Football
WR
/ Football
DL
/ Football
QB
/ Football
LB
/ Football
RB
/ Football
CB
/ Football
QB
/ Football
RB
/ Football
WR
/ Football
S
/ Football
OL
/ Football
OL
/ Football
WR
/ Football
CB
/ Football
WR/LS
/ Football
DL
/ Football
LB
/ Football
LB
/ Football
P/K
/ Football
CB
/ Football
S
/ Football
WR
/ Football
OL
/ Football
TE
/ Football
DL
/ Football
LB
/ FootballSaint 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
Boston University at Bucknell Men's Soccer Highlights 9-27-2025
Saturday, September 27