Lehigh University Athletics
Lehigh hosts Blue Devils in '09 season opener
9/1/2009 12:00:00 AM | Football
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BETHLEHEM, Pa. - The Lehigh football team opens its 2009 season on Saturday afternoon as the Mountain Hawks welcome the Central Connecticut State Blue Devils to Goodman Stadium. Lehigh won three of its last four games to close out the 2008 season and finished 4-2 in the Patriot League. This season the Mountain Hawks were picked to finish in a tie for third in the league’s preseason poll and are led by preseason All-American linebacker Matt Cohen as well as fellow senior captain and First-Team All-League honoree BJ Benning. CCSU is coming off a 7-4 2008 season and features one of the top running backs in the Northeast Conference in senior James Mallory who rushed for over 1,500 yards a season ago.
The Blue Devils were selected to finish third in the Northeast Conference after posting a 4-3 league mark in 2008. CCSU is led by preseason All-American running back James Mallory, who rushed for more than 100 yards in nine of 11 games a season ago en route to 1,520 total yards for the season. Anthony Pineiro, a four-year starter, anchors the offensive line which has paved the way for the NEC’s top rushing team in each of the past two seasons. Defensive end Ray Saunders and Alondro Rush are two of the top defensive players for CCSU. Both were First-Team All-NEC selections a season ago as Saunders led the conference with seven sacks, and Rush totaled 70 tackles, two interceptions and a sack from his safety spot.
One area that Lehigh made huge strides in a season ago was on third-down as the Mountain Hawks converted 43-percent (66-152) of their chances. That was Lehigh’s highest percentage since the 2005 season (44%).
Saturday’s game kicks off just after 12:30 from Goodman Stadium. Tickets for the game are still available, and may be purchased in one of three ways: in person during normal business hours at the Grace Hall ticket window, by phone during normal business hours at (610) 7LU-GAME, or on-line anytime at Lehighsports.com.
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Date: |
September 5, 2009 |
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Opponent: |
Central Connecticut State Blue Devils |
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Kickoff: |
12:37 pm |
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Stadium: |
Goodman Stadium/16,000/Natural Grass |
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Location: |
Bethlehem, Pa. |
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Tickets: |
Tickets can be purchased by calling (610) 7LU-GAME, or on-line via the link above |
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Lehigh’s Record: |
5-6 overall, 4-2 Patriot League (2008) |
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CCSU’s Record: |
7-4 overall, 4-3 Northeast Conference (2008) |
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Series: |
Lehigh leads 1-0 |
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Television |
Service Electric 2 Sports live with Mike Zambelli, Mike Yadush ’93 and Al DiCarlo |
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Radio |
ESPN Radio 1230 and 1320 AM with Matt Kerr, Kody Fedorcha ’00, Tom Fallon, and Matt Markus beginning at 11:30 am |
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Internet Broadcast: |
Lehighsports.com |
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Key Stats: |
• The Mountain Hawks averaged 33.8 points in the last four games of the 2008 season. •Lehigh has not allowed a single point in the third quarter in each of Andy Coen’s season openers (Albany, Villanova, Drake). |
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Behind Enemy Lines: |
Preseason Practice Report
