Bucknell University
5-6 , 2-4
Holy Cross
2-9 , 2-4
Football Falls to Holy Cross 37-20 in Final Home Game of the Season
11/15/2025 3:20:00 PM | Football
LEWISBURG, Pa. — Despite closing the gap to one score at the end of the third quarter, Bucknell (5-6, 2-4 PL) fell to Holy Cross (2-9, 2-4 PL) 37-20 in its final home game of 2025 at Christy Mathewson-Memorial Stadium on Saturday afternoon. The Bison were the first to put points on the board, but the second half would prove to be their downfall as the Crusaders outscored Bucknell 30-14 to take the win.Â
Bucknell saw three different quarterbacks throughout the game. Ralph Rucker IV made his return after missing the last four games due to an injury. He started the final home game of the season under center and went 6-for-7 for 58 yards and 1 touchdown. In the second quarter, Rucker became Bucknell's all-time leader in pass completions before he was sacked and injured on the next play. Christopher Dietrich entered the game at quarterback and was injured on a late hit on his first play of the game under center. Bucknell then utilized Nicholas Penuvchev for the remainder of the game. The freshman, who saw one snap at Fordham last weekend, went 13-of-22 for 237 yards and 2 touchdowns, including his career first passing touchdown which made it a one score game at the end of the third quarter.
Sam Milligan led the Bison in receiving with 5 catches for 154 yards and 2 touchdowns. He now ranks second in school history for receiving touchdowns in a single-season with 10 and is just two away from the single-season record. Logan Bush led the team in rushing with 2 carries for 32 yards. Nick Hoying led the Bison in tackles with 12 total (4 solo and 8 assisted).
Holy Cross opened by receiving the kick and returned it all the way to the endzone, but the play was called back on a Crusader penalty and they put together a six and a half minute drive that ended in no points. On 3rd and 5 at the Bucknell 19 yardline, Hoying got to the Crusaders quarterback and forced a fumble. Holy Cross recovered the fumble and went for it on 4th and 21, but the pass down the sideline would be broken up by Takai Whitmore and Holy Cross would turnover the ball on downs.
The Bison played off of the defensive momentum and put together an eight and a half minute drive that extended through the beginning of the second quarter. The 15-play, 65 yard drive ended in a 10-yard touchdown pass from Ralph Rucker to Nate Anderson for a senior to senior connection in their final game at Christy. On the drive, the Bison rushed ten times and only had three passing plays, one of which being the scoring reception. Matt Schearer missed the extra point, so the Bison took a 6-0 lead on the first play of the second quarter.
The next four drives each resulted in quick punts, two for each side, as the defensive efforts from each team proved to be more effective. Holy Cross broke the scoring drought with a six-play 68-yard touchdown drive that culminated in a Max Mosey direct snap rushing touchdown. Luis Palenzuela made the extra point to put the Crusaders up 7-6 with under five minutes left in the half.Â
On the next Bucknell offensive drive, Ralph Rucker threw his sixth completed pass of the game on a 27-yarder to Nate Anderson. The completed pass made Rucker Bucknell's all-time leader in pass completions with 572. On the next play, Rucker was sacked and left the game due to injury. Dietrich then stepped in the quarterback role and got hit on his first play, drawing a personal foul penalty for Holy Cross. Dietrich was taken to the tent after the play and third-string quarterback, Penuvchev, took the reins of the Bison offense. Bucknell rallied down the field to the Holy Cross 27-yardline with a 13-yard pass completion from Penuvchev to Gary being the 3rd and 27 play to set up a field goal attempt. With three seconds left in the quarter, Schearer's field goal was blocked and the Bison went into halftime down by one.
Holy Cross dominated most of the third quarter with their defense causing big turnovers, but the Bison defense limited the damage by forcing two of the scores to be field goals and then Bucknell's offense found the endzone with one minute remaining in the quarter to close the gap to 7. The Crusaders recovered a Bison fumble at the Bucknell 32-yardline on the opening drive of the half. Bucknell's defense limited the Crusaders to a 44-yard field goal, but the Bison offense was forced to punt on their next drive after a 12-yard reception by TJ Cadden was followed up by two incompletions and a one-yard rush. Holy Cross capitalized with a seven-play, 73 yard touchdown drive to take a 17-6 lead. The Crusaders continued to ride that momentum as Adam Due intercepted Penuvchev's pass at the Bucknell 25 yardline on Bucknell's next drive. Aaron Davis broke up a pass in the endzone to force the Crusaders to settle for a field goal and extend their lead to 14. Bucknell then put together a seven-play, 77 yard touchdown drive that was highlighted by Sam Milligan's two catches for 67 yards and a touchdown. The 27-yard passing touchdown was Penuvchev's career first.Â
The Crusaders opened the fourth quarter with two unanswered touchdowns to take a 30-13 lead. Bucknell came back with a four-play, 70-yard touchdown drive of its own to close the gap to 10 with six and a half minutes remaining. Penuvchev found Milligan for a 55-yard passing touchdown, the receivers 10th of the season.Â
Bucknell forced a punt on the next Holy Cross offensive drive and then the Bison offense went for it on 4th and 6 at their own 16 yardline, but were unsuccessful. The Crusaders scored on the first play of their next drive with a five yard rush from Jayden Clerveaux and the extra point was good to put Holy Cross up by 17 with just under four minutes left to play. The final 3:51 went scoreless as both the Bison and Crusaders notched one last possession each to end the game.
Bucknell will take the field for the final time in 2025 when they travel to Colgate on Saturday, Nov. 22. Kickoff is set for 1 p.m. in Hamilton.
Team Stats
HCU 0, BUC 6
BUC - Anderson,Nate 10 yd pass from Rucker IV,Ralph () 15 plays, 65 yards, TOP 08:23
HCU 7, BUC 6
HCU - Mosey,Max 7 yd run (Palenzuela,Luis kick), 6 plays, 68 yards, TOP 02:20
HCU 10, BUC 6
HCU - Palenzuela,Luis 44 yd field goal 4 plays, 6 yards, TOP 01:14
HCU 17, BUC 6
HCU - Punni,Nyeoti 15 yd run (Palenzuela,Luis kick), 7 plays, 73 yards, TOP 03:05
HCU 20, BUC 6
HCU - Palenzuela,Luis 24 yd field goal 9 plays, 29 yards, TOP 03:41
HCU 20, BUC 13
BUC - Milligan,Sam 25 yd pass from Penuvchev,Nicholas (Schearer,Matt kick) 7 plays, 77 yards, TOP 03:17
HCU 23, BUC 13
HCU - Palenzuela,Luis 46 yd field goal 9 plays, 49 yards, TOP 03:17
HCU 30, BUC 13
HCU - Punni,Nyeoti 53 yd run (Palenzuela,Luis kick), 6 plays, 80 yards, TOP 02:57
HCU 30, BUC 20
BUC - Milligan,Sam 55 yd pass from Penuvchev,Nicholas (Schearer,Matt kick) 3 plays, 70 yards, TOP 01:25
HCU 37, BUC 20
HCU - Clerveaux,Jayden 5 yd run (Palenzuela,Luis kick), 1 plays, 5 yards, TOP 00:04
