Football Keeps PL Title Hopes Alive with 21-14 Win over Lafayette

LEWISBURG, Pa. -- Bucknell quarterback Ralph Rucker IV accounted for three touchdowns, freshman running back Tariq Thomas set another career high with 141 ground yards, and the Bison defense registered a number of critical plays down the stretch in a 21-14 victory over defending Patriot League champion Lafayette on Saturday at Christy Mathewson-Memorial Stadium. Bucknell improved to 4-5 overall and 2-1 in the Patriot League, and with three games to play the Bison are very much alive in the league title chase.

Bucknell, looking to avenge a 56-22 loss to the Leopards in Easton last season, trailed 14-7 entering the fourth quarter but flipped the game around on Rucker's second rushing TD of the game followed by his 9-yard strike to Eric Weatherly in the back of the end zone with 5:38 remaining.

The Bison defense, which limited the Leopards to scores on its first drive of each half, came up big in the final five minutes. Lafayette had a first-and-goal from the 2 before moving back five yards on false start penalty. William Caneer tackled Troy Bruce for no gain, and then on second down Jack Barnes got pressure on quarterback Dean DeNobile, forcing him to flip a pass to offensive tackle Ryder Langsdale. Knowing he was not an eligible receiver Langsdale caught the ball and immediately spiked it to the ground, but that resulted in a live ball fumble, and Gavin Willis recovered for the Bison at the 15-yard line with 1:19 to play.

Bucknell did have to punt the ball away, and Matt Schearer's 47-yarder was downed at the Lafayette 33 with 58 seconds left. The Leopards advanced to the Bison 35, but Aaron Davis broke up two straight passes, and Alex Smith Jr. batted down a Hail Mary attempt on the final play of the game.

The game had the makings of a shootout early, as both teams scored a touchdown in the first six minutes of the game. The Bison stalled on its first couple of plays before Thomas broke out for a 45-yard rush on a 3rd-and-16. Four plays later, Rucker escaped the pocket and found the end zone for a 19-yard touchdown.

Ralph takes to the house and the Bison have the early lead on Lafayette! #rayBucknell

Watch: https://t.co/T1QyNjkCJq @ESPN | @PatriotLeagueHQ pic.twitter.com/UeMw6EKVMu
— Bucknell Football (@Bucknell_FB) November 2, 2024

The Leopards (4-5, 1-3 PL) came right back down the field, completing a seven-play, 62-yard drive in just 2:59. DeNobile got a pass out quickly to Chris Carasia, who made a defender miss before taking the pass 38 yards the house for the touchdown.

After the fast start, neither team found another score in the half. The Bison got great field position midway through the second quarter after the defense forced a three-and-out. As the Bison looked to score, Lafayette's Saiku White made a terrific one-handed interception in the corner of the end zone to get possession back for the Leopards.

The Leopards started with possession in the third quarter, making a big 13-play, 70-yard drive to take a 14-7 lead. DeNobile notched his second passing touchdown of the game, finding Ethan Hosak for an 8-yard score to complete the drive.

The Bison answered with a good drive down to the Lafayette 2 but were stopped on fourth down. After the defense forced another quick punt thanks to a John Schlendorf tackle for loss on 3rd-and-2, the Bison tied it up in the early stages of the fourth quarter.

On 3rd-and-goal from the 1, Rucker fooled the defense on the RPO for his second rushing touchdown of the game to even the score.

Smith's third-down sack gave the Bison the ball back with 9:33 remaining, and one of the best catches of the season set up the go-ahead touchdown. Nate Anderson went up high to corral Rucker's deep ball down the left seam, giving Bucknell a first down at the Lafayette 5. Two plays later, Rucker picked out Weatherly in the back of the end zone for a 21-14 lead.

Catch of the Year candidate here from Nate Anderson, and two plays later Ralph Rucker hit Eric Weatherly in the back of the end zone to give the Bison the lead! #rayBucknell #ACT #PLTop3

Watch: https://t.co/T1QyNjkCJq @ESPN | @PatriotLeagueHQ pic.twitter.com/7dHVx67Ngu
— Bucknell Football (@Bucknell_FB) November 2, 2024

It was another career day for Thomas on the ground. The freshman tailback tallied 29 carries for 144 yards to open up Bucknell's run game. Thomas set his previous high last week, rushing for 136 yards against Georgetown. Thomas finished the first half with 109 yards on the ground.

Rucker finished 18-for-30 for 210 yards, and he moved past Marcello Trigg into fifth place on Bucknell's career passing yards list with 4,253. Josh Gary (6) and Weatherly (5) combined for 11 of the receptions.

The Bison offensive line deserves special mention. Both of last week's starting tackles missed this game due to injury, and senior Jake Guy, normally a guard, returned from his own injury to play his former position of center. That moved John Ohnegian from center to left tackle, and right tackle Nathan Natoli also returned after a three-game injury absence.

Along with guards Casey Stephenson and Mason Jones, the line paved the way for 187 rushing yards and 397 total yards against a stout Lafayette defense.

Smith and Willis led the defense with 13 tackles each, Nick Hoying made 12 stops, and Schlendorf had nine. Saiku White paced the Leopards with 15 tackles.

Jamar Curtis ran for 109 yards on 23 carries, and DeNobile finished 24-for-38 for 177 yards.

Holy Cross still leads the Patriot League standings at 3-0, with Bucknell next at 2-1. The Bison have Fordham (home), Holy Cross (away), and Colgate (home) remaining on the schedule, meaning they still have a chance to win the league title.

Fordham, which picked up its first win of the season at Colgate on Saturday, visits Christy Mathewson-Memorial Stadium next Saturday at 1 p.m.

Football Keeps PL Title Hopes Alive with 21-14 Win over Lafayette

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Team Stats

Ralph Rucker IV

Players Mentioned

Nate Anderson

Jack Barnes

William Caneer

Aaron Davis

Josh Gary

Jake Guy

Nick Hoying

Mason Jones

Nathan Natoli

John Ohnegian

Ralph Rucker IV

Matt Schearer

John Schlendorf

Alex Smith Jr.

Casey Stephenson

Tariq Thomas

Eric Weatherly

Gavin Willis

Football Keeps PL Title Hopes Alive with 21-14 Win over Lafayette

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Next Event

Team Stats

Game Leaders

Ralph Rucker IV

Players Mentioned

Nate Anderson

Jack Barnes

William Caneer

Aaron Davis

Josh Gary

Jake Guy

Nick Hoying

Mason Jones

Nathan Natoli

John Ohnegian

Ralph Rucker IV

Matt Schearer

John Schlendorf

Alex Smith Jr.

Casey Stephenson

Tariq Thomas

Eric Weatherly

Gavin Willis

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