Bucknell University
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
BUCKNELL UNIVERSITY 2019 BISON FOOTBALL MEDIA NOTES Media Contact: Jen Dobias >> [email protected] >> 856-261-5620 (C) >> 570-577-3488 (O) VILLANOVA SCHEDULE/RESULTS Date Opponent Time/Result VS Aug. 31 Temple L, 12-56 Sep. 07 Sacred Heart L, 10-30 Sep. 14 #23/22 VILLANOVA 6 p.m. BUCKNELL Sep. 28 PRINCETON (FW) 3:30 p.m. Oct. 05 HOLY CROSS* (HC) 2 p.m. <<<< Game 3: No. 23/22 Villanova Wildcats vs. Bucknell Bison >>>> Oct. 12 Colgate* 1 p.m. Oct. 19 Towson 4 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 14 >> 6 p.m. >> Lewisburg, Pa. >> Christy Mathewson-Memorial Stadium Oct. 26 Lafayette* 3:30 p.m. 0-2 ..................................................................... Overall .....................................................................2-0 Nov. 09 LEHIGH* 1 p.m. 0-0 PL ................................................................League .............................................................0-0 CAA Nov. 16 GEORGETOWN* 1 p.m. 0-0 ...................................................................... Home ......................................................................1-0 Nov. 23 Fordham* 1 p.m. 0-2 .......................................................................Away .......................................................................1-0 All times Eastern and subject to change Lost 2 ..................................................................Streak .................................................................Won 2 Home games in CAPS and played at Christy Mathewson-Memorial Stadium * Patriot League; (HC) Homecoming; (FW) Family Weekend Dave Cecchini ...............................................Head Coach ................................................Mark Ferrante 0-2 (1st season) ......................................... Record at School ....................................12-12 (3rd season) FOLLOW THE BISON 17-40 (6th season) ...................................... Career Record ...........................................................Same John Chiarolanzio (210 yards) .................... Leading Passer .............................Daniel Smith (377 yards) Internet Video ..........................Patriot League Network Chad Freshnock (72 yards) ........................ Leading Rusher ......................Justin Covington (243 yards) Internet Audio .................................BucknellBison.com Brandon Sanders (163 yards) ...................Leading Receiver ...............................Dez Boykin (62 yards) Radio ..........................................Bison Sports Network Conner Romango (21 tackles) .................... Leading Tackler ..........................Forrest Rhyne (18 tackles) Flagship ......................... Eagle 107 (107.3 WEGH.FM) Play-By-Play (Color) .........Doug Birdsong (Kevin Herr) PROJECTED BUCKNELL STARTERS Twitter ................................................... @Bucknell_FB Instagram ..................................................Bucknell_FB OFFENSE Pos. No. Name Cl. Ht. Wt. Fast Fact Hashtag ........................................#ACT | #rayBucknell QB ---- Jr. Logan Bitikofer (#12), Sr. John Chiarolanzio (#4) and So. Tarrin Earle (#10) are considered even on the depth chart Tickets .....................................Bucknell.edu/BoxOffice RB 20 Chad Freshnock Sr. 6-0 220 Back from injury that cost him 2018; team leader in rushing yards WR 13 Dominic Lyles So. 6-2 195 Posted career-high 98 yards on five catches at Sacred Heart MEDIA INFORMATION WR 5 Brandon Sanders So. 5-11 200 Registered career-high 115 yards on nine catches at Temple WR 19 John McGuire Jr. 6-1 200 Entered camp slotted third at split end, earned starting job at flanker BUCKNELL FOOTBALL LUNCHEONS: Every LT 72 Noah Sansalone So. 6-4 255 Made first career start at Sacred Heart Monday at noon during the season, the Bison Gridiron LG 74 P.J. Barr Jr. 6-3 285 Team leader with 21 career starts, all of which came in a row Club Football Luncheon will be held at Matty’s Sport- C 65 Zack Tarburton Fr. 6-3 265 First freshman to start at center for Dave Cecchini-led team house Grill on Route 15 in Lewisburg. Head coach RG 54 Jimmy Sheehan Sr. 6-2 270 Converted to OL from DL during camp; started first two games Dave Cecchini will speak at the event, and select RT 66 Michael Killiri So. 6-4 270 Started 2018 finale and 2019 opener at TR members of the Bison team will also be in attendance. TE 45 Alex Twiford Jr. 6-3 235 Solid blocking TE recorded 94 yards on 16 catches in 2018 Media members are invited free of charge. DEFENSE Pos. No. Name Cl. Ht. Wt. Fast Fact MID-WEEK INTERVIEWS: All interview requests for DE 47 Roger Mellado Jr. 6-1 235 Has started past 19 games dating back to 2017 Cecchini and Bison players should be directed to Jen DT 58 Nnamdi Unachukwu Jr. 6-7 270 Start against Villanova will be the 10th of his career Dobias at [email protected] or 856-261-5620. NG 55 John Hunt Sr. 6-0 300 First two career starts came in 2019 DE 50 Grayson Cherubino So. 6-4 255 Led all Bison DL with 35 tackles in 2018 POST-GAME INTERVIEWS: After the NCAA-mandat- WILL 7 Simeon Page Jr. 6-0 230 Needs two tackles to reach 100 in his career ed 10-minute “cooling off” period, Cecchini and Bison MIKE 52 Rick Mottram Jr. 6-1 230 Had 14 tackles in 2018 finale and 10 in 2019 opener players will be available for interviews. Check with the STAR 41 Sam Chitty Sr. 6-0 220 Captain; led Bison in TFL (13.5) and took second in sacks (3.5) in 2018 host SID for interview location. Please submit player SS 33 Conner Romango Jr. 5-11 190 Averaging 8.5 solo tackles per game, tied for sixth in the FCS requests to Dobias no later than five minutes before FS 3 Brandon Benson Jr. 6-0 210 Finished in Bucknell’s top five in tackles in both 2018 and 2017 the end of regulation. CB 2 Sterling Deary So. 5-10 160 Picked off two passes as a freshman, returning first for a TD CB 27 Eric Butler Jr. 5-10 170 Made first career start atTemple; missed Sacred Heart game CREDENTIAL REQUESTS: Requests for media SPECIAL TEAMS credentials for Bucknell home games are required and Pos. No. Name Cl. Ht. Wt. Fast Fact PK 96 Ethan Torres Jr. 6-0 195 8-for-12 on field goals and 7-10 on ATsP in career are issued to working members of the press only. Sea- KO 96 Ethan Torres Jr. 6-0 195 Has averaged 59.7 yards on 66 career kickoffs son credentials will be granted to media members who P 1 Alex Pechin 5th 6-0 210 Multi-time All-American on 2020 Reese’s Senior Bowl Watch List cover Bucknell football on a regular basis. Requests PR 21 Jared Cooper So. 5-7 180 RB took first three career punt returns atTemple in 2019 opener for single-game credentials should arrive no later than 5 Brandon Sanders So. 5-11 200 Returned first career punt 18 yards to midfield at Sacred Heart three days prior to the game. All single-game creden- KR 5 Brandon Sanders So. 5-11 200 Recorded 73 yards on five kickoff returns in 2018 tials may be picked up in the Christy Mathewson-Me- 21 Jared Cooper So. 5-7 180 RB has yet to take a kickoff return morial Stadium press box on game day. Please LS 90 Mike Colantuono Jr. 6-2 235 In second season as Bucknell’s primary LS contact Dobias to request a credential. H 1 Alex Pechin 5th 6-0 200 Captain; handles holds in addition to punting duties >>>>>>>>>>>>>>> THIS IS BUCKNELL FOOTBALL >>>> ATTITUDE >>>> CHARACTER >>>> TOUGHNESS >>>> 1 2019 BUCKNELL FOOTBALL MEDIA NOTES >>>> 2 QUICK FACTS BISON NOTES GENERAL INFORMATION The Bucknell football team welcomes No. 23/22 Villanova to Christy Mathewson-Me- Location .................................................................................................Lewisburg, Pa. morial Stadium for its first home game under head coach Dave Cecchini on Saturday, Founded (Enrollment) ...............................................................................1846 (3,600) Sept. 14. The Bison’s home opener, which doubles as their First Responder and Hero Affiliation ..............................................................................................NCAA Division I Appreciation Night and Youth Sports Night, is set to begin at 6 p.m. Nickname ............................................................................................................. Bison Colors ................................................................................................ Blue and Orange Conference .....................................................................................The Patriot League WITH A VICTORY THE BISON WOULD... President .....................................................................................Dr. John C. Bravman • move to 98-34-1 in home openers Director of Athletics ...............................................................................Jermaine Truax • knock off a ranked team for the first time since 2013 • top the Wildcats for the first time since 1944, snapping a seven-game losing streak ATHLETIC COMMUNICATIONS • defeat a current Colonial Athletic Association member for the first time since 2003 Football Contact ......................................................................................... Jen Dobias • help first-year head coach Dave Cecchini win his first game on the Bison sideline E-Mail ........................................................................................jmd056@bucknell.edu • snap an eight-game losing slide that dates back to 2018 Office ......................................................................................................570-577-3488 Cell .........................................................................................................856-261-5620