Bucknell University
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VMI
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Big Second Half Lifts Bucknell Football to 35-28 Win at VMI
9/7/2024 5:43:00 PM | Football
LEXINGTON, Va. – A big second half that saw 21 unanswered points propelled the Bucknell football team to a 35-28 win over VMI at Alumni Memorial Field on Saturday. After VMI took an early lead on a first quarter pick six, Ralph Rucker IV was outstanding the rest of the way and guided the Bison to their first victory of the season. The Bison quarterback completed 28 of 37 passing attempts (75.7%) for 340 yards and three touchdowns.
The Bison and Keydets were tied at 14-14 at halftime, but junior wide receiver Josh Gary was on the receiving end of two Rucker touchdowns on Bucknell's first two drives of the third quarter to build a 28-14 lead. Sophomore TJ Cadden, who scored on a 40-yard punt return in the first quarter, caught another Rucker pass early in the fourth to put Bucknell up 35-14. Junior Eric Weatherly led all players with nine receptions for 105 yards. Paul Neel accounted for Bucknell's other touchdown, scoring in the first quarter on one of his eight carries for 37 yards.
In the second half, Rucker completed 14 of 15 attempts for 201 yards and three touchdowns, missing just once in the fourth quarter.
Bucknell racked up 457 yards of offense for the game, while VMI totaled 378.
"Great job by our football team coming out in the second half and playing the best football of the year so far. Offense, defense and special teams all came together, and we had a stretch of about 15 minutes where we played some championship-level football," said head coach Dave Cecchini.
The Bison defense gave up just one touchdown in the first half when running back Hunter Rice ran up the middle for a 58-yard score. The Keydets added two late scores with under nine minutes to play in the game to pull within a touchdown, but the Bison were able to kneel out the final 29 seconds to defeat VMI for a second year in a row.
Rice led the Keydets with 166 yards and two touchdowns on 18 carries. He also hauled in three catches. VMI quarterback Collin Shannon completed 21 of 32 passes for 129 yards, and backup Chandler Wilson completed 3 of 5 passes and a touchdown on the final VMI drive.
Rucker became just the second Bucknell quarterback to post three 300-yard passing games in his career, joining Jim Given '87. Seven of Rucker's passes were for 15 yards or longer, including a 33-yard completion to Weatherly that led to the first touchdown in the third quarter, a 41-yard touchdown pass to Gary that came on a 4th-and-2 play, and a 35-yard touchdown to Cadden.
Rucker to Gary again! On 4th-and-2 they hook up for a 41-yard BISON TOUCHDOWN. Rucker is 22 of 29 for 267 yards and 2 TDs. Bison lead 28-14. #ACT @PatriotLeagueHQ @ESPN https://t.co/FGNNWNvFND pic.twitter.com/oUA4MGgXpV
— Bucknell Football (@Bucknell_FB) September 7, 2024
Cadden's 40-yard punt return touchdown comes one week after he logged a 24-yard punt return and a 52-yard kickoff return at Navy. He ended the day with 141 all-purpose yards. It was the first Bucknell punt return touchdown since Josh Brake took one 62 yards to the house in a win over VMI on Aug. 30, 2014.
Gavin Willis led all Bison with 12 tackles, including six solo stops. Both Brandon Biagiarelli and John Schlendorf registered sacks. Schlendorf's sack on the opening drive of the game knocked the ball loose from VMI's quarterback's hand, but the Keydets recovered. The Bison would get their lone turnover of the game late in the third quarter when Chris Sims intercepted a pass in the end zone and returned it 21 yards.
Up next, Bucknell hosts Merrimack on Saturday, Sept. 14 for its home opener at Christy Mathewson-Memorial Stadium. The Bison will be celebrating First Responder and Hero Appreciation Night. Kickoff is scheduled for 6 p.m.
Team Stats
BUC 0, VMI 7
VMI - Locks,Asa 48 yd interception (Beck,Caden kick)
BUC 7, VMI 7
BUC - Cadden,TJ 40 yd punt return (Schearer,Matt kick)
BUC 14, VMI 7
BUC - Neel,Paul 2 yd run (Schearer,Matt kick), 12 plays, 65 yards, TOP 06:04
BUC 14, VMI 14
VMI - Rice,Hunter 58 yd run (Beck,Caden kick), 4 plays, 69 yards, TOP 01:03
BUC 21, VMI 14
BUC - Gary,Josh 10 yd pass from Rucker IV,Ralph (Schearer,Matt kick) 8 plays, 81 yards, TOP 03:25
BUC 28, VMI 14
BUC - Gary,Josh 41 yd pass from Rucker IV,Ralph (Schearer,Matt kick) 5 plays, 61 yards, TOP 02:20
BUC 35, VMI 14
BUC - Cadden,TJ 35 yd pass from Rucker IV,Ralph (Schearer,Matt kick) 7 plays, 79 yards, TOP 03:23
BUC 35, VMI 21
VMI - Rice,Hunter 2 yd run (Beck,Caden kick), 8 plays, 75 yards, TOP 04:01
BUC 35, VMI 28
VMI - von Brandt,Ryan 17 yd pass from Wilson,Chandler (Beck,Caden kick) 8 plays, 80 yards, TOP 02:25
