Saturday, October 30
Hamilton, N.Y.
1 p.m.
Bucknell University
at
Colgate
Photo by: John Rooney
Bucknell Football Hits Road to Face Colgate
10/26/2021 12:30:00 PM | Football
LEWISBURG, Pa. – The Bucknell football team is set to hit the road for a 1 p.m. game at Colgate on Saturday, Oct. 30.
The complete media notes can be viewed here. The game program can be viewed here.
When: Saturday, Oct. 30 – 1 p.m.
Where: Crown Field at Andy Kerr Stadium – Hamilton, N.Y.
Internet Video: ESPN+
Radio: 100.9 The Valley (WVLY)
Internet Radio: WVLY.com/The__Valley
Live Stats: GoColgateRaiders.com
Follow on Twitter: @Bucknell_FB
Colgate Spectator Policy: GoColgateRaiders.com
With a victory the Bison would... Â
• defeat the Raiders in back-to-back meetings for the first time since 1995/1996
• win their first road game of the season, snapping a four-game losing slide
Bucknell at a Glance
• Bucknell is 1-6 (0-3 PL) in 2021 following its 29-21 loss to Georgetown on Oct. 23.
• 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 Cooper (Offense) and LB Blake Leake (Defense). Cooper is the first repeat game captain of the season, having previously served as one during week two at No. 11/12 Villanova.
Inside the Georgetown Box Score
• Georgetown edged Bucknell, 29-21, on Oct. 23. Freshman QB Ethan Grady connected with WR Dominic Lyles for three touchdowns in his first collegiate start, but the Hoyas scored two touchdowns in the final six minutes of regulation to defeat the Bison.
• Lyles's third touchdown catch came at the third quarter's 9:46 mark, capping a nine-play, 72-yard march that gave Bucknell a 21-13 advantage. It proved the last time the Bison would put points on the board, however, and Georgetown ultimately scored 16 unanswered to emerge victorious.
• Lyles matched the Bucknell record with his three touchdown catches; he became the sixth Bison to accomplish this feat, joining Carl Probst (1971 vs. The Citadel), Ken Jenkins (1980 vs. West Chester), Mike Morrow (1986 vs. Lafayette), Will Carter (2014 vs. Lehigh) and Jake Hartman (2014 vs. Lafayette).
• Grady finished the game with 162 yards on 12 completions, with five going for 110 yards to Lyles.
• This represented Lyles's third career 100-yard game and a new career-high total in receiving yards; he also eclipsed 1,000 career receiving yards in this contest, the 28th of his Bucknell career.
• For their efforts, Lyles earned his first career Bison Athlete of the Week nod while Grady was recognized as the Patriot League Rookie of the Week for the first time.
• RB Jared Cooper logged 91 yards on 19 carries while RB/WR Coleman Bennett returned four kickoffs for 68 yards.
• S Jonathan Searcy led the Bison with nine tackles, one more than his previous career high. S Brent Jackson and LB Blake Leake added seven apiece, with Leake also forcing his first career fumble.
• The Hoyas finished with advantages in first downs (23-15) and total offense (476-301) while Bucknell led in time of possession (31:26-28:34).
Colgate at a Glance
• Colgate is 2-6 (2-1 PL) in 2021 following its 42-10 loss to Holy Cross on Oct. 23.
• The Raiders were picked to place seventh in the Patriot League based on a vote by the league's head coaches and sports information directors ahead of the 2021 season.
• Four Raiders made the 2021 Preseason All-Patriot League Team.
• Colgate also brought back QB Grant Breneman, a 2018 All-Patriot League First Team pick and the 2017 Patriot League Rookie of the Year. Breneman has thrown for 31 touchdowns and nearly 6,000 career yards.
• The Raiders went 0-2 (0-1 PL North) during the 2021 spring campaign, finishing last in the Patriot League North Division.
• In 2019, Colgate went 4-8 (3-3 PL) and finished tied for third in the Patriot League with Bucknell and Lehigh.
• The Raiders won the 2018 Patriot League title outright and shared the 2017 crown with Holy Cross. They went a perfect 6-0 against Patriot League opponents during the 2018 campaign; they also advanced to the 2018 FCS quarterfinals as the No. 8 seed with a 23-20 victory over perennial power James Madison.
The Bucknell/Colgate Series
• Colgate leads the all-time series, 50-18, and has won eight of the past 10 meetings.
• In 2019 at Andy Kerr Stadium, the Bison snapped a five-game losing streak to the Raiders with a commanding 32-14 victory.
• Entering that contest, Bucknell had last downed Colgate on Nov. 2, 2013, a 28-7 victory at Andy Kerr Stadium. That was the Bison's first win over the Raiders since 2006 and their first in Hamilton, N.Y. since 1999.
• Bucknell has the opportunity to defeat Colgate in back-to-back meetings for the first time since 1995 (21-14 OT) and 1996 (28-27 OT).
The Last Meeting with the Raiders Â
Bucknell 32 – Colgate 14 (Oct. 12, 2019 – Hamilton, N.Y.)
 • Bolstered by a strong defensive performance and a pair of touchdowns by RB Alex Barnard, Bucknell downed defending Patriot League champion 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.
Inside the Bucknell Depth Chart
• Bucknell's projected starters on offense have made a combined 78 starts.
• Bucknell's projected starters on defense have made a combined 83 starts.
• On offense, two seniors, one junior (OL R.J. Mehan), four sophomores and two freshmen are expected to start. QBs Nick Semptimphelter and Ethan Grady, who have combined for three career starts, and RTs Zack Tarburton and Harrison Shepherd, who have combined for 12 career starts, are considered even on this week's depth chart.
• On defense, two seniors, four juniors, three sophomores and two freshmen are projected to start.
• Nine Bison currently have at least 10 career starts: DL Grayson Cherubino (19), WR Dominic Lyles (17), RB Jared Cooper (16), CB Micah Dennis (16), CB/S Gavin Pringle (16), CB Sterling Deary (14), OL Michael Killiri (14), Tarburton (11) and OL Ethan Pitzel (10). Of that group, six are seniors, one (Pringle) is a junior and two are sophomores.
• RB/WR Coleman Bennett will become the third sophomore to reach the double digits in career starts with a start at Colgate.
• Pitzel, who has started eight-straight games dating back to the spring of 2021, is the lone remaining Bison with a starting streak that spans multiple seasons. Â
• Pringle had his starting streak snapped at 16 games against Fordham; entering that game, he was the only Bison with a starting streak in the double digits.
• The following 26 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, Grady, OL Jake Guy, DL Luke Hamper, WR Damian Harris, LB Blake Leake, WR Matt McCreight, RB Danny Meuser, DL Will Ohler, OL Sean Quarterman, CB Ethan Robinson, S Jonathan Searcy, Semptimphelter, TE Charlie Shadek, Shepherd, TE Christian Spugnardi, S Mason Taylor, DL Aneesh Vyas and OL Jack Wall.
• Of Bucknell's first-time starters, two are seniors, four are juniors, 12 are sophomores and eight are freshmen. The total of 26 represents nearly 30 percent of the team's roster.
• Against Georgetown, Grady and Shepherd became the latest Bison to start his first collegiate game. Grady is the third quarterback to start for the first time this season, joining Beverett and Semptimphelter.
• Multiple players made their first career starts in six of Bucknell's seven 2021 games, topping out at 10 in its first tilt at Sacred Heart.
• Three offensive players have started all seven of Bucknell's 2021 games to date: Harris, Mehan and Pitzel. Four defensive players have started all six of Bucknell's 2021 games to date: Allen, Deary, Searcy and S Brent Jackson.
• No senior has played in all 33 of Bucknell's games during his time in Lewisburg to date. Dennis (30), Cooper (29) and Lyles (28) are the class leaders in career appearances. Â
• Juniors Allen, Searcy and CB Eric Holsinger have played in all 22 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 this week's depth chart.
Milestones Met Against Georgetown
• WR Dominic Lyles: Matched school record with three touchdown receptions, becoming the sixth Bison to accomplish this feat
• WR Dominic Lyles: Reached 1,000 career receiving yards; now has 1,096 Â
Milestone Watch
• LB Ben Allen: Needs 13 tackles to reach 100 in his career
• RB Jared Cooper: Needs 251 rushing yards to reach 1,500 in his career
• S Brent Jackson: Needs 30 tackles to reach 100 in his career
• WR Dominic Lyles: Needs 13 receptions to reach 100 in his career Â
• WR Dominic Lyles: Needs 15 receptions to crack Bucknell's top 10 in career receptions with 102
• 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)
• WR Dominic Lyles: Single Game Touchdown Receptions (3, 10/23/21 vs. Georgetown)
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.
Â
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 Lehigh on Saturday, Nov. 6.
The complete media notes can be viewed here. The game program can be viewed here.
When: Saturday, Oct. 30 – 1 p.m.
Where: Crown Field at Andy Kerr Stadium – Hamilton, N.Y.
Internet Video: ESPN+
Radio: 100.9 The Valley (WVLY)
Internet Radio: WVLY.com/The__Valley
Live Stats: GoColgateRaiders.com
Follow on Twitter: @Bucknell_FB
Colgate Spectator Policy: GoColgateRaiders.com
With a victory the Bison would... Â
• defeat the Raiders in back-to-back meetings for the first time since 1995/1996
• win their first road game of the season, snapping a four-game losing slide
Bucknell at a Glance
• Bucknell is 1-6 (0-3 PL) in 2021 following its 29-21 loss to Georgetown on Oct. 23.
• 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 Cooper (Offense) and LB Blake Leake (Defense). Cooper is the first repeat game captain of the season, having previously served as one during week two at No. 11/12 Villanova.
Inside the Georgetown Box Score
• Georgetown edged Bucknell, 29-21, on Oct. 23. Freshman QB Ethan Grady connected with WR Dominic Lyles for three touchdowns in his first collegiate start, but the Hoyas scored two touchdowns in the final six minutes of regulation to defeat the Bison.
• Lyles's third touchdown catch came at the third quarter's 9:46 mark, capping a nine-play, 72-yard march that gave Bucknell a 21-13 advantage. It proved the last time the Bison would put points on the board, however, and Georgetown ultimately scored 16 unanswered to emerge victorious.
• Lyles matched the Bucknell record with his three touchdown catches; he became the sixth Bison to accomplish this feat, joining Carl Probst (1971 vs. The Citadel), Ken Jenkins (1980 vs. West Chester), Mike Morrow (1986 vs. Lafayette), Will Carter (2014 vs. Lehigh) and Jake Hartman (2014 vs. Lafayette).
• Grady finished the game with 162 yards on 12 completions, with five going for 110 yards to Lyles.
• This represented Lyles's third career 100-yard game and a new career-high total in receiving yards; he also eclipsed 1,000 career receiving yards in this contest, the 28th of his Bucknell career.
• For their efforts, Lyles earned his first career Bison Athlete of the Week nod while Grady was recognized as the Patriot League Rookie of the Week for the first time.
• RB Jared Cooper logged 91 yards on 19 carries while RB/WR Coleman Bennett returned four kickoffs for 68 yards.
• S Jonathan Searcy led the Bison with nine tackles, one more than his previous career high. S Brent Jackson and LB Blake Leake added seven apiece, with Leake also forcing his first career fumble.
• The Hoyas finished with advantages in first downs (23-15) and total offense (476-301) while Bucknell led in time of possession (31:26-28:34).
Colgate at a Glance
• Colgate is 2-6 (2-1 PL) in 2021 following its 42-10 loss to Holy Cross on Oct. 23.
• The Raiders were picked to place seventh in the Patriot League based on a vote by the league's head coaches and sports information directors ahead of the 2021 season.
• Four Raiders made the 2021 Preseason All-Patriot League Team.
• Colgate also brought back QB Grant Breneman, a 2018 All-Patriot League First Team pick and the 2017 Patriot League Rookie of the Year. Breneman has thrown for 31 touchdowns and nearly 6,000 career yards.
• The Raiders went 0-2 (0-1 PL North) during the 2021 spring campaign, finishing last in the Patriot League North Division.
• In 2019, Colgate went 4-8 (3-3 PL) and finished tied for third in the Patriot League with Bucknell and Lehigh.
• The Raiders won the 2018 Patriot League title outright and shared the 2017 crown with Holy Cross. They went a perfect 6-0 against Patriot League opponents during the 2018 campaign; they also advanced to the 2018 FCS quarterfinals as the No. 8 seed with a 23-20 victory over perennial power James Madison.
The Bucknell/Colgate Series
• Colgate leads the all-time series, 50-18, and has won eight of the past 10 meetings.
• In 2019 at Andy Kerr Stadium, the Bison snapped a five-game losing streak to the Raiders with a commanding 32-14 victory.
• Entering that contest, Bucknell had last downed Colgate on Nov. 2, 2013, a 28-7 victory at Andy Kerr Stadium. That was the Bison's first win over the Raiders since 2006 and their first in Hamilton, N.Y. since 1999.
• Bucknell has the opportunity to defeat Colgate in back-to-back meetings for the first time since 1995 (21-14 OT) and 1996 (28-27 OT).
The Last Meeting with the Raiders Â
Bucknell 32 – Colgate 14 (Oct. 12, 2019 – Hamilton, N.Y.)
 • Bolstered by a strong defensive performance and a pair of touchdowns by RB Alex Barnard, Bucknell downed defending Patriot League champion 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.
Inside the Bucknell Depth Chart
• Bucknell's projected starters on offense have made a combined 78 starts.
• Bucknell's projected starters on defense have made a combined 83 starts.
• On offense, two seniors, one junior (OL R.J. Mehan), four sophomores and two freshmen are expected to start. QBs Nick Semptimphelter and Ethan Grady, who have combined for three career starts, and RTs Zack Tarburton and Harrison Shepherd, who have combined for 12 career starts, are considered even on this week's depth chart.
• On defense, two seniors, four juniors, three sophomores and two freshmen are projected to start.
• Nine Bison currently have at least 10 career starts: DL Grayson Cherubino (19), WR Dominic Lyles (17), RB Jared Cooper (16), CB Micah Dennis (16), CB/S Gavin Pringle (16), CB Sterling Deary (14), OL Michael Killiri (14), Tarburton (11) and OL Ethan Pitzel (10). Of that group, six are seniors, one (Pringle) is a junior and two are sophomores.
• RB/WR Coleman Bennett will become the third sophomore to reach the double digits in career starts with a start at Colgate.
• Pitzel, who has started eight-straight games dating back to the spring of 2021, is the lone remaining Bison with a starting streak that spans multiple seasons. Â
• Pringle had his starting streak snapped at 16 games against Fordham; entering that game, he was the only Bison with a starting streak in the double digits.
• The following 26 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, Grady, OL Jake Guy, DL Luke Hamper, WR Damian Harris, LB Blake Leake, WR Matt McCreight, RB Danny Meuser, DL Will Ohler, OL Sean Quarterman, CB Ethan Robinson, S Jonathan Searcy, Semptimphelter, TE Charlie Shadek, Shepherd, TE Christian Spugnardi, S Mason Taylor, DL Aneesh Vyas and OL Jack Wall.
• Of Bucknell's first-time starters, two are seniors, four are juniors, 12 are sophomores and eight are freshmen. The total of 26 represents nearly 30 percent of the team's roster.
• Against Georgetown, Grady and Shepherd became the latest Bison to start his first collegiate game. Grady is the third quarterback to start for the first time this season, joining Beverett and Semptimphelter.
• Multiple players made their first career starts in six of Bucknell's seven 2021 games, topping out at 10 in its first tilt at Sacred Heart.
• Three offensive players have started all seven of Bucknell's 2021 games to date: Harris, Mehan and Pitzel. Four defensive players have started all six of Bucknell's 2021 games to date: Allen, Deary, Searcy and S Brent Jackson.
• No senior has played in all 33 of Bucknell's games during his time in Lewisburg to date. Dennis (30), Cooper (29) and Lyles (28) are the class leaders in career appearances. Â
• Juniors Allen, Searcy and CB Eric Holsinger have played in all 22 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 this week's depth chart.
Milestones Met Against Georgetown
• WR Dominic Lyles: Matched school record with three touchdown receptions, becoming the sixth Bison to accomplish this feat
• WR Dominic Lyles: Reached 1,000 career receiving yards; now has 1,096 Â
Milestone Watch
• LB Ben Allen: Needs 13 tackles to reach 100 in his career
• RB Jared Cooper: Needs 251 rushing yards to reach 1,500 in his career
• S Brent Jackson: Needs 30 tackles to reach 100 in his career
• WR Dominic Lyles: Needs 13 receptions to reach 100 in his career Â
• WR Dominic Lyles: Needs 15 receptions to crack Bucknell's top 10 in career receptions with 102
• 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)
• WR Dominic Lyles: Single Game Touchdown Receptions (3, 10/23/21 vs. Georgetown)
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.
Â
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 Lehigh on Saturday, Nov. 6.
Players Mentioned
LB
/ Football
RB
/ Football
TE
/ Football
RB
/ Football
RB
/ Football
QB
/ Football
QB
/ Football
DL
/ Football
DL
/ Football
DL
/ Football
DL
/ Football
RB
/ Football
CB
/ Football
CB
/ Football
QB
/ Football
QB
/ Football
DL
/ Football
WR
/ Football
CB
/ Football
S
/ Football
OL
/ Football
LB
/ Football
WR
/ Football
WR
/ Football
OL
/ Football
DL
/ Football
RB
/ Football
LB
/ Football
DL
/ Football
LB
/ Football
OL
/ Football
CB/S
/ Football
OL
/ Football
CB
/ Football
S
/ Football
OL
/ Football
WR
/ Football
S
/ Football
QB
/ Football
TE
/ Football
OL
/ Football
TE
/ Football
OL
/ Football
OL
/ Football
S
/ Football
LB
/ Football
DL
/ Football
Georgetown-Bucknell Women's Soccer Highlights 9-11-2025
Friday, September 12
In The Herd: Bucknell Invitational Preview And Mirra Manolov And Abby Platt Features
Thursday, September 11
Evelyn Bliss World's Send Off
Thursday, September 11
In The Herd: Georgetown Game Preview And Katie Connell Feature
Thursday, September 11