Bucknell University
Merrimack
Football Hosts Merrimack Saturday Evening at Christy Mathewson-Memorial Stadium for 2024 Home Opener
9/10/2024 4:21:00 PM | Football
LEWISBURG, Pa. – Bucknell seeks a second consecutive victory when it hosts Merrimack at Christy Mathewson-Memorial Stadium on Saturday. The home opener kicks off Bucknell's season-long celebration of the stadium's 100th anniversary season. The Bison and the Warriors are meeting for the first time.
The Bison have shown flashes of excellence over their first two games, including a dominant second half at VMI where the offense scored 21 unanswered points and totaled over 400 yards of offense in the game to secure a 35-28 victory. The defense has come up with three takeaways this season, and Bucknell added a special teams touchdown last weekend.
Bucknell currently ranks 23rd among FCS teams in total offense and 13th in passing offense, thanks in large part to quarterback Ralph Rucker IV and his deep receiving corps. Rucker piled up 340 passing yards last weekend, which were top 10 in program history. His number one target through two games has been sophomore TJ Cadden, who has totaled the second-most all-purpose yards among all FCS players with 184 receiving yards and 130 return yards through the first two weeks.
Bucknell is seeking its 100th home-opening victory on Saturday. Merrimack is searching for its first win of the season after dropping games at FBS opponents Air Force and UConn. One of the newest Division I football programs in the country, Merrimack is under the direction of first-year head coach Mike Gennetti. The Warriors are two years removed from an 8-3 season.
The Bison are celebrating First Responder and Military Appreciation Night on Saturday. All veterans, active-duty military, gold-star families, first responders, doctors and nurses will receive free admission.
Media Notes:
When: Saturday, Sept. 14 – 6 p.m.
Where: Christy Mathewson-Memorial Stadium – Lewisburg, Pa.
Internet Video: ESPN+
Radio: 1070 AM (WKOK)
Internet Radio: BucknellBison.com
Live Stats: BucknellBison.com
Follow on X: @Bucknell_FB
Media Notes: Bucknell
Digital Program
Game Promotions
• Bucknell is celebrating First Responder and Military Appreciation Night. All veterans, active-duty military, gold-star families, first responders, doctors and nurses will receive free admission. Show your service ID or let Bucknell ticket takers know if you are a first responder.
• Family members of the above groups can use the promo code ThankYou24 to take $5 off of any ticket. Visit Bucknell.edu/BoxOffice.
• The first 500 fans will receive a Bucknell Football Magnet Schedule and Keychain giveaway, presented by Kost Tire and Auto Service.
With a Victory the Bison would…
• win the home opener for a second year in a row
• improve to 100-37-1 in home openers
• improve to 2-1 for the first time since 2015 (excluding the 4-game spring 2021 season)
• win back-to-back games for the first time since 2022
• win the first-ever meeting with Merrimack
Bucknell at a Glance
• Bucknell is 1-1 on the young season after a 49-21 loss at FBS foe Navy and a 35-28 win at VMI last weekend.
• Bucknell is one of four Patriot League teams with a win through the first two weeks of the season. Georgetown is the only 2-0 team in the league.
• Bucknell currently ranks top 25 in the FCS in total offense (23rd), passing offense (13th) and passing efficiency (20th). The Bison are also 29th in passing defense and 27th in kickoff return yards.
• The Bison were picked to finish seventh in the 2024 Patriot League Football Preseason Poll after finishing the 2023 campaign in a tie for sixth with a 4-7 (1-5 PL) record.
• Junior K Matt Schearer was named to the 2024 Preseason All-Patriot League Team for a second season in a row. The Bison also landed eight on the Phil Steele 2024 Patriot League Preseason All-Conference Team.
• Bucknell is in its sixth season under head coach Dave Cecchini, who was voted as the Patriot League Dick Biddle Coach of the Year during the 2021 spring campaign for leading the Bison to a spot in the first-ever Patriot League Championship Game following the abbreviated season. Cecchini's team is coming off a record-setting campaign in 2023 that saw the offense average 38.8 points per game over the final four contests.
• Bucknell returned a total of 42 letterwinners in 2023, a group that includes two fifth-year seniors, 18 seniors, 14 juniors and eight sophomores. 11 Bison are three-time letterwinners, and fifth-year RB Danny Meuser is a four-time letterwinner. Bucknell lost 32 letterwinners last year.
• Bucknell welcomed 33 newcomers this season, including 27 freshmen. Five newcomers transferred to Bucknell.
• The Bison welcomed a host of new faces to the staff during the offseason: special teams coordinator/linebackers coach Brad Jarman, running backs coach Jalen Banks, defensive line coach Codey Cole, assistant offensive line coach/run game analyst Ashley Cornwell, defensive quality control/cornerbacks coach Roger Wright-Lester, and video coordinator Kiem LeGrant.
• Fifth-year senior OL Casey Stephenson, senior LB Brad Jamison, senior S Alex Smith Jr., and junior OL John Ohnegian were selected by their teammates to serve as team captains for the 2024 season. Stephenson is just the 12th multi-year captain in program history.
Inside the VMI Box Score
• Bucknell scored 21 unanswered points to open the second half and defeat VMI 35-28 on the road. It was Bucknell's first victory of the 2024 season.
• Bucknell piled up 451 yards of offense, including 340 passing yards. Ralph Rucker's 340 passing yards rank eighth in the Bucknell record book for a single game, and he's the third Bucknell quarterback to post three 300-yard passing games in his career.
• 200 of Rucker's passing yards came in the second half, where he went 14 for 15 with three touchdowns. He threw a pair of touchdowns to Josh Gary on Bucknell's first two drives of the second half to build a 28-14 lead, and he connected with TJ Cadden in the fourth quarter to go up 35-14.
• Cadden also scored a punt return touchdown in the first half. It was Bucknell's first punt return touchdown in 10 years.
• Eric Weatherly led all Bucknell receivers, hauling in nine receptions for 105 yards.
• VMI scored two touchdowns in the fourth quarter, including one with 29 second left, to cut the deficit to a touchdown. Running back Hunter Rice led the Keydet effort, amassing 166 yards and two touchdowns on 18 carries.
• Linebacker Gavin Willis led Bucknell's defensive effort with a team-high 12 tackles. Brandon Biagiarelli and John Schlendorf both recorded sacks, and cornerback Chris Sims came up with Bucknell's lone turnover by intercepting a VMI pass in the end zone and returning it 21 yards.
• Kicker Matt Schearer connected on all five extra-point attempts.
• Bucknell improved to 5-3 in the all-time series with VMI, defeating the Keydets for a second year in a row.
Merrimack at a Glance
• Merrimack is 0-2 following a 21-6 loss at Air Force in week one and a 63-17 loss at UConn last Saturday.
• The Warriors are in their sixth season competing at the NCAA Division I FCS level. This is their first season playing as an independent after five years in the Northeast Conference.
• The Warriors finished the 2023 season 5-6 (4-3 NEC). They went 8-3 (6-1 NEC) in 2022 but fell to Saint Francis in the NEC Championships game.
• Merrimack running back Jermaine Corbett is averaging 7.4 yards per carry this season. He's totaled 162 yards and a touchdown in two games. Wide receiver Donovan Wadley was a 2023 Stats perform FCS All-American as a kick returner last season. He scored three return touchdowns and scored five touchdowns on offense as a rookie. Wadley was named to the preseason watch list for the 2024 Walter Payton Award.
• Defensively, linebacker DJ Frazier is leading the team in tackles for a second year in a row. The team is still seeking its first forced turnover and its first sack of the season.
• Merrimack head coach Mike Gennetti took over the team during this past summer summer after spending 19 seasons as an assistant coach with the program.
• Merrimack is 1-4 against Patriot League teams since 2019. Its lone win over a Patriot League team was a 35-21 victory over 24th-ranked Holy Cross in 2021.
Bison Award Winners
• Bucknell earned two Patriot League Weekly Awards in week two of the season after a strong performance at VMI. TJ Cadden was named PL Special Teams Player of the Week after returning a punt 40 yards for a touchdown and totaling 54 punt return yards in the game. He also added six receptions for 87 yards, totaling 141 all-purpose yards. Linebacker Brandon Biagiarelli earned PL Rookie of the Week honors after recording his first career sack along with three tackles at VMI.
• Cadden was an honorable mention for Stats Perform FCS National Special Teams Player of the Week for his efforts in the VMI win.
• The Bison returned one All-Patriot League player, LB Brad Jamison.
• K Matt Schearer was named to the Preseason All-Patriot League Team in July. It was his second time being named to the Preseason All-Patriot League Team after earning the honor in 2023 as well.
• Eight Bison were named to the 2024 Phil Steele Patriot League Preseason All-Conference Team: K Schearer (1st Tm), LB Jamison (2nd Tm), QB Ralph Rucker (3rd Tm), WR Eric Weatherly (3rd Tm), OL Xavier Allen (3rd Tm), OL Casey Stephenson (3rd Tm), OL John Ohnegian (3rd Tm) and S John Schlendorf (3rd Tm).
• The Bison lost First Team All-Patriot League CB Ethan Robinson as well as First Team All-Patriot League KR and Second Team All-League RB Coleman Bennett from last season.
• Bucknell returned one of its three Academic All-Patriot League honorees from last season: OL Ohnegian.
• Four current members of the roster have earned Patriot League Weekly Awards during their careers. QB Rucker was named PL Offensive Player of the Week last year (10/30), DL Aneesh Vyas was named PL Special Teams Player of the Week last year (9/25), K Schearer was named PL Rookie of the Week twice in 2022 (10/24 & 11/14), and DL Justin Fisher was named PL Rookie of the Week as well as HIMS National Freshman of the Week in 2021 (9/6).
Inside the Bucknell Depth Chart
• Bucknell scored 21 unanswered points to open the second half and defeat VMI 35-28 on the road. It was Bucknell's first victory of the 2024 season.
• Bucknell piled up 451 yards of offense, including 340 passing yards. Ralph Rucker's 340 passing yards rank eighth in the Bucknell record book for a single game, and he's the third Bucknell quarterback to post three 300-yard passing games in his career.
• 200 of Rucker's passing yards came in the second half, where he went 14 for 15 with three touchdowns. He threw a pair of touchdowns to Josh Gary on Bucknell's first two drives of the second half to build a 28-14 lead, and he connected with TJ Cadden in the fourth quarter to go up 35-14.
• Cadden also scored a punt return touchdown in the first half. It was Bucknell's first punt return touchdown in 10 years.
• Eric Weatherly led all Bucknell receivers, hauling in nine receptions for 105 yards.
• VMI scored two touchdowns in the fourth quarter, including one with 29 second left, to cut the deficit to a touchdown. Running back Hunter Rice led the Keydet effort, amassing 166 yards and two touchdowns on 18 carries.
• Linebacker Gavin Willis led Bucknell's defensive effort with a team-high 12 tackles. Brandon Biagiarelli and John Schlendorf both recorded sacks, and cornerback Chris Sims came up with Bucknell's lone turnover by intercepting a VMI pass in the end zone and returning it 21 yards.
• Kicker Matt Schearer connected on all five extra-point attempts.
• Bucknell improved to 5-3 in the all-time series with VMI, defeating the Keydets for a second year in a row.
Milestone Watch
• Derrick Anderson Jr. needs 35 receiving yards to reach 500 for his career.
• Ralph Rucker is one passing yard away from 3,000 in his Bucknell career.
• Gavin Willis needs nine tackle to reach 100 in his career.
Milestones Met Last Week
• Ralph Rucker threw his 25th career passing touchdown (eight in Bucknell record book).
• Ralph Rucker posted his third 300-yard passing game (t-most in program history).
• Brandon Biagiarelli recorded his first career sack.
• TJ Cadden recorded his first punt return touchdown and first receiving touchdown.
• John Schlendorf recorded the 100th solo tackle of his career.
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 24 All-Patriot League First/Second Team awards as well as one First Team All-American.
Inside the 2024 Schedule
• This is the 139th season of football at Bucknell. The Bison played their first-ever game in 1883 and have played continuously since 1887.
• Bucknell is scheduled to play 12 games for just the third time in program history and for the first time since 2003. The Bison also played 12 games is 1916. Bucknell will host six home games for the first time since 2017.
• The Bison opened the 2024 slate against FBS opponent Navy. It's the fifth FBS team Bucknell has faced under head coach Dave Cecchini and the third time it has faced an FBS foe in the season opener.
• Bucknell went on the road again in week two to face VMI for a third season in a row. The Bison defeated the Keydets for a second straight season.
• Bucknell hosts Merrimack for its home opener on Sept. 14 for what will be the first-ever meeting between the two programs. The Bison then host Marist a week later for Family Weekend on Sept. 21 and will look to make it three consecutive wins over the Red Foxes in as many seasons.
• The Bison open Patriot League play on the road at Lehigh on Sept. 28 before hitting the bye week. They return from the bye on Oct. 12 with a trip to Penn for the first of two back-to-back games against Ivy League teams. Bucknell hosts Cornell on Oct. 19 over Homecoming Weekend. It marks the 45th time in the last 46 seasons that Bucknell has had at least one Ivy League program on the schedule.
• A trip to Georgetown rounds out the month of October before the Bison play three of their final four games at home. The Bison and the Hoyas have played overtime games the last two years and have alternated wins over the last six meetings.
• Lafayette visits Lewisburg on Nov. 2, and Fordham comes to town Nov. 9 before Bucknell visits Holy Cross for its final road game. The regular season comes to a close at home against Colgate on Nov. 23.
• Bucknell's 2024 opponents went a combined 63-69 last season.
• Buknell's 2024 opponents are off to a combined 6-13 record this season.
Facility Upgrades
• The Bison officially opened the doors to the Pascucci Team Center on April 15, 2024, completing a plethora of enhancements in and around Christy Mathewson-Memorial Stadium in recent years that were made possible through the generous support of Michael Pascucci '58, P'81, P'87, G'21, G'22.
• Standing prominently between the turf practice field and the north end zone of the stadium, the new facility is a 16,000-square-foot athletics hub that features a state-of-the-art strength and conditioning facility with an expansive weight room that overlooks the turf practice field. Adjacent to the weight room is a sports medicine center.
• Specifically designed to bridge the practice and game-day fields, the team center's south facade offers sweeping views of Christy Mathewson-Memorial Stadium. Inside, a spacious team meeting room and conference room allows teams to review film and gather for off-field training and learning events. A Bison Fuel station ensures convenient access to nutritious snacks, supplements and hydration.
• Earlier phases of the project included the installation of a modern LED video board at the south end zone of Christy Mathewson-Memorial Stadium in 2021 and the completion of a turf practice field in 2022.
• The Bucknell football team's locker room, located within Christy Mathewson-Memorial Stadium, was also redone over the summer and includes brand-new lockers, a player's lounge, and more.
Christy Mathewson-Memorial Stadium's 100th Anniversary Season
• Bucknell Athletics proudly celebrates Christy Mathewson-Memorial Stadium's 100th anniversary season in 2024. Over the course of 10 decades, the historic landmark has played host to more than 450 football games along with countless other athletic events and community gatherings. The Bison will celebrate a century of tradition throughout the 2024-25 academic year, and the Oct. 19 home game vs. Cornell will serve as the football team's official Christy Mathewson-Memorial Stadium 100th Anniversary Game during Homecoming Weekend.
• The picturesque Christy Mathewson-Memorial Stadium was dedicated in 1924 and was known originally as Memorial Stadium as a tribute to Bucknell's numerous war veterans. The stadium underwent a major renovation in 1989, and at that time it was rededicated to honor the iconic Christy Mathewson, who was a three-sport star and model student-athlete during his playing days at Bucknell.
• Bucknell is 256-186-10 all-time at Christy Mathewson-Memorial Stadium.
How to Follow the Bison
• All of Bucknell's remaining games this season 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 X (@Bucknell_FB) and Instagram (Bucknell_FB). Interact with the team using the hashtags #ACT and #rayBucknell.
Bucknell Football Vs. Cancer
*Bucknell Football's official Vs. Cancer Game has been moved to Saturday, Oct. 19 vs. Cornell.
• For a sixth consecutive season, the Bucknell football team is partnering with Vs. Cancer to bring awareness to pediatric cancer and raise funds for the cause.
• The Bison raised over $23,000 in 2023 and have totaled $98,500 since the partnership began in 2018.
• Bucknell's Oct. 19 home game vs. Cornell will serve as the team's official Vs. Cancer Game. Help Bison football reach its fundraising goal and make a difference in the lives of children with cancer by donating to the Bucknell Vs. Cancer Team Page.
Up Next
• Bucknell returns to Christy Mathewson-Memorial Stadium on Saturday, Sept. 21 to host Marist over Family Weekend.
