Bucknell University Athletics
Bucknell Football Places Five on All-Patriot League Team
11/26/2019 11:00:00 AM | Football
CENTER VALLEY, Pa. – The Bucknell football team placed five players on the 2019 All-Patriot League Team, the league office announced Tuesday morning.
Punter Alex Pechin, linebacker Simeon Page and wide receiver Brandon Sanders represented the Bison on the First Team while offensive lineman P.J. Barr and cornerback Gavin Pringle were voted to the Second Team by the league's head coaches.
Notably, Pechin became the fourth Patriot League student-athlete to make four All-Patriot League First Teams, joining Holy Cross defensive back Dave Murphy (1986-89), Colgate quarterback Ryan Vena (1996-99) and Lehigh running back Dom Bragalone (2015-18). In addition, he became the fourth Bison to garner All-Patriot League laurels four times, joining running back Rich Lemon (1993-96), offensive lineman Julién Davenport (2013-16) and defensive lineman Abdullah Anderson (2014-17).
Page captured All-Patriot League honors for the third time; he was previously tabbed as a First Team defensive lineman in 2018 and as a Second Team linebacker in 2017. Barr, Pringle and Sanders are all first-time honorees, with Sanders becoming the first Bucknell offensive player to make the First Team since Davenport in 2016; he is the first offensive skill-position player to do so since wide receiver Will Carter in 2014.
Pechin put an exclamation mark on his legendary career in 2019, shattering his own school record in punting average by 2.2 yards. His 47.3 punting average broke the Patriot League record by 1.3 yards and ranked seventh in FCS history at the end of the 2019 regular season; in addition, it raised his career average to 44.5, good for fifth in the FCS annals at the end of the 2019 regular season.
The highly decorated Pechin, a multi-time All-American who was named to the 2020 Reese's Senior Bowl Watch List and received an invite to the 2020 East-West Shrine Bowl, will graduate with Bucknell's top four single-season punting averages of 47.3 (2019), 45.1 (2017), 44.5 (2018) and 42.1 (2015); his 44.5 career punting average is the school standard by 3.8 yards.
In 2019, Pechin averaged over 45.0 yards per punt seven times, including 51.6 and 50.7 marks at Temple and No. 23/22 Towson respectively. His 51.6 average against the Owls was just 0.4 shy of breaking a Bison record that has stood since 1962. In total, he booted 29 punts of at least 50 yards, landed 31 inside the 20 and had 20 go for fair catches; over the course of his career, he had 118 punts land inside the 20 and 95 sail for at least 50 yards, including the third- (71, 2018 at Villanova), fifth- (70, 2018 vs. Fordham; 2019 at Fordham) and ninth- (67, 2017 at Fordham) longest punts in school history.
Pechin was previously recognized on the 2015, 2017 and 2018 All-Patriot League First Teams; he was granted a fifth year of eligibility after suffering a season-ending injury in the 2016 campaign's second game. To date, he has been honored on seven All-America teams, including the 2018 STATS and Phil Steele First Teams; in addition, he became the first Bison specialist to garner All-America accolades from the AP and AFCA when he made their Second Teams that season.
Page put himself in position to next year join Lemon, Davenport, Anderson and Pechin's company by making his third-straight All-Patriot League Team. He was a force for the Bucknell defense, logging 58 tackles (42 solo), 12.5 tackles for a loss of 70 yards, nine sacks for a loss of 57 yards, two forced fumbles, two blocked kicks and one fumble return for a touchdown in 11 starts.
At the end of the 2019 regular season, Page was first in the Patriot League and tied for second in the FCS in blocked kicks. He paced the Bison in sacks, tackles for a loss and forced fumbles. He has totaled 142 tackles (91 solo), 34.5 tackles for a loss of 197 yards, 22.5 sacks for a loss of 160 yards and five forced fumbles in 27 career games, 23 of which were starts. His total of career sacks is good for third in Bucknell history, just three shy of a record last matched in 1995.
Sanders enjoyed a breakout sophomore year, making 58 catches for 530 yards and three touchdowns. He caught at least five passes six times, topping out at a school-record 14 against Holy Cross. He eclipsed 100 yards against the Crusaders (122) and at Temple (115); he also caught two touchdown passes at Lafayette. His total of receptions slotted him seventh in the Bison annals and moved his career total to 102; he became only the sixth Bison to record at least 50 receptions in a single campaign and the 10th to reach the century mark in career receptions.
Barr started all 11 of Bucknell's games, running his starting streak to 30. A leader on an offensive line that saw five different players earn their first career starts, he started nine times at left tackle and twice at left guard in 2019. He is one of only two members of the class of 2021 who has appeared in all 33 of the Bison's games during their time in Lewisburg, joining defensive lineman Roger Mellado.
Pringle excelled during his first collegiate season, pacing Bucknell with 11 pass breakups and two defensive touchdowns. He became the first member of his class to score a touchdown in the 2019 opener at Temple, returning his first career interception 36 yards for a score; he later returned a fumble 55 yards for a touchdown in the Senior Day victory over Georgetown. In 11 games, the final seven of which were starts, he posted 57 tackles (41 solo), a total good for third among Bison defensive backs.
During the 2019 campaign, their first under head coach Dave Cecchini, the Bison tied for third in the Patriot League with a 3-3 record, their highest placement since they were the 2014 runners-up. Their Patriot League victories came over defending champion Colgate (32-14), rival Lehigh (20-10) and Georgetown (20-17); two of their three league losses came by a touchdown or less. Bucknell faced a grueling non-conference schedule, featuring FBS opponent Temple and three nationally ranked FCS teams; the Bison ultimately finished the season with a 3-8 overall record.
2019 Football Major Awards
Offensive Player of the Year: Domenic Cozier, Holy Cross, Sr., RB
Defensive Player of the Year: Malik Hamm, Lafayette, So., DL
Rookie of the Year: Keegan Shoemaker, Lafayette, Fr., QB
Dick Biddle Coach of the Year: Bob Chesney, Holy Cross
2019 Football All-Patriot League Teams
First-Team Offense
QB: Tim DeMorat, Fordham, So.
RB: Domenic Cozier, Holy Cross, Sr.
RB: Zach Davis, Fordham, Jr.
FB/HB: Zadok Scott, Lafayette, So.
WR: Brandon Sanders, Bucknell, So.
WR: Michael Dereus, Georgetown, Sr.
WR: Devon Bibbens, Lehigh, Sr.
TE: Nick Diaco, Colgate, Sr.
OL: Jack Badovinac, Colgate, Jr.
OL: Nick Zakelj, Fordham, Jr.
OL: Brian Foley, Holy Cross, Jr.
OL: Brett Boddy, Holy Cross, Sr.
OL: Jake Marotti, Lafayette, Sr.
PK: Andrew Mevis, Fordham, Jr.
RS: Abu Daramy-Swaray, Colgate, Sr.
First-Team Defense
DL: Nick Wheeler, Colgate, Sr.
DL: Duval Paul, Georgetown, Jr.
DL: Benton Whitley, Holy Cross, Jr.
DL: Malik Hamm, Lafayette, So.
LB: Simeon Page, Bucknell, Jr.
LB: Ryan Greenhagen, Fordham, So.
LB: Glenn Cunningham, Fordham, Jr.
LB: Keith Woetzel, Lehigh, Sr.
DB: Abu Daramy-Swaray, Colgate, Sr.
DB: Ahmad Wilson, Georgetown, Jr.
DB: Chris Riley, Holy Cross, Sr.
DB: Yasir Thomas, Lafayette, Sr.
P: Alex Pechin, Bucknell, 5th
Special Teams Non-Specialist: Jack Bush, Lehigh, Fr., DB
Second-Team Offense
QB: Connor Degenhardt, Holy Cross, Jr.
QB: Keegan Shoemaker, Lafayette, Fr.
RB: Selwyn Simpson, Lafayette, Jr.
RB: Trey Sneed, Fordham, Jr.
FB/HB: Isaac Schley, Georgetown, Sr.
WR: Ayir Asante, Holy Cross, Fr.
WR: Nick Pearson, Lafayette, Sr.
WR: Jorge Portorreal, Lehigh, Jr.
TE: Derek Mountain, Holy Cross, Sr.
OL: P.J. Barr, Bucknell, Jr.
OL: Phil Saleh, Fordham, So.
OL: Ryan Jelinek, Georgetown, Sr.
OL: Gavin Barclay, Lafayette, Jr.
OL: John Burk, Lafayette, Jr.
PK: Jeffrey Kordenbrock, Lafayette, Jr.
RS: Will Gruber, Colgate, So.
Second-Team Defense
DL: Ellis Taylor, Fordham, Jr.
DL: Khristian Tate, Georgetown, Sr.
DL: Mark Ebo, Holy Cross, Sr.
DL: Keith Earle, Lafayette, Sr.
LB: Nick Ioanelli, Colgate, Sr.
LB: Xavier Reddick, Georgetown, Jr.
LB: Jacob Dobbs, Holy Cross, Fr.
LB: Major Jordan, Lafayette, Jr.
LB: Pete Haffner, Lehigh, Jr.
DB: Gavin Pringle, Bucknell, Fr.
DB: Collin Heard, Colgate, So.
DB: Corey Stefanik, Holy Cross, Sr.
DB: Sam McCloskey, Lehigh, Sr.
P: Brad Hurst, Georgetown, Sr.
Special Teams Non-Specialist: Palmer Nix, Georgetown, So., LB; Terrell Prince, Holy Cross, So., LB; Billy Schaeffer, Lafayette, So., LB
Punter Alex Pechin, linebacker Simeon Page and wide receiver Brandon Sanders represented the Bison on the First Team while offensive lineman P.J. Barr and cornerback Gavin Pringle were voted to the Second Team by the league's head coaches.
Notably, Pechin became the fourth Patriot League student-athlete to make four All-Patriot League First Teams, joining Holy Cross defensive back Dave Murphy (1986-89), Colgate quarterback Ryan Vena (1996-99) and Lehigh running back Dom Bragalone (2015-18). In addition, he became the fourth Bison to garner All-Patriot League laurels four times, joining running back Rich Lemon (1993-96), offensive lineman Julién Davenport (2013-16) and defensive lineman Abdullah Anderson (2014-17).
Page captured All-Patriot League honors for the third time; he was previously tabbed as a First Team defensive lineman in 2018 and as a Second Team linebacker in 2017. Barr, Pringle and Sanders are all first-time honorees, with Sanders becoming the first Bucknell offensive player to make the First Team since Davenport in 2016; he is the first offensive skill-position player to do so since wide receiver Will Carter in 2014.
Pechin put an exclamation mark on his legendary career in 2019, shattering his own school record in punting average by 2.2 yards. His 47.3 punting average broke the Patriot League record by 1.3 yards and ranked seventh in FCS history at the end of the 2019 regular season; in addition, it raised his career average to 44.5, good for fifth in the FCS annals at the end of the 2019 regular season.
The highly decorated Pechin, a multi-time All-American who was named to the 2020 Reese's Senior Bowl Watch List and received an invite to the 2020 East-West Shrine Bowl, will graduate with Bucknell's top four single-season punting averages of 47.3 (2019), 45.1 (2017), 44.5 (2018) and 42.1 (2015); his 44.5 career punting average is the school standard by 3.8 yards.
In 2019, Pechin averaged over 45.0 yards per punt seven times, including 51.6 and 50.7 marks at Temple and No. 23/22 Towson respectively. His 51.6 average against the Owls was just 0.4 shy of breaking a Bison record that has stood since 1962. In total, he booted 29 punts of at least 50 yards, landed 31 inside the 20 and had 20 go for fair catches; over the course of his career, he had 118 punts land inside the 20 and 95 sail for at least 50 yards, including the third- (71, 2018 at Villanova), fifth- (70, 2018 vs. Fordham; 2019 at Fordham) and ninth- (67, 2017 at Fordham) longest punts in school history.
Pechin was previously recognized on the 2015, 2017 and 2018 All-Patriot League First Teams; he was granted a fifth year of eligibility after suffering a season-ending injury in the 2016 campaign's second game. To date, he has been honored on seven All-America teams, including the 2018 STATS and Phil Steele First Teams; in addition, he became the first Bison specialist to garner All-America accolades from the AP and AFCA when he made their Second Teams that season.
Page put himself in position to next year join Lemon, Davenport, Anderson and Pechin's company by making his third-straight All-Patriot League Team. He was a force for the Bucknell defense, logging 58 tackles (42 solo), 12.5 tackles for a loss of 70 yards, nine sacks for a loss of 57 yards, two forced fumbles, two blocked kicks and one fumble return for a touchdown in 11 starts.
At the end of the 2019 regular season, Page was first in the Patriot League and tied for second in the FCS in blocked kicks. He paced the Bison in sacks, tackles for a loss and forced fumbles. He has totaled 142 tackles (91 solo), 34.5 tackles for a loss of 197 yards, 22.5 sacks for a loss of 160 yards and five forced fumbles in 27 career games, 23 of which were starts. His total of career sacks is good for third in Bucknell history, just three shy of a record last matched in 1995.
Sanders enjoyed a breakout sophomore year, making 58 catches for 530 yards and three touchdowns. He caught at least five passes six times, topping out at a school-record 14 against Holy Cross. He eclipsed 100 yards against the Crusaders (122) and at Temple (115); he also caught two touchdown passes at Lafayette. His total of receptions slotted him seventh in the Bison annals and moved his career total to 102; he became only the sixth Bison to record at least 50 receptions in a single campaign and the 10th to reach the century mark in career receptions.
Barr started all 11 of Bucknell's games, running his starting streak to 30. A leader on an offensive line that saw five different players earn their first career starts, he started nine times at left tackle and twice at left guard in 2019. He is one of only two members of the class of 2021 who has appeared in all 33 of the Bison's games during their time in Lewisburg, joining defensive lineman Roger Mellado.
Pringle excelled during his first collegiate season, pacing Bucknell with 11 pass breakups and two defensive touchdowns. He became the first member of his class to score a touchdown in the 2019 opener at Temple, returning his first career interception 36 yards for a score; he later returned a fumble 55 yards for a touchdown in the Senior Day victory over Georgetown. In 11 games, the final seven of which were starts, he posted 57 tackles (41 solo), a total good for third among Bison defensive backs.
During the 2019 campaign, their first under head coach Dave Cecchini, the Bison tied for third in the Patriot League with a 3-3 record, their highest placement since they were the 2014 runners-up. Their Patriot League victories came over defending champion Colgate (32-14), rival Lehigh (20-10) and Georgetown (20-17); two of their three league losses came by a touchdown or less. Bucknell faced a grueling non-conference schedule, featuring FBS opponent Temple and three nationally ranked FCS teams; the Bison ultimately finished the season with a 3-8 overall record.
2019 Football Major Awards
Offensive Player of the Year: Domenic Cozier, Holy Cross, Sr., RB
Defensive Player of the Year: Malik Hamm, Lafayette, So., DL
Rookie of the Year: Keegan Shoemaker, Lafayette, Fr., QB
Dick Biddle Coach of the Year: Bob Chesney, Holy Cross
2019 Football All-Patriot League Teams
First-Team Offense
QB: Tim DeMorat, Fordham, So.
RB: Domenic Cozier, Holy Cross, Sr.
RB: Zach Davis, Fordham, Jr.
FB/HB: Zadok Scott, Lafayette, So.
WR: Brandon Sanders, Bucknell, So.
WR: Michael Dereus, Georgetown, Sr.
WR: Devon Bibbens, Lehigh, Sr.
TE: Nick Diaco, Colgate, Sr.
OL: Jack Badovinac, Colgate, Jr.
OL: Nick Zakelj, Fordham, Jr.
OL: Brian Foley, Holy Cross, Jr.
OL: Brett Boddy, Holy Cross, Sr.
OL: Jake Marotti, Lafayette, Sr.
PK: Andrew Mevis, Fordham, Jr.
RS: Abu Daramy-Swaray, Colgate, Sr.
First-Team Defense
DL: Nick Wheeler, Colgate, Sr.
DL: Duval Paul, Georgetown, Jr.
DL: Benton Whitley, Holy Cross, Jr.
DL: Malik Hamm, Lafayette, So.
LB: Simeon Page, Bucknell, Jr.
LB: Ryan Greenhagen, Fordham, So.
LB: Glenn Cunningham, Fordham, Jr.
LB: Keith Woetzel, Lehigh, Sr.
DB: Abu Daramy-Swaray, Colgate, Sr.
DB: Ahmad Wilson, Georgetown, Jr.
DB: Chris Riley, Holy Cross, Sr.
DB: Yasir Thomas, Lafayette, Sr.
P: Alex Pechin, Bucknell, 5th
Special Teams Non-Specialist: Jack Bush, Lehigh, Fr., DB
Second-Team Offense
QB: Connor Degenhardt, Holy Cross, Jr.
QB: Keegan Shoemaker, Lafayette, Fr.
RB: Selwyn Simpson, Lafayette, Jr.
RB: Trey Sneed, Fordham, Jr.
FB/HB: Isaac Schley, Georgetown, Sr.
WR: Ayir Asante, Holy Cross, Fr.
WR: Nick Pearson, Lafayette, Sr.
WR: Jorge Portorreal, Lehigh, Jr.
TE: Derek Mountain, Holy Cross, Sr.
OL: P.J. Barr, Bucknell, Jr.
OL: Phil Saleh, Fordham, So.
OL: Ryan Jelinek, Georgetown, Sr.
OL: Gavin Barclay, Lafayette, Jr.
OL: John Burk, Lafayette, Jr.
PK: Jeffrey Kordenbrock, Lafayette, Jr.
RS: Will Gruber, Colgate, So.
Second-Team Defense
DL: Ellis Taylor, Fordham, Jr.
DL: Khristian Tate, Georgetown, Sr.
DL: Mark Ebo, Holy Cross, Sr.
DL: Keith Earle, Lafayette, Sr.
LB: Nick Ioanelli, Colgate, Sr.
LB: Xavier Reddick, Georgetown, Jr.
LB: Jacob Dobbs, Holy Cross, Fr.
LB: Major Jordan, Lafayette, Jr.
LB: Pete Haffner, Lehigh, Jr.
DB: Gavin Pringle, Bucknell, Fr.
DB: Collin Heard, Colgate, So.
DB: Corey Stefanik, Holy Cross, Sr.
DB: Sam McCloskey, Lehigh, Sr.
P: Brad Hurst, Georgetown, Sr.
Special Teams Non-Specialist: Palmer Nix, Georgetown, So., LB; Terrell Prince, Holy Cross, So., LB; Billy Schaeffer, Lafayette, So., LB
Players Mentioned
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