Lehigh University Athletics
No. 11/15 Lehigh opens two-game homestand Saturday vs. Fordham
9/25/2012 8:14:00 PM | Football
BETHLEHEM, Pa. – The Mountain Hawks return to Goodman Stadium Saturday afternoon to face their first Patriot League foe of the season as the Fordham Rams visit Bethlehem. No. 11/15 Lehigh improved to 4-0 after a hard-fought 28-26 win at Liberty. Senior quarterback Mike Colvin rushed 68 yards for the go-ahead touchdown in the fourth quarter and senior linebacker Billy Boyko added a 39-yard interception return touchdown on the ensuing Flames series to give Lehigh a 28-20 lead. The defense stopped a late Liberty two-point conversion try as the Mountain Hawks moved to 4-0 for the first time since 2001.
The Fordham Rams enter Saturday's game at 3-1 overall. Fordham is coming off back-to-back wins over Ivy League opponents, including a 20-13 win at Columbia last weekend in the annual Liberty Cup game. The Rams have been led by senior running back Carlton Koonce, the two-time defending Patriot League Offensive Player of the Week, who rushed for 250 yards against Columbia, including a Patriot League record-tying 92-yard touchdown run.
Boyko enjoyed a career-night against Liberty, which earned him both league and national distinction. The Northampton native made a career-high 14 tackles, including a sack, and in the fourth quarter made his first career interception, which he returned 39 yards for a touchdown, to give Lehigh a 14-0 lead. For his efforts, Boyko was named Patriot League Defensive Player of the Week and the National Defensive Player of the Week by the Sports Network. Boyko is third on the Mountain Hawks with 31 tackles this season. He also has two pass breakups and a forced fumble.One of the keys to Lehigh's 4-0 start has been its ability to get off to strong starts. The Mountain Hawks have scored first in all four games thus far and have outscored their opponents 42-0 in the first quarter. Lehigh scored the first 14 points against Monmouth, the first 21 at Central Connecticut State, the first 17 versus Princeton and the first 14 last week at Liberty. On the flip side, the Mountain Hawks would like to improve their performance coming out of the locker room at halftime. Lehigh has been outscored by a 20-0 margin in third quarters this season.
Lehigh has played Fordham 24 previous times with the Mountain Hawks winning 22 of those meetings. Lehigh has won the last four meetings, including a 34-12 win at Jack Coffey Field last year. Fordham snapped a nine-game Lehigh winning streak in the series with a win in 2007. The Mountain Hawks have averaged nearly 32 points versus the Rams in the last ten meetings, while holding Fordham to just 17 points per game.
Saturday's game kicks off just after 12:30 on Family Weekend and Young Alumni Reunion at Goodman Stadium. Tickets are still available, and may be purchased in one of three ways: by visiting the Lehigh ticket office located in Stabler Arena, by calling (610) 7LU-GAME, or on-line anytime at Lehighsports.com.
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Date:
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September 29, 2012
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Opponent:
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Fordham Rams
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Kickoff:
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12:37 p.m.
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Stadium:
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Goodman Stadium/16,000/Natural Grass
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Location:
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Bethlehem, Pa.
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Tickets:
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Tickets can be purchased by calling (610) 7LU-GAME, or on-line via the link above
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Lehigh's Record:
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4-0 overall, 0-0 Patriot League
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Fordham's Record
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3-1 overall, n/a Patriot League
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Series:
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Lehigh leads 22-2
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Television
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Service Electric 2 Sports live with Mike Zambelli, Mike Yadush '93 and Al DiCarlo
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Radio
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ESPN Radio 1230 and 1320 AM with Matt Kerr, Lance Haynes '94 and Tom Fallon beginning at 11:30 a.m.
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Internet Broadcast:
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Lehighsports.com
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Key Stats:
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• The Mountain Hawks have won 13 straight regular season games, good for the longest active streak in the FCS.
•Lehigh is 12-0 all time at home versus Fordham including 11-0 at Goodman Stadium.
•The Mountain Hawks have outscored their opponents 42-0 in the first quarter in four games this season.
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Behind Enemy Lines:
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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
