The Yale Bulldogs square off against the 0-5 Bucknell Bison on Saturday at the Bowl. Kickoff is slated for noon and the game will air on ESPN+.
Bucknell dropped 3 close contests to Towson (in OT), VMI and Lafeyette, but were blown out in games versus Central Michigan and Holy Cross. Last week, Holy Cross generated 521 yards of total offense and limited Bucknell to just 169 yards of total offense in a 57-0 route.
Junior QB Nick Semptimhelter (6’1”, 190 lbs.) started in the Holy Cross game for the Bison and has completed 48.5% of his passes this season for 155 yards, 2 touchdowns and 2 interceptions. Sophomore QB Ethan Grady (6’2”, 215 lbs.) played the majority of Bucknell’s first 4 games completing 46.1% of his passes for 507 yards, 2 touchdowns and 5 interceptions. Grady’s 3 interceptions versus Lafayette forced Bucknell to turn to Semptimhelter, although given the lack of offensive production in the Holy Cross game, it’s uncertain who will start at QB for the Bison this week. Sophomore RB Rushawn Baker (5’11”, 225 lbs.) is a very talented back who has averaged 4.5 yards per carry on the season. Baker splits carries with junior RB Coleman Bennett (5’11”, 185 lbs.), an explosive runner who is also a danger out of the backfield on passing plays, as well as junior RB Danny Meusuer (6’0”, 200 lbs.) who had a respectable 73 yards rushing versus the Crusaders. The offensive line averages 283 lbs. across the board and all 5 starters had prior starting experience in their careers. Bucknell’s line has really struggled at run blocking with running backs averaging just 2.8 yards per carry on the season. The lack of success rushing the ball has allowed defenses to tee off on passing downs as the Crusaders racked up 4 sacks on Semptimhelter last week. Junior WR Damian Harris (6’0”, 185 lbs.) leads the Bison in receiving yards with 129 yards on 10 receptions. Freshmen WRs Josh Gary (5’11”, 190 lbs.) and Okeyo Ayungo (6’1”, 185 lbs.) have had strong starts to their college careers each hauling in 9 receptions. Freshman TE Charlie Kreinbucher (6’5”, 230 lbs.) is the leading tight end for the Bison with 3 catches for 34 yards.
Bucknell’s defense has allowed opponents to generate 403.6 yards per game for a total of 22 touchdowns. Opponents have scored in the red zone on 17 of 21 drives with touchdowns on 15 of those drives. Senior S Brent Jackson (6’2”, 205 lbs.) leads the Bison in tackles with 50 and has started since his freshman season. Junior LB Blake Leake (6’1”, 215 lbs.) and senior LB Ben Allen (6’1”, 220 lbs.) are both returning starters from 2021 who have combined for 73 tackles, 5 tackles for loss and half a sack. Junior DE Tyler Alston (6’2”, 230 lbs.) has been very disruptive racking up 27 tackles, 4 tackles for loss and 3 sacks. The focus this week for the Bulldogs will need to be executing and finishing drives for scores while limiting injuries. The offensive stagnation in the fourth quarter for Yale nearly allowed Howard and Dartmouth to claw back from deficits. As Reno likes to put it, this will very much be a “Yale vs. Yale” contest in which execution will be critical to avoid a trap game.
Bucknell’s struggles have extended to their special teams units as well. The Bison have yet to make a field goal on 4 attempts and are just 1 of 3 on PATs. Junior P Ruben Anderson (6’2”, 215 lbs.) is a solid punter though averaging 41.5 yards per punt and has placed 9 punts inside the red zone. RB Coleman Bennett is a talented kick returner with a long of 39 yards on the season.
Go Bulldogs! Beat the Bison!
21 replies on “Bucknell Preview”
When all else fails, we can whip the Bison eyes.!! Make them sleep and cry. Go Bulldogs.!!
Lots of good ideas in the previous post for how to increase attendance. Some that I think are particularly worth pursuing:
* Start the games at 2:00 (or 1:00 at the earliest). In addition to being more student-friendly, tailgating is a big part of the Ivy experience, so this would give more time for that activity. Noon starts are not conducive to that.
* Kids under 12 free – definitely a no-brainer. Start ’em young.
* Re-entry should be allowed. It was, for decades. I can, however, understand why outside food is not allowed – the concession vendors would probably raise a stink about that cutting into sales.
* Free parking – in lots A and D (other lots can remain fee-based, requiring donations to the Y Association or athletic department).
* Coupon deals for students at local establishments – great idea. Always good to offer deals that give a discount if buying something – they generate extra business to help defray the discount offered.
* Prize for residential college with best attendance throughout the season – another good one. Even better: make the process by which attendance is determined take place late in the game, to subtly encourage students to stick around vs. checking in and taking off.
Other ideas:
* On-field contests for students. Similar to what minor-league teams do. In between quarters, have a lucky number student or two try to kick field goals or throw footballs through a target, to win prizes.
* Does WYBC still exist, perhaps as a streaming entity? Broadcast the games, and hype them during the week.
* Reinstitute some Beckett-era programs. Youth Day, Community Day, entertainment in a hospitality village, etc.
* Since the band is so small, and many visiting teams don’t even send theirs any more, invite local high school bands to perform at halftime and before the game. It gives local kids and their families a reason to attend.
* One game each year, have a food truck festival in the hospitality area. Require a game ticket as admission to the area. Wrap it up before kickoff, so that the concessionaires can still get business during the game.
* Step up the social media presence as a way to advertise. Let’s face it – almost no one under the age of 50 listens to radio or reads newspapers – social media is the way to advertise to younger generations.
* Throw a shot across the bow: offer a deal to UConn ticket holders for weeks when the Huskies are not playing Saturday afternoon. Hand out coupons outside the Rentschler gates before/after UConn games.
Starting games at 2:00 would likely require Yale to install lights at the Bowl
They used to move the start time up 30 or 60 minutes once Standard Time returned – they could do the same now. 2pm start in Sept/Oct, then 1pm or 1:30pm start in Nov.
Start the season earlier and an 11th game as well.
Princeton looking very average against Brown IMO
I think we need to take this game a little more seriously
The offense is not exactly in mid season form
Did the teams switch uniforms?
Yale 1-7 on 3rd down. And it’s not like it was usually 3rd and long. 3rd and 2 or 3 for the most part.
Can’t go a half without an unsportsmanlike like penalty.
Sloppy , Sloppy, sloppy Oso , #9 is out, Reid #2 is out. The offense is offensive. Better get it straightened out but quick.
26 point favorites my ass. Paid $8 dollars for and ice cream. For my grand daughter. Ridiculous. If Yale has 3,000 people here today it’s about it.
Just to damn expensive
We have been very lucky that Bucknell doesn’t have more points. They have moved through our defense with ease.
Yale players are dropping out like flies.!! Sheez
This was their one remaining chance to get a comfortable W, rest the starters and get some younger players experience. Instead, the result is in doubt and starters are getting hurt left and right.
Is two decent performances in a row too much to ask from this team?
I was even convincing myself last night watching Princeton that Yale could compete for a championship. That seems like a fantasy now.
This is a disgrace
Grooms had thrown as many interceptions this year as Princeton, Harvard and Dartmouth…combined.
What’s remarkable, is the inability of Reno, realizing that Grooms having and off day. Take HIM OUT .!! Put Tutus in.
He’s a bottom rung coach, this confirms it
Penn big over Columbia in the 3rd 33-0. Yale better bring their A game next week and hope that their Nickerson and Oso are available.
I really wish we could edit