WORCESTER (Interstat) — Holy Cross scored 34 unanswered points after Bucknell opened with a field goal and defeated the visiting Bison 34-3 on Saturday in an NCAA Football Championship Division game at Fitton Field. A crowd of 12,422 attended. Holy Cross improved to 3-5. Bucknell fell to 1-7.

Bucknell took its only lead on Juan Garanton’s 28-yard field goal at 10:14 of the first quarter. Holy Cross answered at 9:42 when J. Williams broke free for a 47-yard touchdown run, and Owen Saraceno made the extra point. Saraceno missed a 42-yard field goal attempt at 2:08. With 14 seconds left in the first quarter, Chisom Onwuzurigbo intercepted Christopher Dietrich at the Bucknell 36 and returned it 36 yards for a touchdown; Saraceno’s extra-point attempt failed. Holy Cross scored 13 points in the first quarter and seven in each of the final three quarters.

David Lynch completed 11 of 20 passes for 110 yards and two touchdowns and rushed four times for 15 yards to lead Holy Cross. Ty Curran caught six passes for 67 yards and two touchdowns, including a 35-yard score in the second quarter and an 8-yard score in the third. Datrell Jones carried nine times for 80 yards and caught one pass for 13 yards. Jake Croce had five carries for 35 yards, one reception for 7 yards and a touchdown. SirCharles Gordon caught one pass for 15 yards. Lincoln Fisher had one reception for 4 yards and two tackles. Garrett Baldwin returned a punt 4 yards and made three tackles. Ethan Moss punted twice for 78 yards, and Alessandro Garrett punted once for 44 yards. Owen Saraceno handled extra points and the missed 42-yard field goal attempt.

For Bucknell, Dietrich completed 12 of 18 passes for 162 yards and was intercepted three times. Michael Cadden carried 26 times for 102 yards and caught three passes for 36 yards. Sam Milligan had one carry for 2 yards, three receptions for 46 yards and one tackle. Owen Garwood caught one pass for 33 yards. Jackson Nowinski had one reception for 21 yards. Jack Bohm-Squicciarini caught one pass for 8 yards. JJ Gomez had one reception for 6 yards and four kick returns for 86 yards. Chad Martin caught one pass for 5 yards and made one tackle. Will Freeman carried four times for 10 yards and caught one pass for 7 yards.

Bucknell’s Brandon Biagiarelli led all defenders with 12 tackles and half a sack. Kato Meissner had five tackles. Nate Olson made six tackles and half a sack. Jack Inserra and Shane Hulmes each had six tackles. Lucas Rost recorded five tackles and an interception. James Schlendorf added five tackles. Takai Whitmore and Zachary Corna each had four tackles. Michael Cadden and Sam Milligan each made one tackle. Chad Martin had one tackle. Bucknell recorded one sack and one interception.

Holy Cross’s Adam Due recorded 11 tackles. Jalen Rambert and Julian Jones each made seven tackles. Cooper Ackerman had five tackles. Tyler Georgs had four tackles and an interception. Juju Tackie made four tackles. Rushaune Vilane had three tackles and half a sack. Braden Haas, Gabe Flores and Aidan Horodnik each made three tackles. Flores also had half a sack and a quarterback hurry. Cameron Mills, Carlo Crocetti, Amari Gardner, Daniel Leupold, Vin Ferrara and Mateo Brink each made two tackles. Crocetti added a sack and a quarterback hurry. Chisom Onwuzurigbo had one tackle, one interception and one touchdown. Ron Burton made one tackle. Travon Chardonet had one tackle and an interception. Billy Matan and Brady Fodor each made one tackle.

Holy Cross forced three interceptions and held Bucknell scoreless after the opening field goal. The Crusaders recorded two sacks and two quarterback hurries. Onwuzurigbo’s interception return for a touchdown highlighted the defensive effort. Georgs and Chardonet also intercepted passes. Bucknell’s defense was led by Biagiarelli, who had 12 tackles and half a sack, while Olson added six tackles and half a sack. The Bison also received an interception from Rost. Holy Cross will host Richmond in its next game. Bucknell will visit Lehigh in its next game.

Interstat’s game simulator had projected a final score of Holy Cross 41, Bucknell 26. Interstat’s ELO system had projected Holy Cross with a 94.1 percent probability to win.