Football Falls Just Short in 17-16 loss to No. 17 Villanova

Saturday, September 5

Lewisburg, Pa.

6 p.m.

Bucknell University

0-2 , 0-2

Villanova

1-1 , 1-1

Team	1st	2nd	3rd	4th	Final F
Villanova	7	7	0	3	17
Bucknell	0	0	13	3	16

Photo by: Jon Lambert

Football Falls Just Short in 17-16 loss to No. 17 Villanova

9/5/2026 9:55:00 PM | Football

Box Score Photo Gallery

LEWISBURG, Pa. — Juan Garanton's 29-yard field goal attempt with two minutes to play was blocked by Villanova, and the Wildcats secured a 17-16 win over the Bucknell football team on Saturday night at Christy Mathewson-Memorial Stadium.

Bucknell surged back from a 14-0 deficit after the first half as Chris Dietrich and Sam Milligan connected on each of the first two Bison drives to start the half to make it a 14-13 game. After a three-and-out, TJ Cadden had a 49-yard punt return to put the Bison deep into Wildcats territory. Garanton then gave the Bison their first lead on their third drive of the half with a career-long 40-yard field goal.

Villanova answered with a rapid drive into the redzone, but Bucknell buckled down and forced a field goal that gave the Wildcats the lead right back at 17-16. The Bison responded with a six-play, 64-yard drive into the redzone to take the game down to the two-minute timeout. Villanova got pressure on Garanton's 29-yard attempt, and the junior kicker's attempt was partially blocked by a hurdling player on the line.

The Bison got to third down as the Wildcats looked to ice the game, but a 21-yard completion to Isaiah Ragland ran out the clock as Villanova earned its first win of the season.

The Bison faithful got a look at vintage Sam Milligan as the senior captain hauled in 13 receptions for 135 yards and two touchdowns. He recorded his 17th and 18th career receiving touchdowns to tie Bucknell's program record. It was also his fifth career game surpassing 100-yards through the air.

The Bucknell defense turned in a solid performance, holding Villanova's Pat McQuaide to 218 yards. The Bison also held the Wildcats to just 87 yards on the ground. Zachary Corna led the Bison with eight tackles (five solo) and the Bison combined for two sacks on the day. Jack Inserra made six tackles including a big sack in the late stages of the game.

Chris Dietrich was 29-for-39 for 245 yards on passing attempts with two touchdowns and no turnovers. Both TJ and Michael Cadden hauled in seven receptions each, and TJ Cadden had 52 receiving yards. TJ Cadden was dangerous in the return game, taking two kickoffs for 53 yards and three punts for 68 yards.

Villanova's Braden Reed caught both touchdowns, hauling in five catches for 68 yards. Ja'Briel Mace took 13 carries for 70 yards and Brandon Binkowski led the team with 71 receiving yards. Omari Bursey led the Wildcats with 14 tackles (eight solo).

The first half was mostly a story of the defenses with six combined punts and a turnover on downs compared to just two allowed touchdowns that went Villanova's way. Bucknell's strong defense kept them within one score until a big play on Villanova's offense made it 14-0 just before halftime.

The Bison defense opened the game with a huge stop on fourth and one at their own 30 after the Wildcats drove into Bucknell territory. Lucas Rost and Zach Corna came up with the big tackle to force a turnover on downs. The Bison offense then went three and out.

On Villanova's next drive, they faced its second 4th down opportunity, this time 4th and 3 at Bucknell's 26 yardline. On the fourth down play, Pat McQuaide found Braden Reed for a 26-yard touchdown reception and then the extra point was good, giving the Wildcats a 7-0 lead with 5:24 left in the first.

Despite the Bison charging down to the Villanova 37 yard line on a drive that featured a nice 14-yard grab by Owen Garwood, the Wildcats defense came up with another stop to keep their lead with just under two minutes left in the first quarter of play.

Bucknell's defense then had another big stop on a 3rd and 8 play at the Villanova 28 yard line as Corna found his way to McQuaide for a quarterback hurry to force an incomplete pass and a Wildcats punt. The Villanova defense answered back by stopping the Bison offense in Villanova territory with 10:27 left in the half.

For the third time, Bucknell's defense was able to halt the powerful Nova offense. It all started with the punt from Juan Garanton that was downed by Cesar Carrasco at the Villanova seven yard line. After the Wildcats found a first down, the Bison defense stopped the rush and with the help of a high snap that resulted in a fumble and loss of 15 yards, forced Villanova to punt.

After a Bison punt, the Wildcats strung together a couple of double-digit plays including a 16-yard corner of the endzone touchdown catch by Reed to make it 14-0. Despite Bucknell stringing together a couple of big plays of their own, Villanova made a stop on 4th down at their 30 yard line to maintain its lead.

Bucknell then opened the second half with a major offensive drive. Double digit grabs from Owen Garwood and Sam Milligan set the Bison up at the Villanova 20 yard line. After converting on a 4th and 6 on a Dietrich to TJ Cadden connection, Bucknell's offense found themselves at a fourth and goal situation. Dietrich then found Milligan in the endzone for Bucknell's first touchdown of the game. Overall, Dietrich went 6-for-7 for 58 yards through the air and rushed for 11 yards on four carries.

Your regularly scheduled Sam Milligan touchdown! #rayBucknell #ThunderOn https://t.co/VpZIBBS2Iq @espn | @PatriotLeague pic.twitter.com/uq3EQyNYnC
— Bucknell Football (@Bucknell_FB) September 6, 2026

Bucknell's defense then continued its pace and forced the Wildcats to go three and out with a sack by Brandon Biagiarelli and Nick Hoying on third down. The Bison offense then rallied with a second long touchdown drive, eating most of the clock. The 10 play, 59 yard drive culminated with a Dietrich to Milligan 10-yard receiving touchdown, earning Milligan a share of the Bucknell career receiving touchdown record.

Second of the day for Sam, and he's got 12 receptions for 127 yards and two TD in this one so far! https://t.co/cGodIjAIbp @PatriotLeague @espn pic.twitter.com/mQcTTlL3yy
— Bucknell Football (@Bucknell_FB) September 6, 2026

After another quick three and out for Villanova, TJ Cadden broke a couple tackles on the punt return and went 47-yards to set up Bucknell's offense at the Villanova 34 yard line. The Bison made it to first and goal, but the Wildcats defense were able to come up with a stop thanks to a sack and Bucknell penalty, forcing the Bison to kick a field goal. Juan Garanto made up for the missed extra point by drilling a career-high 40-yard field goal with 12:06 remaining to give Bucknell the lead 16-14.

Midway through the fourth quarter, Villanova made it to first and goal at the Bucknell two yard line. Jack Inserra came up with an influential sack that ended with the Wildcats settling for a 22-yard field goal to go up 17-16 with 8:20 left to play.

Bucknell responded with a 13-play, 64-yard drive to get into field goal range. Villanova looked to have made a big stop on third down, but a holding call kept the drive alive. TJ Cadden picked up a first down, and Michael Cadden picked up two more to help the Bison inside the 20-yard line. Villanova got a big stop to force a field goal attempt, and a controversial play ensued as a Villanova player hurdled over the Bison line to get a hand and force the kick wide left.

Bucknell returns to action next Saturday as the Bison travel to Virginia Military Institute for a 1:30 p.m. kickoff at Alumni Memorial Field at Foster Stadium.