Saturday, October 16
New York, N.Y.
1 p.m.
Bucknell University
at
Fordham
Photo by: John Rooney
Bucknell Football Takes on Fordham in Big Apple
10/12/2021 12:20:00 PM | Football
LEWISBURG, Pa. – The Bucknell football team continues its Patriot League road swing with a 1 p.m. game at Fordham on Saturday, Oct. 16.
Bison supporters who plan to attend Saturday's game should review Fordham's spectator policy. All fans will be required to show proof of vaccination when they enter campus. Children under the age of 12 years old can attend the game with a documented negative COVID-19 test within 72 hours before coming on campus. They will need to remain masked at all times both indoors and outdoors.
The complete media notes can be viewed here. The game program can be viewed here.
When: Saturday, Oct. 16 – 1 p.m.
Where: Jack Coffey Field – Bronx, N.Y.
Internet Video: ESPN+
Radio: 100.9 The Valley (WVLY)
Internet Radio: WVLY.com/The__Valley
Live Stats: FordhamSports.com
Follow on Twitter: @Bucknell_FB
Fordham Spectator Policy: FordhamSports.com
With a victory the Bison would...
• even their Patriot League record at 1-1
• win their first road game of the season, snapping a three-game losing streak
• snap an eight-game losing slide to Fordham that began in 2013
Bucknell at a Glance
• Bucknell is 1-4 (0-1 PL) in 2021 following its 27-0 loss at Lafayette on Oct. 9.
• The Bison were selected to finish fifth in the Patriot League based on a vote by the league's head coaches and sports information directors ahead of the 2021 season.
• Bucknell went 2-2 (2-0 PL South) during the 2021 spring campaign. The Bison, who were picked to finish last in that season's Patriot League preseason poll, knocked off Lafayette (38-13) and Lehigh (6-0) to capture the South Division title and earn a spot in the first-ever Patriot League Championship Game.
• Bucknell posted a 3-8 (3-3 PL) record in 2019. The Bison tied for third in the Patriot League, their highest placement in a full season since they were the 2014 runners-up.
• Bucknell's 2019 Patriot League victories came over defending champion Colgate (32-14), Lehigh (20-10) and Georgetown (20-17); two of the Bison's three league losses came by a touchdown or less.
• Bucknell is in its third campaign under head coach Dave Cecchini, who spent the previous five seasons at Valparaiso. For leading the Bison to a spot in the Patriot League Championship Game during the 2021 spring season, he was voted as the Patriot League Dick Biddle Coach of the Year.
• Bucknell returned a total of 35 letterwinners in 2021, a group that includes 11 seniors, 11 juniors and 13 sophomores. Six seniors are three-time letterwinners: DL Grayson Cherubino, RB Jared Cooper, CB Micah Dennis, QB Tarrin Earle, OL Michael Killiri and WR Dominic Lyles.
• Cherubino, Earle, Lyles and OL Jacob Russ are serving as team captains this year.
• This week's game captains are RB Coleman Bennett (Offense) and LB Ben Allen (Defense).
Inside the Lafayette Box Score
• Bucknell was blanked by Lafayette, 27-0, in its Patriot League opener on Oct. 9.
• The Leopards scored a rushing touchdown on each of their first three drives of the game, and limited the Bison to just 169 yards of total offense, en route to a victory in the 99th meeting between the historic Pennsylvania programs.
• In the second half, K Micah Pettit added to his team's advantage by connecting on field goals from 45 and 49 yards out.
• RB Coleman Bennett led Bucknell with 74 all-purpose yards, which came on 40 rushing yards, 21 kick return yards, nine receiving yards and four punt return yards.
• QB Nick Semptimphelter completed 14 passes for 80 yards while WR Dominic Lyles caught five passes for 31 yards.
• S Brent Jackson and CB Sterling Deary tied for the Bison high with seven tackles.
• S Jonathan Searcy and DL Luke Hamper each recorded his first career sack while DL Will Ohler filled the stat sheet with a career-high six tackles, a pass breakup and two quarterback hurries.
• The Leopards led in total offense (316-169), first downs (16-12) and time of possession (30:30-29:30). They held Bucknell out of the red zone for the entire contest.
• Neither team turned over the ball. This represented the third time the Bison did not turn over the ball in 2021; they also did so at Sacred Heart and against Cornell.
• This is the third time Bucknell was shut out to begin Patriot League play. The Bison were previously whitewashed in their Patriot League opener in 2006 (0-31 to No. 25 Lafayette) and 2017 (0-20 to Holy Cross).
Fordham at a Glance
• Fordham is 3-3 (1-0 PL) in 2021 following its 56-7 rout of Wagner on Oct. 9.
• The Rams were picked to place second in the Patriot League based on a vote by the league's head coaches and sports information directors ahead of the 2021 season.
• Ten Rams made the Preseason All-Patriot League Team, headlined by Preseason Offensive Player of the Year Tim DeMorat, a QB, and Preseason Defensive Player of the Year Ryan Greenhagen, a LB.
• DeMorat is the reigning Patriot League Offensive Player of the Year. In the spring of 2021, he led the FCS in completion percentage (.721).
• DeMorat was the only Patriot League player to make the initial Watch List for the 2021 Walter Payton Award, which is presented by STATS to the top offensive player in the FCS ranks. He was previously a finalist for the 2020-21 award.
• Greenhagen is the reigning Patriot League Defensive Player of the Year. Last spring, he was also named a Second Team All-American by STATS.
• Greenhagen made the Watch List for the 2021 Buck Buchanan Award, which is presented by STATS to the top defensive player in the FCS ranks. He and Lafayette DL Malik Hamm were the only Patriot League players to make the initial 35-player listing.
• During Fordham's season opener at Nebraska, Greenhagen set a new NCAA Division I record with 31 total tackles. The previous record of 30 was accomplished three times since the NCAA made tackles an official statistic in 2000.
• Greenhagen needed just five games to eclipse 100 tackles this season.
• The Rams went 2-1 (1-1 PL North) during the 2021 spring campaign. They finished second in the Patriot League North Division behind eventual champion Holy Cross; their victories came over Colgate (40-8) and Bucknell (31-17).
• In 2019, Fordham went 4-8 (2-4 PL) and finished sixth in the Patriot League. The Rams' Patriot League victories came over Georgetown (30-27) and Bucknell (31-14).
The Bucknell/Fordham Series
• Bucknell and Fordham are even at 18-18 in their all-time series; notably, the series stands at 10-10 in Lewisburg, Pa. and at 8-8 in the Bronx, N.Y.
• The Rams are currently riding an eight-game winning streak over the Bison. In four of those contests, their 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 Bucknell, 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 the Rams to lose 33 yards during the contest.
• 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.
• In 2019, the teams' most recent meeting at Jack Coffey Field, Fordham scored three unanswered touchdowns in the second half to down Bucknell, 31-14.
The Last Meeting with the Rams Â
Bucknell 17 – Fordham 31 (Apr. 21, 2021 – Lewisburg, Pa.)
• Bucknell fell to Fordham, 31-17, on April 10. The Rams scored three unanswered touchdowns in the second half to hand the Bison their first loss of the 2021 spring campaign.
• QB Tim DeMorat completed 32 of 42 passes for 335 yards and three touchdowns to lead Fordham to its eighth-straight victory over Bucknell. In addition, LB Glenn Cunningham filled the stat sheet with eight tackles, one sack and two interceptions.
• For the Bison, RB Coleman Bennett and QB Tyler Beverett each ran for his first career touchdown. Bennett had a strong showing, totaling a career-best 186 all-purpose yards on 34 rushing yards, 24 receiving yards and 128 kick return yards.
• CB Gavin Pringle led all players with nine tackles while LB Gerrit Van Itallie paced Bucknell with two tackles for a loss.
• LB Simeon Page's sack brought his career total to 25.5, matching the school record held by Dave Hibbard (1978-1980) and Ed Burman (1993-95).
• The Bison used three quarterbacks, with Logan Bitikofer seeing the majority of the action. He threw for 145 yards on 14 of 25 passing. RB Jared Cooper posted 35 yards on five carries while WRs John McGuire (41) and Dominic Lyles (40) each reached 40 receiving yards on three catches.
• The Rams led in total offense (421-199), passing yards (335-153) and rushing yards (86-46) while Bucknell held a slim edge in time of possession (30:39-29:21).
• The Bison, who did not turn the ball over during their first two games, threw three interceptions and lost one fumble.
Inside the Bucknell Depth Chart
• Bucknell's projected starters on offense have made a combined 63 starts.
• Bucknell's projected starters on defense have made a combined 82 starts.
• On offense, one senior (WR Dominic Lyles), two juniors, seven sophomores and one freshman (OL Jake Guy) are expected to start.
• On defense, three seniors, four juniors, three sophomores and one freshman (DL Will Ohler) are projected to start.
• Eight Bison currently have at least 10 career starts: DL Grayson Cherubino (19), CB Micah Dennis (16), CB/S Gavin Pringle (16), Lyles (15), RB Jared Cooper (14), OL Michael Killiri (13), CB Sterling Deary (12) and OL Zack Tarburton (11). Of that group, six are seniors, one (Pringle) is a junior and one (Tarburton) is a sophomore.
• Pringle (16) alone boasts a starting streak of at least 10 games. Dennis had his starting streak snapped at 16 against Penn; entering that game, he was the only other Bison with a starting streak in the double digits.
• The following 22 players each made his first career start this season: LB Ben Allen, LB Tyler Alston, RB Rushawn Baker, TE Adam Barakat, DL Ryan Betz, QB Tyler Beverett, DL Connor Carretta, DL Nathaniel Carson, Guy, DL Luke Hamper, WR Damian Harris, LB Blake Leake, WR Matt McCreight, RB Danny Meuser, Ohler, OL Sean Quarterman, S Jonathan Searcy, QB Nick Semptimphelter, TE Charlie Shadek, S Mason Taylor, DL Aneesh Vyas and OL Jack Wall.
• Of Bucknell's first-time starters, two are seniors, four are juniors, 11 are sophomores and five are freshmen. The total of 22 represents nearly 25 percent of the team's roster.
• Hamper made his first career start at Lafayette, joining Betz as the second Bison senior to start for the first time this season.
• Multiple players have made their first career starts Bucknell's first four 2021 games, topping out at 10 in its first tilt at Sacred Heart.
• Eleven Bison have started all four of Bucknell's 2021 games to date, five on offense, six on defense. Of that group, four made their first career start in the 2021 opener: Allen, Harris, Ohler and Searcy.
• No senior has played in all 29 of Bucknell's games during his time in Lewisburg to date. Dennis (28), Cooper (27) and Lyles (26) are the class leaders in career appearances. Â
• Juniors Allen, Pringle, Searcy and CB Eric Holsinger have played in all 20 of Bucknell's games during their time in Lewisburg to date.
• Pringle is the only junior who entered this season with more than two career starts. Though his first 11 starts came at cornerback, he started at safety in weeks one and two of the 2021 campaign; he then returned to cornerback beginning in week three.
• Bennett, DL Mike Bright Jr., OL Ethan Pitzel and OL Casey Stephenson all started as freshmen during the 2021 spring campaign. Bennett, Bright Jr. and Pitzel all are listed as starters on the Bison's depth chart this week. Â
Milestone Watch
• WR Dominic Lyles: Needs 19 receptions to reach 100 in his career Â
• WR Dominic Lyles: Needs 21 receptions to crack Bucknell's top 10 in career receptions with 102
• WR Dominic Lyles: Needs 22 receiving yards to reach 1,000 in his career Â
• CB/S Gavin Pringle: Needs four tackles to reach 100 in his career
School Record Holders on the 2021 Roster
• WR Dominic Lyles: Single Game Receptions (14, 4/3/21 at Lehigh)
Bison Award Winners
• The Bison returned four All-Patriot League players in RB Jared Cooper (1st in '21S as a RS), CB Eric Holsinger (2nd in '21S as a STNS), WR Dominic Lyles (2nd in '21S) and CB/S Gavin Pringle (1st in '21S, 2nd in '19).
• Pringle and RB Coleman Bennett were voted to the 2021 Preseason All-Patriot League Team, with Bennett representing Bucknell as a return specialist.
• The Bison graduated six All-Patriot League honorees following the 2021 spring season, including LB Simeon Page. Page was the fifth Bison to make four career All-Patriot League squads, joining RB Rich Lemon (1993-96), OL Julién Davenport (2013-16), DL Abdullah Anderson (2014-17) and P Alex Pechin (2015, 2017-19).
• At least one Bison has made the CoSIDA Academic All-District 2 Team in 18 of the 21 seasons since 2000, including the past seven in a row. Most recently, two-time CoSIDA Academic All-American LB Rick Mottram and fellow 2021 graduate S Conner Romango made the 2020-21 rendition.
• Only Bucknell and Dayton have had a William V. Campbell Trophy semifinalist each of the past 16 years. Nicknamed the "Academic Heisman," it is awarded to the college football player with the best combination of academics, community service and on-field performance. In 2021, DL Grayson Cherubino, a 2019 CoSIDA Academic All-District 2 selection, represented the Bison as a Campbell Trophy semifinalist.
Head Coach Dave Cecchini
• Dave Cecchini, one of the all-time great wide receivers in Patriot League history who has since gone on to achieve tremendous success in the coaching ranks, was named the 27th Bob Odell Head Football Coach at Bucknell University on February 6, 2019.
• Cecchini was voted as the 2021 Spring Patriot League Dick Biddle Coach of the Year for guiding the team to a spot in the Patriot League Championship Game. In addition, he was selected as a finalist for the Eddie Robinson Award, presented by STATS to the FCS Coach of the Year, for the second time in his career.
• In his first season at the helm, Cecchini led the Bison to a third-place finish in the Patriot League, 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.
• In 2017 while at Valparaiso, Cecchini was a finalist for the American Football Coaches Association's FCS National Coach of the Year and the STATS FCS Coach of the Year awards; he was also voted as the Pioneer Football League Coach of the Year and the AFCA FCS Region 4 Coach of the Year.
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Inside the 2021 Schedule
• This is the 136th season of football at Bucknell. The Bison played their first game in 1883 and have played continuously since 1887.
• Bucknell's challenging 2021 schedule includes FBS program Army West Point, two Ivy League teams and defending NEC champion Sacred Heart.
• During the 2020-21 school year, Army West Point played in the AutoZone Liberty Bowl while Holy Cross and Sacred Heart made the NCAA Division I Football Championship.
• Army West Point will be the Bison's second FBS foe in three seasons, as they previously faced off against Temple in their 2019 opener. Bucknell is 0-8 against FBS schools since the FBS/FCS classification began in 1978.
• The Bison entered the season with a 171-302-12 (.365) record against their 2021 opponents, with only a winning mark against Georgetown (19-12-1). They are also .500 against Fordham (18-18).
How to Follow the Bison
• All of Bucknell's home games and its road contests at Lafayette, Fordham and Colgate will air on ESPN+, which became home of the Patriot League Network ahead of the 2020-21 school year.
• The Bison's game at FBS foe Army West Point will be broadcast on the NBC Sports Network.
• All of the Bison's games will be broadcast on 100.9 The Valley (WVLY). The broadcast will also be available on WVLY.com/The__Valley and BucknellBison.com.
• Bucknell is active on Twitter (@Bucknell_FB) and Instagram (Bucknell_FB). Interact with the team using the hashtags #ACT and #rayBucknell.
Up Next
• The Bison return to Christy Mathewson-Memorial Stadium at the Pascucci Family Athletics Complex for a 1 p.m. game against Georgetown on Saturday, Oct. 23.
Bison supporters who plan to attend Saturday's game should review Fordham's spectator policy. All fans will be required to show proof of vaccination when they enter campus. Children under the age of 12 years old can attend the game with a documented negative COVID-19 test within 72 hours before coming on campus. They will need to remain masked at all times both indoors and outdoors.
The complete media notes can be viewed here. The game program can be viewed here.
When: Saturday, Oct. 16 – 1 p.m.
Where: Jack Coffey Field – Bronx, N.Y.
Internet Video: ESPN+
Radio: 100.9 The Valley (WVLY)
Internet Radio: WVLY.com/The__Valley
Live Stats: FordhamSports.com
Follow on Twitter: @Bucknell_FB
Fordham Spectator Policy: FordhamSports.com
With a victory the Bison would...
• even their Patriot League record at 1-1
• win their first road game of the season, snapping a three-game losing streak
• snap an eight-game losing slide to Fordham that began in 2013
Bucknell at a Glance
• Bucknell is 1-4 (0-1 PL) in 2021 following its 27-0 loss at Lafayette on Oct. 9.
• The Bison were selected to finish fifth in the Patriot League based on a vote by the league's head coaches and sports information directors ahead of the 2021 season.
• Bucknell went 2-2 (2-0 PL South) during the 2021 spring campaign. The Bison, who were picked to finish last in that season's Patriot League preseason poll, knocked off Lafayette (38-13) and Lehigh (6-0) to capture the South Division title and earn a spot in the first-ever Patriot League Championship Game.
• Bucknell posted a 3-8 (3-3 PL) record in 2019. The Bison tied for third in the Patriot League, their highest placement in a full season since they were the 2014 runners-up.
• Bucknell's 2019 Patriot League victories came over defending champion Colgate (32-14), Lehigh (20-10) and Georgetown (20-17); two of the Bison's three league losses came by a touchdown or less.
• Bucknell is in its third campaign under head coach Dave Cecchini, who spent the previous five seasons at Valparaiso. For leading the Bison to a spot in the Patriot League Championship Game during the 2021 spring season, he was voted as the Patriot League Dick Biddle Coach of the Year.
• Bucknell returned a total of 35 letterwinners in 2021, a group that includes 11 seniors, 11 juniors and 13 sophomores. Six seniors are three-time letterwinners: DL Grayson Cherubino, RB Jared Cooper, CB Micah Dennis, QB Tarrin Earle, OL Michael Killiri and WR Dominic Lyles.
• Cherubino, Earle, Lyles and OL Jacob Russ are serving as team captains this year.
• This week's game captains are RB Coleman Bennett (Offense) and LB Ben Allen (Defense).
Inside the Lafayette Box Score
• Bucknell was blanked by Lafayette, 27-0, in its Patriot League opener on Oct. 9.
• The Leopards scored a rushing touchdown on each of their first three drives of the game, and limited the Bison to just 169 yards of total offense, en route to a victory in the 99th meeting between the historic Pennsylvania programs.
• In the second half, K Micah Pettit added to his team's advantage by connecting on field goals from 45 and 49 yards out.
• RB Coleman Bennett led Bucknell with 74 all-purpose yards, which came on 40 rushing yards, 21 kick return yards, nine receiving yards and four punt return yards.
• QB Nick Semptimphelter completed 14 passes for 80 yards while WR Dominic Lyles caught five passes for 31 yards.
• S Brent Jackson and CB Sterling Deary tied for the Bison high with seven tackles.
• S Jonathan Searcy and DL Luke Hamper each recorded his first career sack while DL Will Ohler filled the stat sheet with a career-high six tackles, a pass breakup and two quarterback hurries.
• The Leopards led in total offense (316-169), first downs (16-12) and time of possession (30:30-29:30). They held Bucknell out of the red zone for the entire contest.
• Neither team turned over the ball. This represented the third time the Bison did not turn over the ball in 2021; they also did so at Sacred Heart and against Cornell.
• This is the third time Bucknell was shut out to begin Patriot League play. The Bison were previously whitewashed in their Patriot League opener in 2006 (0-31 to No. 25 Lafayette) and 2017 (0-20 to Holy Cross).
Fordham at a Glance
• Fordham is 3-3 (1-0 PL) in 2021 following its 56-7 rout of Wagner on Oct. 9.
• The Rams were picked to place second in the Patriot League based on a vote by the league's head coaches and sports information directors ahead of the 2021 season.
• Ten Rams made the Preseason All-Patriot League Team, headlined by Preseason Offensive Player of the Year Tim DeMorat, a QB, and Preseason Defensive Player of the Year Ryan Greenhagen, a LB.
• DeMorat is the reigning Patriot League Offensive Player of the Year. In the spring of 2021, he led the FCS in completion percentage (.721).
• DeMorat was the only Patriot League player to make the initial Watch List for the 2021 Walter Payton Award, which is presented by STATS to the top offensive player in the FCS ranks. He was previously a finalist for the 2020-21 award.
• Greenhagen is the reigning Patriot League Defensive Player of the Year. Last spring, he was also named a Second Team All-American by STATS.
• Greenhagen made the Watch List for the 2021 Buck Buchanan Award, which is presented by STATS to the top defensive player in the FCS ranks. He and Lafayette DL Malik Hamm were the only Patriot League players to make the initial 35-player listing.
• During Fordham's season opener at Nebraska, Greenhagen set a new NCAA Division I record with 31 total tackles. The previous record of 30 was accomplished three times since the NCAA made tackles an official statistic in 2000.
• Greenhagen needed just five games to eclipse 100 tackles this season.
• The Rams went 2-1 (1-1 PL North) during the 2021 spring campaign. They finished second in the Patriot League North Division behind eventual champion Holy Cross; their victories came over Colgate (40-8) and Bucknell (31-17).
• In 2019, Fordham went 4-8 (2-4 PL) and finished sixth in the Patriot League. The Rams' Patriot League victories came over Georgetown (30-27) and Bucknell (31-14).
The Bucknell/Fordham Series
• Bucknell and Fordham are even at 18-18 in their all-time series; notably, the series stands at 10-10 in Lewisburg, Pa. and at 8-8 in the Bronx, N.Y.
• The Rams are currently riding an eight-game winning streak over the Bison. In four of those contests, their 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 Bucknell, 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 the Rams to lose 33 yards during the contest.
• 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.
• In 2019, the teams' most recent meeting at Jack Coffey Field, Fordham scored three unanswered touchdowns in the second half to down Bucknell, 31-14.
The Last Meeting with the Rams Â
Bucknell 17 – Fordham 31 (Apr. 21, 2021 – Lewisburg, Pa.)
• Bucknell fell to Fordham, 31-17, on April 10. The Rams scored three unanswered touchdowns in the second half to hand the Bison their first loss of the 2021 spring campaign.
• QB Tim DeMorat completed 32 of 42 passes for 335 yards and three touchdowns to lead Fordham to its eighth-straight victory over Bucknell. In addition, LB Glenn Cunningham filled the stat sheet with eight tackles, one sack and two interceptions.
• For the Bison, RB Coleman Bennett and QB Tyler Beverett each ran for his first career touchdown. Bennett had a strong showing, totaling a career-best 186 all-purpose yards on 34 rushing yards, 24 receiving yards and 128 kick return yards.
• CB Gavin Pringle led all players with nine tackles while LB Gerrit Van Itallie paced Bucknell with two tackles for a loss.
• LB Simeon Page's sack brought his career total to 25.5, matching the school record held by Dave Hibbard (1978-1980) and Ed Burman (1993-95).
• The Bison used three quarterbacks, with Logan Bitikofer seeing the majority of the action. He threw for 145 yards on 14 of 25 passing. RB Jared Cooper posted 35 yards on five carries while WRs John McGuire (41) and Dominic Lyles (40) each reached 40 receiving yards on three catches.
• The Rams led in total offense (421-199), passing yards (335-153) and rushing yards (86-46) while Bucknell held a slim edge in time of possession (30:39-29:21).
• The Bison, who did not turn the ball over during their first two games, threw three interceptions and lost one fumble.
Inside the Bucknell Depth Chart
• Bucknell's projected starters on offense have made a combined 63 starts.
• Bucknell's projected starters on defense have made a combined 82 starts.
• On offense, one senior (WR Dominic Lyles), two juniors, seven sophomores and one freshman (OL Jake Guy) are expected to start.
• On defense, three seniors, four juniors, three sophomores and one freshman (DL Will Ohler) are projected to start.
• Eight Bison currently have at least 10 career starts: DL Grayson Cherubino (19), CB Micah Dennis (16), CB/S Gavin Pringle (16), Lyles (15), RB Jared Cooper (14), OL Michael Killiri (13), CB Sterling Deary (12) and OL Zack Tarburton (11). Of that group, six are seniors, one (Pringle) is a junior and one (Tarburton) is a sophomore.
• Pringle (16) alone boasts a starting streak of at least 10 games. Dennis had his starting streak snapped at 16 against Penn; entering that game, he was the only other Bison with a starting streak in the double digits.
• The following 22 players each made his first career start this season: LB Ben Allen, LB Tyler Alston, RB Rushawn Baker, TE Adam Barakat, DL Ryan Betz, QB Tyler Beverett, DL Connor Carretta, DL Nathaniel Carson, Guy, DL Luke Hamper, WR Damian Harris, LB Blake Leake, WR Matt McCreight, RB Danny Meuser, Ohler, OL Sean Quarterman, S Jonathan Searcy, QB Nick Semptimphelter, TE Charlie Shadek, S Mason Taylor, DL Aneesh Vyas and OL Jack Wall.
• Of Bucknell's first-time starters, two are seniors, four are juniors, 11 are sophomores and five are freshmen. The total of 22 represents nearly 25 percent of the team's roster.
• Hamper made his first career start at Lafayette, joining Betz as the second Bison senior to start for the first time this season.
• Multiple players have made their first career starts Bucknell's first four 2021 games, topping out at 10 in its first tilt at Sacred Heart.
• Eleven Bison have started all four of Bucknell's 2021 games to date, five on offense, six on defense. Of that group, four made their first career start in the 2021 opener: Allen, Harris, Ohler and Searcy.
• No senior has played in all 29 of Bucknell's games during his time in Lewisburg to date. Dennis (28), Cooper (27) and Lyles (26) are the class leaders in career appearances. Â
• Juniors Allen, Pringle, Searcy and CB Eric Holsinger have played in all 20 of Bucknell's games during their time in Lewisburg to date.
• Pringle is the only junior who entered this season with more than two career starts. Though his first 11 starts came at cornerback, he started at safety in weeks one and two of the 2021 campaign; he then returned to cornerback beginning in week three.
• Bennett, DL Mike Bright Jr., OL Ethan Pitzel and OL Casey Stephenson all started as freshmen during the 2021 spring campaign. Bennett, Bright Jr. and Pitzel all are listed as starters on the Bison's depth chart this week. Â
Milestone Watch
• WR Dominic Lyles: Needs 19 receptions to reach 100 in his career Â
• WR Dominic Lyles: Needs 21 receptions to crack Bucknell's top 10 in career receptions with 102
• WR Dominic Lyles: Needs 22 receiving yards to reach 1,000 in his career Â
• CB/S Gavin Pringle: Needs four tackles to reach 100 in his career
School Record Holders on the 2021 Roster
• WR Dominic Lyles: Single Game Receptions (14, 4/3/21 at Lehigh)
Bison Award Winners
• The Bison returned four All-Patriot League players in RB Jared Cooper (1st in '21S as a RS), CB Eric Holsinger (2nd in '21S as a STNS), WR Dominic Lyles (2nd in '21S) and CB/S Gavin Pringle (1st in '21S, 2nd in '19).
• Pringle and RB Coleman Bennett were voted to the 2021 Preseason All-Patriot League Team, with Bennett representing Bucknell as a return specialist.
• The Bison graduated six All-Patriot League honorees following the 2021 spring season, including LB Simeon Page. Page was the fifth Bison to make four career All-Patriot League squads, joining RB Rich Lemon (1993-96), OL Julién Davenport (2013-16), DL Abdullah Anderson (2014-17) and P Alex Pechin (2015, 2017-19).
• At least one Bison has made the CoSIDA Academic All-District 2 Team in 18 of the 21 seasons since 2000, including the past seven in a row. Most recently, two-time CoSIDA Academic All-American LB Rick Mottram and fellow 2021 graduate S Conner Romango made the 2020-21 rendition.
• Only Bucknell and Dayton have had a William V. Campbell Trophy semifinalist each of the past 16 years. Nicknamed the "Academic Heisman," it is awarded to the college football player with the best combination of academics, community service and on-field performance. In 2021, DL Grayson Cherubino, a 2019 CoSIDA Academic All-District 2 selection, represented the Bison as a Campbell Trophy semifinalist.
Head Coach Dave Cecchini
• Dave Cecchini, one of the all-time great wide receivers in Patriot League history who has since gone on to achieve tremendous success in the coaching ranks, was named the 27th Bob Odell Head Football Coach at Bucknell University on February 6, 2019.
• Cecchini was voted as the 2021 Spring Patriot League Dick Biddle Coach of the Year for guiding the team to a spot in the Patriot League Championship Game. In addition, he was selected as a finalist for the Eddie Robinson Award, presented by STATS to the FCS Coach of the Year, for the second time in his career.
• In his first season at the helm, Cecchini led the Bison to a third-place finish in the Patriot League, 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.
• In 2017 while at Valparaiso, Cecchini was a finalist for the American Football Coaches Association's FCS National Coach of the Year and the STATS FCS Coach of the Year awards; he was also voted as the Pioneer Football League Coach of the Year and the AFCA FCS Region 4 Coach of the Year.
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Inside the 2021 Schedule
• This is the 136th season of football at Bucknell. The Bison played their first game in 1883 and have played continuously since 1887.
• Bucknell's challenging 2021 schedule includes FBS program Army West Point, two Ivy League teams and defending NEC champion Sacred Heart.
• During the 2020-21 school year, Army West Point played in the AutoZone Liberty Bowl while Holy Cross and Sacred Heart made the NCAA Division I Football Championship.
• Army West Point will be the Bison's second FBS foe in three seasons, as they previously faced off against Temple in their 2019 opener. Bucknell is 0-8 against FBS schools since the FBS/FCS classification began in 1978.
• The Bison entered the season with a 171-302-12 (.365) record against their 2021 opponents, with only a winning mark against Georgetown (19-12-1). They are also .500 against Fordham (18-18).
How to Follow the Bison
• All of Bucknell's home games and its road contests at Lafayette, Fordham and Colgate will air on ESPN+, which became home of the Patriot League Network ahead of the 2020-21 school year.
• The Bison's game at FBS foe Army West Point will be broadcast on the NBC Sports Network.
• All of the Bison's games will be broadcast on 100.9 The Valley (WVLY). The broadcast will also be available on WVLY.com/The__Valley and BucknellBison.com.
• Bucknell is active on Twitter (@Bucknell_FB) and Instagram (Bucknell_FB). Interact with the team using the hashtags #ACT and #rayBucknell.
Up Next
• The Bison return to Christy Mathewson-Memorial Stadium at the Pascucci Family Athletics Complex for a 1 p.m. game against Georgetown on Saturday, Oct. 23.
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John Ohnegian Tales From the Herd
Sunday, October 05
Bucknell Volleyball vs. Loyola University (10/4/25)
Sunday, October 05
Post Game Interview vs. Richmond
Saturday, October 04
Richmond at Bucknell Football Game Highlights 10-4-2025
Saturday, October 04