Sodeke, Newton win Patriot League awards after Lehigh nabs first win
10/20/2014 12:41:00 PM | Football
BETHLEHEM, Pa. – After picking up its first victory of the season Saturday at Cornell, two members of the Lehigh football team were recognized with Corvias Patriot League weekly awards on Monday. Senior tailback Rich Sodeke garnered Offensive Player of the Week honors while senior defensive lineman Tim Newton collected Defensive Player of the Week laurels for their efforts in Lehigh's 31-14 triumph over the Big Red.
Sodeke enjoyed the busiest and most productive day of his Lehigh career on Saturday, rushing a career-most 23 times for a career-high 147 yards. He ripped off a career-long 59 yard run in the first quarter, which set up Lehigh's first touchdown of the day, a one-yard run by quarterback Nick Shafnisky. Lehigh was nursing a 17-14 lead in the fourth quarter when the Mountain Hawks put together a 12-play, 78-yard drive that resulted in a key insurance touchdown. Sodeke carried five times for 42 yards on that drive and then capped his big day with a seven yard touchdown run to close out the scoring for the Brown and White.
The Florham Park, N.J. native produced his second career 100-yard rushing day. For the season, Sodeke leads the Mountain Hawks with 84 carries for 458 yards and three touchdowns. He also had two receptions for 25 yards on Saturday and has 11 for 113 on the season.
Lehigh's defense played its best game of the season against Cornell, allowing just 14 points and 273 yards. Newton was one of the leaders of Lehigh's defensive attack, finishing with five total tackles, 1.5 sacks and two tackles-for-loss against the Big Red. Newton set the tone early for the Mountain Hawks on defense, sacking Jake Jatis for a seven yard loss on Cornell's second play from scrimmage. He also delivered an exclamation point, teaming with junior Matt Laub on a sack that resulted in a 15 yard loss on fourth down late in the fourth quarter. Newton also with credited with one of eight pass breakups by the Lehigh defense after batting down a Jatis pass at the line of scrimmage.
The Longwood, Fla. product ranks fourth on the Mountain Hawks with 30 tackles this season and he leads the Brown and White with 3.5 sacks and 6.5 tackles-for-loss. The Defensive Player of the Week award is the second of Newton's career. He was also recognized as a sophomore in 2012.
The Mountain Hawks return to Patriot League play on Saturday when No. 12/13 Fordham visits Goodman Stadium on Homecoming and Family Weekend. Game time is set for 12:30 p.m. Tickets are available and can be purchased by calling 610-7LU-GAME or by visiting LehighTickets.com.
Like Lehigh Football on Facebook and follow on Twitter for exclusive updates throughout the season.
Sodeke enjoyed the busiest and most productive day of his Lehigh career on Saturday, rushing a career-most 23 times for a career-high 147 yards. He ripped off a career-long 59 yard run in the first quarter, which set up Lehigh's first touchdown of the day, a one-yard run by quarterback Nick Shafnisky. Lehigh was nursing a 17-14 lead in the fourth quarter when the Mountain Hawks put together a 12-play, 78-yard drive that resulted in a key insurance touchdown. Sodeke carried five times for 42 yards on that drive and then capped his big day with a seven yard touchdown run to close out the scoring for the Brown and White.
The Florham Park, N.J. native produced his second career 100-yard rushing day. For the season, Sodeke leads the Mountain Hawks with 84 carries for 458 yards and three touchdowns. He also had two receptions for 25 yards on Saturday and has 11 for 113 on the season.
Lehigh's defense played its best game of the season against Cornell, allowing just 14 points and 273 yards. Newton was one of the leaders of Lehigh's defensive attack, finishing with five total tackles, 1.5 sacks and two tackles-for-loss against the Big Red. Newton set the tone early for the Mountain Hawks on defense, sacking Jake Jatis for a seven yard loss on Cornell's second play from scrimmage. He also delivered an exclamation point, teaming with junior Matt Laub on a sack that resulted in a 15 yard loss on fourth down late in the fourth quarter. Newton also with credited with one of eight pass breakups by the Lehigh defense after batting down a Jatis pass at the line of scrimmage.
The Longwood, Fla. product ranks fourth on the Mountain Hawks with 30 tackles this season and he leads the Brown and White with 3.5 sacks and 6.5 tackles-for-loss. The Defensive Player of the Week award is the second of Newton's career. He was also recognized as a sophomore in 2012.
The Mountain Hawks return to Patriot League play on Saturday when No. 12/13 Fordham visits Goodman Stadium on Homecoming and Family Weekend. Game time is set for 12:30 p.m. Tickets are available and can be purchased by calling 610-7LU-GAME or by visiting LehighTickets.com.
Like Lehigh Football on Facebook and follow on Twitter for exclusive updates throughout the season.
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