Rucker, Cadden Capture Patriot League Football Weekly Awards
9/23/2024 12:39:00 PM | Football
LEWISBURG, Pa. – Quarterback Ralph Rucker IV was the named the Patriot League Offensive Player of the Week, and TJ Cadden earned his second Patriot League Special Teams Player of the Week award following Bucknell football's 34-18 win over Marist on Saturday. It's the second time through four games this season that two Bison appeared in the weekly awards list.
Rucker completed 21 of 27 passes (77.8%) for 272 yards and three touchdowns in the win. It was the senior's second three-touchdown game of the season and the fifth of his 14-game Bucknell career. Two of Rucker's touchdown passes came in the first half, helping the Bison jump out to a 27-7 lead over the Red Foxes before heading into the locker room.
Rucker currently leads all Patriot League quarterbacks and ranks seventh in the FCS with eight touchdown passes on the season. He's also 20th in the FCS in passing yards (875) and 20th in completions per game (19). He's now fifth in the Bucknell record book in career touchdown passes (29).
On the receiving end of one of Rucker's touchdown passes was Cadden, who earns the special teams award following his 73-yard punt return touchdown in the second quarter against Marist. It was the sophomore's second punt return touchdown of the season, as he became just the third player in the history of the Patriot League to accomplish that feat. Cadden was also named an honorable mention for Stats Perform FCS National Special Team Player of the Week for a second time.
Cadden totaled 155 all-purpose yards in Saturday's game, including 30 receiving yards on offense. He currently ranks third in the FCS with 21.6 yards per punt return and is 10th with 132 all-purpose yards per game.
Earning Patriot League honorable mentions were Bucknell's Alex Smith Jr., who returned an interception 38 yards for a touchdown, and Brandon Biagiarelli, who recorded seven tackles and two sacks.
The Bison are on the road this Saturday, Sept. 28 to open Patriot League play at Lehigh in Bethlehem, Pa.
