Football Battles Hard in 31-30 Loss to #19/20 Lehigh

Saturday, October 31

Bethlehem, Pa.

Noon

Bucknell University

1-8 , 0-6

#19/20 Lehigh

7-2 , 5-1

Team	1st	2nd	3rd	4th	Final F
Bucknell	7	7	3	13	30
Lehigh	0	7	7	17	31

Game Notes

10/31/2026 5:12:00 PM | Football

Box Score

BETHLEHEM, Pa. — Sam Milligan became the all-time touchdown reception leader at Bucknell and the first Bison football player to record a passing, rushing and receiving touchdown in a single game in Bucknell's narrow 31-30 loss to #19/20 Lehigh in Bethlehem. The loss marks the second time that the Bison have lost to a ranked opponent by just one point this season.

Bucknell was able to hold a small lead through the end of the third quarter before the game saw four lead changes in the final 15 minutes. Lehigh went up 31-24 with two-minutes left after Bucknell's defense held them to a field goal which allowed the Bison to run a two-minute drill under freshman quarterback Emmett Dowling. The Bison then successfully went for it on fourth down twice before Dowling found Milligan in the endzone with a perfectly placed ball and seven seconds left. Bucknell then chose to go for two in hopes of upsetting #19/20 Lehigh, but the Mountain Hawks were able to bat down the pass attempt and secure the home win.

"I am really proud of the resilience of this team all year and especially today for showing what they are capable of doing," said head coach Jeff Behrman. "We decided in advance that we were going for two if the situation came up. With the opportunity to go for two in this game for the win, we would do it 10 out of 10 times."

The Bison offense had its best game of the season as it strung together 416 total offensive yards through 346 total passing yards and 70 total rushing yards. In comparison, Lehigh notched just 318 yards with a majority coming from running the ball.

The 34 total Bison completions that occurred in the contest marks the second most completions made in a single game in Bucknell history and 54 total pass attempts from the Bison lands at 5th in the record book.

Dowling had a big day as a freshman quarterback against a stacked Lehigh defense. He went 33-for-52 for 318 yards, one touchdown and one interception.

The 318 passing yards in a single game lands at 15th in Bucknell history and is the most by a freshman. His 33 pass completions on 52 attempts also landed in the Bison record book at third in pass completions in a single game and 4th in pass attempts in a single game.

"Emmett played absolutely lights out and was tough as nails today," said senior wide receiver Sam Milligan. "He extended plays and has done a great job of being confident and putting confidence in the rest of us."

Sam Milligan ended the game with nine receptions for 122 yards and a touchdown, three carries for 27 yards and a touchdown and went 1-for-1 for 28 yards and a touchdown in passing. His 28-yard passing touchdown to Jackson Nowinski was a career first and his receiving touchdown earned him sole custody of the Bucknell career receiving touchdown record.

"On the last play, the guys did such a great job and executed to perfection which allowed me to have a one on one opportunity for the last 15 yards, but it really is that 60 yards of straight work before that that allowed it to happen."

Jack Sullivan earned the other Bison score of the afternoon with a two-yard rushing touchdown that gave Bucknell a 14-7 lead. The rushing touchdown was the sophomore's career first.

On the defensive side of the ball, Brandon Biagiarelli led in tackles with a career-high 16 on the afternoon. He also notched a sack, one of just seven that Lehigh has allowed all year.

"The guys up front did their job and allowed me to get through by opening it up," said Biagiarelli. "Lehigh has two tough backs and we really had to work hard to get some stops."

Bucknell was able to open the game in scoring and maintain its lead heading into the half after finding the endzone once on the ground and once through the air in the first half, while limiting Lehigh to just one score and limiting its star running back Luke Yoder to just 70 yards. The third quarter saw a Lehigh touchdown and a Bison field goal as Bucknell was able to narrowly hold a 17-14 lead. The fourth quarter then saw four lead changes and ended with Lehigh breaking up Bucknell's two-point conversion attempt to secure the win.

Bucknell opened the game by receiving and were able to convert one first down before three consecutive passes went incomplete. The Bison defense however, stood tall and forced Lehigh to go three-and-out on its first offensive drive of the game.

Perfect for Halloween, the first score came on a trick play. Bucknell quarterback Emmett Dowling handed the ball off to Sam Milligan for a trick play that looked like a rush, but Milligan found Jackson Nowinski down the field and hit him with a pass for a 28-yard touchdown to open the scoring. The trick play was the culmination of a nine-play, 64 yard drive that featured a successful 4th and three play. The passing touchdown is Milligan's first of his career, despite being a receiver that has thrown four times prior to this game.

On the first play of the second quarter, Luke Yoder ended a 13-play, 75 yard drive with a one yard rushing touchdown to tie it up at 7.

Both defenses then stood strong and there were six consecutive punts before the Bison were able to break the scoreless streak and take a 14-7 lead before the half. Jack Sullivan notched his first collegiate touchdown on a two yard rush that made his total yards on the drive 32. The highlight of the nine play, 71 yard drive, was a 21 yard pass through the middle from Dowling to Jack Bohm-Squicciarini that set up the rushing score.

Lehigh got the ball to start the third quarter but Brandon Biagiarelli came up with a major sack to force a 3rd and 12 opportunity. The Bison defense then came out with solid coverage on a deep ball and forced an incompletion and Lehigh punt. The Bison offense then began to drive, but the contested pass was intercepted by Lehigh at the 29 yard-line. Lehigh then capitalized with a seven play, 29 yard drive that ended in an Aidan Mayfield four yard rushing touchdown and a tied game.

Bucknell then put together a 15 play, 62 yard drive that culminated in a 30-yard field goal from Juan Garanton to give the Bison a 17-14 lead. The drive opened with the Bison on a 3rd and 6 play that went incomplete, but a defensive pass interference was called, therefore giving Bucknell a first down. The Bison then faced its second 4th and short play of the afternoon and chose to go for it rather than kick a long field goal and Dowling found Miligan for the first down. Lehigh's defense then forced three consecutive incomplete passes and Bucknell sent out the field goal unit.

Lehigh then found its first lead of the game as Patrick Coan found Matt D'Avino for a 30-yard touchdown reception to make it a 21-17 game in favor of the Mountain Hawks. The score came on a 10 play, 75 yard drive. The lead wouldn't last for long as the Bison would then put together a seven play, 75-yard drive that culminated in a Milligan rushing touchdown for 19 yards. Bucknell strung together a couple of big plays on the drive with Milligan having a 15-yard reception and a 19-yard rush alongside JJ Gomez having a 23-yard catch.

Lehigh then came up with a stop and put together an eight play, 62 yard drive that ended with a Luke Yoder 11-yard rushing touchdown to give the Mountain Hawks a 28-24 lead with 3:05 left to play. Bucknell then went for it on 4th down in their own territory and turned over the ball on downs, which Lehigh took advantage of with the eventual game-winning field goal.

Then came Bucknell's two-minute drill that culminated in the Sam Milligan touchdown to make it a one-point game and the incomplete two-point conversion that earned Lehigh the win.

Bucknell will next host Fordham in Christy Mathewson-Memorial Stadium on Saturday, Nov. 7 at 1 p.m.