Bison Football Hosts Lafayette in Community Day Game Presented by Members 1st

Saturday, October 17

Lewisburg, Pa.

3 p.m.

Bucknell University

Lafayette

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Photo by: Brett Newcomb

Bison Football Hosts Lafayette in Community Day Game Presented by Members 1st

10/13/2026 11:48:00 AM | Football

Bucknell Football vs Lafayette

Football

vs Lafayette

Oct 17, 2026 at 3 p.m.

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Bucknell football is back at home on Saturday, Oct. 17 as it takes on Lafayette in Community Day presented by Members 1st. Kickoff is set for 3 p.m. in Christy Mathewson-Memorial Stadium as both teams look for its first conference win of the season.

This will be the 104th time in program history that these two teams meet since their first contest in 1883. The Leopards lead the overall series 39-58-6 and are currently on a one game winning streak after defeating the Bison in 2025 62-24. Bucknell does lead the series in Lewisburg however, with a 23-21-1 record.

GAME DAY GUIDE FOR FANS

Tailgating Policy | Clear Bag Policy | Join the Gridiron Club

NEW Clear Bag Policy

Only small clutch bags (no larger than 4.5” by 6.5”) and bags made of clear plastic (any size) will be allowed inside Christy Mathewson-Memorial Stadium.
Exceptions will be made for Bucknell employees and vendors whose work requires event-related supplies or equipment. In addition, strollers, diaper bags, and medically-necessary equipment are permitted, but will be subject to search upon request.

NEW Rusty Rail Biergarten

Bucknell Athletics and the local brewery Rusty Rail have announced an exciting new partnership that will bring a beer garden to select Bison football games this fall. The new feature will be located on the west side of the Pascucci Team Center at the north end of Christy Mathewson-Memorial Stadium. All fans are invited to the area but must be 21 years of age or older to purchase beer. Gates open 90 minutes prior to kickoff.
The Rusty Rail Biergarten at Christy Mathewson-Memorial Stadium will feature a mix of their flagship beers, including Fog Monster Hazy IPA, Hop Glitch Easy IPA, Golden Blonde, and Fool’s Gold Peanut Butter Hefeweizen. They will also have a rotating seasonal beer, which could include the Pumpkin Swirl/Waffle Sauce offering.

Community Day presented by Members 1st

Bucknell football invites local organizations to be their guests at the Bucknell vs Lafayette game in Christy.
The Bison appreciate all that the local organizations do for the community and look to give back with its Community Day game.

Homecoming & Football Alumni Weekend

Bucknell Football will be celebrating the 30th anniversary of its 1996 Patriot League Championship team as well as the induction of the Class of 2010 graduate A.J. Kizekai into the Bucknell Hall of Fame.
All Alumni will be recognized on the field during the Bucknell vs Lafayette game.

MEDIA LINKS

Watch: ESPN+ | Radio: 1070 AM (WKOK) | Internet Radio: BucknellBison.com

Live Stats: bucknellbison.com | Media Notes: Bucknell | Follow on X: @Bucknell_FB

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BUCKNELL AT A GLANCE

Bucknell football is back at home this weekend as it takes on Lafayette in its Community Day game presented by Members 1st. Kickoff is set for 3 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 17 in Christy Mathewson-Memorial Stadium.
Bucknell is coming off of a narrow 21-14 road loss to Georgetown. Freshman QB Emmett Dowling threw for his career first touchdown in the contest. The score was brought in by freshman Chad Martin and also served as his career first TD.
Langston Blair was named Patriot League Rookie of the Week (9/14) for his defensive performance against VMI.
Sam Milligan (WR) and Brandon Biagiarelli (LB) earned 2026 Preseason All-Patriot League Team honors.
Ahead of the 2026 season, Milligan was named to the Walter Payton Award Preseason Watch List and the 2026 Stats Perform FCS Preseason All-America Second Team.
The Bison were picked to finish 10th in the 2026 Preseason All-Patriot League Poll.
Bucknell returns just one of their four 2025 All-Patriot League players as Sam Milligan, who earned First Team All-Patriot League Special Teams Non-Specialist and Second Team All-Patriot League Wide Receiver returns for his senior season in 2026.
The Bison are in their first season under head coach Jeff Behrman. This new era of Bison football also comes with a mostly new coaching staff under Behrman with the lone returner to the staff being safeties coach McNeil Parker.
Rounding out the coaching staff are new additions to the Bison family; Travis James (OC/OL), Jeffrey Long Jr. (DC), Rex Rover (WR/Recruiting Coordinator), Mac Austin (TE), Joe Collins (QB), Joseph Torok (RB), Anthony Trotta (DL), Jason Nelson (CB), Tyler Hughes (DOFO/Video Operations) and Kendrick O’Mary (strength & conditioning coach).
Bucknell returned a total of 65 players from the 2025 season and lost 32 athletes from the roster. The Bison rounded out the roster with 35 newcomers ahead of the 2026 season.
Patriot League Football, much like Bucknell Football, are entering a new era this season. With the additions of Villanova and William & Mary, the league has announced a new slogan; “The Power of 10”.

LAFAYETTE AT A GLANCE

Lafayette enters the game off of its bye-week with a 1-4 overall record and a 0-2 Patriot League record.
The Leopards lone win came in a 13-9 victoRy of non-conference opponent Marist on Sept. 12.
Lafayette is currently on a three game losing streak with narrow losses to Columbia, Holy Cross and #17/#24 Richmond.
In the 40-31 loss to the Spiders in their last time out, the Leopards started strong before Richmond put up 31 unanswered points at the end of the first half and into the fourth quarter to claim the victory.
At the helm of the Lafayette offense is quarterback Daniel Lipovski who has seen five games played. He is 69-for-147 for 772 yards, six touchdowns and four interceptions. Quarterback Jason Penza has also seen time at QB with three games played. He went 7-for-11 for 48 yards in those contests.
Leading the rush for the Leopards is Jakyre Henley. In the five games played, Henley has had 57 carries for 379 net yards and three touchdowns as the main back for Lafayette.
The receiving corps for the Leopards is led by Mason Kuehner who has had 27 receptions for 410 yards and three touchdowns
Carson Persing has also been a production maker at the receiver spot with 20 catches for 210 yards and two touchdowns.
On the defensive side of things, Beckham Dee and Dhonte Jackson lead the team in tackles with 41 each. Dee has 20 solo tackles, 21 assisted tackles, 3.5 tackles for loss, one sack, one pass breakup and one interception in the five games played. Jackson has 23 solo tackles, 18 assisted tackles, 1.5 tackles for loss, two pass breakups and an interception in the same five games.
Christian Bush has handled punting duties and has punted 26 times for 1,094 yards with a season-long 70-yarder.
Jack Simonetta is the field goal kicker and is 6-for7 with his longest this season being 40 yards.
Kandler Happe handles kickoffs and has kicked 23 times for 1,321 yards

BUCKNELL / LAFAYETTE SERIES HISTORY

This will be the 104th meeting between the two teams since 1883, when they first met.

The Leopards lead the overall series 39-58-6.

Lafayette is currently on a one game winning streak after defeating the Bison in 2025 62-24.

Bucknell leads the series in Lewisburg with a 23-21-1 record.

ON RECORD WATCH

Sam Milligan is one touchdown catch away from holding sole custody of the career receiving touchdowns record. (Currently tied with Tom Mitchell’65, Lester Erb ‘90 and Will Carter ‘16 with 18.)

MILESTONE WATCH

Takai Whitmore is eight solo tackles away from 50 career solo tackles.
Deuce Geter is 28 tackles away from 150 career total tackles.
Brandon Biagiarelli is two solo tackles away from 100 career solo tackles.

INSIDE THE RECORD BOOK

Sam Milligan is tied for first in career receiving touchdowns with 18.
Milligan ranks first in touchdown catches in a single game with four against VMI on Saturday, Sept. 13, 2025.
Milligan ranks sixth all-time in receiving yards in a single game with 192 yards in that VMI win for Bucknell.
Milligan is currently tied for third in career touchdown catches with 15 and is tied for second in season touchdown catches with 10 in 2025.
TJ Cadden tied for the longest kickoff return (100 yds) and holds the records for most punt return touchdowns in a season (2) and most total return touchdowns (3; two punt returns and one kickoff return).

2026 BISON AWARD WINNERS

Langston Blair was named Patriot League Rookie of the Week (9/14/26).
Sam Milligan was named to the 2026 Stats Perform FCS Preseason All-America Second Team and the Walter Payton Award Preseason Watch List.
Milligan was named to the 2026 Preseason All-Patriot League Team
Brandon Biagiarelli was named to the 2026 Preseason All-Patriot League Team

INSIDE THE 2026 SCHEDULE

This is the 141st season of football at Bucknell. The Bison played their first-ever game in 1883 and have been playing a consistent schedule since 1887.
Bucknell is scheduled to play 12 games for just the fifth time in program history. With the additions of Villanova and William & Mary to the Patriot League, the Bison have a record-high nine conference games in 2026, with just five home games.
The Bison opened the 2026 season with back-to-back Patriot League night games. First up was Richmond on the road on Saturday, Aug. 29 at 6 p.m. and then Bucknell held its home opener in Christy on Saturday, Sept. 5 at 6 p.m.
Week three featured VMI on the road before heading home to face Penn on Saturday Sept. 19 at 3 p.m. in Christy.
Bucknell then faces an ACC opponent in Pitt for the first time since 1945, the last time these two teams met. They then have a bye week before getting back on the road to face Patriot League opponent Georgetown on Saturday, Oct. 10 at 12:30 p.m.
On Saturday, Oct. 17 Bucknell hosts Lafayette at 3 p.m. in Christy before taking on Holy Cross and Lehigh on the road.
The Bison then host Fordham on November 7, take to the road on November 14 against newly added Patriot League member William & Mary and end the season at home on Saturday, Nov. 21 at 1 p.m. against Colgate.

How to Follow the Bison

All of Bucknell's games this season will be broadcast on ESPN+ with the exception of the Pitt game.
All of the Bison's games will be broadcast on 1070 AM (WKOK). 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 #ThunderOn and #rayBucknell.