Saturday, November 13
West Point, N.Y.
12 p.m.
Bucknell University
at
Army West Point
Photo by: Lianne Garrahan
Bucknell Football Faces Army West Point at Michie Stadium
11/9/2021 12:20:00 PM | Football
The Bison's game against the Black Knights will be televised on the CBS Sports Network
LEWISBURG, Pa. – The Bucknell football team travels to historic Michie Stadium for a 12 p.m. game against Army West Point on Saturday, Nov. 13.
The Bison are set to face off against the Black Knights for the seventh time in program history, with the game being televised live on the CBS Sports Network. In their most recent meeting, Army West Point edged Bucknell behind a fourth-quarter touchdown, 21-14, during the 2015 campaign.
The complete media notes can be viewed here. The game program can be viewed here.
Tickets can be purchased through the Campus Box Office at Bucknell.edu/BoxOffice. A fan bus is also set to make the trip to West Point; to secure a seat, visit this link.
When: Saturday, Nov. 13 – 12 p.m.
Where: Michie Stadium – West Point, N.Y.
Television: CBS Sports Network
Internet Video: CBSSports.com
Radio: 100.9 The Valley (WVLY)
Internet Radio: WVLY.com/The__Valley
Live Stats: GoArmyWestPoint.com
Follow on Twitter: @Bucknell_FB
Army West Point Spectator Policy: GoArmyWestPoint.com
With a victory the Bison would... Â
• defeat an FBS opponent for the first time
• defeat the Black Knights for the first time
• snap a five-game losing skid away from Lewisburg with their first road win of the season
Bucknell at a Glance
• Bucknell is 1-8 (0-5 PL) in 2021 following its 38-6 loss to Lehigh on Nov. 6.
• 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 OL Ethan Pitzel (Offensive) and DL Connor Carretta (Defense). Pitzel is Bucknell's third repeat game captain, joining Cooper and S Brent Jackson.
Inside the Lehigh Box Score
• Bucknell was downed by rival Lehigh, 38-6, on Nov. 6. Turnovers proved costly for the Bison, who had their winning streak over the Mountain Hawks snapped at two games.
• Lehigh suffocated the Bucknell offense for large chunks of the contest, ceding only 170 yards of total offense and 10 first downs.
• Three of the Mountain Hawks' touchdowns came following interceptions, including on back-to-back drives in the second quarter that helped them build a 21-6 halftime lead.
• For Lehigh, RB Jack DiPietro filled the stat sheet with 93 yards and two touchdowns on 16 carries and 71 yards on three receptions. LB Nate Norris logged a game-best 10 tackles while LB Mike DeNucci led all players with two sacks.
• K Ryan Schatzel became the first Bison to kick a field goal of at least 40 yards since K John Burdick booted a 46 yarder to lift Bucknell to a 34-31 walk-off victory over Sacred Heart in 2017. He also doubled his previous career-best total in points that was set five times this season.
• QBs Nick Semptimphelter and Ethan Grady split time, combining for 156 yards. WRs Dominic Lyles (47) and Mason Muir (40) each exceeded 40 receiving yards.
• S Brent Jackson paced the Bison with nine tackles while Mike Bright Jr. registered a sack that went for a loss of 10 yards. It was Bright Jr.'s third-straight game with a sack.
• CB Micah Dennis's interception came in the end zone, preventing the Mountain Hawks from putting points on the board first early in the game.
• Playing on special teams, RB Danny Meuser blocked a punt, which S Alex Smith Jr. recovered.
• Lehigh finished with advantages in total offense (408-170), first downs (22-10) and time of possession (37:01-22:59). The Mountain Hawks limited the Bison to just 14 rushing yards over the course of the contest and held an 8-2 edge in tackles for a loss, with theirs going for a loss of 30 yards compared to Bucknell's 11.
Army West Point at a Glance
• Army West Point is 5-3 in 2021 following its 21-14 overtime victory over Air Force on Nov. 6 in the Lockheed Martin Commanders' Classic presented by USAA.
• The Black Knights rank in the FBS's top 10 in the following statistical categories: time of possession (1st, 37:36), rushing offense (2nd, 286.0), team passing efficiency (2nd, 198.39), first downs defense (4th, 132), fewest penalties per game (t-4th, 4.00) and fourth down conversion percentage (9th, 0.731).
• DL Nolan Cockrill (Outland Trophy & Nagurski Trophy), P Zach Harding (Ray Guy Award), QB Jabari Laws (Wuerffel Trophy), RB Tyrell Robinson (Paul Hornung Award) and LB Arik Smith (Lott IMPACT Trophy) each appear on 2021 Watch Lists for major FBS awards. In addition, DL Cedrick Cunningham Jr. was named to the Reese's Senior Bowl Watch List.
• In 2020, Army West Point posted a 9-3 record and earned a spot in the AutoZone Liberty Bowl. There, the Black Knights fell to West Virginia by a tight 24-21 margin.
The Bucknell/Army West Point Series
• Army West Point leads the all-time series with Bucknell, 6-0.
• All six of the Bison and Black Knights' games occurred at Michie Stadium.
• Bucknell and Army West Point most recently squared off in 2015. Prior to that contest, their most recent meeting was in 1995.
• The Black Knights have outscored the Bison by an average margin of 31.3-7.
• In the teams' first meeting, on Nov. 17, 1900, the great Christy Mathewson scored all of Bucknell's points with two field goals in an 18-10 Army victory. One of his field goals, which were worth five points in those days, was the longest in the country that season at 48 yards.
• The Bison lost by a single touchdown in 2015, representing their narrowest margin of defeat to the Black Knights.
The Last Meeting with the Black Knights Â
Bucknell 14 – Army West Point 21 (Oct. 17, 2015 – West Point, N.Y.)
• Bucknell was edged by Army West Point, 21-14, in a hard-fought game at Michie Stadium.
• The Black Knights scored the go-ahead touchdown with just under five minutes remaining in regulation; that score was a 68-yard touchdown reception by WR Edgar Poe from backup QB A.J. Schurr.
• The game was close throughout, with the Bison tied or leading for all but 6:10. Neither team held a lead of more than a single touchdown at any point.
• At halftime, Bucknell held a 14-7 advantage. The Bison's touchdown catches were hauled in by WR Will Carter, a 35 yarder, and TE Andrew Owers, a four yarder.
• QB R.J. Nitti completed 17 of 33 passes for 186 yards and two touchdowns while RB Matt DelMauro ran for 105 yards on 18 carries.
• WR Bobby Kaslander finished with 74 yards on five catches while Carter totaled 54 yards on the same number.
• S Connor Golden led all players with a career-best 13 tackles and two interceptions; he later appeared on SportsCenter Top 10 plays for his one acrobatic grab.
• LB Mark Pyles also reached the double digits in tackles, logging 10.
• The Black Knights finished with advantages in first downs (18-14), total offense (377-290) and time of possession (35:23-24:37).
• Thanks to Golden's two interceptions and a fumble recovery by CB Bryan Marine, Bucknell won the turnover battle, 3-1. The Bison didn't turn the ball over until their final possession.
• Bucknell's margin of defeat was its narrowest to Army West Point in program history. It was also the Bison's second-closest loss to an FBS foe behind a 16-14 heart breaker to Rutgers in 1979.
Bucknell vs. FBS Opponents
• Army West Point will be Bucknell's second Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) opponent in the past three seasons; the Bison faced off against Temple during the 2019 campaign.
• Bucknell is 0-7 against FBS schools since the FBS/FCS (formerly I-A and I-AA) classification began in 1978.
• Three of the Bison's past five games against FBS programs were at Army West Point. They have also taken on Kent State, Rutgers and Temple.
• Three of Bucknell's six games against Army West Point came before the FBS/FCS (formerly I-A and I-AA) classification began in 1978.
• The Bison's average margin of defeat to an FBS program is 36.1-12.3.
Bucknell vs. FBS Programs (since Division I classification began in 1978)
• Sept. 23, 1978: Rutgers 27, Bucknell 13 (Lewisburg, Pa.)
• Sept. 22, 1979: Rutgers 16, Bucknell 14 (Piscataway, N.J.)
• Oct. 1, 1988: Army West Point 58, Bucknell 10 (West Point, N.Y.)
• Nov. 18, 1995: Army West Point 37, Bucknell 6 (West Point, N.Y.)
• Sept. 8, 2001: Kent State 38, Bucknell 17 (Kent, Ohio)
• Oct. 17, 2015: Army West Point 21, Bucknell 14 (West Point, N.Y.)
• Aug. 31, 2019: Temple 56, Bucknell 12 (Philadelphia, Pa.)
Inside the Bucknell Depth Chart
• Bucknell's projected starters on offense have made a combined 94 starts.
• Bucknell's projected starters on defense have made a combined 89 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 five career starts, and RTs Zack Tarburton and Harrison Shepherd, who have combined for 14 career starts, are considered even on this week's depth chart.
• On defense, two seniors, three juniors, four sophomores and two freshmen are projected to start.
• Twelve Bison currently have at least 10 career starts: DL Grayson Cherubino (19), WR Dominic Lyles (19), RB Jared Cooper (18), CB Micah Dennis (17), CB/S Gavin Pringle (16), CB Sterling Deary (15), OL Michael Killiri (14), OL Ethan Pitzel (12), RB/WR Coleman Bennett (11), Tarburton (11), DL Mike Bright Jr. (10) and S Brent Jackson (10). Of that group, six are seniors, two are juniors and four are sophomores.
• Against Lehigh, Bright Jr. and Jackson became the latest Bison to reach the double digits in career starts. Jackson is the second junior to reach this milestone, joining Pringle.
• With a start at Army West Point, Mehan, LB Ben Allen and S Jonathan Searcy will each reach the double digits in career starts. All are juniors.
• Pitzel is the lone offensive player who has started all nine of Bucknell's 2021 games to date. Three defensive players have done the same: Allen, Jackson and Searcy.
• Pitzel, who has started 10-straight games dating back to the spring of 2021, is the lone Bison with a starting streak that spans multiple seasons. Â
• Pringle had his starting streak snapped at 16 games in Bucknell's sixth game at Fordham; entering that tilt, he was the only Bison with a starting streak in the double digits.
• 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.
• No senior has played in all 35 of Bucknell's games during his time in Lewisburg to date. Dennis (32), Cooper (31) and Lyles (30) are the class leaders in career appearances. Â
• Juniors Allen, Searcy and CB Eric Holsinger have played in all 24 of Bucknell's games during their time in Lewisburg to date.
• The following 28 players each made his first career start this season: 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, Searcy, Semptimphelter, TE Charlie Shadek, Shepherd, S Alex Smith Jr., TE Christian Spugnardi, OL Fredrick Sturgis, 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 10 are freshmen. The total of 28 represents nearly 32 percent of the team's roster.
• Multiple players made their first career starts in seven of Bucknell's nine 2021 games, topping out at 10 in its first tilt at Sacred Heart.
• Smith Jr. and Sturgis became the latest Bison to make their first career starts against Lehigh.
• In their ninth game at Colgate, the Bison had no player make his first career start for the only time this season.
• Bennett, Bright Jr., 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.
Milestone Watch
• LB Ben Allen: Needs 11 tackles to reach 100 in his career
• RB Jared Cooper: Needs 217 rushing yards to reach 1,500 in his career
• S Brent Jackson: Needs 13 tackles to reach 100 in his career
• WR Dominic Lyles: Needs nine receptions to reach 100 in his career Â
• WR Dominic Lyles: Needs 11 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.
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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
• Bucknell closes its 2021 campaign by hosting defending Patriot League champion Holy Cross on Saturday, Nov. 20 at 1 p.m.
• Before that game, the Bison will honor their 13 seniors: DL Ryan Betz, DL Grayson Cherubino, RB Jared Cooper, CB Sterling Deary, CB Micah Dennis, QB Tarrin Earle, DL Luke Hamper, OL Michael Killiri, WR Renn Lints, WR Dominic Lyles, LB Cole McCabe, OL Noah Sansalone and OL Jacob Russ.
• Cooper and Lyles were 2021 Spring All-Patriot League selections while Cherubino made the 2019 CoSIDA Academic All-District 2 Team and was a 2021 William V. Campbell Trophy semifinalist.
The Bison are set to face off against the Black Knights for the seventh time in program history, with the game being televised live on the CBS Sports Network. In their most recent meeting, Army West Point edged Bucknell behind a fourth-quarter touchdown, 21-14, during the 2015 campaign.
The complete media notes can be viewed here. The game program can be viewed here.
Tickets can be purchased through the Campus Box Office at Bucknell.edu/BoxOffice. A fan bus is also set to make the trip to West Point; to secure a seat, visit this link.
When: Saturday, Nov. 13 – 12 p.m.
Where: Michie Stadium – West Point, N.Y.
Television: CBS Sports Network
Internet Video: CBSSports.com
Radio: 100.9 The Valley (WVLY)
Internet Radio: WVLY.com/The__Valley
Live Stats: GoArmyWestPoint.com
Follow on Twitter: @Bucknell_FB
Army West Point Spectator Policy: GoArmyWestPoint.com
With a victory the Bison would... Â
• defeat an FBS opponent for the first time
• defeat the Black Knights for the first time
• snap a five-game losing skid away from Lewisburg with their first road win of the season
Bucknell at a Glance
• Bucknell is 1-8 (0-5 PL) in 2021 following its 38-6 loss to Lehigh on Nov. 6.
• 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 OL Ethan Pitzel (Offensive) and DL Connor Carretta (Defense). Pitzel is Bucknell's third repeat game captain, joining Cooper and S Brent Jackson.
Inside the Lehigh Box Score
• Bucknell was downed by rival Lehigh, 38-6, on Nov. 6. Turnovers proved costly for the Bison, who had their winning streak over the Mountain Hawks snapped at two games.
• Lehigh suffocated the Bucknell offense for large chunks of the contest, ceding only 170 yards of total offense and 10 first downs.
• Three of the Mountain Hawks' touchdowns came following interceptions, including on back-to-back drives in the second quarter that helped them build a 21-6 halftime lead.
• For Lehigh, RB Jack DiPietro filled the stat sheet with 93 yards and two touchdowns on 16 carries and 71 yards on three receptions. LB Nate Norris logged a game-best 10 tackles while LB Mike DeNucci led all players with two sacks.
• K Ryan Schatzel became the first Bison to kick a field goal of at least 40 yards since K John Burdick booted a 46 yarder to lift Bucknell to a 34-31 walk-off victory over Sacred Heart in 2017. He also doubled his previous career-best total in points that was set five times this season.
• QBs Nick Semptimphelter and Ethan Grady split time, combining for 156 yards. WRs Dominic Lyles (47) and Mason Muir (40) each exceeded 40 receiving yards.
• S Brent Jackson paced the Bison with nine tackles while Mike Bright Jr. registered a sack that went for a loss of 10 yards. It was Bright Jr.'s third-straight game with a sack.
• CB Micah Dennis's interception came in the end zone, preventing the Mountain Hawks from putting points on the board first early in the game.
• Playing on special teams, RB Danny Meuser blocked a punt, which S Alex Smith Jr. recovered.
• Lehigh finished with advantages in total offense (408-170), first downs (22-10) and time of possession (37:01-22:59). The Mountain Hawks limited the Bison to just 14 rushing yards over the course of the contest and held an 8-2 edge in tackles for a loss, with theirs going for a loss of 30 yards compared to Bucknell's 11.
Army West Point at a Glance
• Army West Point is 5-3 in 2021 following its 21-14 overtime victory over Air Force on Nov. 6 in the Lockheed Martin Commanders' Classic presented by USAA.
• The Black Knights rank in the FBS's top 10 in the following statistical categories: time of possession (1st, 37:36), rushing offense (2nd, 286.0), team passing efficiency (2nd, 198.39), first downs defense (4th, 132), fewest penalties per game (t-4th, 4.00) and fourth down conversion percentage (9th, 0.731).
• DL Nolan Cockrill (Outland Trophy & Nagurski Trophy), P Zach Harding (Ray Guy Award), QB Jabari Laws (Wuerffel Trophy), RB Tyrell Robinson (Paul Hornung Award) and LB Arik Smith (Lott IMPACT Trophy) each appear on 2021 Watch Lists for major FBS awards. In addition, DL Cedrick Cunningham Jr. was named to the Reese's Senior Bowl Watch List.
• In 2020, Army West Point posted a 9-3 record and earned a spot in the AutoZone Liberty Bowl. There, the Black Knights fell to West Virginia by a tight 24-21 margin.
The Bucknell/Army West Point Series
• Army West Point leads the all-time series with Bucknell, 6-0.
• All six of the Bison and Black Knights' games occurred at Michie Stadium.
• Bucknell and Army West Point most recently squared off in 2015. Prior to that contest, their most recent meeting was in 1995.
• The Black Knights have outscored the Bison by an average margin of 31.3-7.
• In the teams' first meeting, on Nov. 17, 1900, the great Christy Mathewson scored all of Bucknell's points with two field goals in an 18-10 Army victory. One of his field goals, which were worth five points in those days, was the longest in the country that season at 48 yards.
• The Bison lost by a single touchdown in 2015, representing their narrowest margin of defeat to the Black Knights.
The Last Meeting with the Black Knights Â
Bucknell 14 – Army West Point 21 (Oct. 17, 2015 – West Point, N.Y.)
• Bucknell was edged by Army West Point, 21-14, in a hard-fought game at Michie Stadium.
• The Black Knights scored the go-ahead touchdown with just under five minutes remaining in regulation; that score was a 68-yard touchdown reception by WR Edgar Poe from backup QB A.J. Schurr.
• The game was close throughout, with the Bison tied or leading for all but 6:10. Neither team held a lead of more than a single touchdown at any point.
• At halftime, Bucknell held a 14-7 advantage. The Bison's touchdown catches were hauled in by WR Will Carter, a 35 yarder, and TE Andrew Owers, a four yarder.
• QB R.J. Nitti completed 17 of 33 passes for 186 yards and two touchdowns while RB Matt DelMauro ran for 105 yards on 18 carries.
• WR Bobby Kaslander finished with 74 yards on five catches while Carter totaled 54 yards on the same number.
• S Connor Golden led all players with a career-best 13 tackles and two interceptions; he later appeared on SportsCenter Top 10 plays for his one acrobatic grab.
• LB Mark Pyles also reached the double digits in tackles, logging 10.
• The Black Knights finished with advantages in first downs (18-14), total offense (377-290) and time of possession (35:23-24:37).
• Thanks to Golden's two interceptions and a fumble recovery by CB Bryan Marine, Bucknell won the turnover battle, 3-1. The Bison didn't turn the ball over until their final possession.
• Bucknell's margin of defeat was its narrowest to Army West Point in program history. It was also the Bison's second-closest loss to an FBS foe behind a 16-14 heart breaker to Rutgers in 1979.
Bucknell vs. FBS Opponents
• Army West Point will be Bucknell's second Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) opponent in the past three seasons; the Bison faced off against Temple during the 2019 campaign.
• Bucknell is 0-7 against FBS schools since the FBS/FCS (formerly I-A and I-AA) classification began in 1978.
• Three of the Bison's past five games against FBS programs were at Army West Point. They have also taken on Kent State, Rutgers and Temple.
• Three of Bucknell's six games against Army West Point came before the FBS/FCS (formerly I-A and I-AA) classification began in 1978.
• The Bison's average margin of defeat to an FBS program is 36.1-12.3.
Bucknell vs. FBS Programs (since Division I classification began in 1978)
• Sept. 23, 1978: Rutgers 27, Bucknell 13 (Lewisburg, Pa.)
• Sept. 22, 1979: Rutgers 16, Bucknell 14 (Piscataway, N.J.)
• Oct. 1, 1988: Army West Point 58, Bucknell 10 (West Point, N.Y.)
• Nov. 18, 1995: Army West Point 37, Bucknell 6 (West Point, N.Y.)
• Sept. 8, 2001: Kent State 38, Bucknell 17 (Kent, Ohio)
• Oct. 17, 2015: Army West Point 21, Bucknell 14 (West Point, N.Y.)
• Aug. 31, 2019: Temple 56, Bucknell 12 (Philadelphia, Pa.)
Inside the Bucknell Depth Chart
• Bucknell's projected starters on offense have made a combined 94 starts.
• Bucknell's projected starters on defense have made a combined 89 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 five career starts, and RTs Zack Tarburton and Harrison Shepherd, who have combined for 14 career starts, are considered even on this week's depth chart.
• On defense, two seniors, three juniors, four sophomores and two freshmen are projected to start.
• Twelve Bison currently have at least 10 career starts: DL Grayson Cherubino (19), WR Dominic Lyles (19), RB Jared Cooper (18), CB Micah Dennis (17), CB/S Gavin Pringle (16), CB Sterling Deary (15), OL Michael Killiri (14), OL Ethan Pitzel (12), RB/WR Coleman Bennett (11), Tarburton (11), DL Mike Bright Jr. (10) and S Brent Jackson (10). Of that group, six are seniors, two are juniors and four are sophomores.
• Against Lehigh, Bright Jr. and Jackson became the latest Bison to reach the double digits in career starts. Jackson is the second junior to reach this milestone, joining Pringle.
• With a start at Army West Point, Mehan, LB Ben Allen and S Jonathan Searcy will each reach the double digits in career starts. All are juniors.
• Pitzel is the lone offensive player who has started all nine of Bucknell's 2021 games to date. Three defensive players have done the same: Allen, Jackson and Searcy.
• Pitzel, who has started 10-straight games dating back to the spring of 2021, is the lone Bison with a starting streak that spans multiple seasons. Â
• Pringle had his starting streak snapped at 16 games in Bucknell's sixth game at Fordham; entering that tilt, he was the only Bison with a starting streak in the double digits.
• 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.
• No senior has played in all 35 of Bucknell's games during his time in Lewisburg to date. Dennis (32), Cooper (31) and Lyles (30) are the class leaders in career appearances. Â
• Juniors Allen, Searcy and CB Eric Holsinger have played in all 24 of Bucknell's games during their time in Lewisburg to date.
• The following 28 players each made his first career start this season: 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, Searcy, Semptimphelter, TE Charlie Shadek, Shepherd, S Alex Smith Jr., TE Christian Spugnardi, OL Fredrick Sturgis, 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 10 are freshmen. The total of 28 represents nearly 32 percent of the team's roster.
• Multiple players made their first career starts in seven of Bucknell's nine 2021 games, topping out at 10 in its first tilt at Sacred Heart.
• Smith Jr. and Sturgis became the latest Bison to make their first career starts against Lehigh.
• In their ninth game at Colgate, the Bison had no player make his first career start for the only time this season.
• Bennett, Bright Jr., 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.
Milestone Watch
• LB Ben Allen: Needs 11 tackles to reach 100 in his career
• RB Jared Cooper: Needs 217 rushing yards to reach 1,500 in his career
• S Brent Jackson: Needs 13 tackles to reach 100 in his career
• WR Dominic Lyles: Needs nine receptions to reach 100 in his career Â
• WR Dominic Lyles: Needs 11 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.
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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
• Bucknell closes its 2021 campaign by hosting defending Patriot League champion Holy Cross on Saturday, Nov. 20 at 1 p.m.
• Before that game, the Bison will honor their 13 seniors: DL Ryan Betz, DL Grayson Cherubino, RB Jared Cooper, CB Sterling Deary, CB Micah Dennis, QB Tarrin Earle, DL Luke Hamper, OL Michael Killiri, WR Renn Lints, WR Dominic Lyles, LB Cole McCabe, OL Noah Sansalone and OL Jacob Russ.
• Cooper and Lyles were 2021 Spring All-Patriot League selections while Cherubino made the 2019 CoSIDA Academic All-District 2 Team and was a 2021 William V. Campbell Trophy semifinalist.
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(Coaches Camera) Mount St. Mary's Men's Water Polo Vs. Mercyhurst (10/11/25)
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