Saturday, October 19
12:30 PM
Lehigh University
vs
Georgetown
Lehigh to kick off stretch run Saturday at home vs. Holy Cross
11/5/2013 10:32:00 AM | Football
Game Notes | Tickets | Watch on the PLN
BETHLEHEM, Pa. – Lehigh comes off its bye week knowing that if the Mountain Hawks win their last three games, they will be Patriot League champions. The Mountain Hawks still have work to do as they host Holy Cross Saturday on Military Day at Goodman Stadium. In its last game before the bye Lehigh suffered a stunning 48-10 setback at Bucknell, the Bison's first win over the Mountain Hawks since 1997. Lehigh was limited to a season-low 316 yards of total offense while turning the ball over five times and giving up over 500 yards of offense to Bucknell.
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Holy Cross brings a 3-7 overall record and 1-2 Patriot League mark into Saturday's game. The Crusaders are coming off a tough 32-30 loss at undefeated Fordham Saturday, a game Holy Cross led 23-7 in the second quarter. Freshman quarterback Peter Pujals has emerged to lead the Crusader offense. A five-time Patriot League Rookie of the Week, Pujals is a candidate for the Jerry Rice Award, given to the top freshman in the FCS.
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Quarterback Brandon Bialkowski's senior season came to an end due to a broken collarbone suffered in Lehigh's October 26 loss at Bucknell. Junior Matt McHale and freshman Nick Shafnisky will be relied upon to fill the void. McHale is expected to make his first career start today. He has appeared in six games this season, completing 10-of-17 passes for 81 yards and rushing 19 times for 89 yards. McHale's offensive coordinator at Madison High School in New Jersey was former Lehigh quarterback and Lehigh Athletics Hall of Famer Marty Horn '86. Shafnisky, a freshman from nearby Whitehall, has played in every game as Lehigh's holder and saw his first action at quarterback late in the Bucknell game.
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The Mountain Hawks have had an unusual habit of rallying from double-digit deficits to win football games. Since the start of the 2012 season, Lehigh has won six games in which it trailed by ten points or more, including five of the Mountain Hawks' last eight victories dating back to last year; a streak which began last year at Holy Cross, when Lehigh erased a 12-point fourth quarter deficit to win 36-35.
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Lehigh and Holy Cross get together for the 29th time Saturday with Lehigh holding a slight 15-12-1 lead in the series. Lehigh has won the last three games over Holy Cross following a three-game winning streak for the Crusaders from 2007-2009. Lehigh's 2011 win over Holy Cross was its first over the Crusaders in Bethlehem since 2003.
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Saturday's game kicks off just after 12:30 on Military Day at Goodman Stadium. Tickets for the game 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 LehighTickets.com.
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BETHLEHEM, Pa. – Lehigh comes off its bye week knowing that if the Mountain Hawks win their last three games, they will be Patriot League champions. The Mountain Hawks still have work to do as they host Holy Cross Saturday on Military Day at Goodman Stadium. In its last game before the bye Lehigh suffered a stunning 48-10 setback at Bucknell, the Bison's first win over the Mountain Hawks since 1997. Lehigh was limited to a season-low 316 yards of total offense while turning the ball over five times and giving up over 500 yards of offense to Bucknell.
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Holy Cross brings a 3-7 overall record and 1-2 Patriot League mark into Saturday's game. The Crusaders are coming off a tough 32-30 loss at undefeated Fordham Saturday, a game Holy Cross led 23-7 in the second quarter. Freshman quarterback Peter Pujals has emerged to lead the Crusader offense. A five-time Patriot League Rookie of the Week, Pujals is a candidate for the Jerry Rice Award, given to the top freshman in the FCS.
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Quarterback Brandon Bialkowski's senior season came to an end due to a broken collarbone suffered in Lehigh's October 26 loss at Bucknell. Junior Matt McHale and freshman Nick Shafnisky will be relied upon to fill the void. McHale is expected to make his first career start today. He has appeared in six games this season, completing 10-of-17 passes for 81 yards and rushing 19 times for 89 yards. McHale's offensive coordinator at Madison High School in New Jersey was former Lehigh quarterback and Lehigh Athletics Hall of Famer Marty Horn '86. Shafnisky, a freshman from nearby Whitehall, has played in every game as Lehigh's holder and saw his first action at quarterback late in the Bucknell game.
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The Mountain Hawks have had an unusual habit of rallying from double-digit deficits to win football games. Since the start of the 2012 season, Lehigh has won six games in which it trailed by ten points or more, including five of the Mountain Hawks' last eight victories dating back to last year; a streak which began last year at Holy Cross, when Lehigh erased a 12-point fourth quarter deficit to win 36-35.
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Lehigh and Holy Cross get together for the 29th time Saturday with Lehigh holding a slight 15-12-1 lead in the series. Lehigh has won the last three games over Holy Cross following a three-game winning streak for the Crusaders from 2007-2009. Lehigh's 2011 win over Holy Cross was its first over the Crusaders in Bethlehem since 2003.
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Saturday's game kicks off just after 12:30 on Military Day at Goodman Stadium. Tickets for the game 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 LehighTickets.com.
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| Date: | November 9, 2013 |
| Opponent: | Holy Cross Crusaders |
| Kickoff: | 12:37 p.m. |
| Stadium: | Goodman Stadium/16,000/Natural Grass |
| Location: | Bethlehem, Pa. |
| Tickets: | Tickets can be purchased by calling (610) 7LU-GAME, or on-line via the link above |
| Lehigh's Record: | 6-2 overall, 1-1 Patriot League |
| Holy Cross' Record: | 3-7 overall, 1-2 Patriot League |
| Series: | Lehigh leads 15-12-1 |
| Television | Service Electric 2 Sports live with Mike Zambelli, Mike Yadush '93 and Al Di Carlo |
| Radio | ESPN Radio 1230 and 1320 AM with Matt Kerr, Kody Fedorcha '00, Tom Fallon and Matt Markus beginning at 11:30 a.m. |
| Internet Broadcast: |
Video on the Patriot League Network Audio at Lehighsports.com and ESPNLV.com |
| Key Stats: |
•Lehigh and Holy Cross boast the No. 2 and No. 3 offenses in the Patriot League •Senior Lee Kurfis leads the FCS in receptions (9.9) and receiving yards (136.9) per game. •Senior Sean Farrell has scored a touchdown once every 4.5 rushes this season. |
| Behind Enemy Lines: |
http://www.goholycross.com |
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