Championship Game Notebook (.PDF)
BETHLEHEM, Pa. – South Division champ Bucknell (2-1 PL, 2-0 South) hosts North Division winner Holy Cross (2-0 PL, 1-0 North) in the first Patriot League Football Championship Game on Saturday at Christy Mathewson-Memorial Stadium in Lewisburg, Pa. The game will be nationally televised on
CBS Sports Network with live coverage beginning at 2 p.m. ET. Jason Knapp will handle play-by-play duties, while Ross Tucker will provide analysis. A Bucknell audio broadcast featuring Doug Birdsong and Kevin Herr will be available on
BucknellBison.com and locally on 100.9 The Valley (WVLY). The winner of the Patriot League Championship Game will earn the League’s automatic bid to the NCAA DI FCS Championship.
Spectator policies for the 2020-21 Patriot League Spring Championships will be determined by each game’s host institution. For Bucknell’s up-to-date spectator policy
CLICK HERE.
HOLY CROSS CRUSADERS (2-0 PL, 1-0 NORTH) AT BUCKNELL BISON (2-1 PL, 2-0 South)
Christy Mathewson-Memorial Stadium/Lewisburg, Pa.................Saturday, April 10, 1 p.m., ET (ESPN+)
BROADCAST (CBSSN): PxP - Jason Knapp; Analyst - Ross Tucker
RADIO (100.9 The Valley/WVLY - Bucknell): PxP Doug Birdsong; Analyst - Kevin Herr
WATCH |
LISTEN |
LIVE STATS
NOTES:
HOLY CROSS |
BUCKNELL
SERIES HISTORY: Holy Cross and Bucknell meet for the 37th time in series history with the Crusaders holding a 23-13 advantage. The series dates back to Oct. 31, 1925, when the Crusaders defeated the Bison 23-7. Holy Cross has won 11 of the last 15 games. Bucknell has won three of its last six, specializing in close games. The three Bison victories have come by a combined 11 points, including a 31-24 overtime win in 2014.
WHAT HOME FIELD ADVANTAGE? Bucknell and Holy Cross have traded victories through their last seven meetings, with the road team winning each contest. The Crusaders defeated Bucknell at Christy Mathewson-Memorial Stadium, 21-14, in 2019. The Bison earned a 19-16 victory at Fitton Field in 2018.
LAST SEVEN GAMES
Oct. 12, 2013 - Holy Cross 51, at Bucknell 27
Nov. 15, 2014 - Bucknell 31, at Holy Cross 24 (OT)
Nov. 14, 2015 - Holy Cross 23, at Bucknell 7
Oct. 8, 2016 - Bucknell 21, at Holy Cross 20
Sept. 9, 2017 - Holy Cross 20, at Bucknell 0
Sept. 29, 2018 - Bucknell 19, at Holy Cross 16
Oct. 5, 2019 - Holy Cross 21, at Bucknell 14
LAST MEETING: (October 5, 2019) - Holy Cross junior quarterback Connor Degenhardt threw one touchdown pass then rushed for a pair of scores to lead the Crusaders to a 21-14 comeback victory to spoil homecoming at Bucknell.
*Degenhardt completed 19-of-34 passes for 276 yards with one touchdown and two interceptions and senior running back Domenic Cozier carried 16 times for 101 yards to lead the offense.
*Crusaders’ junior defensive lineman Benton Whitley had five tackles and two sacks, while senior defensive back Corey Stefanik had seven tackles and recovered two fumbles.
*Bucknell sophomore wide receiver Brandon Sanders posted career-highs with 14 catches and 122 yards to lead the Bison offense.
*Junior quarterback Logan Bitikofer completed 20-of-29 passes for 185 yards and senior running back Chad Freshnock carried 14 times for 78 yards.
*Bucknell freshman defensive back Gavin Pringle had nine tackles and three pass breakups while junior linebacker Rick Mottram added nine tackles and 1.0 TFL. Junior safety Conner Romango had five tackles and an interception.
*Junior linebacker Gerrit Van Itallie intercepted a pass and returned it 52 yards for a score to extend the Bison lead to 14-0.
ABOUT THE PATRIOT LEAGUE
The Patriot League is in its fourth decade of academic and athletic achievement, continually demonstrating that student-athletes can excel at both academics and athletics without sacrificing high standards. The Patriot League’s athletic success is achieved while its member institutions remain committed to its founding principle of admitting and graduating student-athletes that are academically representative of their class. Participation in athletics at Patriot League institutions is viewed as an important component of a well-rounded education.