BRONX, N.Y. (Interstat) — Christopher Dietrich passed for three touchdowns and the Bucknell Bison capitalized on a series of Fordham miscues to secure a 37-19 road victory over the Rams on Saturday at Jack Coffey Field.

The Bison improved to 5-5 on the season, while Fordham’s struggles continued, dropping to 1-9.

The game’s momentum swung decisively in the first half, beginning with a blocked punt that linebacker Jack Goheen returned 7 yards for a touchdown early in the second quarter. That score extended Bucknell’s lead to 17-0 after the Bison had built a 10-0 first-quarter advantage on a 48-yard field goal from Matt Schearer and a 10-yard touchdown pass from Dietrich to Michael Cadden.

Fordham, which had been projected as a 2.5-point favorite by oddsmakers, finally found the end zone late in the second quarter. After a long drive stalled at the Bucknell 1-yard line, Jamell James powered in for a touchdown on fourth down. The Rams failed on the two-point conversion attempt, leaving the score at 17-6.

Bucknell responded immediately. Dietrich engineered a quick drive in the final minute of the half, culminating in a 42-yard touchdown strike to Sam Milligan with 18 seconds remaining. The score gave the Bison a commanding 24-6 lead heading into halftime.

Dietrich, a junior quarterback from Sparta, N.J., was efficient throughout, completing 17 of 22 passes for 166 yards. He also rushed for 13 yards on six carries. His favorite target was Milligan, who caught four passes for 77 yards and two touchdowns, and added 20 yards on the ground.

Fordham’s offense, led by quarterback Gunnar Smith of Lake Mary, Fla., moved the ball at times but was plagued by mistakes. Smith completed 14 of 30 passes for 170 yards and two touchdowns, and was the team’s leading rusher with 56 yards on 16 carries. However, he was sacked five times and threw a critical fourth-quarter interception to Bucknell safety Darius Day.

The Rams closed the gap in the fourth quarter on a 4-yard touchdown pass from Smith to Jaden Allen, but it was too little, too late. The Bison had already put the game out of reach with another Dietrich-to-Milligan connection, this one from 22 yards out with 4:53 remaining.

The final score of 56 total points went over the betting over/under line of 54.5. The result was an upset according to pregame projections, as Interstat’s game simulator had predicted a Fordham victory, 39-24, and gave the Rams a 59.7 percent probability to win.

Bucknell’s defense was opportunistic, forcing two turnovers and blocking a punt for a score. Schearer, the Bison punter from Canonsburg, Pa., also had a strong day, averaging 41.3 yards on four punts and connecting on three field goals.

For Fordham, Jabril Carter, a Bronx native, was a bright spot, catching three passes for 76 yards. James finished with 30 rushing yards and a touchdown on 12 carries.

Bucknell will look to build on the win when it hosts Holy Cross next Saturday. Fordham travels to face Georgetown, still in search of its second victory of the season.