Lehigh returns to Iowa to face UNI in FCS playoffs

11/23/2010 11:25:00 PM | Football

BETHLEHEM, Pa. – No. 18/19 Lehigh returns to the FCS playoffs for the first time since 2004 as the Mountain Hawks travel to Cedar Falls, Iowa to battle the No. 16/16 Northern Iowa Panthers at UNI-Dome. The Mountain Hawks captured their ninth Patriot League championship in 2010 and enter the playoffs on a seven-game winning streak. Last weekend Lehigh downed Lafayette 20-13 in the 146th meeting of college football's most-played rivalry. Northern Iowa won the Missouri Valley Conference automatic berth and will make its sixth playoff appearance in the last ten years. The Panthers boast one of the nation's top rushing attacks and a tough defense. The winner of Saturday's game will meet No. 3 seed Delaware in the second round December 4 in Newark, Del.
 
The Mountain Hawks' linebacking corps took a major hit when fifth-year senior Troy Taylor suffered a season-ending injury in practice, but junior Mike Groome has filled in admirably in his absence. Groome leads Lehigh in tackles with 108 including a career-high 16 stops in the win over Lafayette. The highlight of Groome's day was a key goal line stand early in the fourth quarter where the New Jersey native made three tackles at the goal line to keep Lafayette out of the end zone and hold the Leopards to a field goal. Groome's 16 tackles were the third most in the last ten seasons, behind Tim Diamond's 22 tackle performance vs. Harvard in 2007 and Anthony Graziani's 18 stops in a win over Colgate in 2004
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Lehigh and Northern Iowa will meet for the first time on the gridiron Saturday afternoon. The Mountain Hawks have met just one member of the Missouri Valley Conference all-time and that meeting came in the 2000 FCS playoffs when Lehigh traveled to Macomb, Ill. and walloped Western Illinois 37-7. Prior to this season, Lehigh had never played a game in the state of Iowa, but now the Mountain Hawks are making their second trip to Iowa in the last three months. Lehigh beat Drake 28-14 in its season opener.
 
Saturday's game gets underway at 1 p.m. (EST) from UNI-Dome in Cedar Falls, Iowa. The contest will be broadcast live on ESPN Radio 1230 and 1320 as well as Lehighsports.com with Matt Ker and Steve Lomangino on the call. Pre-game coverage gets underway at noon.
 
Date:
November 27, 2010
Event:
NCAA FCS Playoffs, First Round
Opponent:
No. 16/16 Northern Iowa Panthers
Kickoff:
1:00 p.m. (EST)
Stadium:
UNI-Dome/16,324/MondoTurf
Location:
Cedar Falls, Iowa
Tickets:
Tickets can be purchased by calling 610-7LU-GAME or through UNI
Lehigh's Record:
9-2 overall, 5-0 Patriot League
UNI's Record
7-4 overall, 6-2 Missouri Valley Conference
Series:
First meeting
Television
None
Radio
ESPN Radio 1230 and 1320 AM with Matt Kerr and Steve Lomangino beginning at noon (EST)
Internet Broadcast:
Lehighsports.com (audio), NCAA.com (video)
Key Stats:
Lehigh is allowing just 14 points and 295 yards per game during its current win streak.
• The Mountain Hawks lead the Patriot League in scoring defense and rushing defense.
• Northern Iowa leads the MVC and ranks in the top-15 nationally in rushing offense, rushing defense and sacks.
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