WEEK 11 SCHEDULE
Saturday, Nov. 9
LEHIGH MOUNTAIN HAWKS (5-3, 1-1 PL) AT HOLY CROSS CRUSADERS (4-5, 3-0 PL)
Fitton Field, Worcester, Mass.
Noon (ESPN+)
BROADCAST (ESPN+): PxP – Kevin Gehl; Analyst – Kevin Shea ; Sideline – Faith Cain
RADIO BROADCAST: (Fox Sports Radio Lehigh Valley 94.7): PxP – Matt Kerr; Analysts – Steve Lomangino, Connor Brown
SERIES HISTORY: Lehigh and Holy Cross will meet for the 40th time in series history. The Mountain Hawks and Crusaders are tied 19-19-1 in their previous 39 meetings. Holy Cross has won each matchup since 2018.
LAST MEETING: (Nov. 4, 2023) – No. 21 Holy Cross 28, at Lehigh 24
LAFAYETTE LEOPARDS (4-5, 1-3 PL) AT COLGATE RAIDERS (2-7, 1-2 PL)
Crown Field at Andy Kerr Stadium/Hamilton, N.Y.
1 p.m. (ESPN+)
BROADCAST (ESPN+): PxP – Eric Malanoski; Analyst – Terry Dow
SERIES HISTORY: Lafayette and Colgate will meet for the 68th time, with the Raiders holding a 48-15-4 advantage.
LAST MEETING: (Nov. 4, 2023) – Colgate 37, at Lafayette 34
FORDHAM RAMS (1-8, 1-3 PL) AT BUCKNELL BISON (4-5, 2-1 PL)
Christy Mathewson – Memorial Stadium/Lewisburg, Pa.
1 p.m. (ESPN+)
BROADCAST (ESPN+): PxP – Doug Birdsong; Analyst – Charlie Fisher
RADIO BROADCAST: (1070 AM WKOK): PxP -Joe Vasile; Analyst – Luke Smith
RADIO BROADCAST: (WFUV 90.7 FM/WFUVSports.org): PxP – Lou Orlando; Analysts – Evan Harkin
SERIES HISTORY: Bucknell and Fordham play for the 40th time, with the Rams holding a 21-18 advantage. Fordham has won the last 11 meetings between the two programs.
LAST MEETING: (Nov. 4, 2023) – At Fordham 27, Bucknell 21
PATRIOT LEAGUE NOTEBOOK
THREE AMONG FCS TOTAL TACKLES TOP 20
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 11.1 through nine games. Two more Patriot League linebackers are among the FCS top 20 in the category. Bucknell So. LB Gavin Willis is third in the FCS with 10.8 tackles per game after a career-high 19 tackles against Cornell (Oct. 19). Holy Cross Sr. LB Frankie Monte is third in the League and 17th in the FCS with 9.2 tackles per game. Monte recorded 16 stops vs. Fordham (Oct. 12). Three more League players are averaging eight or more tackles per game, including Georgetown’s GianCarlo Rufo (8.1) Bucknell’s Nick Hoying (8.0) 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 leads the Patriot League with five interceptions this season. He is also second among active FCS players with 36 career passes defended. Lafayette Sr. DB Gabe DuBois, is six in the FCS with 34. DuBois and Perkins are tied for fourth in the FCS with 1.7 passes defended per game this season.
HOYAS RANK SIXTH IN FCS IN SACKS PER GAME
Georgetown’s defense leads the Patriot League and is sixth in the FCS, averaging 2.89 sacks per game through nine games. The Hoyas’ 25 sacks have been for a loss of 151 yards, including four sacks for 30 yards in a 21-20 victory vs. Bucknell in Week Nine. Three Hoyas are among the League’s leaders in the category with So. DL Cooper Blomstrom’s 6.5 sacks are second in the League. He is also second in the League and 22nd in the FCS with 0.72 sacks per game. Gr. LB David Ealey III (0.56 spg) and So. LB GianCarlo Rufo (0.33 spg) are fifth and 10th, respectively, in the League.
COLGATE’S SAUNDERS RANKS WITH FCS RECEPTION LEADERS
Colgate Jr. WR Treyvhon Saunders leads the Patriot League and is fourth 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).
THREE LEAGUE QBS AMONG FCS TOP 35 PASSING LEADERS
Three Patriot League passers are among the FCS top 35 in passing yards per game through 10 weeks. Holy Cross Sr. QB Joe Pesansky leads the Patriot League and is 28th in the nation, averaging 219.1 yards per game, while leading the League and ranking 19th in the FCS with 16 passing touchdowns. The Crusaders’ signal-caller is also 19th in the FCS in pass efficiency (151.3). Bucknell Sr. QB Ralph Rucker IV (214.5) and Lafayette Jr. QB Dean DeNobile (209.1) are 29th and 32nd in the FCS in passing yards per game, respectively.
THOMAS AND CLERVEAUX CARRYING THE LOAD IN LEAGUE PLAY
Bucknell Fr. RB Tariq Thomas has rushed for 136 and 141 yards, respectively, in the last two weeks while earning Patriot League Rookie of the Week honors three times in the last four weeks to help the Bison open League play, 2-1. 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 fourth. Holy Cross So. RB Jayden Clerveaux carried just four times in the first two weeks of the season, but his workload and production have increased with the injury to All-America RB Jordan Fuller in Week Three. Clerveaux eclipsed his career-high in rushing yards in consecutive weeks to claim Patriot 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 second in rushing yards per game in League play (108.7), helping the Crusaders to a 3-0 start.
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 IV accounted for all three of Bucknell’s touchdowns, rushing for two and passing for a third in a 21-14 victory over Lafayette. *The senior quarterback completed 18-of-30 passes for 210 yards, including a nine-yard touchdown pass to Eric Weatherly in the fourth quarter to give the Bison lead. *He scored the first touchdown of the game on a 19-yard run, then tied the score early in the fourth quarter on a one-yard touchdown run.
PATRIOT LEAGUE FOOTBALL DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Alex Smith Jr., Bucknell, Sr., S, Charlotte, N.C./Hickory Ridge
*Smith Jr. posted a team-high 13 tackles, nine solo, and one sack in Bucknell’s 21-14 victory over Lafayette. *The senior safety also broke up two passes in the fourth quarter, the second coming on the final play of the game on a pass into the end zone. *He led a secondary that limited Lafayette to just 184 passing yards.
PATRIOT LEAGUE FOOTBALL SPECIAL TEAMS PLAYER OF THE WEEK
Nick Garrido, Jr., PK, Easton, Pa./Notre Dame Green Pond
*Garrido scored a career-high 10 points, connecting on all four PATs and booting two field goals in Lehigh’s 43-6 win against Georgetown. *The junior placekicker connected from 29 yards before halftime to put the Mountain Hawks in front 24-0. He added a 30-yard field goal in the third quarter to give Lehigh a 34-0 advantage. *The Easton, Pa. native is Lehigh’s first placekicker with 10 or more points in a single game since Dylan Van Dusen accomplished the feat in 2021.
PATRIOT LEAGUE FOOTBALL ROOKIE OF THE WEEK
Tariq Thomas, Bucknell, Fr., RB, Springfield, Mass./Springfield Central *Thomas rushed for 141 yards on 29 carries and caught two passes for 13 yards in Bucknell’s 21-14 victory over Lafayette. *The freshman running back set up a first-quarter touchdown with a 45-yard run to convert a 3rd-and-16. *He is rushing for a League-best 118.0 yards per game in League play.
TEAM NOTES:
BUCKNELL BISON Overall: 4-5 PL: 2-1
Next OPPONENT: Vs. Fordham (1 p.m.)
2024 Patriot League Rankings
Scoring Offense ………………………. 25.8 (3rd)
Scoring Defense ……………………… 29.0 (5th)
Total Offense………………………….366.8 (3rd)
Total Defense…………………………421.0 (7th)
2024 Quick Facts
Offensive Starters Returning/Lost ……….6/5
Defensive Starters Returning/Lost……….6/5
WEEK TEN RECAP:
Sr. QB Ralph Rucker IV accounted for all three of Bucknell’s touchdowns, including two in the fourth quarter, to lead Bucknell to a 21-14 comeback victory over Lafayette. •Rucker scored a 19-yard touchdown run in the first quarter. He rushed for a score in the first and fourth quarters before completing a nine-yard touchdown pass to Jr. WR Eric Weatherly with 5:38 remaining in the game to put the Bison in front for good. Rucker completed 18-of-30 passes for 210 yards, one touchdown and one interception, in addition to rushing for 32 yards and two touchdowns on eight carries. •Fr. RB Tariq Thomas rushed for a career-high 141 yards on 29 carries, and Jr. WR Josh Gary caught six passes for 71 yards. •Sr. S Alex Smith Jr. and So. LB Gavin Willis led the Bison with 13 tackles apiece. Smith added a sack, while Willis had 2.0 TFLs and a fumble recovery. •So. LB Nick Hoying added 12 tackles and a sack, with senior safety John Schlendorf posting nine tackles, 2.0 TFLs and two pass breakups.
COLGATE RAIDERS Overall: 2-7 PL: 1-2
Next Opponent: vs. Lafayette (1 p.m.)
2024 Patriot League Rankings
Scoring Offense ………………………. 19.0 (6th)
Scoring Defense …………………….. 29.3 (6th)
Total Offense………………………….324.7 (6th)
Total Defense…………………………409.2 (6th)
2024 Quick Facts
Offensive Starters Returning/Lost ……..10/1
Defensive Starters Returning/Lost……….5/6
WEEK TEN RECAP:
So. QB Jake Stearney completed 20-of-34 passes for 185 yards, one touchdown and two interceptions. He also rushed for 27 yards and another touchdown on four carries. •Jr. WR Treyvhon Saunders caught six passes for 68 yards, while So. WR Reed Swanson added 59 yards and an eight-yard touchdown reception on three receptions. •Jr. LB Cole Kozlowski posted a game-high 13 tackles to go with two sacks and an interception to lead the Raiders’ defense. •5th-year LB Christian Sweeney added 11 tackles and Sr. DL Andrew Taddeo posted seven tackles and 2.5 sacks. *The Colgate defense recorded eight sacks for a loss of 50 yards.
FORDHAM RAMS Overall: 1-8 PL: 1-3
Next Opponent: at Bucknell (1 p.m.)
2024 Patriot League Rankings
Scoring Offense ………………………. 17.0 (7th)
Scoring Defense ……………………… 33.7 (7th)
Total Offense………………………….285.1 (7th)
Total Defense…………………………385.3 (5th)
2024 Quick Facts
Offensive Starters Returning/Lost ……….7/4
Defensive Starters Returning/Lost……….7/4
WEEK TEN RECAP:
Jr. QB Jack Capaldi threw a 12-yard touchdown pass to Gr. WR Mekai Felton with 5:23 left in the fourth quarter to give Fordham its first lead on the way to a 20-14 victory over Colgate. •Capaldi completed 12-of-17 passes for 117 yards, one touchdown and an interception, while Felton caught two passes for 22 yards and a score. •Sr. RB Julius Loughridge rushed for a season-high 153 yards, including a 13-yard touchdown in the third quarter, on 25 carries. •Gr. DB Nahil Perkins intercepted two passes and recorded six tackles to lead the Rams’ defense. Perkins leads the League with five interceptions this season. •Sr. DL Matt Jaworski finished with four tackles, 2.0 TFLs and one sack, while Gr. LB Jackson Barletta posted a team-high 11 tackles. •Sr. LB James Conway recorded eight tackles and is now eight tackles away from breaking the Patriot League career tackles record.
GEORGETOWN HOYAS Overall: 5-4 PL: 2-2
NEXT Opponent: At Fordham (Nov. 16 – Noon)
2024 Patriot League Rankings
Scoring Offense ………………………. 21.9 (5th)
Scoring Defense …………………….. 24.2 (2nd)
Total Offense………………………….349.6 (5th)
Total Defense…………………………358.8 (3rd)
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: 4-5 PL: 3-0
Next Opponent: Vs. Lehigh (Noon)
2024 Patriot League Rankings
Scoring Offense ……………………… 27.8 (2nd)
Scoring Defense …………………….. 25.4 (4th)
Total Offense…………………………..378.7 (1st)
Total Defense…………………………372.6 (4th)
2024 Quick Facts
Offensive Starters Returning/Lost ……….4/7
Defensive Starters Returning/Lost……….6/5
WEEK NINE RECAP:
Sr. QB Joe Pesansky completed 14-of-21 passes for 183 yards and two first-quarter touchdowns to help Holy Cross improve to 3-0 in League play with a 34-28 victory at Lafayette. •Pesansky opened the game with a 58-yard touchdown pass to Jr. WR Max Mosey and a six-yard touchdown pass to Sr. WR Justin Shorter to take a 14-0 first-quarter lead. •Mosey, who finished with four receptions for 74 yards, rushed for a four-yard score early in the second quarter to give the Crusaders a 21-0 lead. •So. RB Jayden Clerveaux rushed for 95 yards, including a 28-yard touchdown in the second quarter, on 19 carries. •So. PK Daniel Porto connected on a program-record and Patriot League seasonlong 53-yard field goal at the end of the first half. He also hit a 24-yard field goal in the fourth quarter. •Sr. S Curtis Harris-Lopez posted a Holy Cross team-high nine tackles and 1.0 TFL, while So. LB Cam Santee added five tackles and 2.0 TFLs.
LAFAYETTE LEOPARDS Overall: 4-5 PL: 1-23
Next Opponent: At Colgate (1 p.m.)
2024 Patriot League Rankings
Scoring Offense ………………………. 25.6 (4th)
Scoring Defense …………………….. 29.0 (5th)
Total Offense………………………… 376.0 (2nd)
Total Defense……………………….. 350.9 (2nd)
2024 Quick Facts
Offensive Starters Returning/Lost ……….8/3
Defensive Starters Returning/Lost……….8/3
WEEK TEN RECAP:
Jr. QB Dean DeNobile completed 24-of-38 passes for 177 yards and two touchdown passes to lead the Leopards’ offense. *Sr. WR Chris Carasia caught a 38-yard touchdown pass in the first quarter, and So. TE Ethan Hosak added an eight-yard touchdown reception in the third quarter. •Jr. RB Jamar Curtis rushed for 109 yards on 23 carries for his fourth straight 100- yard game, his sixth of the season. Curtis is second in the Patriot League in rushing, averaging 92.8 yards per game. •Sr. S Saiku White posted a game-high 15 tackles and an interception to lead Lafayette’s defense. White is tied for fourth among active FCS leaders with nine career interceptions. •Jr. DL Tyree Morris chipped in eight tackles, 1.5 TFLs and one sack.
LEHIGH MOUNTAIN HAWKS Overall: 5-3 PL: 2-1
Next Opponent: At Holy Cross (Noon)
2024 Patriot League Rankings
Scoring Offense ………………………..30.6 (1st)
Scoring Defense ……………………… 24.1 (1st)
Total Offense………………………….350.8 (4th)
Total Defense………………………….292.0 (1st)
2024 Quick Facts
Offensive Starters Returning/Lost ……….7/4
Defensive Starters Returning/Lost……….7/4
WEEK TEN RECAP:
Fy. RB Jaden Green and Fy. QB Hayden Johnson combined for 171 rushing yards and three touchdowns to carry Lehigh to a 43-6 victory at Georgetown. *The Mountain Hawks rushed for a season-high 310 yards and four touchdowns on 41 carries, averaging 7.6 yards per carry to improve to 2-1 in League play. *Johnson rushed for the first of three second-quarter Lehigh touchdowns before Green had scoring runs of 24 and 57 yards on consecutive drives before a 29-yard field goal from Jr. PK Nick Garrido to take a 24-0 lead by halftime. •The Mountain Hawks’ defense accounted for a pair of scoring plays in the third quarter, with Sr. DB Jordan Adderley returning an interception for a touchdown before a Lehigh safety. •Gr. LB Mike DeNucci finished with eight tackles, 2.0 TFLs and one sack, while Jr. S Nick Peltekian finished with three tackles and an interception.
