Saturday, November 19
Lewisburg, Pa.
1 p.m.
Bucknell University
vs
Marist
Photo by: John Rooney
Football Hosts Marist for Senior Day, Season Finale Saturday
11/17/2022 6:03:00 PM | Football
LEWISBURG, Pa. – Bucknell is looking to end the season on a high note when it hosts Marist at Christy Mathewson-Memorial Stadium on Saturday. The Bison are seeking their second straight victory following a dramatic overtime win at Georgetown last weekend. Bucknell will also look to make it eight straight wins against the Red Foxes.
Bucknell is celebrating Senior Day on Saturday, and the team will recognize 11 graduating Bison prior to the start of the game.
The complete media notes can be viewed here. The game program can be viewed here.
When: Saturday, Nov. 19 – 1 p.m.
Where: Christy Mathewson-Memorial Stadium – Lewisburg, Pa.
Watch: ESPN+
Radio: 100.9 The Valley (WVLY)
Internet Radio: WVLY.com/The__Valley
Live Stats: BucknellBison.com
Follow on Twitter: @Bucknell_FB
With a victory Bucknell would...
• end the season with two straight victories
• win three games for the first time since 2019
• move to 3-8 on the season
• improve to 13-1 all-time against Marist
• win its first home game of the season
Bucknell at a Glance
• Bucknell (2-8, 2-4 PL) is looking to end its season with two straight wins when it hosts Marist at Christ Mathewson-Memorial Stadium on Saturday for the season finale. The Bison are coming off a thrilling victory over Georgetown in what was their second overtime game of the season.
• Bucknell is celebrating Senior Day on Saturday, and 11 graduating Bison will be recognized prior to the start of the game.
• The Bison have been strong defensively down the final stretch this season, and they currently rank 11th in the FCS in turnover margin. Bucknell grabbed three interceptions in last Saturday's game while playing turnover-free football themselves. The Bison lead the league with 15 interceptions on the year.
• The Bison have also seen plenty of bright spots on special teams this season. Bucknell collected two Patriot League Weekly awards on Monday, both of which were earned by special teams players. Bucknell has now collected five PL weekly awards.
• Bucknell was picked to finish seventh in the Patriot League based on a vote by the league's head coaches and sports information directors ahead of the 2022 season.
• The Bison finished 1-10 overall in the 2021 season and went 0-6 against league opponents. They were picked in the same spot prior to the shortened 2021 spring season before capturing the Patriot League South Division title and earning a spot in the first-ever Patriot League Championship. Bucknell eventually fell to Holy Cross in the title game that spring, and the Crusaders were picked to win the league again in 2022 as the three-time defending champions.
• Senior DB Gavin Pringle was voted to the 2022 Preseason All-Patriot League Team for a third time in his career. Pringle is a two-time All-Patriot League selection and tied for the team lead in pass breakups last year despite missing more than half the season with injury.
• The Bison returned a staggering 51 letterwinners in 2022, as dozens of underclassmen gained playing experience during an injury-plagued season last fall. The young group of returning lettermen include 18 sophomores, 23 juniors and 10 seniors. Five seniors are three-time letterwinners: Pringle, DB Jonathan Searcy, LB Ben Allen, Jackson and DL Cooper Kim.
• Bucknell's lone victory during the 2021 campaign came at home in week 4 against Cornell. The Bison scored two unanswered touchdowns in the fourth quarter and generated four turnovers during Homecoming Weekend. Quarterback Nick Semptimphelter connected with tight end Christian Spugnardi for the go-ahead touchdown. Semptimphelter later ran for a two-yard touchdown.
• Bucknell is in its fourth season under head coach Dave Cecchini, who spent the previous five years 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.
• Searcy, Allen, Jackson and junior OL Ethan Pitzel were selected as team captains for the 2022 season.
Seniors Being Recognized on Saturday
• WR Connor Holmes, WR Matt McCreight, DB Gavin Pringle, DB Jonathan Searcy, RB Mikey Neal, LB Ben Allen, DB Brent Jackson, LB Cooper Kim, OL R.J. Mehan, TE Charlie Shadek, manager Tom Vella.
Inside the Georgetown Box Score
• Bucknell's special teams accounted for 16 of the 24 points in Bucknell's overtime win at Georgetown, as kicker Matt Schearer went 3-for-3 on field goals, and RB/KR Coleman Bennett ran back a kickoff 93 yards to the end zone.
• Bennett also scored a touchdown with 47 seconds remaining that helped send the game to overtime. QB Nick Semptimphelter then connected with WR Josh Gary for the 2-point conversion to tie it.
• Schearer's 50-yard field goal in the second quarter was the longest made field goal by a Bison since 1981, and Bennett's kickoff return touchdown was the team's first since 2017.
• The Bison defense came up with three interceptions, including one by Blake Leake, one by Brent Jackson and one by Gavin Pringle in overtime that sealed the victory.
• Semptimphelter led Bucknell on a 9-play, 84-yard drive in the final three minutes of regulation to tie the game. He finished with 21 completions for 198 yards. Marques Owens and Damian Harris each had four receptions, and Owens led the team with 60 receiving yards.
• Georgetown QB Pierce Holley threw for 201 yards on 26-of-39 passing and tossed two touchdowns.
• Georgetown QR Joshua Tomas led all players with 121 receiving yards and a touchdown.
Marist at a Glance
• Marist is 4-6 overall and 4-4 in the Pioneer Football League. The Red Foxes are coming off a 45-24 loss at Valparaiso. Prior to last week's loss the Red Foxes had won two in a row over Presbyterian and Morehead State.
• Marist ranks 15th in the nation in passing defense, limiting teams to 185.8 yards through the air per game. The Red Foxes are averaging 22.8 points per game and allowing 32.8 points per game to their opponents.
• Marist has shared one common opponent with Bucknell this season in Georgetown. The Hoyas defeated the Red Foxes 43-12 in the season opener on Sept. 3.
• Marist is led by head coach Jim Parady, who in 31 seasons with the program possesses a 151-163 career record. He has the most career wins in program history.
The Bucknell/Marist Series
• Bucknell holds a 12-1 advantage in the all-time series and enters 2022's game on a seven-game winning streak. This will be the first meeting between the Bison and the Red Foxes in five years.
• The Bison are 7-0 against the Red Foxes at Christy-Mathewson Memorial Stadium. Bucknell held Marist to seven or fewer points in four of those games.
• Bucknell routed Marist 45-6 in the most recent meeting in 2017.
• Bucknell blanked Marist in their 2014 (22-0) and 2015 (17-0) contests.
• Marist has never scored more than 20 points against Bucknell. The Red Foxes' highest total came in 2006's 48-19 loss in Poughkeepsie, N.Y.
• Marist's lone victory came on Sept. 11, 2010. The Red Foxes edged the Bison, 14-3, at Tenney Stadium at Leonidoff Field.
The Last Meeting with the Red Foxes
• The Bison opened the 2017 campaign with a commanding 45-6 victory over Marist. The Bison broke open the game early, scoring four touchdowns in the first quarter, including three in the final two minutes of the frame.
• Bucknell carried the momentum from its explosive opening stanza into the second quarter and added another touchdown on their first drive.
• Bucknell scored two defensive touchdowns, RB Chad Freshnock scored two more on the ground, and QB Matt Muh threw for a pair of scores.
• Marist avoided the shutout with a 4-yd TD run 29 seconds before halftime, capping a 16-play, 97-yard drive.
• The two teams combined for just 156 yards of offense in the second half, 121 of which belonged to the Bison.
• Bucknell kicked a 31-yard field goal for the only score of the third.
• Bucknell's Mark Pyles led the Bison with eight tackles, as the defense limited Marist to 154 yards of total offense.
Inside the Bucknell Depth Chart
• Bucknell's projected starters on offense have made a combined 132 starts. All 11 projected offensive starters have made at least one start.
• Bucknell's projected starters on defense have made a combined 197 starts. All 11 projected starters on defense have made at least one start.
• On offense, one senior (OL R.J. Mehan), six juniors and four sophomores are expected to start. Junior LT Ethan Pitzel leads the offensive group with 23 starts under his belt.
• On defense, four seniors, three juniors and four sophomores are expected to start. DB Gavin Pringle leads the entire roster in career starts (26).
• 21 Bison currently have at least 10 career starts.
• 11 Bison have started all 10 games this season: Allen, Harris, Jackson, Leake, Pitzel, Pringle, Robinson, Schlendorf, Searcy, Sturgis and Vyas.
• Only Allen and Jackson started all 11 of Bucknell's 2021 games. On the offensive side of the ball, Harris, Pitzel and Mehan each made 10 starts last season.
• 11 Bison currently boast starting streaks in the double digits.
• Only two seniors have played in all 36 of Bucknell's games during their time in Lewisburg to date: Allen and Searcy.
• Two juniors have played in all 24 of Bucknell's games during their time in Lewisburg to date: DL Tyler Alston and P/K Ruben Anderson.
• In 2021, a staggering 30 players each made their first career start. The total of 30 represented just over 34 percent of that team's roster; two were seniors, four were juniors, 12 were sophomores and 12 were freshmen.
Milestones Met Last Week
• S Brent Jackson reached 100 tackles for the season
• S Brent Jackson reached 200 career tackles
• WR Damian Harris reached 500 receiving yards for his career
Milestones to Watch
• WR Marques Owens needs 10 receiving yards to reach 500 for his career
• RB Coleman Bennett needs five rushing yards to reach 500 for his career
Bison Award Winners
• Two Bison earned Patriot League weekly awards on Monday. It was the second time that multiple Bison collected awards in the same week this season. Bucknell has picked up five PL weekly awards total this fall.
• RB/KR Coleman Bennett was voted the Patriot League Special Teams Player of the Week on Monday following his 93-yard kickoff return touchdown against Georgetown. He racked up 135 return yards against the Hoyas.
• K Matt Schearer has been named Patriot League Rookie of the Week twice, including this past Monday. Schearer earned the award this week after going 3-for-3 on field goal attempts and making his only PAT attempt in the win over Georgetown. Schearer's performance was highlighted by his 50-yard make.
• S Brent Jackson has been named Patriot League Defensive Player of the Week twice this season. He earned the award on Oct. 24 and Oct. 31, becoming the first Bucknell player to earn back-to-back weekly awards since Alex Peachin was named Patriot League Special Teams Player of the Week on Oct. 14, 2019 and Oct. 21, 2019.
• Jackson was named a semifinalist for the 2022 William V. Campbell Trophy®, the National Football Foundation & College Hall of Fame (NFF) announced last week. Only Bucknell and Dayton have had a Campbell Trophy semifinalist each of the past 17 years.
• The Bison returned one All-Patriot League player in DB Gavin Pringle (1st in '21S, 2nd in '19).
• Pringle has been voted to the Preseason All-Patriot League Team in three consecutive seasons, and RB Coleman Bennett was voted to the 2021 Preseason All-Patriot League Team, representing Bucknell as a return specialist.
• The Bison graduated All-Patriot League honorees RB Jared Cooper and WR Dominic Lyles following the 2021 season.
• DB Brent Jackson was voted to the 2021 Academic All-Patriot League Team, earning the award for the first time in his career.
• Bennett and Jackson were named 2022 Arthur Ashe Jr. Sports Scholars by the publication Diverse: Issues in Higher Education in May. The award recognizes undergraduate students of color who have excelled in the classroom as well as on the athletic fields.
Head Coach Dave Cecchini
• Dace 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.
Inside the 2022 Schedule
• This is the 137th season of football at Bucknell. The Bison played their first game in 1883 and have played continuously since 1887.
• Bucknell's challenging 2022 schedule includes trips to FBS program Central Michigan and Ivy League opponent Yale. Central Michigan marks the third FBS team the Bison have scheduled in four seasons.
• Bucknell's 2022 opponents went a combined 58-64 in 2021, with Central Michigan winning its Sun Bowl game and Holy Cross advancing to the FCS playoffs for the third-straight season. VMI earned a spot in the 2021 spring FCS playoffs on the strength of its first conference title since 1977 while Towson, which did not compete during the 2020-21 school year, won seven games in both 2019 and 2018, advancing to the 2018 FCS playoffs.
• Bucknell begins Patriot League action at home against Lafayette on Oct. 1.
• Bucknell's other home contests include on Colgate on Oct. 29, Fordham on Nov. 5, and Pioneer Football League member Marist for Senior Day on Nov. 19 to close out the regular season on 19.
How to Follow the Bison
• All of Bucknell's home games and its road contests at VMI, Yale, Holy Cross, Lehigh and Georgetown 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 Central Michigan will be broadcast on ESPN3.
• 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.
Bucknell is celebrating Senior Day on Saturday, and the team will recognize 11 graduating Bison prior to the start of the game.
The complete media notes can be viewed here. The game program can be viewed here.
When: Saturday, Nov. 19 – 1 p.m.
Where: Christy Mathewson-Memorial Stadium – Lewisburg, Pa.
Watch: ESPN+
Radio: 100.9 The Valley (WVLY)
Internet Radio: WVLY.com/The__Valley
Live Stats: BucknellBison.com
Follow on Twitter: @Bucknell_FB
With a victory Bucknell would...
• end the season with two straight victories
• win three games for the first time since 2019
• move to 3-8 on the season
• improve to 13-1 all-time against Marist
• win its first home game of the season
Bucknell at a Glance
• Bucknell (2-8, 2-4 PL) is looking to end its season with two straight wins when it hosts Marist at Christ Mathewson-Memorial Stadium on Saturday for the season finale. The Bison are coming off a thrilling victory over Georgetown in what was their second overtime game of the season.
• Bucknell is celebrating Senior Day on Saturday, and 11 graduating Bison will be recognized prior to the start of the game.
• The Bison have been strong defensively down the final stretch this season, and they currently rank 11th in the FCS in turnover margin. Bucknell grabbed three interceptions in last Saturday's game while playing turnover-free football themselves. The Bison lead the league with 15 interceptions on the year.
• The Bison have also seen plenty of bright spots on special teams this season. Bucknell collected two Patriot League Weekly awards on Monday, both of which were earned by special teams players. Bucknell has now collected five PL weekly awards.
• Bucknell was picked to finish seventh in the Patriot League based on a vote by the league's head coaches and sports information directors ahead of the 2022 season.
• The Bison finished 1-10 overall in the 2021 season and went 0-6 against league opponents. They were picked in the same spot prior to the shortened 2021 spring season before capturing the Patriot League South Division title and earning a spot in the first-ever Patriot League Championship. Bucknell eventually fell to Holy Cross in the title game that spring, and the Crusaders were picked to win the league again in 2022 as the three-time defending champions.
• Senior DB Gavin Pringle was voted to the 2022 Preseason All-Patriot League Team for a third time in his career. Pringle is a two-time All-Patriot League selection and tied for the team lead in pass breakups last year despite missing more than half the season with injury.
• The Bison returned a staggering 51 letterwinners in 2022, as dozens of underclassmen gained playing experience during an injury-plagued season last fall. The young group of returning lettermen include 18 sophomores, 23 juniors and 10 seniors. Five seniors are three-time letterwinners: Pringle, DB Jonathan Searcy, LB Ben Allen, Jackson and DL Cooper Kim.
• Bucknell's lone victory during the 2021 campaign came at home in week 4 against Cornell. The Bison scored two unanswered touchdowns in the fourth quarter and generated four turnovers during Homecoming Weekend. Quarterback Nick Semptimphelter connected with tight end Christian Spugnardi for the go-ahead touchdown. Semptimphelter later ran for a two-yard touchdown.
• Bucknell is in its fourth season under head coach Dave Cecchini, who spent the previous five years 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.
• Searcy, Allen, Jackson and junior OL Ethan Pitzel were selected as team captains for the 2022 season.
Seniors Being Recognized on Saturday
• WR Connor Holmes, WR Matt McCreight, DB Gavin Pringle, DB Jonathan Searcy, RB Mikey Neal, LB Ben Allen, DB Brent Jackson, LB Cooper Kim, OL R.J. Mehan, TE Charlie Shadek, manager Tom Vella.
Inside the Georgetown Box Score
• Bucknell's special teams accounted for 16 of the 24 points in Bucknell's overtime win at Georgetown, as kicker Matt Schearer went 3-for-3 on field goals, and RB/KR Coleman Bennett ran back a kickoff 93 yards to the end zone.
• Bennett also scored a touchdown with 47 seconds remaining that helped send the game to overtime. QB Nick Semptimphelter then connected with WR Josh Gary for the 2-point conversion to tie it.
• Schearer's 50-yard field goal in the second quarter was the longest made field goal by a Bison since 1981, and Bennett's kickoff return touchdown was the team's first since 2017.
• The Bison defense came up with three interceptions, including one by Blake Leake, one by Brent Jackson and one by Gavin Pringle in overtime that sealed the victory.
• Semptimphelter led Bucknell on a 9-play, 84-yard drive in the final three minutes of regulation to tie the game. He finished with 21 completions for 198 yards. Marques Owens and Damian Harris each had four receptions, and Owens led the team with 60 receiving yards.
• Georgetown QB Pierce Holley threw for 201 yards on 26-of-39 passing and tossed two touchdowns.
• Georgetown QR Joshua Tomas led all players with 121 receiving yards and a touchdown.
Marist at a Glance
• Marist is 4-6 overall and 4-4 in the Pioneer Football League. The Red Foxes are coming off a 45-24 loss at Valparaiso. Prior to last week's loss the Red Foxes had won two in a row over Presbyterian and Morehead State.
• Marist ranks 15th in the nation in passing defense, limiting teams to 185.8 yards through the air per game. The Red Foxes are averaging 22.8 points per game and allowing 32.8 points per game to their opponents.
• Marist has shared one common opponent with Bucknell this season in Georgetown. The Hoyas defeated the Red Foxes 43-12 in the season opener on Sept. 3.
• Marist is led by head coach Jim Parady, who in 31 seasons with the program possesses a 151-163 career record. He has the most career wins in program history.
The Bucknell/Marist Series
• Bucknell holds a 12-1 advantage in the all-time series and enters 2022's game on a seven-game winning streak. This will be the first meeting between the Bison and the Red Foxes in five years.
• The Bison are 7-0 against the Red Foxes at Christy-Mathewson Memorial Stadium. Bucknell held Marist to seven or fewer points in four of those games.
• Bucknell routed Marist 45-6 in the most recent meeting in 2017.
• Bucknell blanked Marist in their 2014 (22-0) and 2015 (17-0) contests.
• Marist has never scored more than 20 points against Bucknell. The Red Foxes' highest total came in 2006's 48-19 loss in Poughkeepsie, N.Y.
• Marist's lone victory came on Sept. 11, 2010. The Red Foxes edged the Bison, 14-3, at Tenney Stadium at Leonidoff Field.
The Last Meeting with the Red Foxes
• The Bison opened the 2017 campaign with a commanding 45-6 victory over Marist. The Bison broke open the game early, scoring four touchdowns in the first quarter, including three in the final two minutes of the frame.
• Bucknell carried the momentum from its explosive opening stanza into the second quarter and added another touchdown on their first drive.
• Bucknell scored two defensive touchdowns, RB Chad Freshnock scored two more on the ground, and QB Matt Muh threw for a pair of scores.
• Marist avoided the shutout with a 4-yd TD run 29 seconds before halftime, capping a 16-play, 97-yard drive.
• The two teams combined for just 156 yards of offense in the second half, 121 of which belonged to the Bison.
• Bucknell kicked a 31-yard field goal for the only score of the third.
• Bucknell's Mark Pyles led the Bison with eight tackles, as the defense limited Marist to 154 yards of total offense.
Inside the Bucknell Depth Chart
• Bucknell's projected starters on offense have made a combined 132 starts. All 11 projected offensive starters have made at least one start.
• Bucknell's projected starters on defense have made a combined 197 starts. All 11 projected starters on defense have made at least one start.
• On offense, one senior (OL R.J. Mehan), six juniors and four sophomores are expected to start. Junior LT Ethan Pitzel leads the offensive group with 23 starts under his belt.
• On defense, four seniors, three juniors and four sophomores are expected to start. DB Gavin Pringle leads the entire roster in career starts (26).
• 21 Bison currently have at least 10 career starts.
• 11 Bison have started all 10 games this season: Allen, Harris, Jackson, Leake, Pitzel, Pringle, Robinson, Schlendorf, Searcy, Sturgis and Vyas.
• Only Allen and Jackson started all 11 of Bucknell's 2021 games. On the offensive side of the ball, Harris, Pitzel and Mehan each made 10 starts last season.
• 11 Bison currently boast starting streaks in the double digits.
• Only two seniors have played in all 36 of Bucknell's games during their time in Lewisburg to date: Allen and Searcy.
• Two juniors have played in all 24 of Bucknell's games during their time in Lewisburg to date: DL Tyler Alston and P/K Ruben Anderson.
• In 2021, a staggering 30 players each made their first career start. The total of 30 represented just over 34 percent of that team's roster; two were seniors, four were juniors, 12 were sophomores and 12 were freshmen.
Milestones Met Last Week
• S Brent Jackson reached 100 tackles for the season
• S Brent Jackson reached 200 career tackles
• WR Damian Harris reached 500 receiving yards for his career
Milestones to Watch
• WR Marques Owens needs 10 receiving yards to reach 500 for his career
• RB Coleman Bennett needs five rushing yards to reach 500 for his career
Bison Award Winners
• Two Bison earned Patriot League weekly awards on Monday. It was the second time that multiple Bison collected awards in the same week this season. Bucknell has picked up five PL weekly awards total this fall.
• RB/KR Coleman Bennett was voted the Patriot League Special Teams Player of the Week on Monday following his 93-yard kickoff return touchdown against Georgetown. He racked up 135 return yards against the Hoyas.
• K Matt Schearer has been named Patriot League Rookie of the Week twice, including this past Monday. Schearer earned the award this week after going 3-for-3 on field goal attempts and making his only PAT attempt in the win over Georgetown. Schearer's performance was highlighted by his 50-yard make.
• S Brent Jackson has been named Patriot League Defensive Player of the Week twice this season. He earned the award on Oct. 24 and Oct. 31, becoming the first Bucknell player to earn back-to-back weekly awards since Alex Peachin was named Patriot League Special Teams Player of the Week on Oct. 14, 2019 and Oct. 21, 2019.
• Jackson was named a semifinalist for the 2022 William V. Campbell Trophy®, the National Football Foundation & College Hall of Fame (NFF) announced last week. Only Bucknell and Dayton have had a Campbell Trophy semifinalist each of the past 17 years.
• The Bison returned one All-Patriot League player in DB Gavin Pringle (1st in '21S, 2nd in '19).
• Pringle has been voted to the Preseason All-Patriot League Team in three consecutive seasons, and RB Coleman Bennett was voted to the 2021 Preseason All-Patriot League Team, representing Bucknell as a return specialist.
• The Bison graduated All-Patriot League honorees RB Jared Cooper and WR Dominic Lyles following the 2021 season.
• DB Brent Jackson was voted to the 2021 Academic All-Patriot League Team, earning the award for the first time in his career.
• Bennett and Jackson were named 2022 Arthur Ashe Jr. Sports Scholars by the publication Diverse: Issues in Higher Education in May. The award recognizes undergraduate students of color who have excelled in the classroom as well as on the athletic fields.
Head Coach Dave Cecchini
• Dace 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.
Inside the 2022 Schedule
• This is the 137th season of football at Bucknell. The Bison played their first game in 1883 and have played continuously since 1887.
• Bucknell's challenging 2022 schedule includes trips to FBS program Central Michigan and Ivy League opponent Yale. Central Michigan marks the third FBS team the Bison have scheduled in four seasons.
• Bucknell's 2022 opponents went a combined 58-64 in 2021, with Central Michigan winning its Sun Bowl game and Holy Cross advancing to the FCS playoffs for the third-straight season. VMI earned a spot in the 2021 spring FCS playoffs on the strength of its first conference title since 1977 while Towson, which did not compete during the 2020-21 school year, won seven games in both 2019 and 2018, advancing to the 2018 FCS playoffs.
• Bucknell begins Patriot League action at home against Lafayette on Oct. 1.
• Bucknell's other home contests include on Colgate on Oct. 29, Fordham on Nov. 5, and Pioneer Football League member Marist for Senior Day on Nov. 19 to close out the regular season on 19.
How to Follow the Bison
• All of Bucknell's home games and its road contests at VMI, Yale, Holy Cross, Lehigh and Georgetown 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 Central Michigan will be broadcast on ESPN3.
• 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.
Players Mentioned
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