Lehigh seeks 4-0 start Saturday under the lights at Liberty
9/18/2012 10:24:00 PM | Football
BETHLEHEM, Pa. - No. 13/16 Lehigh heads to Virginia in search of its first 4-0 start in 11 years as the Mountain Hawks face Liberty Saturday under the lights at Williams Stadium. The Mountain Hawks are coming off a 17-14 win over Princeton last week at Goodman Stadium; a game that saw Lehigh's defense limit the Tigers to just 40 total yards and two first downs in the first half. The Lehigh offense helped build a 17-0 lead at halftime and produced two big plays in the fourth quarter to secure the victory.
Liberty is still searching for its first win of the season under new head coach Turner Gill. The Flames dropped a 34-14 decision at FCS power Montana last weekend after opening the season with losses to FBS member Wake Forest and defending MEAC champion Norfolk State.
Junior linebacker Nigel Muhammad enjoyed a breakout game defensively in Lehigh's win over Princeton last weekend. Muhammad led the Mountain Hawks with 12 tackles, including two sacks and 4.5 tackles-for-loss in what was a dominant performance by the Mountain Hawks defense. The 4.5 tackles-for-loss by the Cincinnati, Ohio native were the most by a Lehigh player since at least 2000. Muhammad currently leads the Mountain Hawks with 29 tackles this season.Senior quarterback Mike Colvin enjoyed is best outing of the season thus far in Lehigh's 17-14 win over Princeton. Colvin completed 62 percent of his passes, and although he did not throw for or run for a touchdown, he led the Mountain Hawks on three first half scoring drives. Most importantly, Colvin did not turn the ball over in 34 passing attempts or 11 rushing attempts on the day. He helped Lehigh kill the final 2:38 off the clock, completing a 27-yard pass to Dylan Colgate on 3rd-and-11, and then rushing for ten yards and a first down two plays later. Colvin threw for a career-high 276 yards and was also Lehigh's leading rusher with 57 yards on the ground. He is averaging 290 yards of total offense per game.
Saturday's game marks the third-ever meeting between Lehigh and Liberty on the gridiron. The Mountain Hawks went down to Virginia and beat the Flames 34-16 in 2004 while last year Lehigh defeated Liberty 27-24 at Goodman Stadium. Since the formation of the Big South in 1983, Lehigh is 2-0 versus Liberty and 2-0 against VMI. The Mountain Hawks also own a win over current Big South football member Stony Brook, before the Seawolves joined the league.
Saturday's game kicks off just after 7 p.m. from Williams Stadium in Lynchburg, Va. The game will be televised live by WFMZ on channel 69.4 (Service Electric Cable Dial Position 108) as well as Fox College Sports Atlantic. Live video and audio of the contest will also be available at Lehighsports.com.
|
Date:
|
September 22, 2012
|
|
Opponent:
|
Liberty Flames
|
|
Kickoff:
|
7:07 p.m.
|
|
Stadium:
|
Williams Stadium/19,200/FieldTurf
|
|
Location:
|
Lynchburg, Va.
|
|
Tickets:
|
Tickets can be purchased through Liberty at 434-582-7328
|
|
Lehigh's Record:
|
3-0 overall, 0-0 Patriot League
|
|
Liberty's Record:
|
0-3 overall, 0-0 Big South
|
|
Series:
|
Lehigh leads 2-0
|
|
Television
|
WFMZ-TV 69.4 (SE DP 108) and Fox College Sports Atlantic Live with Steve Degler and Mike Yadush '93
|
|
Radio
|
ESPN Radio 1230 and 1320 AM with Matt Kerr, Lance Haynes, and Matt Markus beginning at 6 p.m.
|
|
Internet Broadcast:
|
Lehighsports.com
|
|
Key Stats:
|
• The Mountain Hawks have won 12 straight regular season games, good for the longest current streak in the FCS.
•Lehigh leads the Patriot League in pass defense, total defense and scoring defense.
•Linebacker Nigel Muhammad's 4.5 tackles-for-loss last week were the most for a Lehigh player since 2000.
|
|
Behind Enemy Lines:
|
Lehigh Sports Central: Football
Tuesday, December 02
MHT EP6 - Football
Thursday, November 20
Brown & Flight - Episode 4
Friday, November 14
Football Blitz
Friday, October 31
