Bucknell University Athletics
Photo by: John Rooney
Three Bison Earn Patriot League Weekly Honors after Thrilling OT Win at Lehigh
9/30/2024 12:14:00 PM | Football
LEWISBURG, Pa. – The Bucknell football team had no shortage of difference-makers in Saturday's dramatic double-overtime win at Lehigh, and three of those stars were recognized with Patriot League Player of the Week honors on Monday. Sophomore linebacker Gavin Willis was selected as the Defensive Player of the Week, sophomore wideout and return specialist TJ Cadden was named Special Teams Player of the Week, and freshman running back Tariq Thomas picked up Rookie of the Week honors.
Willis is backing up his productive rookie season with an impressive sophomore campaign, and on Saturday at Lehigh he logged nine tackles (seven solo), including two sacks that totaled 21 lost yards, and recovered two fumbles. The second of those fumble recoveries ended the game. On the first play of the bottom half of the second overtime period with Bucknell leading 38-35, Lehigh running back Luke Yoder was swarmed by the Bison defense, lost the ball, and Willis came out of the pile with the loose ball to end it.
Willis also recovered a second-quarter fumble that was part of a big momentum-changing sequence. Just after the Bison fell behind 14-0, Cadden returned the ensuing kickoff 100 yards for a touchdown. Then on the second play of Lehigh's next drive, Mason Taylor stripped Yoder and Willis recovered at the Lehigh 31-yard line. One play later, Ralph Rucker IV connected with Eric Weatherly on a game-tying touchdown.
Willis, who was also a Stats Perform Honorable Mention FCS Defensive Player of the Week, is Bucknell's leading tackler on the season with 47 through five games.
Cadden is building a historic season in the return game. He had already returned punts for touchdowns in wins over VMI and Marist, and on Saturday he added a kickoff return TD to his account with the 100-yarder in the second quarter. Cadden joined A.J. Kizekai (vs. Lafayette in 2008) as the only Bucknell players with a 100-yard return, and it was the seventh 100-yard return in Patriot League history.
Cadden is the only player in FCS football with two punt return touchdowns and three total return TDs. He is leading the nation in kickoff return average (39.5) while ranking third in punt return average (17.5). Cadden's 430 combined yards on punt and kickoff returns are second-most in the country.
Thomas continues to impress as a key member of Bucknell's backfield rotation. On Saturday he set career highs with 18 carries for 77 yards, including a season-long 20-yard scamper that set up a first-and-goal. Thomas also caught a 10-yard pass out of the backfield. In five games this season, he has a team-high 206 rushing yards.
Bucknell improved to 3-2 on the season with Saturday's win at Lehigh. That was the first intraconference matchup of the 2024 season, so the Bison are out to the early lead in the Patriot League standings. This is the team's bye week, and then they will have two straight games against Ivy League foes in Penn and Cornell before returning to Patriot League play at Georgetown on Oct. 26.
Willis is backing up his productive rookie season with an impressive sophomore campaign, and on Saturday at Lehigh he logged nine tackles (seven solo), including two sacks that totaled 21 lost yards, and recovered two fumbles. The second of those fumble recoveries ended the game. On the first play of the bottom half of the second overtime period with Bucknell leading 38-35, Lehigh running back Luke Yoder was swarmed by the Bison defense, lost the ball, and Willis came out of the pile with the loose ball to end it.
Willis also recovered a second-quarter fumble that was part of a big momentum-changing sequence. Just after the Bison fell behind 14-0, Cadden returned the ensuing kickoff 100 yards for a touchdown. Then on the second play of Lehigh's next drive, Mason Taylor stripped Yoder and Willis recovered at the Lehigh 31-yard line. One play later, Ralph Rucker IV connected with Eric Weatherly on a game-tying touchdown.
Willis, who was also a Stats Perform Honorable Mention FCS Defensive Player of the Week, is Bucknell's leading tackler on the season with 47 through five games.
Cadden is building a historic season in the return game. He had already returned punts for touchdowns in wins over VMI and Marist, and on Saturday he added a kickoff return TD to his account with the 100-yarder in the second quarter. Cadden joined A.J. Kizekai (vs. Lafayette in 2008) as the only Bucknell players with a 100-yard return, and it was the seventh 100-yard return in Patriot League history.
Cadden is the only player in FCS football with two punt return touchdowns and three total return TDs. He is leading the nation in kickoff return average (39.5) while ranking third in punt return average (17.5). Cadden's 430 combined yards on punt and kickoff returns are second-most in the country.
Thomas continues to impress as a key member of Bucknell's backfield rotation. On Saturday he set career highs with 18 carries for 77 yards, including a season-long 20-yard scamper that set up a first-and-goal. Thomas also caught a 10-yard pass out of the backfield. In five games this season, he has a team-high 206 rushing yards.
Bucknell improved to 3-2 on the season with Saturday's win at Lehigh. That was the first intraconference matchup of the 2024 season, so the Bison are out to the early lead in the Patriot League standings. This is the team's bye week, and then they will have two straight games against Ivy League foes in Penn and Cornell before returning to Patriot League play at Georgetown on Oct. 26.
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