Bucknell Football hosted the Merrimack Warriors in its season home opener on Saturday, Sept. 14. After keeping themselves in the game through the first half, the score slipped away from Bucknell in the second, and the Bison lost 31-21.
After giving up a field goal to Merrimack on the first possession of the game, the Bison drove down the field and found the endzone behind a ten-play 73-yard drive.
Tariq Thomas ’28 began the possession with a run to pick up twelve, then quarterback Ralph Rucker ’25 followed that up with a 13-yard run of his own, then a five-yard completion to Eric Weatherly ’26. Merrimack committed two separate penalties on this drive, one for unsportsmanlike conduct and another for a substitution infraction, giving the Orange and Blue 20 extra yards.
The possession was finished with a 10-yard connection from Rucker to Josh Gary ’26 for the score to put the Bison on top 7-3.
After Merrimack found the endzone again, Bucknell clapped back for another touchdown. Rucker connected with Weatherly for a 38-yard completion then Rucker ran it to the goal line himself from 11 yards out to put the Orange and Blue on top 14-10.
The Warriors again reached the endzone with just under two minutes to go in the half, putting the Bison in a 17-14 deficit heading into the break.
Bucknell couldn’t find any rhythm offensively for most of the second half, letting up 14 unanswered points to the Warriors. Merrimack scored on its first possession of the half to go up 24-14. Then, after Rucker was sacked and fumbled the football 11 yards behind the line of scrimmage right near the goal line, Merrimack recovered it in the endzone to bring the score to 31-14.
The Bison couldn’t find any means of scoring until late in the fourth quarter when the damage was already done. Quarterback Michael Hardyway ’25 came in the game late and found Sam Milligan ’27 to bring the deficit to 31-21, which would end up being the final score.
“As an offense, we just need to focus more on little things and be consistent during tough times,” Weatherly said. “Just have to put our heads down and work no matter the circumstances.”
Thomas led the Bison on the ground with seven carries for 51 yards. Weatherly led the team in receiving with six catches for 77 yards.
Bucknell finished with 260 yards of total offense compared to 405 from Merrimack. The Bison also committed three turnovers, and Rucker was sacked seven times.
Now 1-2, Bucknell hosts Marist next on Saturday, Sept. 21 at 6 p.m. for the Family Weekend game.
