Groome earns PL Defensive Player of the Week honors
11/7/2011 6:52:00 PM | Football
BETHLEHEM, Pa. – On a day when Lehigh's offense generated its fewest yards and points this season, the Mountain Hawks defense stepped up with one of its best performances of the year in a 14-7 Lehigh victory. Senior linebacker Mike Groome was the leader of the defense with 13 tackles, a sack and an interception; and Monday he was named the Patriot League's Defensive Player of the Week.
Groome posted his second consecutive double-digit tackle game and his fifth of the season, as Lehigh limited the league's No. 2 ranked offense to just seven points and 230 yards of total offense. He came up with a key sack of Crusader quarterback Ryan Taggart in the third quarter and helped preserve with win for the Mountain Hawks with a fourth quarter interception on fourth down, which he returned 59 yards to the Holy Cross 15 yard line. Groome finished with five solo tackles and eight assists, and was also credited with a pass breakup.The Patriot League's preseason Defensive Player of the Year, Groome leads the Mountain Hawks with 78 total tackles, including 32 solo stops. He now was 4.5 tackles for loss and 1.5 sacks this season, and leads the Mountain Hawks with four interceptions from his inside linebacker position.
The weekly award was the second of Groome's career. He earned Lehigh's tenth weekly award this season and its second Defensive Player of the Week nod.
After picking up its seventh straight win Lehigh (8-1, 3-0 Patriot League) moved up in both polls as the Mountain Hawks are now ranked sixth in both the Sports Network/Fathead.com FCS Top 25 as well as the FCS Coaches Poll.
Groome and the Mountain Hawks will be playing for a Patriot League Championship when they return to the field on Saturday to host the Georgetown Hoyas. At stake for the winner of Saturday's game is the Patriot League's automatic berth to the NCAA FCS Playoffs. Kickoff is set for just after 12:30 p.m. from Goodman Stadium. Tickets can be purchased by visiting the Lehigh ticket office located in Grace Hall, by calling (610) 7LU-GAME, or by logging on to Lehighsports.com.
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