Bucknell University
#12 Holy Cross
No. 12 Holy Cross Outlasts Bucknell Football in Offensive Affair
10/7/2023 6:08:00 PM | Football
LEWISBURG, Pa. – Trailing 41-27, Bucknell threw to the end zone on fourth and seven early in the fourth quarter with a chance to cut No. 12 Holy Cross' lead to a single touchdown, but Ralph Rucker's pass sailed just over Eric Weatherly's head, and the Crusaders went on to win 55-27 Saturday at Christy Mathewson-Memorial Stadium. The Bison football team spent much of the afternoon on the cusp of getting the contest down to a single possession, but the Crusaders remained just out of reach.
The failed fourth down conversion was one of three for the Bison, who otherwise put together one of their best offensive showings in some time. The 27 points were the most the Bison have scored since the spring 2021 season opener, as were the 400 yards of total offense they accumulated. The defense had its moments as well, stopping the Crusaders on their only fourth down attempt and forcing punts in several key moments of the game, but Holy Cross' 574 yards of offense and 6-for-6 day in the red zone were too much to overcome.
A number of Bison had career days, including Coleman Bennett. The senior running back posted his first career 100-yard rushing game, finishing with 106 on 21 carries and a touchdown. He also caught seven passes for 50 yards and returned five kickoffs for 84 yards, totaling 240 all-purpose yards. A week after hauling in his first career touchdown at Lafayette, sophomore wide receiver Derrick Anderson Jr. caught six balls for a game-high 115 receiving yards and two scores.
Weatherly had a quiet game compared to his last two outings but still managed to pull down a 40-yard touchdown catch and return a punt 23 yards that set up the near-touchdown in the fourth quarter. Orchestrating the offensive output was Rucker, who completed 19 of 35 pass attempts for 248 yards and three touchdowns – his second three-touchdown game of the season. The junior transfer also ran nine times for 38 yards.
Holy Cross, which entered the game ranked seventh in the nation in total offense, accumulated 258 passing yards and 316 rush yards. Holy Cross running back Jordan Fuller found the end zone four times, netting 147 yards on 18 carries. Quarterback Matthew Sluka completed 19 of 28 passes for 258 yards and two touchdowns. He also rushed 15 times for 128 yards.
It was Sluka's first play of the game, and the first play from scrimmage by either team, that set the Crusaders up for an early score. Sluka cut through the middle of the Bison defense for a 67-yard run, and one play later Fuller ran it in from four yards out to open the scoring.
Holy Cross added a field goal before Bucknell's offense came to life with a 47-yard touchdown run by Bennett. It was Bennett's second touchdown of the season and the longest run of his career.
TOUCHDOWN BISON! Coleman Bennet goes 47 yards and tightropes the sideline to get the Bison on the board! @PatriotLeagueTV@ESPN https://t.co/5KPGXqY9g3 pic.twitter.com/0eTHyp9R0g
— Bucknell Football (@Bucknell_FB) October 7, 2023
As they did often throughout the game, the Crusaders responded immediately with a 55-yard touchdown pass to Jalen Coker.
Bucknell scored on its first possession of the second quarter as well, as Rucker completed a 17-yard pass to Damian Harris before hitting Anderson on a 33-yard touchdown that helped the Bison draw within three of tying. Holy Cross, however, scored 17 unanswered points to close out the first half with a 34-14 lead.
TOUCHDOWN BISON!! Derrick Anderson Jr. with the smooth catch! Two touchdowns in two weeks for the sophomore. @PatriotLeagueTV@ESPN https://t.co/zeFb7OVc72 pic.twitter.com/IMB3ToEN2n
— Bucknell Football (@Bucknell_FB) October 7, 2023
The Bison were at their sharpest in the third quarter. After receiving the opening kickoff of the second half, Bucknell marched 75 yards down the field on 10 plays, picking up three first downs in the process. Rucker connected with Anderson on back-to-back passes of 32 yards and seven yards, the latter being Anderson's second touchdown and cut Holy Cross' lead to 13.
Bucknell forced a 3-and-out on the ensuing Crusaders possession, but again the Bison were unable to take advantage of the opportunity to cut it to a one-score game, turning it over on downs at the Holy Cross 48-yard line. The Crusaders made them pay, scoring just 45 seconds later thanks to two deep passes by Sluka.
Bucknell saw another opportunity to draw within a touchdown late in the third quarter. Trailing 41-27, Rucker once again hit Anderson deep on a 27-yard play that got the Bison down to the Holy Cross six-yard line. Two plays later he threw a costly interception in the end zone while attempting a jump pass.
Holy Cross added two more scores in the fourth quarter, including a 12-yard touchdown run by Fuller that put the game on ice with 6:12 to play, and a 70-yard Fuller touchdown with under a minute to play.
Flags were another major factor in the game, as Holy Cross was penalized 12 times for 130 yards and Bucknell seven times for 50. Linebacker Blake Leake led all tacklers with 13 stops, while Tyler Alston and Connor Carretta shared one of only two sacks by either team in the game.
Bucknell, which moved to 1-4 on the season and 0-2 in Patriot League play, travels to Cornell next Saturday for non-league play. Holy Cross, now 4-2 (2-0 PL), has the week off.
