Bucknell University
5-5 , 2-3
Fordham
1-9 , 1-5
Bison Fire on All Cylinders in 37-19 Victory Over Fordham
11/8/2025 4:59:00 PM | Football
Bronx, N.Y. — Bucknell (5-5, 2-3 PL) put together an all-around impressive performance with big plays from the offense, defense and special teams to break its three-game losing streak with a 37-19 victory over Fordham (1-9, 1-5 PL) at Moglia Stadium on Saturday afternoon. The Bison opened the game on a 17-0 run before the Rams put points on the board and were able to maintain that lead throughout the game to get the win.
Bucknell's offense found the spark that it's been missing in its last few games as Chris Dietrich started at quarterback for his fourth consecutive game and went 17-of-22 for 166 yards and three passing touchdowns. The sophomore had his cleanest performance with the 77.3% completion rate and no interceptions.
Matt Schearer had a solid performance as he went 3-of-4 in field goals. The kicker made a 48-yarder, 37-yarder and a 42-yarder before missing one from 26 yards out. With the three made field goals in the game, Schearer is just three away from Bucknell's career made field goals record.
Sam Milligan led the offense in receiving with four receptions for 77 yards and two touchdowns. The receiver also spent time in a wildcat position and rushed six times for 31 yards in the game. Tariq Thomas led the rushing efforts with 11 carries for 33 yards. Michael Cadden was the other Bison on offense that found the endzone.
The Bison defense was strong throughout the game, blanking the Rams in both the first and third quarters. Brandon Biagiarelli led Bucknell in tackles with 11 total (9 solo, 2 assisted), one sack, one tackle for loss and one assisted tackle for loss. The Bison defense also forced a fumble thanks to Drew Cormier and Jack Goheen recovered the fumble for Bucknell.
Five different Bison defenders found sacks in the game; Biagiarelli, Jack Inserra, Bradley Pao, Will Caneer and Darius Day. Day also recorded an interception in the fourth quarter which led to a Bison touchdown.
Special teams had a stellar performance in the game as well with both a blocked punt that was returned for a touchdown and a forced fumble that the Bison recovered. Charlie Kreinbucher was able to get up and make a play on a punt early in the second quarter. After batting the punt down, Goheen got the ball and returned it for a special teams touchdown. This is the second blocked punt return touchdown and fourth blocked punt for the Bison this season. Freshman Kaleb Lampkins was the one who forced a fumble on the Rams' return and the Bison offense got the ball back deep in Fordham territory in the fourth quarter of play.
Bucknell dominated the first quarter of play by scoring on both of its first two drives while forcing Fordham to go scoreless. The Bison opened the game with a drive that was highlighted by a major 13-yard rush from Dietrich on a third-and-12 play at Bucknell's 39 yardline. After keeping the drive alive, the Bison drove down the field, but had to settle for a 48 yard field goal by Matt Schearer to take an early 3-0 lead.
Fordham's offense took the field, but on a third-and-16 play, Drew Cormier came up big for the Bison defense by forcing a fumble which Jack Goheen recovered at the Fordham 23 yardline to give the ball back to Dietrich and the Bison offense who would take advantage with a four-play, 23-yard touchdown drive. Dietrich hit Michael Cadden for a 10-yard touchdown to put the Bison up 10. The Bison defense forced the Rams to punt on its next drive and held a 10-0 lead to the end of the first quarter.
The second quarter of play opened with each team punting the ball, which is where the Bucknell special teams squad began to shine. On Fordham's punt early in the second quarter, Charlie Kreinbucher was able to jump and get a hand on the ball to block the kick. Goheen grabbed the blocked punt and returned it for a touchdown. This is Bucknell's second blocked punt return touchdown of the season after Sam Milligan returned a blocked punt for a score against Lafayette in mid-October. The Bison have now blocked four punts in total this season amongst three players; Owen Garwood (2), Luke Freeman (1) and Kreinbucher. The special teams score gave Bucknell a 17-0 lead with 12:15 seconds left in the half.
Momentum then shifted in Fordham's favor as the Rams were able to put together two touchdown drives with a defensive stop in the middle. Fordham first strung together a seven-play, 43-yard drive that culminated in Gunnar Smith slinging the ball to Troy Worrell for a nine-yard touchdown. Bennett Henderson missed the extra point. After the Rams did their job on defense quickly forcing a Bison three-and-out they charged down the field for a second time on a 13-play 88-yard touchdown drive that gained its spark on a 43-yard grab by Jabril Carter that took Fordham to the Bucknell 35-yardline. The Bison were able to stop Fordham three times inside the five-yardline, but the Rams went for it on 4th-and-1 with a Jarnell James rush and utilized a tush-push adjacent play to get the score. Fordham chose to go for two with a passing play, but were unsuccessful and the score became 17-12 with just 50 seconds left in the half.
After a short kickoff to avoid TJ Cadden, a powerful returner, the Bison started an offensive drive with the momentum in Fordham's favor. The Bison effectively ran the ball a couple of times before Dietrich found Milligan down the sideline and placed the ball perfectly to keep the receiver in-bounds for a 42-yard touchdown reception. Schearer made the extra point and the Bison regained the momentum before the first half expired with a 24-12 lead for Bucknell.
The third quarter was similar to the first as the Bison put up points while keeping the Rams scoreless. While Bucknell was unable to find the endzone in the third, it used 10:28 seconds of offense to score six points on two Schearer field goals. The kicker hit a 37-yarder with 7:52 left in the quarter and then hit a 42-yarder to put the Bison up by eight, which would hold going into the final 15 minutes of play.
The fourth quarter of play began with Fordham turning the ball over on downs and then Bucknell punting the ball away, but the Bison special teams unit forced a turnover to give Bucknell possession with great field position. Lampkins forced the fumble and the Bison were able to recover it, but it would only lead to a missed field goal attempt.
Then, there was a series of defensive stops before Bucknell's defense stepped into the light once again, as Day got his second pick of the season which led to the Bison finding the endzone on a 22-yard touchdown grab by Milligan for his second score of the day and Dietrich's third passing touchdown. The Rams ended the game on a high note as Smith found Jaden Allen for a four-yard touchdown reception. Henderson made the extra point to cut the deficit to 18 WITH 1:18 left in the game, but it wouldn't be enough as the Bison would take the victory to end its three-game losing streak.
The Bison will now head back home for its final game of the season at Christy Mathewson-Memorial Stadium. Bucknell will face Holy Cross at noon on Saturday, Nov. 15.
Team Stats
BUC 3, FOR 0
BUC - Schearer,Matt 48 yd field goal 10 plays, 44 yards, TOP 03:38
BUC 10, FOR 0
BUC - Cadden,Michael 10 yd pass from Dietrich,Chris (Schearer,Matt kick) 4 plays, 23 yards, TOP 01:58
BUC 17, FOR 0
BUC - Goheen,Jack 7 yd punt return (Schearer,Matt kick)
BUC 17, FOR 6
FOR - Worrell,Troy 9 yd pass from Smith,Gunnar () 7 plays, 43 yards, TOP 03:44
BUC 17, FOR 12
FOR - James,Jamell 1 yd run (), 13 plays, 88 yards, TOP 05:22
BUC 24, FOR 12
BUC - Milligan,Sam 42 yd pass from Dietrich,Chris (Schearer,Matt kick) 4 plays, 59 yards, TOP 00:27
BUC 27, FOR 12
BUC - Schearer,Matt 37 yd field goal 11 plays, 43 yards, TOP 06:15
BUC 30, FOR 12
BUC - Schearer,Matt 42 yd field goal 9 plays, 45 yards, TOP 04:13
BUC 37, FOR 12
BUC - Milligan,Sam 22 yd pass from Dietrich,Chris (Schearer,Matt kick) 4 plays, 14 yards, TOP 02:20
BUC 37, FOR 19
FOR - Allen,Jaden 4 yd pass from Smith,Gunnar (Henderson,Bennett kick) 11 plays, 76 yards, TOP 03:33
