Saturday, August 31
Annapolis, Md.
Noon
Bucknell University
0-1 , 0-0
21
at
49
Navy
1-0 , 0-0
1st
2nd
3rd
4th
F
Bucknell
7
0
7
7
21
Navy
6
22
7
14
49
Football Drops Season Opener at Navy, 49-21
8/31/2024 4:13:00 PM | Football
UPDATE: Bucknell junior cornerback Aaron Davis was injured in the third quarter of Saturday's game at Navy. After being taken to a Baltimore hospital for further evaluation, Aaron is doing well, and he was released from the hospital on Saturday evening for a return to campus.
ANNAPOLIS, Md. – The Bucknell football team opened its 2024 season with a hard-fought 49-21 loss to Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) opponent Navy on Saturday afternoon before 28,763 fans at Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium. The Bison got out to an electric start with Ralph Rucker IV connecting with Nate Anderson on a 47-yard touchdown pass on the very first possession of the day, but the Midshipmen flipped the game around with a 22-point second quarter.
Rucker, who was under pressure for much of the contest, completed 11 of 24 passes for 122 yards and the touchdown to Anderson, a Western Michigan transfer making his Bison debut. Bucknell gained 337 total yards, including 131 on the ground, with starting running back Paul Neel leading the way with 60 yards and a touchdown on 12 carries.
TJ Cadden made a team-high five catches for 97 yards and was also impactful on special teams with a 24-yard punt return and a 52-yard kickoff return. Anderson, Josh Gary, and Eric Weatherly caught two passes apiece.
Nick Hoying led the defense with 11 total tackles, surpassing his total of 10 from his freshman season in 2023, and he also notched his first career interception. Stanford transfer Terian Williams II also intercepted a pass in his first game as a Bison.
"I thought our guys would fight for 60 minutes, and they absolutely did that," said head coach Dave Cecchini after the game. "They did not give up, they did not quit. They played just as hard on the last play of the game as the first play of the game; 60 minutes of football in hot, humid conditions."
Rucker found Anderson wide open down the left sideline for the opening score only 1:23 into the contest, but Navy answered about three minutes later when big fullback Daba Fofanabroke ran loose up the middle for a 49-yard touchdown run. The Bison remained in the lead when the extra point was shoved wide to the right. Bucknell looked good to expand on the margin when Rucker engineered a 13-play drive down to the Navy 19, but the Midshipmen came up with a stop on 4th-and-2.
After the defense forced another punt, Neel started a drive with a good run up the middle, but on replay review it was ruled that Navy knocked the ball loose just before his knee went down, and the Mids were awarded the ball. Navy then took its first lead of the day on Alex Tecza's 3-yard TD run on the first play of the second quarter.
Blake Horvath tossed a pair of touchdown passes later in the period, and Navy took a 28-7 lead to the locker room.
Eli Heidenreich's second TD catch of the game made it 35 unanswered points for Navy before the Bison ended the run on Neel's 3-yard run that was set up by the Hoying interception. Rucker piled up 27 of his 34 rushing yards on the scoring drive.
Bucknell added one more touchdown in the final minute in a nice moment for the Cadden brothers. TJ caught a beautifully thrown deep ball by Michael Hardyway for a 37-yard hookup down to the two, and then younger brother Michael ran it in on the next play for the freshman's first career score.
"It's different than playing at the FCS level with 99 percent of the stadium full and the great atmosphere here at Navy," said Cecchini. "It definitely was a step up. I think our players were very excited to play in this stadium and to play Navy. I don't think for a second it affected our focus or our composure. I'm proud of our guys how they didn't let the big stage and a national TV broadcast make them nervous or awestruck."
Navy gained 264 yards on the ground, led by Fofana's 82 yards. Quarterbacks Horvath and Braxton Woodson combined to complete 10 of 19 passes for 173 yards and three touchdowns. The Midshipmen had a 437-337 edge in total yards and led 33:01-26:59 in time of possession.
Bucknell and Navy were meeting for the first time since 1925. The Bison head to VMI next Saturday while Navy hosts Temple.
ANNAPOLIS, Md. – The Bucknell football team opened its 2024 season with a hard-fought 49-21 loss to Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) opponent Navy on Saturday afternoon before 28,763 fans at Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium. The Bison got out to an electric start with Ralph Rucker IV connecting with Nate Anderson on a 47-yard touchdown pass on the very first possession of the day, but the Midshipmen flipped the game around with a 22-point second quarter.
Rucker, who was under pressure for much of the contest, completed 11 of 24 passes for 122 yards and the touchdown to Anderson, a Western Michigan transfer making his Bison debut. Bucknell gained 337 total yards, including 131 on the ground, with starting running back Paul Neel leading the way with 60 yards and a touchdown on 12 carries.
TJ Cadden made a team-high five catches for 97 yards and was also impactful on special teams with a 24-yard punt return and a 52-yard kickoff return. Anderson, Josh Gary, and Eric Weatherly caught two passes apiece.
Nick Hoying led the defense with 11 total tackles, surpassing his total of 10 from his freshman season in 2023, and he also notched his first career interception. Stanford transfer Terian Williams II also intercepted a pass in his first game as a Bison.
"I thought our guys would fight for 60 minutes, and they absolutely did that," said head coach Dave Cecchini after the game. "They did not give up, they did not quit. They played just as hard on the last play of the game as the first play of the game; 60 minutes of football in hot, humid conditions."
Rucker found Anderson wide open down the left sideline for the opening score only 1:23 into the contest, but Navy answered about three minutes later when big fullback Daba Fofanabroke ran loose up the middle for a 49-yard touchdown run. The Bison remained in the lead when the extra point was shoved wide to the right. Bucknell looked good to expand on the margin when Rucker engineered a 13-play drive down to the Navy 19, but the Midshipmen came up with a stop on 4th-and-2.
After the defense forced another punt, Neel started a drive with a good run up the middle, but on replay review it was ruled that Navy knocked the ball loose just before his knee went down, and the Mids were awarded the ball. Navy then took its first lead of the day on Alex Tecza's 3-yard TD run on the first play of the second quarter.
Blake Horvath tossed a pair of touchdown passes later in the period, and Navy took a 28-7 lead to the locker room.
Eli Heidenreich's second TD catch of the game made it 35 unanswered points for Navy before the Bison ended the run on Neel's 3-yard run that was set up by the Hoying interception. Rucker piled up 27 of his 34 rushing yards on the scoring drive.
Bucknell added one more touchdown in the final minute in a nice moment for the Cadden brothers. TJ caught a beautifully thrown deep ball by Michael Hardyway for a 37-yard hookup down to the two, and then younger brother Michael ran it in on the next play for the freshman's first career score.
"It's different than playing at the FCS level with 99 percent of the stadium full and the great atmosphere here at Navy," said Cecchini. "It definitely was a step up. I think our players were very excited to play in this stadium and to play Navy. I don't think for a second it affected our focus or our composure. I'm proud of our guys how they didn't let the big stage and a national TV broadcast make them nervous or awestruck."
Navy gained 264 yards on the ground, led by Fofana's 82 yards. Quarterbacks Horvath and Braxton Woodson combined to complete 10 of 19 passes for 173 yards and three touchdowns. The Midshipmen had a 437-337 edge in total yards and led 33:01-26:59 in time of possession.
Bucknell and Navy were meeting for the first time since 1925. The Bison head to VMI next Saturday while Navy hosts Temple.
Team Stats
Buc
Nav
Total Yards
337
437
Pass Yards
206
173
Rushing Yards
131
264
Penalty Yards
69
55
1st Downs
14
20
3rd Downs
6
10
4th Downs
1
1
TOP
26:59
33:01
1st Quarter
Buc 7, Nav 0
Buc - Anderson,Nate 47 yd pass from Rucker IV,Ralph (Schearer,Matt kick) 4 plays, 65 yards, TOP 01:23
Buc 7, Nav 6
Nav - Fofana,Daba 49 yd run (), 1 plays, 49 yards, TOP 00:09
2nd Quarter
Buc 7, Nav 13
Nav - Tecza,Alex 3 yd run (Kirkwood,Nathan kick), 5 plays, 23 yards, TOP 01:36
Buc 7, Nav 20
Nav - Heidenreich,Eli 9 yd pass from Horvath,Blake (Kirkwood,Nathan kick) 9 plays, 59 yards, TOP 03:29
Buc 7, Nav 28
Nav - Chatman,Brandon 42 yd pass from Horvath,Blake (Heidenreich,Eli pass) 1 plays, 42 yards, TOP 00:13
3rd Quarter
Buc 7, Nav 35
Nav - Heidenreich,Eli 20 yd pass from Woodson,Braxton (Kirkwood,Nathan kick) 9 plays, 49 yards, TOP 03:41
Buc 14, Nav 35
Buc - Neel,Paul 3 yd run (Schearer,Matt kick), 9 plays, 40 yards, TOP 02:44
4th Quarter
Buc 14, Nav 42
Nav - Woodson,Braxton 1 yd run (Kirkwood,Nathan kick), 7 plays, 58 yards, TOP 03:07
Buc 14, Nav 49
Nav - Reynolds,Shane 5 yd run (Kirkwood,Nathan kick), 7 plays, 31 yards, TOP 04:34
Buc 21, Nav 49
Buc - Cadden,Michael 2 yd run (Schearer,Matt kick), 7 plays, 75 yards, TOP 01:40
Game Leaders
Passing Leaders
CMP
11
TD
1
YDS
122
INT
0
CMP
4
TD
0
YDS
84
INT
0
Players Mentioned
WR
/ Football
CB
/ Football
QB
/ Football
S/LB
/ Football
QB
/ Football
WR
/ Football
CB
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