The Marist Red Foxes went on the road to face their third Patriot League opponent, the Bucknell Bisons, falling 34-10 in their final non-conference game.
After a 0-2 start to the season for Marist, head coach Mike Willis looked to end the non-conference season on a positive note before PFL play. Their opponent, Bucknell, came into the game with a 1-2 record, tied for second in the Patriot League.
Led by senior quarterback Ralph Rucker IV and senior running back Paul Neel, Bucknell’s experience shined early on. Rucker IV entered the game leading the Patriot League in touchdown passes (5) and added to that early.
A statement-first drive for the Bison was capped off with a 36-yard touchdown toss to junior wideout Eric Weatherly. Weatherly got behind the defense and Rucker IV–who had all day to throw–put the ball where only his target could get it.
Marist didn’t disappoint on their first drive either. While looking calm and confident running their version of the hurry-up offense, a run-heavy drive led to the Bucknell defense bringing their safeties down. This allowed redshirt sophomore quarterback Enzo Arjona to find one of his favorite targets, redshirt senior WIll Downes in the back of the endzone for six. The 28-yard pass was Arjona’s second on the year.
A drive painted with yellow flags put Bucknell up 13-7 following a missed extra-point attempt. The touchdown pass from Rucker IV, caught by sophomore tight end Charlie Kreinbucher, came after two Marist defensive penalties in the red zone.
In the second quarter, sophomore wide receiver TJ Cadden, who already had one punt return touchdown on the year, broke the initial tackle then proceeded to sprint untouched to the endzone. The 73-yard punt return put the Bison up 20-7.
The first of two not-so-ordinary interceptions for the Red Foxes went for six, a low throw from Arjona popping off his target’s hands, leading to an easy interception. The return for Bison defensive back Alex Smith Jr. put Bucknell up 27-7 with 9:15 left in the second quarter.
Heading into the second half down by 20, the Red Foxes lost their signal caller Enzo Arjona to injury. A splint was put on Arjona’s right hand and he was wrapped up from the forearm down, not returning to the contest.
Redshirt sophomore Sonny Mannino arrived in relief of the injured Arjona, but couldn’t get the gears churning on offense.
Yet another odd interception, thrown this time by Mannino, brought the Bucknell offense back onto the field. The Bisons then missed a field goal, giving the Red Foxes yet another chance to put themselves back in the game.
Late in the third quarter, a blunder by Mannino led to heroics by graduate student Mohamed Diawara. Mannino dropped back, fumbled the ball, picked it up, launching a rocket to Diawara, who re-adjusted his body and made the catch. The four-yard pitch and toss set Marist up beautifully, but the Red Foxes were yet again unable to put the ball in the endzone, concluding the drive with a field goal.
Bucknell’s walk-on freshman running back, Michael Cadden, got his chance in the fourth quarter and made the most of it. He torched the Marist defense, especially down the seam, following blocks which ultimately set up the Bison inside the five-yard line for a corresponding score by TJ Cadden.
Redshirt junior Reed Dexter polished off a drive by the Red Foxes, as Marist completed the two-point conversion on a shovel pass to Lincoln Cardillo. Mannino looked very confident on the last drive, a positive the coaching staff can take from another tough non-conference gme.
Bucknell moves to 2-2 and looks to get over .500 next week as they travel to Lehigh for a matchup with the Mountain Hawks. Marist, who is still looking for their first victory, matches up against Dayton at home next week. Kickoff is set for 12:00 pm at Tenney Stadium. It will kick off Pioneer League play for the Red Foxes in 2024.
Edited by Dan Aulbach
Photo Credit: Kira Crutcher
For more coverage of Marist athletics, follow @cfmarist on Instagram, X and TikTok, and sign up to receive daily alerts here.