Bucknell Football headed to Georgetown University this past weekend to take on the Hoyas with hopes of snapping a two-game losing skid. After getting out to an early lead, the Bison couldn’t hold on in the second half, falling to Georgetown 21-20. 

The Bison got on the board early after receiving the opening kickoff and finding the end zone on their opening offensive drive of the game. After quarterback Ralph Rucker IV ’26 found Eric Weatherly ’25 for two separate nine-yard catches and TJ Cadden ’27 to connect for thirteen yards into Georgetown territory, running back Tariq Thomas ’28 took it to the house from fifteen yard out to put Bucknell up 7-0.

The Orange and Blue defense was lights out in the first half of this contest, forcing punts on the Hoyas’ first two offensive drives then a fumble recovered by Chris Sims ’25. After finding little offense for the rest of the first quarter after the opening touchdown, Bucknell used the turnover to its advantage and the drive ended with Thomas taking it in from 27 yards out for his second time finding the end zone of the afternoon.

The Bison defense held strong early in the second quarter, holding Georgetown to a turnover on downs on their first possession of the quarter. Midway through, however, the Hoyas were able to find some rhythm on the offensive side of the ball, leading to two touchdown scores in the quarter to bring the game to a 14-14 tie.

Bucknell found a way to get down the field to end the half after two straight punts, highlighted by a 43-yard Matt Schearer ’26 field goal to put the Bison up 17-14 at half.

After a seventeen-point first half, the Orange and Blue couldn’t find the same momentum after the third quarter began. 

After trading punts on the first offensive possession for both teams, Georgetown found the end zone midway through the third quarter to take a 21-17 lead and that would end up being all the Hoyas needed to secure a victory.

The Bison were forced to punt on every possession through the third quarter, two of those being three-and-outs. But, they found some hope in the fourth to potentially take the lead back.

Schearer knocked through another field goal to make the game 21-20 in favor of Georgetown with just over nine minutes to go. After Georgetown got the ball back, Roman Pearson ’26 got between the receiver and quarterback and picked the ball off with about six minutes to go.

Rucker found Josh Gary ’26 for a 45-yard completion and the Bison were in field goal range after being stopped with a chance to regain the lead. Unfortunately, Schearer missed the kick, sealing the matchup.

Bucknell hosts Lafayette next on Nov. 2 at 1 p.m.