Bucknell dropped to 0-2 in Patriot League play after suffering a 55-27 loss to ranked Holy Cross. Bucknell’s 1-4 overall while Holy Cross moved to 4-2 overall and 2-0 in the Patriot League.

Holy Cross scored at least 14 points in three of the four quarters. The Crusaders’ run game gave the Bison difficulty in stopping. Jordan Fuller led Holy Cross with 18 carries for 147 yards and a team-high four touchdowns while Matthew Sluka added a 122-yard performance on 15 carries. Holy Cross ran for more than twice as many yards as Bucknell (316 to 152).

Coleman Bennett led the Bison with 106 rushing yards and a touchdown on 21 carries, averaging 5.0 yards per carry. Bennett also had a team-high seven receptions for Bucknell as Ralph Rucker went 19 for 35 for 248 passing yards and three touchdowns.

Sluka, in addition to rushing for 122 yards for Holy Cross, threw for 258 and had two touchdown strikes as Jalen Coker caught one and Phoenix Dickson caught another.

Holy Cross held a 10-0 lead after the first quarter prior to Bennett having a 47-yard touchdown run to make it a 10-7 deficit. The Bison twice made it a three-point deficit after Rucker threw a 33-yard touchdown strike early in the second quarter to trail 17-14.

But that would be the closest Bucknell would come. By halftime, Holy Cross led 34-14 and held a 20-point lead midway through the third quarter.

Derrick Anderson Jr. had a monster game for Bucknell, catching six passes for 115 yards and two touchdowns.

Holy Cross 17 17 7 14 — 55

Bucknell 7 7 13 0 — 27

First quarter

HC-Fuller 4 rush (Palenzuela kick), 14:!7

HC-Palenzuela 28 field goal, 9:36

B-C. Bennett 47 rush (Schearer kick), 5:35.

HC-Coker 55 pass from Sluka (Palenzuela kick), 3:07.

Secon quarter

B-Anderson Jr. 33 pass rom Rucker (Schearer kick), 11:44.

HC-Purdy 1 rush (Palenzuela kick), 7:08.

HC-Fuller 1 run (Palenzuela kick), 2:03.

HC-Palenzuela 22 field goal, 0:10.

Third quarter

B-Anderson Jr. 7 pass rom Rucker (Schearer kkick), 10:07.

HC-Dickson 24 pass from Sluka (Palenzuela kick), 5:03.

B-Weatherly 40 pass rom Rucker (kick missed), 4:13.

HC-Fuller 12 rush (Palenzuela kick), 6:48

HC-Fuller 70 rush (Palenzuela kick), 4:07.

TEAM STATISTICS

HC B

First downs 22 20

Rushes-yds 41-316 37-152

C-A-I 19-29-0 19-35-1

Passing yards 258 248

Total yards 574 400

Fumbles-lost 0-0 1-1

Penalties-yards 12-130 7-50

INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS

RUSHING–Holy Cross, Jordan Fuller 18-147 4 TD; Matthew Sluka 15-122; Tyler Purdy 5-31 TD; Jordan Forrest 3-16. Bucknell, Coleman Bennett 21-106 TD: Ralph Rucker 9-38; Paul Neel 6-10.

PASSING–Holy Cross, Matthew Sluka 19-28-0 258 2 TD; Joe Pesansky 0-1-0 0. Bucknell, Ralph Rucker 19-51-1 248 3 TD.

RECEIVING–Justin Shorter 7-53; Jordna Fuller 4-15; Jalen Coker 3-96 TD; Byron Shipman 2-14; Phoenix Dickson 1-24; Sean Morris 1-23; Tyler Purdy 1-6. Bucknell, Coleman Bennett 7-50; Derrick Anderson Jr. 6-115 2 TD; Okeyo Ayungo 2-14; Eric Weatherly 1-40; Damian Harris 1-17; Paul Neel 1-9; Josh Gary 1-3.