Dual Fourth Quarter Touchdowns Earn Bison First Win of 2026

Saturday, September 12

Lexington, Va.

12:30 p.m.

Bucknell University

1-2 , 0-2

VMI

0-3 , 0-0

Team	1st	2nd	3rd	4th	Final F
Bucknell	0	0	0	14	14
VMI	0	3	0	0	3

Photo by: Brett Newcomb

Dual Fourth Quarter Touchdowns Earn Bison First Win of 2026

9/12/2026 4:06:00 PM | Football

Box Score

LEXINGTON, Va. - Chris Dietrich found Virginia native Jackson Nowinski for a 27-yard touchdown reception, the junior's second career catch, with 6:51 left in regulation to give the Bison a 7-3 lead. Bucknell rode the momentum in the final minutes to expand its lead and earn its first win of the season, 14-3 over VMI on the road.

After the go-ahead touchdown, England Allen came up with a big interception at the VMI 39-yard line to re-gain possession for Bucknell with 4:22 to go.

The Bison offense took full advantage as it put together a five-play, 46-yard drive that culminated in an eight-yard rushing touchdown for Michael Cadden to secure the win.

The road victory earned head coach Jeff Behrman his first win at the helm of the program.

The first half featured a total of eight drives, one missed field goal apiece and a lot of big defensive plays from both teams to halt long drives in opponent territory. VMI was the lone point-scorer in the first half as it found a field goal, making it 3-0. Meanwhile, the second half scoring went all Bucknell's way as they tacked on 14 in the fourth quarter.

Dietrich went 22-for-30 for 221 yards and one touchdown with a game-long 46-yard pass.

The offense was led by Michael Cadden, who had 14 rushes for 74 yards and the game-securing rushing touchdown to make it 14-3 with just over two-minutes in regulation. Nowinski had two receptions for 29 yards and the game-changing touchdown reception to give the Bison their first lead of the game in the fourth quarter. Jerry Harrison led the receiving group with five receptions for 45 yards.

Bucknell's defense, which has allowed just 27 points in the last two-and-a-half games, was led by Brandon Biagiarelli, who had 12 tackles (six solo, six assisted). Allen brought in the lone interception of the game and Langston Blair had two pass breakups.

The first quarter began with an eight-play, 48-yard drive for the Bison that ended with a 4th and 4 play on the VMI 20 yard line after they elected to receive. The following 10:45 was a defensive battle with both teams being forced to punt.

The second quarter opened with back-to-back strong offensive drives for each team. Both drives ended in missed field goals. VMI's Jack Joyce missed wide left on a 55-yard attempt while Juan Garanton missed wide left on a 37-yarder.

VMI got the first points on the board with a 26-yard field goal on their next drive. The Keydets barreled down to the Bucknell 10-yard line, but Bucknell's defense came up with a couple of big plays including a Biagiarelli tackle for loss and solid coverage from Blair on a potential touchdown pass attempt to limit VMI to just three points.

The final 1:51 of the first half went scoreless, despite the Bison finding their way to the VMI 32-yard line due to an incomplete pass on 4th and 1.

VMI opened the third quarter with an eight-minute drive that went to the Bucknell 24-yard line. Nick Hoying had a tackle for loss and then Blair had solid coverage in the end zone on third down to force the Keydets to attempt a 42-yard field goal that went wide right. The rest of the quarter went scoreless.

Then came the fourth quarter comeback for the Bison.

Bucknell will be back at home on Saturday, Sep. 19 at 3 p.m. as it takes on Penn on Family Weekend presented by Giant, JRBC Day presented by Knoebels, and vs Cancer presented by Geisinger.