Bucknell (3-5) is hoping to shake off a three-game losing skid today as the Bison host Lafayette for a 1 p.m. kickoff.

After back-to-back wins over Marist (34-18) and Lehigh (38-35, OT) in late September, the Bison have suffered losses to Penn (31-21), Cornell (34-21) and Georgetown (21-20).

Bucknell cut last week’s game to a 21-20 deficit when Matt Schearer kicked a 32-yard field goal with 9:14 to play, but the Bison never got a chance to take the kelad after that in the final quarter.

Ralph Rucker IV was 17 for 29 passing and threw for 240 yards, but was sacked four times. On the ground, it was Tariq Thomas who had a big game as he ran for 136 yards on 24 carries, averaging 5.7 per carry and found the endzone twice.

Defensively, the Bison did well limiting Georgetown’s passing game as Danny Lauter threw for just 130 yards and had an interception. But the Hoyas’ rushing game was successful. Savion Hart and Bryce Cox combined for 216 rushing yards as both averaged more than 6.0 yards per carry.

Lafayette enters today’s game 4-4 after dropping a 34-28 game last week against Holy Cross. Despite the loss, Dean DeNobile threw for 261 and two touchdowns while Jamar Curtis ran for 117 and a score on 18 carries, averaging 6.5 per rush.

Curtis leads Lafayette’s ground game this year with 726 yards through eight games and nine touchdowns while Troy Bruce has 267 and three scores. DeNobile has thrown for 1,705 yards and 11 touchdowns this year.

The Bison will need to limit Lafayette’s ground game and try not to allow DeNobile’s arm to beat them.

Bucknell’s remaining schedule is all Patriot League competition. Following Lafayette this Saturday, Bucknell plays Fordham (Nov. 9), Holy Cross (Nov. 16) and Colgate (Nov. 23). A sweep of the remaining four games would move the Bison above .500 to close out the regular season.