No. 16 Lehigh has 15 named to All-League teams
11/24/2004 12:00:00 AM | Football
Bethlehem, PA – After capturing a share of the Patriot League football title and earning an at-large berth to the NCAA Division I-AA playoffs, eight Mountain Hawks were named to the All-Patriot League First Team. In all, a league-best fifteen Mountain Hawks earned all-league recognition – the third straight season in which Lehigh has placed at least ten members on the postseason teams. The all-league honors are voted on by the Patriot League’s seven head coaches. The Mountain Hawks are 9-2 overall to this point, including a 5-1 mark in Patriot League play, en route to a share of their seventh Patriot League title – more than any other team. Lehigh is currently ranked 16th in The Sports Network poll, and the Mountain Hawks are No. 17 in the ESPN/USA Today coaches’ poll. In all, half of the entire all-league first team is comprised of Lehigh players. Eight Mountain Hawks were named to the first team. Offensively, senior tight end Adam Bergen and offensive linemen Jason Morrell and Justin Terry were recognized as first team all-league selections. On the defensive side of the ball, five Lehigh players have earned spots on the first team. Defensive linemen Tom Alfsen and Tristan Lawrence, linebacker Anthony Graziani, safety Karrie Ford, and punter Kyle Keating – all seniors – have led the way for the Mountain Hawks’ top-ranked defense in 2004. The Lehigh defense ranks first in the league and eighth nationally in fewest points per game allowed. The Mountain Hawks also lead the Patriot League in defending the run. Kyle Keating led the league in punting, averaging over 38 yards per punt. Alfsen and Lawrence rank fourth and fifth, respectively, in sacks. Graziani, Lehigh’s leading tackler, is fifth in the league with 101 stops so far in 2004. Ford, a team captain, is fifth on the team in tackles, and he has also recovered a fumble and broken up three passes on the season. Seven Lehigh players earned second team recognition, including four juniors on the offensive end. Quarterback Mark Borda, running back Eric Rath, offensive lineman Adam Selmasska, and wide receiver Gerran Walker all earned second team accolades. In his first season as a starter, Borda has thrown for nearly 2,500 yards with 24 touchdowns and only 6 interceptions. His efficiency rating of 155.3 ranks in the top ten nationally. One of his favorite targets has been Gerran Walker, who has caught 25 passes including four touchdowns. Lineman Adam Selmasska has helped open up holes for Lehigh’s ground game, including the likes of Eric Rath. Rath has rushed for 950 yards this season in sharing time at tailback. He has scored 12 touchdowns on the ground to this point in 2004. Defensively, the Lehigh secondary has continued to receive praise from around the league, as three Lehigh defensive backs were named to the all-league second team. Senior Neal Boozer-Gallman, along with juniors Kaloma Cardwell and Andrew Nelson were honored. Boozer-Gallman has started every game this season, recording 3.5 tackles for a loss and two interceptions. Despite being lost for the season due to injury in week seven, Cardwell, a team captain, still managed to register a team high three interceptions. Nelson, who has also started every game, has recorded three picks and recovered an interception. Lehigh, in the playoffs for the first time since 2001, will host James Madison in the opening round of the Division I-AA playoffs on Saturday at Goodman Stadium. Kick off is set for
