Saturday, November 23
Lewisburg, Pa.
1 p.m.
Bucknell University
6-6 , 4-2
48
vs
34
Colgate
2-10 , 1-5
1st
2nd
3rd
4th
F
Colgate
7
10
3
14
34
Bucknell
10
14
7
17
48
Photo by: Lianne Garrahan
Football Finishes Season in Style with Record-Setting Day in 48-34 Win over Colgate
11/23/2024 4:22:00 PM | Football
POSTGAME INTERVIEW WITH HEAD COACH DAVE CECCHINI:
LEWISBURG, Pa. – Quarterback Ralph Rucker IV became Bucknell's all-time leader in passing touchdowns and the first quarterback to ever throw for 400 yards in a game as the Bucknell football team finished its season in fashion with a 48-34 victory over Colgate at Christy Mathewson-Memorial Stadium on Saturday afternoon.
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Bucknell finishes the season with a 6-6 overall record and a 4-2 Patriot League record. It is Bucknell's best finish in the Patriot League and the most overall wins since 2014 when the Bison went 8-3. The Bison entered the final Saturday of the regular season with a chance to share the Patriot League title but needed losses from Lehigh and Holy Cross. They didn't get the help they needed as the Mountain Hawks and Crusaders both won handily to finish 5-1, and the Bison settled for a solo third-place finish. Bucknell's two league losses came by a combined three points, and it can claim a road win over Lehigh, which will be the Patriot League's representative in the FCS Playoffs.
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With Saturday's win, the Bison snapped a seven-game home losing streak to Colgate and beat the Raiders at Christy Mathewson-Memorial Stadium for the first time since 2006. The Bison have defeated Colgate for the second straight season, marking just the third time in series history the Bison have picked up consecutive wins against Colgate.
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Bucknell was seemingly in control for most of the day but needed two big takeaways from the defense to ice the win. The Bison held the momentum and a two-score lead midway through the fourth quarter when Colgate produced a seven-play, 88-yard drive for a touchdown. The Raiders forced a three-and-out on the following drive to get possession back with 5:33 remaining.
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The Raiders moved the ball well until linebacker Gavin Willis sprawled up to deflect a pass that lineman Cade Rooney came down with for an incredible interception grab with 2:44 remaining. The Bison immediately went deep with Rucker hitting Eric Weatherly for a 44-yard touchdown for his second scoring grab of the day, putting the Bison back up by two scores. A pick by Willis on the next drive then sealed the deal for the Bison.
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Rucker was 31-for-45 for 437 yards and five touchdowns, marking his second consecutive game with five passing touchdowns. Rucker passed Scott Auchenbach's 42 career passing touchdowns, finishing the day with 46. He also broke his own single-game passing record of 387 yards, a record he set last season against the Raiders.
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Rucker also now holds the school records for single-season passing touchdowns (25) and single-season passing yards (2,826), breaking records he set last season. Rucker is now second all-time on Bucknell's passing yards list with 5,363 career passing yards.
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Rucker's favorite target on Saturday was wideout Eric Weatherly who caught a career-high 11 balls for 174 yards and two touchdowns, including the game-clincher late in the fourth quarter. The 11 catches gave him 75 on the season, which broke Dave Kucera's school record of 73, set in 1984. Weatherly's 865 receiving yards this season are sixth-most in team history, and his eight touchdowns in 2024 and 15 over the last two years are both tied for fifth on Bucknell's all-time lists. Â Â
Bucknell outgained Colgate 553-386. The Bison won the turnover battle 3-0, turning two of its three interceptions into touchdowns.
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The Bison took an early two-score lead and left the Raiders chasing for most of the game. Colgate fought hard to get back into the game multiple times, but it was the Bison who made the big plays to come away with the win.
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Colgate came up with the first touchdown of the game, taking a 7-3 lead on Chris Gee's seven-yard rush to cap off a four-play, 75-yard drive.
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With Colgate on the front foot early, Alex Smith Jr. jumped a route for his third interception of the year to set the Bison up at the Raiders' 26-yard line. Paul Neel then punched in the three-yard score to give the Bison a 10-7 lead in the first.
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The Raiders evened the score at 10-10 with a field goal, but it was the Bison with the next two scores to take a 24-10 lead. It only took two plays for the Bison to take the edge back as Rucker found Derrick Anderson Jr. down the right sideline for an easy 74-yard touchdown. It was Rucker's longest career completion and the team's first completion of the season of at least 50 yards; the last completion of 50 or more yards was a 65-yard reception to Anderson against Colgate last season.
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Bucknell took its next possession 67 yards downfield in 2:30 to extend the lead to 24-10. It was a big drive for Weatherly who caught three passes for 34 yards, including the 21-yard touchdown to finish it off. Weatherly caught the touchdown pass at the two-yard line before wrestling his way into the endzone.
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Weatherly caught two touchdowns for the second straight week and posted career-highs with 11 receptions and 174 yards. His 44-yard touchdown late in the fourth quarter was the longest reception of his career.
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A late first-half touchdown reception by Reed Swanson and a big 50-yard field goal by Luke Vogeler early in the third quarter quickly got the Raiders within four points.
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The Bison answered with a 12-play, 75-yard drive to extend its lead to 31-20. Rucker converted a fourth-and-nine, scrambling for the first down before finding Josh Gary in the end zone for a 15-yard score. Gary caught five passes for 51 yards in the game.
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The Raiders continued to answer, with Winston Moore taking a kickoff return 96 yards to the house immediately after the Bison restored its 14-point lead with a Matt Schearer field goal early in the fourth.
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Bucknell came right back down the field with an 88-yard drive. Sam Milligan scored his third touchdown in the last two weeks, making a leaping grab in the end zone. Milligan had four catches for 46 yards.
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Colgate quarterback Jake Stearney was 20-for-33 in the air for 248 yards and two touchdowns. Treyvhon Saunders led the Raiders with nine catches for 137 yards, and Reed Swanson caught both of the Raiders passing touchdowns.
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The Bison defense produced three sacks. Nick Hoying came up with a big third-down sack for the Bison late in the third quarter. Willis led the Bison with 12 tackles, coming up with two tackles for a loss. John Schlendorf also made double-digit tackles, coming away with 11. Willis and Schlendorf each broke up a pass in the game.
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Bucknell celebrated its 23 seniors before the game. Their last game in the Orange and Blue was a memorable win over a longtime rival.
LEWISBURG, Pa. – Quarterback Ralph Rucker IV became Bucknell's all-time leader in passing touchdowns and the first quarterback to ever throw for 400 yards in a game as the Bucknell football team finished its season in fashion with a 48-34 victory over Colgate at Christy Mathewson-Memorial Stadium on Saturday afternoon.
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Bucknell finishes the season with a 6-6 overall record and a 4-2 Patriot League record. It is Bucknell's best finish in the Patriot League and the most overall wins since 2014 when the Bison went 8-3. The Bison entered the final Saturday of the regular season with a chance to share the Patriot League title but needed losses from Lehigh and Holy Cross. They didn't get the help they needed as the Mountain Hawks and Crusaders both won handily to finish 5-1, and the Bison settled for a solo third-place finish. Bucknell's two league losses came by a combined three points, and it can claim a road win over Lehigh, which will be the Patriot League's representative in the FCS Playoffs.
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With Saturday's win, the Bison snapped a seven-game home losing streak to Colgate and beat the Raiders at Christy Mathewson-Memorial Stadium for the first time since 2006. The Bison have defeated Colgate for the second straight season, marking just the third time in series history the Bison have picked up consecutive wins against Colgate.
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Bucknell was seemingly in control for most of the day but needed two big takeaways from the defense to ice the win. The Bison held the momentum and a two-score lead midway through the fourth quarter when Colgate produced a seven-play, 88-yard drive for a touchdown. The Raiders forced a three-and-out on the following drive to get possession back with 5:33 remaining.
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The Raiders moved the ball well until linebacker Gavin Willis sprawled up to deflect a pass that lineman Cade Rooney came down with for an incredible interception grab with 2:44 remaining. The Bison immediately went deep with Rucker hitting Eric Weatherly for a 44-yard touchdown for his second scoring grab of the day, putting the Bison back up by two scores. A pick by Willis on the next drive then sealed the deal for the Bison.
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Rucker was 31-for-45 for 437 yards and five touchdowns, marking his second consecutive game with five passing touchdowns. Rucker passed Scott Auchenbach's 42 career passing touchdowns, finishing the day with 46. He also broke his own single-game passing record of 387 yards, a record he set last season against the Raiders.
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Rucker also now holds the school records for single-season passing touchdowns (25) and single-season passing yards (2,826), breaking records he set last season. Rucker is now second all-time on Bucknell's passing yards list with 5,363 career passing yards.
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Rucker's favorite target on Saturday was wideout Eric Weatherly who caught a career-high 11 balls for 174 yards and two touchdowns, including the game-clincher late in the fourth quarter. The 11 catches gave him 75 on the season, which broke Dave Kucera's school record of 73, set in 1984. Weatherly's 865 receiving yards this season are sixth-most in team history, and his eight touchdowns in 2024 and 15 over the last two years are both tied for fifth on Bucknell's all-time lists. Â Â
ÂHere's Ralph Rucker's school record-setting 43rd career TD pass! Eric Weatherly was on the receiving end, and the Bison now have a 24-10 lead. Ralph is 13-17 for 202 and 2 TDs already. #rayBucknell
— Bucknell Football (@Bucknell_FB) November 23, 2024
Watch: https://t.co/BCSDQmXilh@PatriotLeagueHQ | @ESPN pic.twitter.com/ZWt5DSircs
Bucknell outgained Colgate 553-386. The Bison won the turnover battle 3-0, turning two of its three interceptions into touchdowns.
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The Bison took an early two-score lead and left the Raiders chasing for most of the game. Colgate fought hard to get back into the game multiple times, but it was the Bison who made the big plays to come away with the win.
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Colgate came up with the first touchdown of the game, taking a 7-3 lead on Chris Gee's seven-yard rush to cap off a four-play, 75-yard drive.
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With Colgate on the front foot early, Alex Smith Jr. jumped a route for his third interception of the year to set the Bison up at the Raiders' 26-yard line. Paul Neel then punched in the three-yard score to give the Bison a 10-7 lead in the first.
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The Raiders evened the score at 10-10 with a field goal, but it was the Bison with the next two scores to take a 24-10 lead. It only took two plays for the Bison to take the edge back as Rucker found Derrick Anderson Jr. down the right sideline for an easy 74-yard touchdown. It was Rucker's longest career completion and the team's first completion of the season of at least 50 yards; the last completion of 50 or more yards was a 65-yard reception to Anderson against Colgate last season.
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Bucknell took its next possession 67 yards downfield in 2:30 to extend the lead to 24-10. It was a big drive for Weatherly who caught three passes for 34 yards, including the 21-yard touchdown to finish it off. Weatherly caught the touchdown pass at the two-yard line before wrestling his way into the endzone.
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Weatherly caught two touchdowns for the second straight week and posted career-highs with 11 receptions and 174 yards. His 44-yard touchdown late in the fourth quarter was the longest reception of his career.
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A late first-half touchdown reception by Reed Swanson and a big 50-yard field goal by Luke Vogeler early in the third quarter quickly got the Raiders within four points.
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The Bison answered with a 12-play, 75-yard drive to extend its lead to 31-20. Rucker converted a fourth-and-nine, scrambling for the first down before finding Josh Gary in the end zone for a 15-yard score. Gary caught five passes for 51 yards in the game.
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The Raiders continued to answer, with Winston Moore taking a kickoff return 96 yards to the house immediately after the Bison restored its 14-point lead with a Matt Schearer field goal early in the fourth.
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Bucknell came right back down the field with an 88-yard drive. Sam Milligan scored his third touchdown in the last two weeks, making a leaping grab in the end zone. Milligan had four catches for 46 yards.
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Colgate quarterback Jake Stearney was 20-for-33 in the air for 248 yards and two touchdowns. Treyvhon Saunders led the Raiders with nine catches for 137 yards, and Reed Swanson caught both of the Raiders passing touchdowns.
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The Bison defense produced three sacks. Nick Hoying came up with a big third-down sack for the Bison late in the third quarter. Willis led the Bison with 12 tackles, coming up with two tackles for a loss. John Schlendorf also made double-digit tackles, coming away with 11. Willis and Schlendorf each broke up a pass in the game.
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Bucknell celebrated its 23 seniors before the game. Their last game in the Orange and Blue was a memorable win over a longtime rival.
Team Stats
CGT
BKN
Total Yards
386
553
Pass Yards
248
437
Rushing Yards
138
116
Penalty Yards
75
67
1st Downs
18
28
3rd Downs
5
4
4th Downs
0
3
TOP
29:31
30:29
1st Quarter
CGT 0, BKN 3
BKN - Schearer,Matt 44 yd field goal 13 plays, 59 yards, TOP 04:52
CGT 7, BKN 3
CGT - Gee,Chris 7 yd run (Vogeler,Luke kick), 4 plays, 75 yards, TOP 01:29
CGT 7, BKN 10
BKN - Neel,Paul 3 yd run (Schearer,Matt kick), 3 plays, 26 yards, TOP 01:06
2nd Quarter
CGT 10, BKN 10
CGT - Vogeler,Luke 29 yd field goal 8 plays, 66 yards, TOP 04:18
CGT 10, BKN 17
BKN - Anderson Jr.,Derrick 74 yd pass from Rucker IV,Ralph (Schearer,Matt kick) 2 plays, 75 yards, TOP 00:44
CGT 10, BKN 24
BKN - Weatherly,Eric 21 yd pass from Rucker IV,Ralph (Schearer,Matt kick) 7 plays, 67 yards, TOP 02:30
CGT 17, BKN 24
CGT - Swanson,Reed 19 yd pass from Stearney,Jake (Vogeler,Luke kick) 9 plays, 57 yards, TOP 04:49
3rd Quarter
CGT 20, BKN 24
CGT - Vogeler,Luke 50 yd field goal 7 plays, 25 yards, TOP 03:11
CGT 20, BKN 31
BKN - Gary,Josh 15 yd pass from Rucker IV,Ralph (Schearer,Matt kick) 12 plays, 75 yards, TOP 04:55
4th Quarter
CGT 20, BKN 34
BKN - Schearer,Matt 30 yd field goal 10 plays, 72 yards, TOP 03:40
CGT 27, BKN 34
CGT - Moore,Winston 96 yd kickoff return (Vogeler,Luke kick)
CGT 27, BKN 41
BKN - Milligan,Sam 16 yd pass from Rucker IV,Ralph (Schearer,Matt kick) 12 plays, 88 yards, TOP 03:49
CGT 34, BKN 41
CGT - Swanson,Reed 6 yd pass from Stearney,Jake (Vogeler,Luke kick) 6 plays, 71 yards, TOP 02:31
CGT 34, BKN 48
BKN - Weatherly,Eric 44 yd pass from Rucker IV,Ralph (Niemynski,Nick kick) 1 plays, 44 yards, TOP 00:08
Game Leaders
Passing Leaders
CMP
31
TD
5
YDS
437
INT
0
Players Mentioned
WR
/ Football
S/LB
/ Football
WR
/ Football
DL
/ Football
QB
/ Football
P/K
/ Football
S
/ Football
S
/ Football
WR
/ Football
LB
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