Saturday, November 4
New York, N.Y.
1 p.m.
Bucknell University
at
Fordham
Photo by: John Rooney
Football Heads to New York for Patriot League Clash with Fordham
10/31/2023 4:43:00 PM | Football
LEWISBURG, Pa. – Bucknell is on the road for a second consecutive Saturday and will face Fordham at Moglia Stadium in the team's second-to-last Patriot League game of the season. The Bison are looking to make it back-to-back victories after dispatching Colgate 49-34 last weekend.
The Bison are coming off their best offensive performance in recent memory. The team posted 593 yards of total offense, which is tied for second-most in school history and last reached in 1998. Quarterback Ralph Rucker also broke the school's single-game passing yards record with 387 during a four-touchdown performance against the Raiders. The Bison will need a similar output on Saturday, as they take on a Rams team that ranks 10th in FCS in total offense and 13th in scoring offense.
Fordham is looking to bounce back after a heartbreaking 49-47 loss to Holy Cross last weekend. Holy Cross took the lead on a back-breaking pick six with five minutes remaining. The loss snapped an eight-game home win streak for the Rams.
Fordham has won 10 in a row over the Bison and is two games over .500 in the all-time series, but Bucknell enters the weekend a winner in two of its last three games and with newfound confidence after its most recent victory in New York.
Media Notes:
When: Saturday, Nov. 4 – 1 p.m.
Where: Moglia Stadium – Bronx, N.Y.
Internet Video: ESPN+
Radio: 100.9 The Valley (WVLY)
Internet Radio: BucknellBison.com
Live Stats: FordhamSports.com
Follow on Twitter: @Bucknell_FB
Media Notes: Bucknell | Fordham
With a Victory the Bison would…
• improve to 4-5 on the season
• improve to 3-2 in road games this season
• win three of its last four games
• improve to 2-3 in Patriot League play
• defeat Fordham for the first time since 2012
• move to 19-20 in all-time meetings with the Rams
• even its record on the road against Fordham at 11-11
Bucknell at a Glance
• Bucknell collected its first Patriot League win of the season last Saturday, defeating Colgate 49-34 on the road to move to 3-5 (1-3 PL). The Bison have won two of their last three games and improved to 2-2 in away games.
• Bucknell's other victories are over VMI (21-13) and Cornell (21-13).
• Teams that have beat the Bison have a combined 27-12 record. Three are nationally ranked, including the FBS' JMU, and another is receiving votes.
• Bucknell currently ranks 17th in FCS in kickoff return average (22.76). As a team, the Bison are third in the Patriot League in passing and tied for first in the league in interceptions after grabbing two more against Colgate.
• QB Ralph Rucker is coming off a record-setting performance against Colgate and earned Patriot League Offensive Player of the Week on Monday. His 387 passing yards were the most in a single game by a Bison, and his 33 completions were the most since 2001. Rucker also threw four TD passes.
• The Bison were picked to finish in a tie for sixth in the Patriot League based on a vote by the league's head coaches and sports information directors ahead of the 2023 season.
• Bucknell went 3-8 (2-4 PL) during the 2022 campaign, finishing in a tie for fourth. The Bison, who were picked to finish last in that season's Patriot League preseason poll, earned league wins over Lehigh (19-17) and Georgetown (24-21, OT) before ending the year with a victory over Marist (24-13).
• Bucknell is in its fifth season under Cecchini, who spent the previous five as head coach at Valparaiso. Cecchini was honored as the Patriot League Dick Biddle Coach of the Year during the four-game spring 2021 campaign.
• Bucknell returned a total of 56 letterwinners in 2023, a group that includes 23 seniors, 20 juniors and 13 sophomores. 12 seniors are three-time letterwinners.
• RB Coleman Bennett, LB Blake Leake, QB Nick Semptimphelter and OL Casey Stephenson are serving as 2023 team captains, as voted on by their teammates.
• Bucknell welcomed a host of new faces to the staff this season, including new offensive coordinator John Bear. Wide receivers coach Braelon Roberts, offensive line coach Sean Pearson, defensive backs coach Pat Clark and safeties coach McNeil Parker are all new assistants on the staff as well.
Inside the Colgate Box Score
• Bucknell recorded 593 yards of total offense, which is tied for second-most in school history, in a 49-34 victory at Colgate. The 49 points were the most the Bison had scored since the 2003 season. Bucknell had 400 yards of offense by halftime.
• After a back-and-fourth first quarter where Colgate led 13-7, Bucknell scored 27 unanswered points in the second quarter. The Bison scored touchdowns on four consecutive drives.
• Leading the dynamic offensive attack was QB Ralph Rucker, who completed 33 of 44 passes for 387 yards and four touchdowns with no picks. The 33 completions were the most by a Bison since 2001, the 387 yards broke the school record by four yards, and the four touchdown passes were the most by a Bison since 2015.
• On the receiving end of most of Rucker's passes were WRs Eric Weatherly and Josh Gary. Weatherly hauled in 10 catches for 132 yards and two touchdowns, and Gary grabbed nine catches for 139 yards and a score. Charlie Kreinbucher also caught a touchdown pass of 20 yards.
• The ground game was also strong for the Bison, as RBs Rushawn Baker and Coleman Bennett both averaged over 5 YPC and combined for 198 yards and three touchdowns.
• Bennett totaled 233 all-purpose yards, adding 30 receiving and 112 on four kick returns.
• Bucknell's defense came up with three takeaways in the game. Ethan Robinson and Cade Rooney both had interceptions, and John Schlendorf recovered a fumble and returned it 25 yards.
• Colgate QB Michael Brescia scored two rushing touchdowns and threw for another. He also tossed two interceptions before being replaced by Jake Stearney, who added another passing touchdown.
• Chris Gee led the Raiders with 106 rushing yards on eight carries. He scored one touchdown of 68 yards.
• Special teams were a factor in the game, as Colgate's Owen Goss tied an FCS record with three blocked kicks.
• Bucknell led in time of possession with 33:34 and was a perfect 3-for-3 on fourth down conversions. Bucknell also converted on nine of 17 third down attempts.
Fordham at a Glance
• Fordham is currently fourth in the Patriot League with a 5-3 (1-2 PL) record. The Rams are coming off a 49-47 loss to Holy Cross.
• Fordham's wins are over Wagner, Buffalo, Stonehill College, Lehigh and Stony Brook. The Rams have scored 40 or more points in four of their eight games.
• The Rams are currently ranked 10th in total offense, 13th in scoring offense, 12th in passing efficiency, 13th in red zone offense and 14th in turnover margin among FCS programs. They're also ranked fourth in punt returns.
• Fordham QB CJ Montes ranks third in FCS in passing touchdowns (21) and eighth in passing yards (2,198).
• Fordham was picked to repeat as the Patriot League runner-up in the 2023 Preseason Poll. The Rams went 9-3 (5-1 PL) last season and earned a spot in the NCAA FCS Championship bracket.
• Seven Rams were named to the 2023 Preseason All-Patriot League Team, including four members of the offense.
• Fordham head coach Joe Conlin is in his sixth season with the program and has a 28-29 record.
The Bucknell/Fordham Series
• Fordham is two games over .500 at 20-18 in the all-time series with the Bison, which began in 1929. The Rams have won 10 in a row in the series dating back to the 2013 campaign.
• During the 10-game streak, three of the games have been decided by 10 or fewer points, including an overtime contest in Lewisburg in 2014.
• Bucknell is 10-11 when facing Fordham on the road. Bucknell's last win in the Bronx was a 21-11 decision in 2011. Fordham won 66-21 in the most recent game with Bucknell at Moglia Stadium in 2021.
• Bucknell's last win over the Rams was in 2012 when RB Tyler Smith rushed 29 times for 179 yards and the Bison scored 20 unanswered points in the second half to defeat Fordham 27-24 at Christy Mathewson-Memorial Stadium.
• The Bison and the Rams have met each year over the past 34 seasons.
• Bucknell won five straight over Fordham between 1993 and 1997.
The Last Meeting with the Rams
Bucknell 17 – Fordham 59 (Nov. 5, 2022 – Lewisburg, Pa.)
• Bucknell held a 3-0 lead until the 8:32 mark in the second quarter when Fordham scored 24 unanswered to close out the first half. The Bison also had it down to a two-score game early in the fourth quarter, but Fordham went on to score 28 unanswered to seal the game.
• WR Damian Harris caught his first career TD pass from Nick Semptimphelter to make it 31-17 in the fourth. The junior led the Bison with four receptions for 44 yards.
• Junior RB Rushawn Baker scored Bucknell's other TD on a 12-yard run. It was Baker's sixth rushing TD of the season and his seventh TD overall. Baker led the team with 70 yards rushing on 15 carries.
• Semptimphelter finished the game with 154 yards through the air, completing 12 of 25 passes. Freshman QB Alex Brown also completed five passes on nine attempts for 52 yards, including a 40-yard pass to Marques Owens.
• Bucknell's defense came up with two interceptions and a season-high four sacks. LB Blake Leake led all Bison with 13 tackles and a sack. LB Ben Allen, DL Mike Bright Jr. and DL Tyler Alston all added sacks as well.
• Alston also had one of the two interceptions along with S Brent Jackson. Jackson finished the game with 10 tackles, three pass breakups and a pick.
• CB Gavin Pringle matched his career high with four pass breakups.
• Fordham QB Tim DeMorat threw for 346 yards on 31 completions and five TDs. WR Fotis Kokosioulis caught two TDs and finished with 12 receptions for 132 yards.
• Five different Rams combined for five tackles for loss, and DB Alex Kemper intercepted two passes, one of which he returned 22 yards for a TD.
Inside the Bucknell Depth Chart
• Bucknell's projected starters on offense have made a combined 130 starts.
• Bucknell's projected starters on defense have made a combined 168 starts.
• On offense, three seniors, three juniors and four sophomores and one freshman (OL Xavier Allen) are expected to start.
• On defense, three seniors, five juniors one sophomore (CB Roman Pearson) and two freshmen are expected to start.
• 20 Bison have made at least 10 career starts. Nine have started 20 games or more.
• Four Bison have starting streaks of 10 or more games in a row: Harris (21), S John Schlendorf (19), TE Charlie Kreinbucher (11) and DT Connor Carretta (10).
• Five Bison, Harris, Leake, Robinson, Schlendorf and Vyas, started all 11 of Bucknell's games in 2022.
• Only senior P Ruben Anderson has played in all 34 of Bucknell's games over their four years.
• Of the junior class, Schlendorf and S Alex Smith Jr. have played in all 30 of the team's games over three seasons.
• 13 Bison have made their first career starts this season, including three freshmen. In 2022, seven players each made their first career starts. Two were juniors, two were sophomores, and three were freshmen.
Milestones to Watch
• Ralph Rucker needs one passing touchdown to have the most (14) in a season by a Bison since 1994.
• Coleman Bennett needs 3 rush yards to reach 1,000 for his career.
• Coleman Bennett needs 39 yards to reach 3,000 career all-purpose yards.
• Connor Carretta needs 7 tackles to reach 100 in his career.
Milestone Met Last Week
• Brad Jamison eclipsed 100 tackles in his career.
• Ralph Rucker broke Bucknell's single-game passing record with 387 yards.
Bison Award Winners
• Ralph Rucker was named Patriot League Offensive Player of the Week (10/30) for the first time in his career after completing 33 of 44 passes for 387 yards and four touchdowns.
• Coleman Bennett was one of 201 college football players to be named a 2023 William V. Campbell Trophy semifinalist. Bucknell and Dayton are the only schools to have a Campbell Trophy semifinalist in each of the last 18 years.
• DL Aneesh Vyas was named the Patriot League Special Teams Player of the Week on Monday, Sept. 25 for blocking an extra point and a field goal against Penn. He's the first Bison to earn a Patriot League weekly award this season.
• The Bison returned one All-Patriot League player, OL Ethan Pitzel (2nd Team in '22). DL Tyler Alston and K Matt Schearer were both voted to the 2023 Preseason All-Patriot League Team. Coleman Bennett was a 2021 Preseason All-League honoree as a return specialist.
• The Bison graduated three All-Patriot League players following the 2022 season: LB Ben Allen (2nd Team in '22), S Brent Jackson (2nd Team in '22), and CB Gavin Pringle (2nd Team in '22 and '19, 1st Team in 'S21).
• In 2022, Bennett was named an Arthur Ashe Jr. Sports Scholar by the publication Diverse: Issues in Higher Education. The award recognizes undergraduate students of color who have excelled in the classroom as well as on the athletic fields.
• Last week, Bennett was named Bucknell's 2023 nominee for the William V. Campbell Trophy, which is awarded by the National Football Foundation to player with the best combination of academics, community service, and on-field performance. Bucknell and Dayton are the only schools that have had a Campbell Trophy semifinalist each of the past 17 years.
• Six Bison were named to the 2022 CSC Academic All-District Team: Ben Allen, Connor Carretta, Brent Jackson, Ethan Pitzel, Jonathan Searcy and Aneesh Vyas.
• Bucknell returned two of its three Academic All-Patriot League honorees from the 2022 season: Bennett and Pitzel.
• In March, 50 Bucknell football players were named to the Patriot League Academic Honor Roll for achieving a 3.2 GPA or higher. The Bison led all Patriot League teams in the category.
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.
• Since arriving at Bucknell, Cecchini's players have combined to earn 20 All-Patriot League First/Second Team awards as well as one First Team All-American.
Inside the 2023 Schedule
• This is the 138th season of football at Bucknell. The Bison played their first-ever game in 1883 and have played continuously since 1887.
• The Bison opened the 2023 slate against FBS opponent James Madison, which tied for first place in the Sun Belt East Division during its inaugural season in the conference with an 8-3 (6-2 SBC) record.
• After hosting VMI for the home opener on Sept. 9, the Bison remain at Christy Mathewson-Memorial Stadium to face Penn, which is coming off its winningest season in more than a decade. It marks the 44th time in the last 45 seasons that Bucknell has had an Ivy League program on the schedule.
• Bucknell's other non-league games include Cornell on Oct. 14 and Marist to close out the regular season on Nov. 18.
• Bucknell opened Patriot League play on the road at Lafayette on Sept. 30. The Bison play host to reigning league champion Holy Cross, Lehigh and Georgetown.
• Bucknell's 2023 opponents went a combined 58-64 last season.
How to Follow the Bison
• All of Bucknell's games this season, with the exception of the season finale at Marist, will be broadcast on ESPN+.
• All of the Bison's games will be broadcast on 100.9 The Valley (WVLY). The broadcast will also be available for internet streaming on 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 returns to Lewisburg on Saturday, Nov. 11 to host Georgetown for its final home game of the season. The Bison will celebrate Senior Day prior to the 1 p.m. kickoff.
The Bison are coming off their best offensive performance in recent memory. The team posted 593 yards of total offense, which is tied for second-most in school history and last reached in 1998. Quarterback Ralph Rucker also broke the school's single-game passing yards record with 387 during a four-touchdown performance against the Raiders. The Bison will need a similar output on Saturday, as they take on a Rams team that ranks 10th in FCS in total offense and 13th in scoring offense.
Fordham is looking to bounce back after a heartbreaking 49-47 loss to Holy Cross last weekend. Holy Cross took the lead on a back-breaking pick six with five minutes remaining. The loss snapped an eight-game home win streak for the Rams.
Fordham has won 10 in a row over the Bison and is two games over .500 in the all-time series, but Bucknell enters the weekend a winner in two of its last three games and with newfound confidence after its most recent victory in New York.
Media Notes:
When: Saturday, Nov. 4 – 1 p.m.
Where: Moglia Stadium – Bronx, N.Y.
Internet Video: ESPN+
Radio: 100.9 The Valley (WVLY)
Internet Radio: BucknellBison.com
Live Stats: FordhamSports.com
Follow on Twitter: @Bucknell_FB
Media Notes: Bucknell | Fordham
With a Victory the Bison would…
• improve to 4-5 on the season
• improve to 3-2 in road games this season
• win three of its last four games
• improve to 2-3 in Patriot League play
• defeat Fordham for the first time since 2012
• move to 19-20 in all-time meetings with the Rams
• even its record on the road against Fordham at 11-11
Bucknell at a Glance
• Bucknell collected its first Patriot League win of the season last Saturday, defeating Colgate 49-34 on the road to move to 3-5 (1-3 PL). The Bison have won two of their last three games and improved to 2-2 in away games.
• Bucknell's other victories are over VMI (21-13) and Cornell (21-13).
• Teams that have beat the Bison have a combined 27-12 record. Three are nationally ranked, including the FBS' JMU, and another is receiving votes.
• Bucknell currently ranks 17th in FCS in kickoff return average (22.76). As a team, the Bison are third in the Patriot League in passing and tied for first in the league in interceptions after grabbing two more against Colgate.
• QB Ralph Rucker is coming off a record-setting performance against Colgate and earned Patriot League Offensive Player of the Week on Monday. His 387 passing yards were the most in a single game by a Bison, and his 33 completions were the most since 2001. Rucker also threw four TD passes.
• The Bison were picked to finish in a tie for sixth in the Patriot League based on a vote by the league's head coaches and sports information directors ahead of the 2023 season.
• Bucknell went 3-8 (2-4 PL) during the 2022 campaign, finishing in a tie for fourth. The Bison, who were picked to finish last in that season's Patriot League preseason poll, earned league wins over Lehigh (19-17) and Georgetown (24-21, OT) before ending the year with a victory over Marist (24-13).
• Bucknell is in its fifth season under Cecchini, who spent the previous five as head coach at Valparaiso. Cecchini was honored as the Patriot League Dick Biddle Coach of the Year during the four-game spring 2021 campaign.
• Bucknell returned a total of 56 letterwinners in 2023, a group that includes 23 seniors, 20 juniors and 13 sophomores. 12 seniors are three-time letterwinners.
• RB Coleman Bennett, LB Blake Leake, QB Nick Semptimphelter and OL Casey Stephenson are serving as 2023 team captains, as voted on by their teammates.
• Bucknell welcomed a host of new faces to the staff this season, including new offensive coordinator John Bear. Wide receivers coach Braelon Roberts, offensive line coach Sean Pearson, defensive backs coach Pat Clark and safeties coach McNeil Parker are all new assistants on the staff as well.
Inside the Colgate Box Score
• Bucknell recorded 593 yards of total offense, which is tied for second-most in school history, in a 49-34 victory at Colgate. The 49 points were the most the Bison had scored since the 2003 season. Bucknell had 400 yards of offense by halftime.
• After a back-and-fourth first quarter where Colgate led 13-7, Bucknell scored 27 unanswered points in the second quarter. The Bison scored touchdowns on four consecutive drives.
• Leading the dynamic offensive attack was QB Ralph Rucker, who completed 33 of 44 passes for 387 yards and four touchdowns with no picks. The 33 completions were the most by a Bison since 2001, the 387 yards broke the school record by four yards, and the four touchdown passes were the most by a Bison since 2015.
• On the receiving end of most of Rucker's passes were WRs Eric Weatherly and Josh Gary. Weatherly hauled in 10 catches for 132 yards and two touchdowns, and Gary grabbed nine catches for 139 yards and a score. Charlie Kreinbucher also caught a touchdown pass of 20 yards.
• The ground game was also strong for the Bison, as RBs Rushawn Baker and Coleman Bennett both averaged over 5 YPC and combined for 198 yards and three touchdowns.
• Bennett totaled 233 all-purpose yards, adding 30 receiving and 112 on four kick returns.
• Bucknell's defense came up with three takeaways in the game. Ethan Robinson and Cade Rooney both had interceptions, and John Schlendorf recovered a fumble and returned it 25 yards.
• Colgate QB Michael Brescia scored two rushing touchdowns and threw for another. He also tossed two interceptions before being replaced by Jake Stearney, who added another passing touchdown.
• Chris Gee led the Raiders with 106 rushing yards on eight carries. He scored one touchdown of 68 yards.
• Special teams were a factor in the game, as Colgate's Owen Goss tied an FCS record with three blocked kicks.
• Bucknell led in time of possession with 33:34 and was a perfect 3-for-3 on fourth down conversions. Bucknell also converted on nine of 17 third down attempts.
Fordham at a Glance
• Fordham is currently fourth in the Patriot League with a 5-3 (1-2 PL) record. The Rams are coming off a 49-47 loss to Holy Cross.
• Fordham's wins are over Wagner, Buffalo, Stonehill College, Lehigh and Stony Brook. The Rams have scored 40 or more points in four of their eight games.
• The Rams are currently ranked 10th in total offense, 13th in scoring offense, 12th in passing efficiency, 13th in red zone offense and 14th in turnover margin among FCS programs. They're also ranked fourth in punt returns.
• Fordham QB CJ Montes ranks third in FCS in passing touchdowns (21) and eighth in passing yards (2,198).
• Fordham was picked to repeat as the Patriot League runner-up in the 2023 Preseason Poll. The Rams went 9-3 (5-1 PL) last season and earned a spot in the NCAA FCS Championship bracket.
• Seven Rams were named to the 2023 Preseason All-Patriot League Team, including four members of the offense.
• Fordham head coach Joe Conlin is in his sixth season with the program and has a 28-29 record.
The Bucknell/Fordham Series
• Fordham is two games over .500 at 20-18 in the all-time series with the Bison, which began in 1929. The Rams have won 10 in a row in the series dating back to the 2013 campaign.
• During the 10-game streak, three of the games have been decided by 10 or fewer points, including an overtime contest in Lewisburg in 2014.
• Bucknell is 10-11 when facing Fordham on the road. Bucknell's last win in the Bronx was a 21-11 decision in 2011. Fordham won 66-21 in the most recent game with Bucknell at Moglia Stadium in 2021.
• Bucknell's last win over the Rams was in 2012 when RB Tyler Smith rushed 29 times for 179 yards and the Bison scored 20 unanswered points in the second half to defeat Fordham 27-24 at Christy Mathewson-Memorial Stadium.
• The Bison and the Rams have met each year over the past 34 seasons.
• Bucknell won five straight over Fordham between 1993 and 1997.
The Last Meeting with the Rams
Bucknell 17 – Fordham 59 (Nov. 5, 2022 – Lewisburg, Pa.)
• Bucknell held a 3-0 lead until the 8:32 mark in the second quarter when Fordham scored 24 unanswered to close out the first half. The Bison also had it down to a two-score game early in the fourth quarter, but Fordham went on to score 28 unanswered to seal the game.
• WR Damian Harris caught his first career TD pass from Nick Semptimphelter to make it 31-17 in the fourth. The junior led the Bison with four receptions for 44 yards.
• Junior RB Rushawn Baker scored Bucknell's other TD on a 12-yard run. It was Baker's sixth rushing TD of the season and his seventh TD overall. Baker led the team with 70 yards rushing on 15 carries.
• Semptimphelter finished the game with 154 yards through the air, completing 12 of 25 passes. Freshman QB Alex Brown also completed five passes on nine attempts for 52 yards, including a 40-yard pass to Marques Owens.
• Bucknell's defense came up with two interceptions and a season-high four sacks. LB Blake Leake led all Bison with 13 tackles and a sack. LB Ben Allen, DL Mike Bright Jr. and DL Tyler Alston all added sacks as well.
• Alston also had one of the two interceptions along with S Brent Jackson. Jackson finished the game with 10 tackles, three pass breakups and a pick.
• CB Gavin Pringle matched his career high with four pass breakups.
• Fordham QB Tim DeMorat threw for 346 yards on 31 completions and five TDs. WR Fotis Kokosioulis caught two TDs and finished with 12 receptions for 132 yards.
• Five different Rams combined for five tackles for loss, and DB Alex Kemper intercepted two passes, one of which he returned 22 yards for a TD.
Inside the Bucknell Depth Chart
• Bucknell's projected starters on offense have made a combined 130 starts.
• Bucknell's projected starters on defense have made a combined 168 starts.
• On offense, three seniors, three juniors and four sophomores and one freshman (OL Xavier Allen) are expected to start.
• On defense, three seniors, five juniors one sophomore (CB Roman Pearson) and two freshmen are expected to start.
• 20 Bison have made at least 10 career starts. Nine have started 20 games or more.
• Four Bison have starting streaks of 10 or more games in a row: Harris (21), S John Schlendorf (19), TE Charlie Kreinbucher (11) and DT Connor Carretta (10).
• Five Bison, Harris, Leake, Robinson, Schlendorf and Vyas, started all 11 of Bucknell's games in 2022.
• Only senior P Ruben Anderson has played in all 34 of Bucknell's games over their four years.
• Of the junior class, Schlendorf and S Alex Smith Jr. have played in all 30 of the team's games over three seasons.
• 13 Bison have made their first career starts this season, including three freshmen. In 2022, seven players each made their first career starts. Two were juniors, two were sophomores, and three were freshmen.
Milestones to Watch
• Ralph Rucker needs one passing touchdown to have the most (14) in a season by a Bison since 1994.
• Coleman Bennett needs 3 rush yards to reach 1,000 for his career.
• Coleman Bennett needs 39 yards to reach 3,000 career all-purpose yards.
• Connor Carretta needs 7 tackles to reach 100 in his career.
Milestone Met Last Week
• Brad Jamison eclipsed 100 tackles in his career.
• Ralph Rucker broke Bucknell's single-game passing record with 387 yards.
Bison Award Winners
• Ralph Rucker was named Patriot League Offensive Player of the Week (10/30) for the first time in his career after completing 33 of 44 passes for 387 yards and four touchdowns.
• Coleman Bennett was one of 201 college football players to be named a 2023 William V. Campbell Trophy semifinalist. Bucknell and Dayton are the only schools to have a Campbell Trophy semifinalist in each of the last 18 years.
• DL Aneesh Vyas was named the Patriot League Special Teams Player of the Week on Monday, Sept. 25 for blocking an extra point and a field goal against Penn. He's the first Bison to earn a Patriot League weekly award this season.
• The Bison returned one All-Patriot League player, OL Ethan Pitzel (2nd Team in '22). DL Tyler Alston and K Matt Schearer were both voted to the 2023 Preseason All-Patriot League Team. Coleman Bennett was a 2021 Preseason All-League honoree as a return specialist.
• The Bison graduated three All-Patriot League players following the 2022 season: LB Ben Allen (2nd Team in '22), S Brent Jackson (2nd Team in '22), and CB Gavin Pringle (2nd Team in '22 and '19, 1st Team in 'S21).
• In 2022, Bennett was named an Arthur Ashe Jr. Sports Scholar by the publication Diverse: Issues in Higher Education. The award recognizes undergraduate students of color who have excelled in the classroom as well as on the athletic fields.
• Last week, Bennett was named Bucknell's 2023 nominee for the William V. Campbell Trophy, which is awarded by the National Football Foundation to player with the best combination of academics, community service, and on-field performance. Bucknell and Dayton are the only schools that have had a Campbell Trophy semifinalist each of the past 17 years.
• Six Bison were named to the 2022 CSC Academic All-District Team: Ben Allen, Connor Carretta, Brent Jackson, Ethan Pitzel, Jonathan Searcy and Aneesh Vyas.
• Bucknell returned two of its three Academic All-Patriot League honorees from the 2022 season: Bennett and Pitzel.
• In March, 50 Bucknell football players were named to the Patriot League Academic Honor Roll for achieving a 3.2 GPA or higher. The Bison led all Patriot League teams in the category.
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.
• Since arriving at Bucknell, Cecchini's players have combined to earn 20 All-Patriot League First/Second Team awards as well as one First Team All-American.
Inside the 2023 Schedule
• This is the 138th season of football at Bucknell. The Bison played their first-ever game in 1883 and have played continuously since 1887.
• The Bison opened the 2023 slate against FBS opponent James Madison, which tied for first place in the Sun Belt East Division during its inaugural season in the conference with an 8-3 (6-2 SBC) record.
• After hosting VMI for the home opener on Sept. 9, the Bison remain at Christy Mathewson-Memorial Stadium to face Penn, which is coming off its winningest season in more than a decade. It marks the 44th time in the last 45 seasons that Bucknell has had an Ivy League program on the schedule.
• Bucknell's other non-league games include Cornell on Oct. 14 and Marist to close out the regular season on Nov. 18.
• Bucknell opened Patriot League play on the road at Lafayette on Sept. 30. The Bison play host to reigning league champion Holy Cross, Lehigh and Georgetown.
• Bucknell's 2023 opponents went a combined 58-64 last season.
How to Follow the Bison
• All of Bucknell's games this season, with the exception of the season finale at Marist, will be broadcast on ESPN+.
• All of the Bison's games will be broadcast on 100.9 The Valley (WVLY). The broadcast will also be available for internet streaming on 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 returns to Lewisburg on Saturday, Nov. 11 to host Georgetown for its final home game of the season. The Bison will celebrate Senior Day prior to the 1 p.m. kickoff.
Players Mentioned
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P/K
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RB
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DL
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WR
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S
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LB
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TE
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LB
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WR
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CB
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OL
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CB/S
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CB
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DL
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QB
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P/K
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S
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S
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QB
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S
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OL
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