Sherman, Shafnisky repeat as Patriot League award winners
11/18/2013 2:25:00 PM | Football
Sports Network Poll | FCS Coaches Poll
BETHLEHEM, Pa. – With its 31-14 win at Colgate Saturday, Lehigh will face rival Lafayette for the outright Patriot League title this weekend in the 149th meeting of college football's most-played rivalry. On Monday, two Mountain Hawks were honored with Patriot League weekly awards for the second straight week as senior running back Keith Sherman repeated as Offensive Player of the Week and freshman quarterback Nick Shafnisky captured Rookie of the Week honors for the second straight week.
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Sherman had a career day against Holy Cross on November 9 and bettered those numbers across the board Saturday in Hamilton, N.Y., as he rushed a career-high 27 times for a career-best 184 yards and a touchdown. He also caught two passes for 40 yards giving him a career-high 224 all-purpose yards.
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The Bucksport, S.C. native rushed for 114 yards on 14 carries in the first half, including a 45-yard run that set up a late Ryan Pandy 36-yard field goal. Sherman also capped Lehigh's scoring with a two-yard touchdown run to give the Mountain Hawks a 17 point cushion with 8:19 to play.
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Sherman now has four 100 yard rushing games this season, the first four of his career. He enters Saturday's Lehigh-Lafayette showdown needing 77 yards to become Lehigh's first 1,000 yard rusher since Jermaine Pugh in 2002. Sherman has 11 touchdowns in 2013 including seven on the ground.
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Shafnisky rebounded from a rocky start in his first collegiate start to earn his second straight Rookie of the Week nod. The Whitehall native completed 11-of-24 passes for 134 yards and two touchdowns and also ran nine times for 26 yards. Shafnisky settled down after halftime completing 5-of-7 for 105 yards and a touchdown in the second half against the Raiders. He is the first freshman to start a game at quarterback for Lehigh since Lehigh Hall of Famer Phil Stambaugh '00 started four games in 1996.
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Over Lehigh's last two games, Shafnisky has now completed 22 of 33 passes for 270 yards with four touchdowns and just one interception.
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Also Monday junior Tim Newton garnered honorable mention recognition from the league. Newton tied for second on the Mountain Hawks with seven tackles against Colgate including 1.5 for loss. With Lehigh trailing 7-0 in the first quarter Newton recovered a Gavin McCarney fumble and returned it two yards for the game-tying touchdown.
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Following Saturday's win Lehigh moved up in both polls, rising to No. 15 in the FCS Coaches Poll and No. 17 in the Sports Network FCS Top 25.
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Lehigh and Lafayette will battle for the Patriot League championship and automatic FCS playoff berth Saturday at 12:30 p.m. at Goodman Stadium. The game is sold out, but will be televised on WFMZ-TV, Fox College Sports Central and the Patriot League Network.
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Like Lehigh Football on Facebook and follow on Twitter for exclusive updates throughout the season.
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BETHLEHEM, Pa. – With its 31-14 win at Colgate Saturday, Lehigh will face rival Lafayette for the outright Patriot League title this weekend in the 149th meeting of college football's most-played rivalry. On Monday, two Mountain Hawks were honored with Patriot League weekly awards for the second straight week as senior running back Keith Sherman repeated as Offensive Player of the Week and freshman quarterback Nick Shafnisky captured Rookie of the Week honors for the second straight week.
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Sherman had a career day against Holy Cross on November 9 and bettered those numbers across the board Saturday in Hamilton, N.Y., as he rushed a career-high 27 times for a career-best 184 yards and a touchdown. He also caught two passes for 40 yards giving him a career-high 224 all-purpose yards.
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The Bucksport, S.C. native rushed for 114 yards on 14 carries in the first half, including a 45-yard run that set up a late Ryan Pandy 36-yard field goal. Sherman also capped Lehigh's scoring with a two-yard touchdown run to give the Mountain Hawks a 17 point cushion with 8:19 to play.
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Sherman now has four 100 yard rushing games this season, the first four of his career. He enters Saturday's Lehigh-Lafayette showdown needing 77 yards to become Lehigh's first 1,000 yard rusher since Jermaine Pugh in 2002. Sherman has 11 touchdowns in 2013 including seven on the ground.
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Shafnisky rebounded from a rocky start in his first collegiate start to earn his second straight Rookie of the Week nod. The Whitehall native completed 11-of-24 passes for 134 yards and two touchdowns and also ran nine times for 26 yards. Shafnisky settled down after halftime completing 5-of-7 for 105 yards and a touchdown in the second half against the Raiders. He is the first freshman to start a game at quarterback for Lehigh since Lehigh Hall of Famer Phil Stambaugh '00 started four games in 1996.
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Over Lehigh's last two games, Shafnisky has now completed 22 of 33 passes for 270 yards with four touchdowns and just one interception.
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Also Monday junior Tim Newton garnered honorable mention recognition from the league. Newton tied for second on the Mountain Hawks with seven tackles against Colgate including 1.5 for loss. With Lehigh trailing 7-0 in the first quarter Newton recovered a Gavin McCarney fumble and returned it two yards for the game-tying touchdown.
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Following Saturday's win Lehigh moved up in both polls, rising to No. 15 in the FCS Coaches Poll and No. 17 in the Sports Network FCS Top 25.
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Lehigh and Lafayette will battle for the Patriot League championship and automatic FCS playoff berth Saturday at 12:30 p.m. at Goodman Stadium. The game is sold out, but will be televised on WFMZ-TV, Fox College Sports Central and the Patriot League Network.
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Like Lehigh Football on Facebook and follow on Twitter for exclusive updates throughout the season.
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