WEEK 12 SCHEDULE
Saturday, Nov. 16
COLGATE RAIDERS (2-8, 1-3 PL) vs LEHIGH MOUNTAIN HAWKS (6-3, 3-1 PL)
Goodman Stadium/Bethlehem, Pa
Noon (ESPN+)
BROADCAST (ESPN+): PxP – Marco Socci; Analyst – Mike Yadush
RADIO BROADCAST: (Fox Sports Radio Lehigh Valley 94.7): PxP – Matt Kerr; Analysts – Lance Haynes, Connor Brown
SERIES HISTORY: Colgate and Lehigh meet for the 63rd time, with the Raiders holding a 32-27 series advantage.
LAST MEETING: (Nov. 11, 2023) – At Colgate 37, Lehigh 21
BUCKNELL BISON (5-5, 3-1 PL) vs HOLY CROSS CRUSADERS (4-6, 3-1 PL)
Fitton Field, Worcester, Mass
Noon (ESPN+)
BROADCAST (ESPN+): PxP – Kevin Gehl; Analyst – Kevin Shea ; Sideline – Faith Cain
RADIO BROADCAST (1070 AM WKOK): PxP – Doug Birdsong; Analyst – Charlie Fisher
SERIES HISTORY: Bucknell and Holy Cross will meet for the 41st time, with the Crusaders leading the series, 27-13.
LAST MEETING: (Oct. 7, 2023) – Holy Cross 55, at Bucknell 27
STONEHILL SKYHAWKS (1-8, 0-5 NEC) vs LAFAYETTE LEOPARDS (5-5, 2-3 PL)
Fisher Stadium/Easton, Pa.
12:30 (ESPN+)
BROADCAST (ESPN+): PxP – Gary Laubach; Analyst – Mike Joseph ; Sideline – Meghan Caffrey, John Leone and Phil Ng
SERIES HISTORY: Lafayette and Stonehill will meet for the first time in series history.
GEORGETOWN HOYAS (5-4, 2-2 PL) vs FORDHAM RAMS (1-9, 1-4 PL)
Moglia Field at Jack Coffey Stadium/Bronx, N.Y.
1 p.m. (ESPN+)
BROADCAST (ESPN+): PxP – Andrew Bogusch; Analyst – Grant DelVecchio
RADIO BROADCAST: (WFUV 90.7 FM/WFUVSports.org): PxP – Lou Orlando; Analysts – Evan Harkin
SERIES HISTORY: Georgetown and Fordham will play for the 70th time in the series history. The Rams lead the series, 42-24-3.
LAST MEETING: (Sept. 30, 2023) – At Georgetown 28, Fordham 24
PATRIOT LEAGUE NOTEBOOK
PATRIOT LEAGUE TITLE AND FCS PLAYOFF BERTHS ON THE LINE IN THE FINAL TWO WEEKS
Bucknell is the only team with a chance to clinch the Patriot League’s automatic bid to the FCS Playoffs during Week 12. The Bison can earn at least a share of its first League crown since 1996 and the program’s first trip to the FCS Playoffs with a win vs. Holy Cross if Colgate defeats Lehigh and Fordham defeats Georgetown. Bucknell can also clinch a share of the League title and an FCS playoff berth by winning its last two games. Lehigh, Holy Cross and Georgetown all still have opportunities to earn at least a share of the 2024 Patriot League Football Championship and the League’s automatic bid to the postseason. Still, any scenario for the Mountain Hawks, Crusaders and Hoyas would need at least wins in Weeks 12 and 13.
THREE AMONG FCS TOP FIVE IN TOTAL TACKLES Colgate Jr. LB Cole Kozlowski, a two-time Patriot League Defensive Player of the Week, leads the League and is second in the FCS in total tackles per game, averaging 11.7 through 10 games. Two more Patriot League linebackers are among the FCS top five in the category. Bucknell So. LB Gavin Willis is third in the FCS with 11.0 tackles per game. He recorded a career-high 19 tackles against Cornell (Oct. 19). Holy Cross Sr. LB Frankie Monte is third in the League and fifth in the FCS with 10.4 tackles per game. Monte posted a career-high 21 stops vs. Lehigh (Nov. 9). Four more League players are averaging eight or more tackles per game, including Lehigh’s Mike DeNucci (8.2), Georgetown’s GianCarlo Rufo (8.1) Bucknell’s Nick Hoying (8.1) and Lafayette’s Saiku White (8.0).
LEAGUE DEFENSIVE BACKS CLIMBING FCS ACTIVE LEADER LISTS Lafayette Sr. DB Saiku White and Fordham Sr. DB Nahil Perkins are tied for fourth among FCS active leaders with nine career interceptions. White picked off a pass in the end zone in a loss vs. Bucknell in Week 10. Perkins picked off two passes in a win vs. Colgate in Week 10 and currently leads the Patriot League with five interceptions this season. He is also second among active FCS players with 38 career passes defended. Lafayette Sr. DB Gabe DuBois, is seventh in the FCS with 34. This season, Perkins (1.8) and DuBois (1.2) are second and 11th in the FCS, respectively, in passes defended per game.
LEHIGH LEADS FCS IN TEAM PASS EFFICIENCY DEFENSE Through 11 weeks Lehigh leads NCAA DI FCS in team pass efficiency defense (102.96). The Mountain Hawks’ have allowed just 145.8 passing yards per game to lead the Patriot League and rank fifth in the FCS. They also lead the League and rank 12th in the FCS with 12 interceptions this season. Lehigh has put pressure on opposing QBs, tying for the League lead with Georgetown and ranking ninth in the FCS with 2.78 sacks per game.
COLGATE’S SAUNDERS RANKS WITH FCS RECEPTION LEADERS
Colgate Jr. WR Treyvhon Saunders leads the Patriot League and is fifth in the FCS with 7.1 receptions per game. In Week Five, he tied the League’s single-game record with 16 receptions in a loss at Penn. Saunders matched former Lehigh All-American WR Troy Pelletier, who set the record with 16 grabs against Georgetown on Oct. 14, 2017. Saunders’s previous career-high was 10 receptions against the Hoyas in 2023. The FCS single-game record is 24 receptions, shared by Chas Gessner (Brown, 2002) and Jerry Rice (Miss. Val. St., 1983).
THOMAS AND CLERVEAUX CARRYING THE LOAD IN LEAGUE PLAY
Bucknell Fr. RB Tariq Thomas has rushed for 136 and 141 yards, respectively, in his last two games while earning Patriot League Rookie of the Week honors three times this season. His 118.0 rushing yards per game in League play is the best mark in the PL, and his 70.4 overall rushing yards per game is fifth. Holy Cross So. RB Jayden Clerveaux carried just four times in the first two weeks of the season, but his workload and production increased after the injury to All-America RB Jordan Fuller in Week Three. Clerveaux has claimed League Offensive Player of the Week honors twice. He rushed for 159 yards vs. Fordham on Oct. 12, and 165 yards and two touchdowns on 27 carries at Harvard. He ranks third in rushing yards per game in League play (102.5), helping the Crusaders remain in contention for the League crown.
FORDHAM’S CONWAY APPROACHING LEAGUE TACKLES RECORD
Fordham Sr. LB James Conway has recorded 38 tackles in three games this season to bring his career total to 425, tying him for second in League history with Fordham’s Ryan Greenhagen, Lehigh’s Lee Picariello and Holy Cross’s David Streeter. Conway is eight tackles away from passing Crusaders’ All-American Jacob Dobbs (432), who broke the record last season. Conway is the FCS active leader in tackles and tackles per game (11.18).
PL RETURN SPECIALISTS AMONG FCS’S BEST THIS SEASON
The Patriot League boasts several of the FCS leaders in kick return average and punt return average this season. Two players rank among the nation’s top 20 in kickoff returns and three among the top punt returners. Cadden is 18th in the FCS in kickoff return average, at 25.6 yards per return. Lafayette Fr. Mason Kuehner is also third in the FCS in punt return average (14.5), while Cadden leads the nation with two punt return TDs.
TEAM NOTES:
BUCKNELL BISON Overall: 5-5 PL: 3-1
Next OPPONENT: at Holy Cross (Noon
2024 Patriot League Rankings
Scoring Offense ……………………… 26.0 (2nd)
Scoring Defense ……………………… 28.8 (6th)
Total Offense………………………… 366.4 (2nd)
Total Defense…………………………433.8 (7th)
2024 Quick Facts
Offensive Starters Returning/Lost ……….6/5
Defensive Starters Returning/Lost……….6/5
WEEK ELEVEN RECAP:
Sr. QB Ralph Rucker IV threw a 15-yard touchdown pass to Jr. WR Nate Anderson to take the lead with 2:35 remaining in the fourth quarter in the Bison’s 28-27 victory over Fordham to move into a tie atop the Patriot League standings. •So. LB Gavin Willis recorded game-highs of 13 tackles and 4.0 TFLs while recovering two fumbles, including a 79-yard fumble recovery for a touchdown with 57 seconds remaining in the first quarter. Willis earned Stats Perform National FCS Defensive Player of the Week honors for his performance. •Rucker IV completed 27-of-45 passes for 322 yards and three touchdown passes, while Anderson finished with 76 receiving yards and two touchdowns on five catches to lead the Bison offense. •Jr. WR Josh Gary added seven catches for 97 yards, and Sr. RB Paul Neel caught three passes for 47 yards and a score. •So. LB Nick Hoying finished with nine tackles and 1.5 sacks, while Sr. S Alex Smith Jr. added five tackles and an interception.
COLGATE RAIDERS Overall: 2-8 PL: 1-3
Next Opponent: at Lehigh (Noon
2024 Patriot League Rankings
Scoring Offense ………………………. 19.1 (6th)
Scoring Defense …………………….. 28.5 (5th)
Total Offense………………………….325.2 (6th)
Total Defense…………………………397.6 (6th)
2024 Quick Facts
Offensive Starters Returning/Lost ……..10/1
Defensive Starters Returning/Lost……….5/6
WEEK ELEVEN RECAP:
So. QB Jake Stearney completed 14-of-21 passes for 129 yards and a touchdown to So. WR Reed Swanson. •Fy. QB Aleks Sitkowski rushed for a team-high 72 yards on 10 carries. He also completed 4-of-4 passes for 24 yards to earn Patriot League Rookie of the Week honors for the first time. •Sr. RB Brendan Cassamajor rushed for an 11-yard touchdown to give the Raiders a 7-0 lead early in the second quarter. •So. PK Luke Vogeler connected on field goals from 22 and 49 yards. Vogeler was 2-for-2 on field goals, 2-for-2 on PATs and averaged 61.0 yards per kickoff. •Jr. LB Cole Kozlowski posted a game-high 17 tackles. He leads the Patriot League and is second in the FCS with 11.7 tackles per game. •Jr. DL Dane Picariello added nine tackles, 1.5 TFLs and one sack against Lafayette.
FORDHAM RAMS Overall: 1-9 PL: 1-4
Next Opponent: vs. Georgetown (1 p.m.)
2024 Patriot League Rankings
Scoring Offense ………………………. 18.0 (7th)
Scoring Defense ……………………… 33.1 (7th)
Total Offense………………………….311.5 (7th)
Total Defense…………………………383.1 (5th)
2024 Quick Facts
Offensive Starters Returning/Lost ……….7/4
Defensive Starters Returning/Lost……….7/4
WEEK ELEVEN RECAP:
Sr. RB Julius Loughridge posted his second straight 100- yard rushing game with 155 yards and a touchdown on 26 carries. •Loughridge’s one-yard touchdown run at the 4:18 mark in the fourth quarter gave Fordham a 27-21 lead, its first lead of the game. Loughridge leads the League with 105.7 rushing yards per game. •Jr. QB completed 18-of-27 passes for 310 yards, two touchdowns and one interception. •Gr. WR Cole Thornton caught six passes for 130 yards, including a 59-yard touchdown reception from Capaldi in the second quarter. •So. WR Ricky Gonzalez II caught a 30-yard touchdown pass in the third quarter. He finished with 81 yards on four receptions. •Gr. LB Mike Courtney posted 12 tackles and 1.5 TFLs. Jr. DL Sam Buerkle added three tackles, 2.0 TFLs and one sack.
GEORGETOWN HOYAS Overall: 5-4 PL: 2-2
NEXT Opponent: At Fordham (1 p.m.)
2024 Patriot League Rankings
Scoring Offense ………………………. 21.9 (5th)
Scoring Defense ……………………… 24.2 (4th)
Total Offense………………………….349.6 (4th)
Total Defense…………………………358.8 (4th)
2024 Quick Facts
Offensive Starters Returning/Lost ……….6/5
Defensive Starters Returning/Lost……….7/4
WEEK TEN RECAP:
Jr. QB Danny Lauter completed 22-of-37 passes for 189 yards, one touchdown and two interceptions. •So. RB Bryce Cox rushed for a team-high 77 yards on 11 carries, while Jr. WR Jimmy Kibble caught five passes for 47 yards. •Jr. TE Max McCormick caught a five-yard touchdown pass from Lauter in the fourth quarter. •So. LB GianCarlo Rufo posted a game-high 16 tackles and a forced fumble. Rufo is tied for fourth in the League with 8.1 tackles per game. •So. S Zeraun Daniel finished with three tackles, 1.0 TFL and an interception. Daniel ranks second in the Patriot League with four interceptions. He is eighth in DI FCS with 0.4 interceptions per game.
HOLY CROSS CRUSADERS Overall: 4-6 PL: 3-1
Next Opponent: vs. Bucknell (Noon)
2024 Patriot League Rankings
Scoring Offense ………………………. 25.7 (3rd)
Scoring Defense ……………………. 23.9 (2nd)
Total Offense………………………….366.2 (3rd)
Total Defense…………………………357.6 (3rd)
2024 Quick Facts
Offensive Starters Returning/Lost ……….4/7
Defensive Starters Returning/Lost……….6/5
WEEK ELEVEN RECAP:
Sr. QB Joe Pesansky completed 17-of-26 passes for 148 yards and a touchdown, while Sr. TE Jacob Petersen caught four passes for 30 yards. • Pesansky threw a 10-yard touchdown pass to Petersen at the 9:29 mark in the second quarter to tie the score at seven apiece. •Jr. WR Max Mosey led the Crusaders with five catches for 46 yards. Mosey is second in the PL with 65.7 receiving yards per game. *So. RB Jayden Clerveaux rushed for a game-high 84 yards on 20 carries. Clerveaux is fourth in the League in rushing yards per game (71.6), and third with 102.5 rushing yards per game in League play. •Sr. LB Frankie Monte registered a career-high 21 tackles and recovered a fumble. Monte is third in the Patriot League and fifth in the FCS with 10.4 tackles per game. •The Crusaders defense held Lehigh to just two drives of more than five plays.
LAFAYETTE LEOPARDS Overall: 5-5 PL: 2-3
Next Opponent: vs. Stonehill (12:30 p.m.)
2024 Patriot League Rankings
Scoring Offense ………………………. 25.1 (4th)
Scoring Defense …………………….. 24.2 (3rd)
Total Offense…………………………..367.7 (1st)
Total Defense……………………….. 348.8 (2nd)
2024 Quick Facts
Offensive Starters Returning/Lost ……….8/3
Defensive Starters Returning/Lost……….8/3
WEEK ELEVEN RECAP:
Jr. RB Jamar Curtis rushed for two of his three touchdowns in the fourth quarter to lead Lafayette to a 21- 20 comeback win against Colgate at Andy Kerr Stadium. •Trailing 20-7, Curtis capped an 80-yard drive with a four-yard touchdown run at the 7:13 mark in the final frame, then added a two-yard score with 2:34 left to give Lafayette its first lead of the game. He recorded his fourth straight 100-yard performance with 122 rushing yards and all three Lafayette touchdowns on 28 carries. •Sr. DB Gabe DuBois forced two fourth-quarter fumbles, with the second leading to Lafayette’s go-ahead touchdown. He recovery the first fumble and added seven tackles. •Jr. QB Dean DeNobile completed 9-of-16 passes for 89 yards, and So. WR Carson Persing had three receptions for 55 yards. •Sr. S Saiku White posted a team-leading eight tackles.
LEHIGH MOUNTAIN HAWKS Overall: 6-3 PL: 3-1
Next Opponent: vs. Colgate (NooN)
2024 Patriot League Rankings
Scoring Offense ………………………..28.3 (1st)
Scoring Defense ……………………… 22.2 (1st)
Total Offense………………………….336.6 (5th)
Total Defense………………………….287.8 (1st)
2024 Quick Facts
Offensive Starters Returning/Lost ……….7/4
Defensive Starters Returning/Lost……….7/4
WEEK ELEVEN RECAP:
A 25-yard field goal from Jr. PK Nick Garrido in the third quarter proved to be the difference in the Mountain Hawks’ 10-7 victory over Holy Cross at Fitton Field. •Lehigh’s defense held the Crusaders to 258 total yards and seven points to hand Holy Cross its first League loss of the season. •Gr. QB Dante Perri threw a 12-yard touchdown pass to So. WR Mason Humphrey nine seconds into the second quarter to give Lehigh a 7-0 lead. Perri completed 4-of-5 passes for 29 yards and a touchdown. •So. RB Luke Yoder rushed for a team-high 66 yards on 18 carries, while Fy. RB Jaden Green finished with 53 rushing yards on nine carries. •Gr. LB Mike DeNucci posted 11 tackles, 1.5 TFLs, one sack and one pass breakup to lead the Mountain Hawks’ defense. •Jr. LB Jackson Dowd finished with 11 tackles against Holy Cross.
PATRIOT LEAGUE FOOTBALL OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Ralph Rucker IV, Bucknell, Sr., QB, Lucas, Texas/Lovejoy
*Rucker IV completed 27-of-45 passes for 322 and three touchdowns to lead Bucknell to a 28-27 victory over Fordham to move into a tie for first place in the Patriot League with two games left. *The senior quarterback threw a game-winning 15-yard touchdown pass to Nate Anderson with less than three minutes remaining in the game to erase a six-point deficit and help Bucknell improve to 3-1 in League play. *He threw two 44-yard touchdown passes, the first to Anderson in the second quarter and one to Paul Neel in the third, helping move to second in Bucknell program history with 36 touchdown passes.
PATRIOT LEAGUE FOOTBALL DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Gavin Willis, Bucknell, So., LB, Louisville, Ky./Ballard
*Willis registered 13 tackles, 4.0 TFLs, two fumble recoveries, one pass breakup and a quarterback hurry to lead the Bison defense in a 28-27 victory over Fordham. *The sophomore linebacker recovered a fumble and returned it for a 79-yard touchdown for the game’s first touchdown with 57 seconds remaining in the first quarter. *He also recovered a fumble at the Bucknell four-yard line, with the Bison holding a seven-point third-quarter lead.
PATRIOT LEAGUE FOOTBALL SPECIAL TEAMS PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Connor Poole, Lehigh, Fy., PK/P, Williamsport, Pa./Williamsport
*Poole punted four times for an average of 46.5 yards per punt to help the Mountain Hawks win the field-position battle in a 10-7 win against Holy Cross. *The first-year punter pinned two punts inside the Crusaders’ 20-yard line, including a 48-yard punt that was downed at the Holy Cross one-yard line. *He also had a season-long 58-yard punt that forced the Crusaders to start at their 14-yard line for its final drive of the game.
PATRIOT LEAGUE FOOTBALL ROOKIE OF THE WEEK
Aleks Sitkowski, Colgate, Fy., QB, Old Bridge, N.J./Watchung Hills
*Sitkowski rushed for a team- and career-high 72 yards on 10 carries in the Raiders’ 21-20 loss against Lafayette. *He completed 4-of-4 passes for 24 yards, both personal collegiate best marks. *The first-year quarterback was responsible for the Raiders’ longest play from scrimmage, a 30-yard run in the first quarter.
