Saturday, September 7
Lexington, Va.
1:30 p.m.
Bucknell University
at
VMI
Photo by: Lianne Garrahan
Football Travels to VMI for Second Straight Road Game
9/3/2024 12:17:00 PM | Football
LEWISBURG, Pa. – Bucknell is back on the road this Saturday in search of its first win of the 2024 season when it visits VMI. It's the third year in a row the Bison and Keydets meet in week two, and they've split the last two matchups. The Bison got the best of the Keydets in Lewisburg last September with a 21-13 victory. A win on Saturday would give Bucknell a 5-3 advantage in the all-time series with VMI, which dates back to 1978.
Bucknell saw plenty of encouraging moments in last Saturday's season-opening loss at Navy, including a balanced offensive effort that saw the Bison jump out to a 7-0 lead. Bucknell registered 206 passing yards and another 106 yards on the ground against one of the FBS' toughest defenses in 2023. Ralph Rucker IV completed seven passes of nine yards or longer, including a 47-yard touchdown to newcomer Nate Anderson on Bucknell's first possession, despite facing a tough Navy pass rush. Michael Hardyway completed three more deep passes in the fourth quarter. Paul Neel posted a solid showing in his first start at running back as well, averaging five yards per carry on 12 attempts.
Defensively, the Bison picked off two Navy passes and forced punts on four other drives. Nick Hoying led all players with 11 tackles and an interception. On special teams, sophomore wide receiver TJ Cadden created explosive plays on both kickoff and punt return, and he added a game-high five receptions for 97 yards in a breakout performance.
VMI faced a tall task in week one with a trip to No. 15/16 William & Mary and fell 41-7. The Keydets are in their second season under head coach Danny Rocco, who turned the team around after a 1-10 season in 2022 and led the program to just its fourth five-win season in the last 20 years in 2023.
Media Notes:
When: Saturday, Sept. 7 – 1:30 p.m.
Where: Foster Stadium – Lexington, Va.
Internet Video: ESPN+
Radio: 100.9 The Valley (WVLY)
Internet Radio: BucknellBison.com
Live Stats: VMIKeydets.com
Follow on Twitter: @Bucknell_FB
Media Notes: Bucknell | VMI
Digital Program
With a Victory the Bison would…
• move to 1-1 on the season for a second year in a row
• defeat the Keydets for a second season in a row
• improve to 5-3 in the all-time series with the Keydets
• improve to 2-1 against the Keydets under Cecchini
• move to 4-4 in road games since the start of last season
Bucknell at a Glance
• Bucknell seeks its first win of the 2024 season when it visits VMI on Saturday. The Bison play their first two games on the road for the first time since the 2019 season. A win would give Bucknell a 1-1 start for a second straight season.
• The Bison opened their 139th season of football 0-1 with a 49-21 loss at Navy.
• Through one week, WR TJ Cadden ranks seventh among FCS players in all-purpose yards (173) and 20th in receiving yards (97), WR Nate Anderson ranks seventh in yards per reception (30.5), and LB Nick Hoying ranks 22nd in total tackes (11).
• 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.
• The "CD" stickers Bucknell is wearing on its helmets are to honor fallen teammate Calvin Dickey, who tragically passed away in July.
Inside the Navy Box Score
• Bucknell got off to an exciting start against the Mids with an opening-drive 47-yard touchdown pass from Ralph Rucker to Nate Anderson, but Navy went on to score 35 unanswered points and held on for a 49-21 win.
• The Mids piled up 437 yards on total offense, gaining 264 on the ground.
• Navy also scored a pair of long touchdowns, registering a 49-yard rush and a 42-yard pass.
• The Bison accumulated 337 yards of offense, 206 of which came through the air.
• RB Paul Neel led Bucknell's rushing attack in his first career start. The senior carried 12 times for 60 yards and a third-quarter touchdown.
• Rucker added 34 net rushing yards in addition to his 122 pass yards. He was under duress much of the game, absorbing four sacks.
• WR TJ Cadden hauled in five receptions for a career-high 97 receiving yards. He added a 52-yard kickoff return and a 24-yard punt return. His younger brother, freshman RB Michael Cadden, scored a late Bison touchdown in his first collegiate game.
• Sophomore Nick Hoying led Bucknell's defensive efforts with 11 tackles and his first career interception. Terian Williams II also grabbed an interception, and Brad Jamison recorded Bucknell's lone sack.
VMI at a Glance
• VMI is 0-1 after falling 41-7 on the road at No. 15/16 William & Mary in last Saturday's season opener. Senior running back Hunter Rice provided the Keydets with their only score, rushing for a touchdown in the second quarter. Rice totaled 126 yards on the ground.
• VMI was picked to finish seventh out of nine teams in the 2024 SoCon Preseason Poll. The Keydets went 5-6 overall and 4-4 in conference games last season.
• Five Keydets earned Preseason All-Conference honors: Rice (1st Tm Offense), OL Tyriq Poindexter (1st Tm Offense), DL Dorien Starnes (1st Tm Defense), LB Eric Rankin (2nd Tm Defense), and KR Ivan Thorpe (2nd Tm Special Teams).
• VMI is under the direction of head coach Danny Rocco, who is in his second season with the program. Rocco is 126-72 for his career, having made previous stops at Liberty, Richmond and Delaware. Rocco was a National Coach of the Year Finalist last season after guiding VMI to five wins for just the fourth time in 20 years. The turnaround came after a 1-10 season in 2022. VMI ended last season with a 27-24 win over No. 14 Western Carolina.
• Rice paced the VMI offense last season as he did in this year's opener. He accumulated 867 rushing yards and 14 touchdowns in 2023, averaging 5.1 yards per carry. Rankin finished second on the VMI roster with 93 tackles and 3.5 sacks last season.
• Overall, VMI returned 13 starters and four of eight All-SoCon honorees from last season.
The Bucknell/VMI Series
• Bucknell and VMI are meeting for a third consecutive season and for the eighth time since the series began in 1978. Six of the meetings have occurred in the last 11 years.
• Bucknell leads 4-3 in the all-time series with the Keydets. They have split the last four meetings. Bucknell won 21-13 in Lewisburg last September, and VMI won 24-14 in Lexington in 2022.
• Bucknell defeated the Keydets in 2013, 2014 and 2015 for the longest streak by either team in the series. The Keydets prevailed 23-17 in triple overtime in the 2016 meeting.
• VMI won the first-ever meeting, 25-14, in Lexington in 1978.
The Last Meeting with the Keydets
• Bucknell held VMI scoreless through three quarters and never trailed in a 21-13 victory at Christy Mathewson-Memorial Stadium Sept. 9, 2023. The Bison improved to 1-1 with the victory.
• Four of the game's five touchdowns occurred in the fourth quarter.
• An 18-yard touchdown pass from Ralph Rucker to Damian Harris late in the first quarter gave the Bison a 7-0 lead that lasted until 10:08 remained in the game. A 27-yard touchdown pass from VMI's Collin Ironside tied the game at 7-7, but Rucker struck again less than four minutes later with a 7-yard touchdown pass to Charlie Kreinbucher to regain the lead. The Bison added a rushing touchdown to go up 21-7, and the score proved pivotal as VMI added a late score with 1:31 to go to arrive at the 21-13 final.
• The Bison racked up 397 yards of offense on 76 plays in the win. Rucker posted a breakout performance, passing for 224 yards and two touchdowns while adding 47 rushing yards. Rushawn Baker added 105 yards on the ground. Damian Harris hauled in eight receptions for 101 yards.
• 220 of VMI's 295 yards were through the air. The Keydets also came away with the game's only turnover, recovering a fumble in the third quarter.
• Bucknell's pass rush was relentless in the game, as the defense piled up six sacks.
Inside the Bucknell Depth Chart
• Bucknell's projected starters on offense have made a combined 105 starts at Bucknell.
• Bucknell's projected starters on defense have made a combined 104 starts at Bucknell.
• On offense, one fifth-year (OL Casey Stephenson), three seniors, six juniors and one sophomore (OL Xavier Allen) are expected to start.
• On defense, eight seniors, two juniors and one sophomore (LB Gavin Willis) are expected to start.
• 11 Bison have made at least 10 starts entering Saturday's game. S John Schlendorf leads the team with 23 career starts. Schlendorf and OL Casey Stephenson are the only two Bison with 20 or more career starts.
• Five Bison made their first career starts last week: WR Nate Anderson, RB Paul Neel, DL Grant Laws, DL Justin Fisher and CB Aaron Davis.
• Six Bison have starting streaks of 10 or more games in a row: Schlendorf (23), TE Charlie Kreinbucher (15), S Alex Smith Jr. (12), OL John Ohnegian (12), LB Brad Jamison (12) and Stephenson (10).
• Seniors Schlendorf and Smith Jr. have played in all 34 of the team's games over their three seasons.
Milestone Watch
• Derrick Anderson Jr. needs 68 receiving yards to reach 500 for his career.
• Ralph Rucker is 341 passing yards away from 3,000 in his Bucknell career.
Milestones Met Last Week
• Alex Smith Jr. recorded his 100th career tackle.
• Nick Hoying and Terian Williams recorded their first career interceptions.
Bison Award Winners
• The Patriot League announced its first round of weekly awards on Monday, and two Bison received honorable mentions. WR TJ Cadden was an honorable mention for PL Special Teams Player of the Week after recording a 52-yard kickoff return and a 24-yard punt return at Navy. LB Nick Hoying was an honorable mention for PL Defensive Player of the Week for registering a game-high 11 tackles and an interception against the Mids.
• 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).
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 goes on the road again in week two to face VMI for a third season in a row. The Bison and Keydets split the previous two meetings.
• 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 2-7 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 games this season will be broadcast on ESPN+ with the exception of the season opener at Navy, which will be shown on CBS Sports Network.
• 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 Partners with Vs. Cancer
• For a sixth consectuve 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 Sept. 14 home game vs. Merrimack 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 hosts Merrimack at Christy Mathewson-Memorial Stadium on Saturday, Sept. 14 for the team's 2024 home opener. The Bison are celebrating First Responder and Hero Appreciation Night at Christy, and all veterans, active-duty military, gold-star families, first responders, doctors and nurses will receive free admission. Visit Bucknell.edu/boxoffice for more information.
• Saturday will be the first-ever meeting between the Bison and Warriors. Kickoff is scheduled for 6 p.m.
Bucknell saw plenty of encouraging moments in last Saturday's season-opening loss at Navy, including a balanced offensive effort that saw the Bison jump out to a 7-0 lead. Bucknell registered 206 passing yards and another 106 yards on the ground against one of the FBS' toughest defenses in 2023. Ralph Rucker IV completed seven passes of nine yards or longer, including a 47-yard touchdown to newcomer Nate Anderson on Bucknell's first possession, despite facing a tough Navy pass rush. Michael Hardyway completed three more deep passes in the fourth quarter. Paul Neel posted a solid showing in his first start at running back as well, averaging five yards per carry on 12 attempts.
Defensively, the Bison picked off two Navy passes and forced punts on four other drives. Nick Hoying led all players with 11 tackles and an interception. On special teams, sophomore wide receiver TJ Cadden created explosive plays on both kickoff and punt return, and he added a game-high five receptions for 97 yards in a breakout performance.
VMI faced a tall task in week one with a trip to No. 15/16 William & Mary and fell 41-7. The Keydets are in their second season under head coach Danny Rocco, who turned the team around after a 1-10 season in 2022 and led the program to just its fourth five-win season in the last 20 years in 2023.
Media Notes:
When: Saturday, Sept. 7 – 1:30 p.m.
Where: Foster Stadium – Lexington, Va.
Internet Video: ESPN+
Radio: 100.9 The Valley (WVLY)
Internet Radio: BucknellBison.com
Live Stats: VMIKeydets.com
Follow on Twitter: @Bucknell_FB
Media Notes: Bucknell | VMI
Digital Program
With a Victory the Bison would…
• move to 1-1 on the season for a second year in a row
• defeat the Keydets for a second season in a row
• improve to 5-3 in the all-time series with the Keydets
• improve to 2-1 against the Keydets under Cecchini
• move to 4-4 in road games since the start of last season
Bucknell at a Glance
• Bucknell seeks its first win of the 2024 season when it visits VMI on Saturday. The Bison play their first two games on the road for the first time since the 2019 season. A win would give Bucknell a 1-1 start for a second straight season.
• The Bison opened their 139th season of football 0-1 with a 49-21 loss at Navy.
• Through one week, WR TJ Cadden ranks seventh among FCS players in all-purpose yards (173) and 20th in receiving yards (97), WR Nate Anderson ranks seventh in yards per reception (30.5), and LB Nick Hoying ranks 22nd in total tackes (11).
• 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.
• The "CD" stickers Bucknell is wearing on its helmets are to honor fallen teammate Calvin Dickey, who tragically passed away in July.
Inside the Navy Box Score
• Bucknell got off to an exciting start against the Mids with an opening-drive 47-yard touchdown pass from Ralph Rucker to Nate Anderson, but Navy went on to score 35 unanswered points and held on for a 49-21 win.
• The Mids piled up 437 yards on total offense, gaining 264 on the ground.
• Navy also scored a pair of long touchdowns, registering a 49-yard rush and a 42-yard pass.
• The Bison accumulated 337 yards of offense, 206 of which came through the air.
• RB Paul Neel led Bucknell's rushing attack in his first career start. The senior carried 12 times for 60 yards and a third-quarter touchdown.
• Rucker added 34 net rushing yards in addition to his 122 pass yards. He was under duress much of the game, absorbing four sacks.
• WR TJ Cadden hauled in five receptions for a career-high 97 receiving yards. He added a 52-yard kickoff return and a 24-yard punt return. His younger brother, freshman RB Michael Cadden, scored a late Bison touchdown in his first collegiate game.
• Sophomore Nick Hoying led Bucknell's defensive efforts with 11 tackles and his first career interception. Terian Williams II also grabbed an interception, and Brad Jamison recorded Bucknell's lone sack.
VMI at a Glance
• VMI is 0-1 after falling 41-7 on the road at No. 15/16 William & Mary in last Saturday's season opener. Senior running back Hunter Rice provided the Keydets with their only score, rushing for a touchdown in the second quarter. Rice totaled 126 yards on the ground.
• VMI was picked to finish seventh out of nine teams in the 2024 SoCon Preseason Poll. The Keydets went 5-6 overall and 4-4 in conference games last season.
• Five Keydets earned Preseason All-Conference honors: Rice (1st Tm Offense), OL Tyriq Poindexter (1st Tm Offense), DL Dorien Starnes (1st Tm Defense), LB Eric Rankin (2nd Tm Defense), and KR Ivan Thorpe (2nd Tm Special Teams).
• VMI is under the direction of head coach Danny Rocco, who is in his second season with the program. Rocco is 126-72 for his career, having made previous stops at Liberty, Richmond and Delaware. Rocco was a National Coach of the Year Finalist last season after guiding VMI to five wins for just the fourth time in 20 years. The turnaround came after a 1-10 season in 2022. VMI ended last season with a 27-24 win over No. 14 Western Carolina.
• Rice paced the VMI offense last season as he did in this year's opener. He accumulated 867 rushing yards and 14 touchdowns in 2023, averaging 5.1 yards per carry. Rankin finished second on the VMI roster with 93 tackles and 3.5 sacks last season.
• Overall, VMI returned 13 starters and four of eight All-SoCon honorees from last season.
The Bucknell/VMI Series
• Bucknell and VMI are meeting for a third consecutive season and for the eighth time since the series began in 1978. Six of the meetings have occurred in the last 11 years.
• Bucknell leads 4-3 in the all-time series with the Keydets. They have split the last four meetings. Bucknell won 21-13 in Lewisburg last September, and VMI won 24-14 in Lexington in 2022.
• Bucknell defeated the Keydets in 2013, 2014 and 2015 for the longest streak by either team in the series. The Keydets prevailed 23-17 in triple overtime in the 2016 meeting.
• VMI won the first-ever meeting, 25-14, in Lexington in 1978.
The Last Meeting with the Keydets
• Bucknell held VMI scoreless through three quarters and never trailed in a 21-13 victory at Christy Mathewson-Memorial Stadium Sept. 9, 2023. The Bison improved to 1-1 with the victory.
• Four of the game's five touchdowns occurred in the fourth quarter.
• An 18-yard touchdown pass from Ralph Rucker to Damian Harris late in the first quarter gave the Bison a 7-0 lead that lasted until 10:08 remained in the game. A 27-yard touchdown pass from VMI's Collin Ironside tied the game at 7-7, but Rucker struck again less than four minutes later with a 7-yard touchdown pass to Charlie Kreinbucher to regain the lead. The Bison added a rushing touchdown to go up 21-7, and the score proved pivotal as VMI added a late score with 1:31 to go to arrive at the 21-13 final.
• The Bison racked up 397 yards of offense on 76 plays in the win. Rucker posted a breakout performance, passing for 224 yards and two touchdowns while adding 47 rushing yards. Rushawn Baker added 105 yards on the ground. Damian Harris hauled in eight receptions for 101 yards.
• 220 of VMI's 295 yards were through the air. The Keydets also came away with the game's only turnover, recovering a fumble in the third quarter.
• Bucknell's pass rush was relentless in the game, as the defense piled up six sacks.
Inside the Bucknell Depth Chart
• Bucknell's projected starters on offense have made a combined 105 starts at Bucknell.
• Bucknell's projected starters on defense have made a combined 104 starts at Bucknell.
• On offense, one fifth-year (OL Casey Stephenson), three seniors, six juniors and one sophomore (OL Xavier Allen) are expected to start.
• On defense, eight seniors, two juniors and one sophomore (LB Gavin Willis) are expected to start.
• 11 Bison have made at least 10 starts entering Saturday's game. S John Schlendorf leads the team with 23 career starts. Schlendorf and OL Casey Stephenson are the only two Bison with 20 or more career starts.
• Five Bison made their first career starts last week: WR Nate Anderson, RB Paul Neel, DL Grant Laws, DL Justin Fisher and CB Aaron Davis.
• Six Bison have starting streaks of 10 or more games in a row: Schlendorf (23), TE Charlie Kreinbucher (15), S Alex Smith Jr. (12), OL John Ohnegian (12), LB Brad Jamison (12) and Stephenson (10).
• Seniors Schlendorf and Smith Jr. have played in all 34 of the team's games over their three seasons.
Milestone Watch
• Derrick Anderson Jr. needs 68 receiving yards to reach 500 for his career.
• Ralph Rucker is 341 passing yards away from 3,000 in his Bucknell career.
Milestones Met Last Week
• Alex Smith Jr. recorded his 100th career tackle.
• Nick Hoying and Terian Williams recorded their first career interceptions.
Bison Award Winners
• The Patriot League announced its first round of weekly awards on Monday, and two Bison received honorable mentions. WR TJ Cadden was an honorable mention for PL Special Teams Player of the Week after recording a 52-yard kickoff return and a 24-yard punt return at Navy. LB Nick Hoying was an honorable mention for PL Defensive Player of the Week for registering a game-high 11 tackles and an interception against the Mids.
• 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).
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 goes on the road again in week two to face VMI for a third season in a row. The Bison and Keydets split the previous two meetings.
• 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 2-7 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 games this season will be broadcast on ESPN+ with the exception of the season opener at Navy, which will be shown on CBS Sports Network.
• 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 Partners with Vs. Cancer
• For a sixth consectuve 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 Sept. 14 home game vs. Merrimack 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 hosts Merrimack at Christy Mathewson-Memorial Stadium on Saturday, Sept. 14 for the team's 2024 home opener. The Bison are celebrating First Responder and Hero Appreciation Night at Christy, and all veterans, active-duty military, gold-star families, first responders, doctors and nurses will receive free admission. Visit Bucknell.edu/boxoffice for more information.
• Saturday will be the first-ever meeting between the Bison and Warriors. Kickoff is scheduled for 6 p.m.
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