2024 Bucknell Bison football team

The 2024 Bucknell Bison football team represented Bucknell University as a member of the Patriot League during the 2024 NCAA Division I FCS football season. The Bison were led by sixth-year head coach Dave Cecchini and played their home games at Christy Mathewson–Memorial Stadium in Lewisburg, Pennsylvania.

2024 Bucknell Bison football
Conference	Patriot League
Record	6–6 (4–2 Patriot)
Head coach	Dave Cecchini (6th season)
Offensive coordinator	John Bear (1st season)
Defensive coordinator	Chris Bowers (3rd season)
Home stadium	Christy Mathewson–Memorial Stadium
Seasons ← 2023 2025 →

2024 Patriot League football standings

v t e	Conf.							Overall
Team		W		L					W		L
No. 20 Lehigh +^		5	–	1					9	–	4
Holy Cross +		5	–	1					6	–	6
Bucknell		4	–	2					6	–	6
Lafayette		2	–	4					6	–	6
Georgetown		2	–	4					5	–	6
Fordham		2	–	4					2	–	10
Colgate		1	–	5					2	–	10
+ – Conference co-champions ^ – FCS playoff participant Rankings from STATS Poll

Schedule

Date	Time	Opponent	Site	TV	Result	Attendance
August 31	12:00 p.m.	at Navy*	Navy–Marine Corps Memorial Stadium Annapolis, MD	CBSSN	L 21-49	28,763
September 7	1:30 p.m.	at VMI*	Alumni Memorial Field Lexington, VA	ESPN+	W 35–28	6,295
September 14	6:00 p.m.	Merrimack*	Christy Mathewson–Memorial Stadium Lewisburg, PA	ESPN+	L 21–31	1,943
September 21	6:00 p.m.	Marist*	Christy Mathewson–Memorial Stadium Lewisburg, PA	ESPN+	W 34–18	2,474
September 28	12:00 p.m.	at Lehigh	Goodman Stadium Lower Saucon, PA	ESPN+	W 38–35 2OT	4,003
October 12	1:00 p.m.	at Penn*	Franklin Field Philadelphia, PA	ESPN+	L 21–31	2,054
October 19	1:00 p.m.	Cornell*	Christy Mathewson–Memorial Stadium Lewisburg, PA	ESPN+	L 21–34	1,245
October 26	2:00 p.m.	at Georgetown	Cooper Field Washington, DC	ESPN+	L 20–21	3,579
November 2	1:00 p.m.	Lafayette	Christy Mathewson–Memorial Stadium Lewisburg, PA	ESPN+	W 21–14	808
November 9	1:00 p.m.	Fordham	Christy Mathewson–Memorial Stadium Lewisburg, PA	ESPN+	W 28–27	881
November 16	12:00 p.m.	at Holy Cross	Fitton Field Worcester, MA	ESPN+	L 38–40	11,357
November 23	1:00 p.m.	Colgate	Christy Mathewson–Memorial Stadium Lewisburg, PA	ESPN+	W 48–34	762
*Non-conference game Homecoming All times are in Eastern time

^[1][2]

Game summaries

at Navy (FBS)

See also: 2024 Navy Midshipmen football team

Quarter	1	2	3	4	Total
Bison	7	0	7	7	21
Midshipmen (FBS)	6	22	7	14	49

Game information

First quarter (13:37) BUCK – Nate Anderson 47 yard pass from Ralph Rucker IV, Matt Schearer kick (Drive: 4 plays, 65 yards, 1:23; Bucknell 7–0) (10:44) NAVY – Daba Fofana 49 yard run, kick failed (Drive: 1 play, 49 yards, 0:09; Bucknell 7–6) Second quarter (14:56) NAVY – Alex Tecza 3 yard run, Nathan Kirkwood kick (Drive: 5 plays, 23 yards, 1:36; Navy 13–7) (5:29) NAVY – Eli Heidenreich 9 yard pass from Blake Horvath, Nathan Kirkwood kick (Drive: 9 plays, 59 yards, 3:29; Navy 20–7) (0:14) NAVY – Brandon Chatman 42 yard pass from Blake Horvath, 2-point pass (Drive: 1 play, 42 yards, 0:14; Navy 28–7) Third quarter (11:12) NAVY – Eli Heidenreich 20 yard pass from Braxton Woodson, Nathan Kirkwood kick (Drive: 9 plays, 49 yards, 3:41; Navy 35–7) (3:06) BUCK – Paul Neel 3 yard run, Matt Schearer kick (Drive: 9 plays, 40 yards, 2:44; Navy 35–14) Fourth quarter (8:33) NAVY – Braxton Woodson 1 yard run, Nathan Kirkwood kick (Drive: 7 plays, 58 yards, 3:07; Navy 42–14) (2:10) NAVY – Shane Reynolds 5 yard run, Nathan Kirkwood kick (Drive: 7 plays, 31 yards, 4:34; Navy 49–14) (0:30) BUCK – Michael Cadden 2 yard run, Matt Schearer kick (Drive: 7 plays, 75 yards, 1:40; Navy 49–21)

Game One – Bucknell Bison (0–0) vs Navy Midshipmen (FBS) (0–0) – Game summary

at Navy–Marine Corps Memorial Stadium, Annapolis, Maryland

• Date: Saturday August 31, 2024
• Game time: 12:00 PM
• Game weather: Cloudy • Temperature: 78 °F (26 °C) • Wind: SE at 9 miles per hour (14 km/h)
• Game attendance: 28,763
• Referee: Steven Anderson
• TV announcers (CBSSN): Carter Blackburn (play-by-play), Randy Cross (analyst), Sheehan Stanwick-Burch (sideline reporter)

Statistics	BUCK	NAVY
First downs	14	20
Total yards	337	437
Rushing yards	131	264
Passing yards	206	173
Passing: Comp–Att–Int	15–29–0	10–19–2
Time of possession	26:59	33:01

Team	Category	Player	Statistics
Bucknell	Passing	Ralph Rucker IV	11/24, 122 yards, 1 TD
	Rushing	Paul Neel	12 carries, 60 yards, 1 TD
	Receiving	TJ Cadden	5 receptions, 97 yards
Navy	Passing	Blake Horvath	7/12, 108 yards, 2 TD, 1 INT
	Rushing	Daba Fofana	8 carries, 82 yards, 1 TD
	Receiving	Eli Heidenreich	4 receptions, 74 yards, 2 TD

at VMI

See also: 2024 VMI Keydets football team

Quarter	1	2	3	4	Total
Bison	7	7	14	7	35
Keydets	7	7	0	14	28

Game information

First quarter (8:04) VMI – Asa Locks 48-yard interception, Caden Beck kick (VMI 7–0) (2:29) BUC – TJ Cadden 40-yard punt return, Matt Schearer kick (Tied 7–7) Second quarter (9:22) BUC – Paul Neel 2-yard run, Matt Schearer kick (Drive: 12 plays, 65 yards, 6:04; Bucknell 14–7) (4:55) VMI – Hunter Rice 58-yard run, Caden Beck kick (Drive: 4 plays, 69 yards, 1:03; Tied 14–14) Third quarter (11:35) BUC – Josh Gary 10-yard pass from Ralph Rucker IV, Matt Schearer kick (Drive: 8 plays, 81 yards, 3:25; Bucknell 21–14) (6:35) BUC – Josh Gary 41-yard pass from Ralph Rucker IV, Matt Schearer kick (Drive: 5 plays, 61 yards, 2:20; Bucknell 28–14) Fourth quarter (12:14) BUC – TJ Cadden 35-yard pass from Ralph Rucker IV, Matt Schearer kick (Drive: 7 plays, 79 yards, 3:23; Bucknell 35–14) (8:13) VMI – Hunter Rice 2-yard run, Caden Beck kick (Drive: 8 plays, 75 yards, 4:01; Bucknell 35–21) (0:29) VMI – Ryan von Brandt 17-yard pass from Chandler Wilson, Caden Beck kick (Drive: 8 plays, 80 yards, 2:25; Bucknell 35–28)

Game Two – Bucknell Bison (0–1) vs VMI Keydets (0–1) – Game summary

at Alumni Memorial Field, Lexington, Virginia

• Date: Saturday September 7, 2024
• Game time: 1:30 PM
• Game weather: Sunny, 73 °F (23 °C)
• Game attendance: 6,295
• Referee: Brian Hilpisch
• TV: ESPN+

Statistics	BUCK	VMI
First downs	22	20
Total yards	451	378
Rushing yards	111	212
Passing yards	340	166
Passing: Comp–Att–Int	28–37–1	24–37–1
Time of possession	29:14	30:46

Team	Category	Player	Statistics
Bucknell	Passing	Ralph Rucker IV	28/37, 340 yards, 3 TD, INT
	Rushing	Paul Neel	8 carries, 37 yards, TD
	Receiving	Eric Weatherly	9 receptions, 105 yards
VMI	Passing	Collin Shannon	21/32, 129 yards, INT
	Rushing	Hunter Rice	18 carries, 166 yards, 2 TD
	Receiving	Ivan Thorpe	6 receptions, 47 yards

Merrimack

See also: 2024 Merrimack Warriors football team

Quarter	1	2	3	4	Total
Warriors	0	0	0	0	0
Bison	0	0	0	0	0

Game information
First quarter Second quarter Third quarter Fourth quarter

Game Three – Merrimack Warriors (0–2) at Bucknell Bison (1–1) – Game summary

at Christy Mathewson–Memorial Stadium • Lewisburg, Pennsylvania

• Date: Saturday September 14, 2024
• Game time: 6:00 PM
• Game weather: 0 °F (−18 °C)
• TV: ESPN+

Statistics	MRMK	BUCK
First downs
Total yards
Rushing yards
Passing yards
Passing: Comp–Att–Int
Time of possession

Team	Category	Player	Statistics
Merrimack	Passing
	Rushing
	Receiving
Bucknell	Passing
	Rushing
	Receiving

Marist

See also: 2024 Marist Red Foxes football team

Quarter	1	2	3	4	Total
Red Foxes	0	0	0	0	0
Bison	0	0	0	0	0

Game information
First quarter Second quarter Third quarter Fourth quarter

Game Four – Marist Red Foxes (0–2) at Bucknell Bison (1–2) – Game summary

at Christy Mathewson–Memorial Stadium • Lewisburg, Pennsylvania

• Date: Saturday September 21, 2024
• Game time: 6:00 PM
• Game weather: 0 °F (−18 °C)
• TV: ESPN+

Statistics	MRST	BUCK
First downs
Total yards
Rushing yards
Passing yards
Passing: Comp–Att–Int
Time of possession

Team	Category	Player	Statistics
Marist	Passing
	Rushing
	Receiving
Bucknell	Passing
	Rushing
	Receiving

at Lehigh

See also: 2024 Lehigh Mountain Hawks football team

Quarter	1	2	3	4	OT	2OT	Total
Bison	0	14	7	7	3	7	38
Mountain Hawks	7	7	7	7	7	0	35

Game information
First quarter Second quarter Third quarter Fourth quarter

Game Five – Bucknell Bison (2–2) at Lehigh Mountain Hawks (3–1) – Game summary

at Goodman Stadium • Lower Saucon Township, Pennsylvania

• Date: Saturday September 28, 2024
• Game time: 12:00 p.m. EST
• Game attendance: 4,003
• TV announcers (ESPN+): TBD

Statistics	BUCK	LEH
First downs
Total yards
Rushing yards
Passing yards
Passing: Comp–Att–Int
Time of possession

Team	Category	Player	Statistics
Bucknell	Passing
	Rushing
	Receiving
Lehigh	Passing
	Rushing
	Receiving

at Penn

See also: 2024 Penn Quakers football team

Quarter	1	2	3	4	Total
Bison	0	0	0	0	0
Quakers	0	0	0	0	0

Game information
First quarter Second quarter Third quarter Fourth quarter

Game Six – Bucknell Bison (3–2) at Penn Quakers (1–2) – Game summary

at Franklin Field • Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

• Date: Saturday October 12, 2024
• Game time: 1:00 p.m. EST
• TV announcers (ESPN+): TBD

Statistics	BUCK	PENN
First downs
Total yards
Rushing yards
Passing yards
Passing: Comp–Att–Int
Time of possession

Team	Category	Player	Statistics
Bucknell	Passing
	Rushing
	Receiving
Penn	Passing
	Rushing
	Receiving

Cornell

See also: 2024 Cornell Big Red football team

Quarter	1	2	3	4	Total
Big Red	0	0	0	0	0
Bison	0	0	0	0	0

Game information
First quarter Second quarter Third quarter Fourth quarter

Game Seven – Cornell Big Red (1–3) at Bucknell Bison (3–3) – Game summary

at Christy Mathewson–Memorial Stadium • Lewisburg, Pennsylvania

• Date: Saturday October 19, 2024
• Game time: 1:00 PM
• Game weather: 0 °F (−18 °C)
• TV: ESPN+

Statistics	COR	BUCK
First downs
Total yards
Rushing yards
Passing yards
Passing: Comp–Att–Int
Time of possession

Team	Category	Player	Statistics
Cornell	Passing
	Rushing
	Receiving
Bucknell	Passing
	Rushing
	Receiving

at Georgetown

See also: 2024 Georgetown Hoyas football team

Quarter	1	2	3	4	Total
Bison	7	10	0	3	20
Hoyas	0	14	7	0	21

Game information

First quarter BUCK – Tariq Thomas 15 Yd Run (Matt Schearer Kick), 12:03. Bison 7–0. Drive: 7 plays, 75 yards, 2:57. Second quarter BUCK – Tariq Thomas 27 Yd Run (Matt Schearer Kick), 14:46. Bison 14–0. Drive: 5 plays, 58 yards, 1:39. GTWN – Savion Hart 40 Yd Run (Patrick Ryan Kick), 4:29. Bison 14–7. Drive: 4 plays, 70 yards, 2:01. GTWN – Nicholas Dunneman 11 Yd pass from Danny Lauter (Patrick Ryan Kick), 0:14. Tied 14–14. Drive: 10 plays, 76 yards, 2:10. BUCK – Matt Schearer 43 Yd Field Goal, 00:00. Bison 17–14. Drive: 3 plays, 39 yards, 0:14. Third quarter GTWN – Bryce Cox 1 Yd Run (Patrick Ryan Kick), 5:56. Hoyas 21–17. Drive: 12 plays, 81 yards, 6:53. Fourth quarter BUCK – Matt Schearer 32 Yd Field Goal, 9:14. Hoyas 21–20. Drive: 9 plays, 65 yards, 3:25.

Game Eight – Bucknell Bison (3–4) at Georgetown Hoyas (4–3) – Game summary

at Cooper Field • Washington, D.C.

• Date: Saturday October 26, 2024
• Game time: 2:00 p.m. EST
• Game attendance: 3,579
• TV announcers (ESPN+): TBD

Statistics	BUCK	GTWN
First downs	19	24
Total yards	368	404
Rushing yards	142	274
Passing yards	226	130
Passing: Comp–Att–Int	17−29−0	13−24−1
Time of possession	22:40	37:20

Team	Category	Player	Statistics
Bucknell	Passing	Ralph Rucker IV	17/29, 226 yards
	Rushing	Tariq Thomas	25 carries, 145 yards, 2 TDs
	Receiving	Josh Gary	5 receptions, 91 yards
Georgetown	Passing	Danny Lauter	13/23, 130 yards, 1 TD, 1 INT
	Rushing	Savion Hart	17 carries, 112 yards, 1 TD
	Receiving	Jimmy Kibble	4 receptions, 64 yards

Lafayette

See also: 2024 Lafayette Leopards football team

Quarter	1	2	3	4	Total
Leopards	0	0	0	0	0
Bison	0	0	0	0	0

Game information
First quarter Second quarter Third quarter Fourth quarter

Game Nine – Lafayette Leopards (4–4) vs Bucknell Bison (3–5) – Game summary

at Christy Mathewson-Memorial Stadium, Lewisburg, PA

• Date: Saturday November 2, 2024
• Game time: 1:00 PM
• TV announcers (ESPN+): TBD

Statistics	LAF	BUCK
First downs
Total yards
Rushing yards
Passing yards
Passing: Comp–Att–Int
Time of possession

Team	Category	Player	Statistics
Lafayette	Passing
	Rushing
	Receiving
Bucknell	Passing
	Rushing
	Receiving

Fordham

See also: 2024 Fordham Rams football team

Quarter	1	2	3	4	Total
Rams	0	0	0	0	0
Bison	0	0	0	0	0

Game information
First quarter Second quarter Third quarter Fourth quarter

Game Ten – Fordham Rams (1–8) vs Bucknell Bison (4–5) – Game summary

at Christy Mathewson-Memorial Stadium • Lewisburg, PA

• Date: Saturday November 9, 2024
• Game time: 1:00 p.m.
• Game weather: 0 °F (−18 °C)
• TV: ESPN+

Statistics	FOR	BUCK
First downs
Total yards
Rushing yards
Passing yards
Passing: Comp–Att–Int
Time of possession

Team	Category	Player	Statistics
Fordham	Passing
	Rushing
	Receiving
Bucknell	Passing
	Rushing
	Receiving

at Holy Cross

See also: 2024 Holy Cross Crusaders football team

Quarter	1	2	3	4	Total
Bison	0	0	0	0	0
Crusaders	0	0	0	0	0

Game information
First quarter Second quarter Third quarter Fourth quarter

Game Eleven – Bucknell Bison (5–5) at Holy Cross Crusaders (4–6) – Game summary

at Fitton Field • Worcester, MA

• Date: Saturday November 16, 2024
• Game time: 12:00 p.m. EST
• TV announcers (ESPN+): TBD

Statistics	BUCK	HC
First downs
Total yards
Rushing yards
Passing yards
Passing: Comp–Att–Int
Time of possession

Team	Category	Player	Statistics
Bucknell	Passing
	Rushing
	Receiving
Holy Cross	Passing
	Rushing
	Receiving

Colgate

See also: 2024 Colgate Raiders football team

Quarter	1	2	3	4	Total
Raiders	0	0	0	0	0
Bison	0	0	0	0	0

Game information
First quarter Second quarter Third quarter Fourth quarter

Game Twelve – Colgate Raiders (2–9) at Bucknell Bison (5–6) – Game summary

at Christy Mathewson-Memorial Stadium • Lewisburg, Pennsylvania

• Date: Saturday November 23, 2024
• Game time: 1:00 PM
• Game weather: 0 °F (−18 °C)
• TV: ESPN+

Statistics	COLG	BUCK
First downs
Total yards
Rushing yards
Passing yards
Passing: Comp–Att–Int
Time of possession

Team	Category	Player	Statistics
Colgate	Passing
	Rushing
	Receiving
Bucknell	Passing
	Rushing
	Receiving