Special teams and defensive touchdowns highlight Bucknell's 34-18 win over Marist
LEWISBURG, Pa. -- — TJ Cadden returned a punt for a touchdown, Alex Smith Jr. followed it up with a pick-6 and Bucknell beat Marist 34-18 on Saturday.
Bucknell's Ralph Rucker IV threw three touchdown passes and was 21 of 27 for 272 yards.
Rucker threw a short touchdown pass that gave the Bison a 13-7 lead early in the second quarter. The score was 27-7 before the offense touched the ball again.
Cadden broke a tackle as he fielded a punt by Marist's Ethan Yuska, spun and raced 73 yards along the left sideline for a touchdown that made it 20-7.
On the third play of Marist's next possession, Smith intercepted a pass after it bounced off a Marist receiver. The 38-yard return made it 27-7.
Bucknell (2-2) led 27-17 at halftime, and Rucker's 12-yard touchdown pass to Cadden made it 34-10 with about six minutes left to play.
Sonny Mannino's 5-yard pass to Reed Dexter plus a two-point conversion pass ended the scoring.
Mannino and Enzo Arjona combined for 30-of-45 passing for 333 yards for Marist (0-3). Each had a touchdown and an interception.
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Game Information
2024 Pioneer Football League Standings
| Team | CONF | OVR |
|---|---|---|
| Drake | 5-0 | 6-1 |
| Morehead State | 4-1 | 6-3 |
| St. Thomas-Minnesota | 4-1 | 5-4 |
| Dayton | 3-2 | 5-3 |
| Butler | 3-2 | 7-2 |
| San Diego | 3-2 | 5-3 |
| Davidson | 3-3 | 5-4 |
| Presbyterian | 2-4 | 4-6 |
| Valparaiso | 1-3 | 3-5 |
| Stetson | 0-4 | 2-6 |
| Marist | 0-6 | 0-9 |
2024 Patriot League Standings
| Team | CONF | OVR |
|---|---|---|
| Holy Cross | 3-0 | 4-5 |
| Bucknell | 2-1 | 4-5 |
| Lehigh | 2-1 | 5-3 |
| Georgetown | 2-2 | 5-4 |
| Colgate | 1-2 | 2-7 |
| Lafayette | 1-3 | 4-5 |
| Fordham | 1-3 | 1-8 |
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