Lehigh to visit Towson in NCAA second round playoff game
11/20/2011 3:32:00 PM | Football
BETHLEHEM, Pa. – One week after winning its tenth Patriot League football championship and one day after its fourth straight win over rival Lafayette No. 6 Lehigh learned its NCAA FCS Playoff fate on Sunday. The Mountain Hawks earned a bye into the second round where they will face Colonial Athletic Association Champion Towson December 3 at Johnny Unitas Stadium in Towson, Md.
“I thought we would get a bye and we did so I am thrilled with that,” explained Lehigh head coach Andy Coen. “Towson is neat because there is some history there playing them for several years when they were Patriot League members. I know they are a good football team. Anybody who can go out and win the CAA is one of the top teams the nation. Coen continued, “It's a tough draw but one that we are familiar with and I'm excited. I like that its two-and-a-half hours away. We have a great loyal following and this will give us a chance to get people down there and that will be great for the Lehigh people. If we didn't get a home game, this is the second best thing.”
Tickets will go on sale Monday at 10 a.m. by calling 610-7LU-GAME or by visiting the Lehigh ticket office located in Grace Hall. Tickets are $16 can also be purchased through Towson.
Lehigh enters the playoffs at 10-1 overall as the Mountain Hawks enter the postseason on a nine-game winning streak. The Mountain Hawks are making their second NCAA playoff appearance in as many years. Last year Lehigh won 14-7 at Northern Iowa in the first round before a 42-20 loss to eventual national runner-up Delaware in round two.
Towson is ranked eighth in the latest Sports Network/Fathead.com FCS Top 25. The Tigers have won three straight games and enter the playoffs at 9-2 overall. Towson won the CAA title outright with a 7-1 conference record after being picked last in the CAA preseason poll. The Tigers posted an eight game improvement after a 1-10 season in 2010.
There is some familiarity between Lehigh and Towson as the Tigers were an associate member of the Patriot League in football from 1997-2003. Lehigh owns a 10-1 record versus Towson all-time. The Mountain Hawks won the most recent meeting 35-3 in 2003, while the Tigers lone win came in 2002 by a 23-19 score.
The winner of the Lehigh-Towson game will advance to the quarterfinals against the survivor of No. 2 seed North Dakota State and the winner of an opening round game between James Madison and Eastern Kentucky.
More information about the Lehigh-Towson playoff clash, including kickoff time and broadcast information will be posted when it becomes available.
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