WEEK 5 SCHEDULE
Saturday, Sept. 28
HOLY CROSS CRUSADERS (1-3, 0-0 PL) AT SYRACUSE ORANGE (2-1, 1-1 ACC)
JMA Wireless Dome/Syracuse, N.Y
Noon (ACC Network Extra)
BROADCAST (ESPN+): PxP – Noah Reed; Analyst – Craig Haubert
SERIES HISTORY: Holy Cross and Syracuse will meet for the 30th time, with the Crusaders trailing in the series, 24-5.
LAST MEETING: (Sept. 28, 2019) – At Syracuse 41, Holy Cross 3
BUCKNELL BISON (2-2, 0-0 PL) AT LEHIGH MOUTAIN HAWKS (3-1, 0-0 PL)
Goodman Stadium/Bethlehem, Pa
Noon (ESPN+)
BROADCAST (ESPN+): PxP – Marco Socci; Analyst – Jim Guzzo
RADIO BROADCAST (Fox Sports Radio 94.7 FM/LVFoxSports): PxP – Matt Kerr; Analysts – Tom Fallon, Connor Brown
RADIO BROADCAST (Bison Sports Network/100.9 WVLY): PxP – Doug Birdsong; Analyst – Todd Newcomb
SERIES HISTORY: Lehigh and Bucknell meet for the 88th time in series history, with the Mountain Hawks holding a 50-34-3 advantage.
LAST MEETING: (Oct. 21, 2023) – Lehigh 27, at Bucknell 27
COLUMBIA LIONS (1-0, 0-0 IVY) AT GEORGETOWN HOYAS (2-1, 0-0 PL)
Cooper Field/Washington, D.C
12:30 p.m. (ESPN+)
BROADCAST (ESPN+): PxP – Jeremy Huber; Analyst – Colleen McNamara
SERIES HISTORY: Georgetown and Columbia meet for the 11th time in series history and the ninth time for the Lou Little Trophy. The Hoyas trail the series, 7-3 overall and 5-3 in Lou Little Trophy games.
LAST MEETING: (Sept. 23, 2023) – At Columbia 30, Georgetown 0
COLGATE RAIDERS (1-3, 0-0 PL) AT PENN QUAKERS (0-1, 0-0 IVY)
Franklin Field/Philadelphia, Pa.
1 p.m. (ESPN+)
BROADCAST (ESPN+): PxP – Joe Tordy; Analyst – Joe Valerio
SERIES HISTORY: Colgate and Penn meet for the 11th time in series history, with the Raiders trailing, 7-2-1.
LAST MEETING: (Sept. 16, 2023) – Penn 20, at Colgate 6
FORDHAM RAMS (0-4, 0-0 PL) AT MONMOUTH HAWKS (2-2, 1-0 CAA)
Kessler Stadium/West Long Branch, N.J.
1 p.m. (FloSports/NBC Sports Philadelphia+)
BROADCAST (FloSports): PxP – Matt Harmon; Analyst – Emory Hunt
RADIO BROADCAST: (WFUVSports.org/90.7 FM WFUV): PxP – Lou Orlando; Analyst – Evan Harkin
SERIES HISTORY: Fordham and Monmouth will meet for the fifth time, with the series even at two wins apiece.
LAST MEETING: (Sept. 10, 2022) – Fordham 52, at Monmouth 49
PATRIOT LEAGUE NOTEBOOK
• Lafayette and Lehigh are both receiving votes in the AFCA FCS Coaches Poll, and the Stats Perform Top 25 Poll.
• Fordham Sr. LB James Conway, Lehigh Gr. LB Mike DeNucci, Holy Cross Sr. RB Jordan Fuller, Bucknell Sr. LB Brad Jamison and Colgate Sr. DL Nick Marsh are Semifinalists for the William V. Campbell Trophy, presented annually to college football’s premier student-athlete. •Holy Cross 5th OL Christo Kelly was one of 22 selections to the Allstate AFCA Good Works Team, awarded since 1992 to college foot- ball athletes for their “good works” off the field.
• Lafayette Jr. WR Elijah Steward, the Stats Perform FCS National Offensive Player of the Week on Sept. 9, leads NCAA DI FCS in receiving yards per game (124.7) and is second in receptions per game (8.3).
• Bucknell So. WR/RS TJ Cadden leads NCAA DI FCS in punt return touchdowns (2) and is third in punt return average (21.6). Lafayette Fr. WR/RS Mason Kuehner is tied for second in PR TDs (1) and fifth in punt return average (20.3).
• Patriot League Football Week Four Players of the Week: Offensive – Bucknell QB Ralph Rucker IV; Defensive – HC LB Frankie Monte; Special Teams – Bucknell RS/WR TJ Cadden; Rookie – Lehigh RB Jaden Green. *Three League football student-athletes were selected to the 2024 Walter Payton Award Preseason Watch List for the FCS offensive player of the year, including Fordham’s C.J. Montes (Jr., QB), Holy Cross’s Jordan Fuller (Sr., RB) and Lafayette’s Curtis.
• Two League players were selected to the 2024 Buck Buchanan Preseason Award Watch List for the FCS defensive player of the year, including Fordham’s James Conway (Sr., LB) and Lafayette’s Saiku White (Sr., S).
PL SPECIAL TEAMS EXCEL THROUGH FOUR WEEKS
The Patriot League boasts the FCS leaders in kick return average and punt return average through the season’s first four weeks, with three players among the nation’s top 25 in each category. Georgetown Jr. RB Mason Gudger boasts the top kickoff return average in the nation, at 45.5 yards per return. Bucknell So. WR TJ Cadden is third in the FCS in punt return average (21.6) and leads the nation with two punt returns for touchdowns.
PATRIOT LEAGUE PLAYERS AMONG FCS KICKOFF RETURNERS
No. Name, School Kickoff Return YPG
1. Mason Gudger, Georgetown 45.5
3. Jaden Green, Lehigh 31.8
7. Curtis Harris-Lopez, Holy Cross 30.1
PATRIOT LEAGUE PLAYERS AMONG FCS PUNT RETURNERS
No. Name, School Kickoff Return YPG
3. TJ Cadden, Bucknell 21.6
5. Mason Kuehner, Lafayette 20.3
21. Nicholas Dunneman, Georgetown 10.3
RUCKER IV AND DENOBILE AMONG FCS PASSING LEADERS
Lafayette So. QB Dean DeNobile and Bucknell Sr. QB Ralph Rucker IV have their respective teams first and second in the Patriot League in total and passing offense. DeNobile is ninth in the FCS, averaging 267.3 passing yards per game while leading the League and ranking ninth in the FCS with a .713 completion percentage. Rucker IV is 28th in the FCS, averaging 218.8 passing yards per game with a League-leading eight passing touchdowns. Rucker also leads the League lead with 13.5 points responsible for per game.
FULLER RANKS EIGHTH ON LEAGUE RUSHING TD LEADER LIST
Holy Cross Sr. RB Jordan Fuller rushed for four touchdowns in the season’s first three weeks before suffering an injury and is eighth in Patriot League history with 44 rushing touchdowns. His touchdown total leads all active FCS players after finishing atop the nation with 18 rushing scores in 2023. The Preseason All-America honoree entered the season tied with Lehigh legend Erick Torain for eighth and is two TDs behind Lehigh’s Dominic Bragalone.
PATRIOT LEAGUE FOOTBALL PLAYERS OF THE WEEK
PATRIOT LEAGUE FOOTBALL OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Ralph Rucker IV, Bucknell, Sr., QB, Lucas, Texas/Lovejoy
*Rucker completed 21-of-27 passes for 272 yards and three touchdown passes in Bucknell’s 34-18 victory over Marist. *The senior quarterback completed his first 13 passes of the game, including two touchdown passes in the first half to help the Bison build a 27-7 first-half lead. *He tossed his third touchdown pass in the fourth quarter and recorded his second game of the season with a completion percentage better than 75 percent.
PATRIOT LEAGUE FOOTBALL DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Frankie Monte, Holy Cross, Sr., LB, Ramsey, N.J./Saint Joseph Regional
*Monte posted a career-high 17 tackles, including 10 solo stops in the Crusaders’ loss against Yale. *The senior linebacker’s 17 stops were the most by a Patriot League player this season. *He also added a quarterback hurry.
PATRIOT LEAGUE FOOTBALL SPECIAL TEAMS PLAYER OF THE WEEK
TJ Cadden, Bucknell, So., WR/RS, Phoenixville, Pa./Episcopal Academy
*Cadden returned a punt 73 yards for a touchdown in the second quarter of Bucknell’s 34-18 win over Marist. *The sophomore return specialist leads the Patriot League with two punt returns for touchdowns this season. *He finished with 155 all-purpose yards, including three receptions for 30 yards and a touchdown on offense.
PATRIOT LEAGUE FOOTBALL ROOKIE OF THE WEEK
Brandon Biagiarelli, Bucknell, Fr., LB/DE, Pittsburgh, Pa./Avonworth
*Biagiarelli recorded seven tackles and two sacks in Bucknell’s 34-18 victory against Marist. He was part of a Bison defense that held the Red Foxes to seven points until the fourth quarter. The freshman linebacker has three sacks this season.
HONORABLE MENTIONS
Alex Smith Jr., Bucknell, Sr., S, Sr., Charlotte, N.C./Hickory Ridge
*Smith returned an interception 38 yards for a touchdown in Bucknell’s 34-18 win over Marist. The interception was the fifth of Smith’s career and first of the season. He also recorded two tackles.
Michael Brescia, Colgate, Sr, QB, Hinsdale, Ill./Hinsdale Central
*Brescia rushed for 77 yards and two touchdowns on 11 carries to lead Colgate to a 41-24 victory over Cornell. The senior quarterback rushed for a 44-yard touchdown, the Raiders’ longest scoring play of the season.
Brody Hock, Colgate, Sr., LB, Bloomsburg, Pa./Bloomsburg
*Hock registered nine tackles and 2.0 TFLs in Colgate’s 41-24 win against in-state rival Cornell. He helped a Raiders’ defense limit the Big Red to 89 rushing yards.
Luke Vogeler, Colgate, So., PK, Caledonia, Mich./Caledonia
*Vogeler recorded a career-high 11 points, connecting on 2-of-2 on field goals and 5-of-5 on PATs. He hit field goals of 22 and 40 yards and tallied a career-high five extra points in the Raiders’ 41-24 win over Cornell.
Cam Pygatt, Georgetown, Sr., WR, Philadelphia, Pa./Maret
*Pygatt finished with 116 yards and a touchdown reception on six catches in Georgetown’s loss against Brown. His touchdown catch of 77 yards was the longest of his career.
Jayden Clerveaux, Holy Cross, So., RB, Everett, Mass./Williston Northampton
*Clerveaux rushed for three touchdowns in the Crusaders’ 38-31 loss against Yale. He rushed for 49 yards on 17 carries and had four kickoff returns for 94 yards.
Chris Carasia, Lafayette, Sr., WR, Ocean Township, N.J./Ocean Township
*Carasia caught four passes for a career-high 114 yards and a touchdown in Lafayette’s loss at Columbia. The senior wide receiver’s 31-yard touchdown reception in the first quarter was the Leopards’ first score of the game. He has caught one touchdown pass in each game this season.
Matt Spatny, Lehigh, Jr., DL, Medina, Ohio/Medina
*Spatny posted seven tackles, 2.5 TFLs and 2.5 sacks in Lehigh’s 35-20 win over Princeton. He posted two sacks in the first half and added a half-sack in the fourth quarter to help the Mountain Hawks preserve their lead. Spatny and the Lehigh defense held Princeton to -7 rushing yards.
Luke Yoder, Lehigh, So., RB, Palm Harbor, Fla./East Lake
*Yoder rushed 73 yards and two touchdowns on 12 carries to help a Mountain Hawks’ ground attack that compiled 153 yards in a 35-20 victory over Princeton. He opened the scoring with a 20-yard touchdown in the first quarter, then added a one-yard touchdown at the end of the second quarter.
TEAM NOTES:
BUCKNELL BISON Overall: 2-2 PL: 0-0
Next OPPONENT: at LehigH (NOON)
2024 Patriot League Rankings
Scoring Offense ……………………. 27.8 (T2nd)
Scoring Defense ……………………… 31.5 (6th)
Total Offense………………………… 376.5 (2nd)
Total Defense…………………………413.8 (7th)
2024 Quick Facts
Offensive Starters Returning/Lost ……….6/5
Defensive Starters Returning/Lost……….6/5
WEEK FOUR RECAP: Sr. QB Ralph Rucker IV completed 21-of-27 passes for 272 yards and three touchdown passes to lead Bucknell to a 34-18 victory over Marist. *Rucker opened the game with a 36-yard touchdown pass to Jr. WR Eric Weatherly before finding Jr. TE Charlie Kreinbucher on a two-yard pass to make the score 13-7 early in the second quarter. Weatherly finished with a team-high 74 yards on five receptions. • So. WR/RS TJ Cadden recorded his second punt return for a touchdown of the season with a 73-yard score at the 10:33 mark in the second quarter. • Sr. S Alex Smith Jr. extended the Bison lead to 27-7 with a 38-yard interception return for a touchdown less than two minutes later in the second quarter. • Sr. LB Gavin Willis registered a team-high nine tackles, while Fr. LB Brandon Biagiarelli finished with seven tackles and two sacks. • So. LB Nick Hoying posted seven tackles, 3.0 TFLs and one sack. Jr. CB Aaron Davis added seven tackles and one interception.
COLGATE RAIDERS Overall: 1-3 PL: 0-0
Next Opponent: at Penn (1 p.m.)
2024 Patriot League Rankings
Scoring Offense ………………………. 19.5 (6th)
Scoring Defense ………………….. 25.0 (T2nd)
Total Offense………………………….316.8 (5th)
Total Defense…………………………373.3 (5th
2024 Quick Facts
Offensive Starters Returning/Lost ……..10/1
Defensive Starters Returning/Lost……….5/6
WEEK FOUR RECAP: The Raiders’ offense rushed for a season-high 270 yards and four touchdowns to down in-state rival Cornell, 41-24, to even the series record at 51 wins apiece. • Sr. QB Michael Brescia rushed for 77 yards and two touchdowns on 11 carries, while Jr. RB Marco Maldonado added 73 yards and one touchdown on 10 carries. So. WR Winston Moore also had a 10-yard touchdown run. • So. RB Chris Gee rushed for a team-high 79 yards on 15 carries for the balanced Raiders’ ground attack. • So. QB Jake Stearney completed 17-of-27 passes for 184 yards and a 27-yard touchdown pass to Jr. WR Brady Hutchison, Colgate’s first touchdown of the game with 1:48 remaining in the first quarter. • So. PK Luke Vogeler connected on both field-goal attempts and all five PATs. • 5th LB Christian Sweeney recorded 10 tackles, while Sr. LB Brody Hock finished with eight tackles and 1.0 TFL.
FORDHAM RAMS Overall: 0-4 PL: 0-0
Next Opponent: At Monmouth (1 p.m.)
2024 Patriot League Rankings
Scoring Offense ………………………. 13.5 (7th)
Scoring Defense ……………………… 36.5 (7th)
Total Offense………………………….284.8 (7th)
Total Defense…………………………394.5 (6th)
2024 Quick Facts
Offensive Starters Returning/Lost ……….7/4
Defensive Starters Returning/Lost……….7/4
WEEK FOUR RECAP: Jr. QB Jack Capaldi completed 23-of-43 passes for 187 yards, one interception and a touchdown in his first collegiate start. • Gr. WR Cole Thornton caught a 20-yard touchdown pass from Capaldi in the fourth quarter, finishing with 30 yards on five receptions. Gr. WR Mekai Felton finished with a team-high 53 receiving yards on three receptions. • Jr. RB Ricky Parks rushed for a team-high 63 yards on seven carries, while classmate Jack Kaiser rushed for a touchdown in the third quarter. • Gr. LB Jackson Barletta and Jr. DL Sam Buerkle registered nine tackles. Buerkle also had 1.5 TFLs and one sack for the Rams’ defense. • Gr. DB Nahil Perkins recorded his third interception of the season and seventh of his career. • The Rams were without a trio of All-League performers in Sr. QB C.J. Montes, Sr. RB Julius Loughridge and Gr. WR Garrett Cody.
GEORGETOWN HOYAS Overall: 2-2 PL: 0-0
NEXT Opponent: vs. Columbia (12:30 p.m.)
2024 Patriot League Rankings
Scoring Offense ………………………. 26.3 (5th)
Scoring Defense …………………… 25.0 (T2nd)
Total Offense………………………….358.0 (4th)
Total Defense……………………….. 350.0 (2nd)
2024 Quick Facts
Offensive Starters Returning/Lost ……….6/5
Defensive Starters Returning/Lost……….7/4
WEEK FOUR RECAP: Jr. QB Danny Lauter threw for 343 yards and a touchdown, but Georgetown fell to Brown, 26-14, to spoil Homecoming Weekend on the Hilltop. • Lauter completed 27-of-47 pass attempts for 343 yards, two interceptions and a 77- yard touchdown pass to Sr. WR Cam Pygatt in the second quarter. Pygatt finished with a team-high 116 yards on six catches. • Sr. RB Naieem Kearney rushed for 52 yards on 11 carries and put the Hoyas on the scoreboard with a one-yard run in the first quarter. • Jr. WR Jimmy Kibble added 98 yards on six receptions, while Jr. WR Nicholas Dunneman caught six passes for 61 yards. • So. LB GianCarlo Rufo and Gr. LB David Ealey III posted eight tackles apiece. Rufo added 1.5 sacks, and Ealey added one sack. • So. DL Cooper Blomstrom posted five tackles, 2.0 TFLs and one sack, while Fr. DL registered five tackles and 1.5 sacks. • So. CB Quincy Briggs made his first collegiate interception.
HOLY CROSS CRUSADERS Overall: 1-3 PL: 0-0
Next Opponent: at Syracuse (Noon)
2024 Patriot League Rankings
Scoring Offense ……………………. 27.8 (T2nd)
Scoring Defense …………………….. 25.3 (4th)
Total Offense………………………….375.8 (3rd)
Total Defense…………………………367.5 (4th)
2024 Quick Facts
Offensive Starters Returning/Lost ……….4/7
Defensive Starters Returning/Lost……….6/5
WEEK FOUR RECAP: So. RB Jayden Clerveaux rushed for three touchdowns, but Holy Cross fell short in a 38-31 loss during its Family Weekend matchup with Yale. • Clerveaux finished with 49 rushing yards on 17 carries, including two fourth-quarter touchdowns in a game that saw the Crusaders and Bulldogs trade scores from start to finish. • Sr. QB Joe Pesansky completed 12-of-26 passes for 279 yards and a 74-yard touchdown pass to So. WR Maxwell Warren to put Holy Cross on the board at the 8:51 mark of the first quarter. •Jr. WR Max Mosey finished with a career-high 129 yards on five receptions for the Crusaders. • So. PK Daniel Porto connected on a 45- yard field goal as time expired in the first half to tie the score at 17. • Sr. LB Frankie Monte posted a career-high 17 tackles. So. LB Cam Santee added a career-best seven tackles and 1.5 TFLs.
LAFAYETTE LEOPARDS Overall: 2-2 PL: 0-0
Next Opponent: AT FORDHAM (OCT. 5, 1 p.m.)
2024 Patriot League Rankings
Scoring Offense ………………………..32.3 (1st)
Scoring Defense …………………….. 27.5 (5th)
Total Offense…………………………..417.8 (1st)
Total Defense…………………………362.3 (3rd)
2024 Quick Facts
Offensive Starters Returning/Lost ……….8/3
Defensive Starters Returning/Lost……….8/3
WEEK FOUR RECAP: Jr. QB Dean DeNobile threw for 272 yards and two touchdowns, but No. 14/18 Lafayette could not overcome an early deficit in a 31-20 loss at Columbia. • DeNoble completed 23-of-35 passes for 272 yards, a pair of touchdown passes and one interception in the loss. Sr. WR Chris Carasia finished with 114 yards on four receptions and a 31-yard touchdown reception in the first quarter. •Fr. WR Mason Kuehner added 72 yards on four catches, including a 69-yard touchdown catch in the fourth quarter. So. WR Carson Persing finished with a career-high 10 receptions for 58 yards. • Jr. RB Jamar Curtis rushed for 102 yards on 25 carries and caught two passes for 10 yards. • Sr. S Saiku White and Sr. LB Preston Forney led the Leopards’ defense with eight tackles apiece. Forney added one sack. •Sr. LB Tim O’Hearn posted four tackles, 1.5 TFLs, one sack and a forced fumble, while Sr. LB Reggie Thomas had an interception.
LEHIGH MOUNTAIN HAWKS Overall: 3-1 PL: 0-0
Next Opponent: Vs. Bucknell (Noon)
2024 Patriot League Rankings
Scoring Offense ……………………. 27.8 (T2nd)
Scoring Defense ……………………… 23.0 (1st)
Total Offense………………………….294.3 (6th)
Total Defense………………………….303.3 (1st)
2024 Quick Facts
Offensive Starters Returning/Lost ……….7/4
Defensive Starters Returning/Lost……….7/4
WEEK FOUR RECAP: Fr. RB Jaden Green and So. RB Luke Yoder combined for 155 rushing yards and four touchdowns to lead Lehigh to a 35-20 victory over Princeton. It was the Mountain Hawks’ third straight win and first over an Ivy League opponent since 2016. • Green rushed for a team-high 82 yards and two touchdowns on 18 carries, while Yoder added 73 yards and two scores on 12 rushes. • Fr. QB Hayden Johnson connected on a 17-yard touchdown pass to Jr. WR Geoffrey Jamiel. Johnson completed 12-of-13 passes for 165 yards, while Jamiel finished with four catches for 51 yards. • Jr. DL Matt Spatny led the Mountain Hawks’ defense with seven tackles and 2.5 sacks for a loss of 16 yards. Gr. LB Mike DeNucci posted a team-high eight tackles with 1.5 TFLs and a half sack. • Jr. LB Brycen Edwards recorded four tackles, 2.0 TFLs, one sack and one of the Mountain Hawks’ three interceptions.
