10/8/2014 4:12:00 PM | 150th Lehigh-Lafayette Game
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With the 150th meeting of college football's most played rivalry rapidly approaching, Lehighsports.com is offering a look back at some of the more memorable Lehigh-Lafayette football games from the first 149 meetings. We've once again partnered with Chuck Burton '92, owner of the popular Lehigh Football Nation blog to present our top ten games, in chronological order, with five selections from the first 105 seasons of Lehigh football and five from the last 25 years.
Burton has also contributed to the ongoing series "The Rivalry: A LFN Look Back," which provides an additional historical perspective to the Rivalry, leading up to the 150th meeting between Lehigh and Lafayette, November 22 at Yankee Stadium.
Nov. 17 – Goal line stand highlights Lehigh's third straight win in series  Game 146 – Nov. 20, 2010 – Lehigh 20, Lafayette 13  With Lehigh jumping to a 20-10 lead in the second half in Easton, Lafayette set up with a first and goal from the 2 yard line, seemingly poised to regain the momentum and win the football game. But linebackers Mike Groome and Al Pierce continued to deny every run into the middle, including two spectacular plays where Groome hurdled his own lineman to greet the running back. With Lafayette driving one last time, Pierce stopped Leopard running back Alan Elder short of the sticks, preserving Lehigh's 20-13 victory.  Check out the Box score and complete Lehighsports.com recap.Â
Nov. 12 – An upset in overtime  Game 145 – Nov. 21, 2009 – Lehigh 27, Lafayette 21 (OT)  The Lehigh football season was destined to be over after this game, but 8-2 Lafayette had a chance to become Patriot League champions and FCS Playoff participants if they could simply beat the 3-7 Mountain Hawks for the third straight time in Bethlehem. Against all odds, Lehigh held a 21-14 lead until Lafayette quarterback Rob Curley completed a 34-yard strike to wideout Julian Hayes to force overtime. One touchdown and missed extra point later, all Curley had to do was score a touchdown and extra point to win, but Mountain Hawk linebacker Al Pierce had other ideas, nabbing Curley's underthrown ball, and causing thrilled Mountain Hawk fans to rush the field in victory.  Check out the Box score and complete Lehighsports.com recap.
Nov. 7 - Lehigh wins fifth straight Rivalry game in a nail-biter Game 135 - Nov. 20, 1999 - Lehigh 14, Lafayette 12 Â Ronald Jean '00 won his second straight Lehigh-Lafayette MVP award in 1999The Mountain Hawks were in the middle of an incredible 23-1 regular season run of regular season games, while Lafayette was struggling, going 4-6 in Bill Russo's final game as head football coach. Trying everything to give their coach a final Rivalry victory, Lafayette gave everything they had, slowing Lehigh's powerful offense to a mere 14 points. With Lafayette getting a touchdown to cut the game to 14-12, the Leopards had all the momentum, but their two-point conversion attempt was knocked down by cornerback Jason Pinckney. Through a nail-biting finish, the defense held on, preserving Lehigh's streak in the Rivalry and helping the Mountain Hawks earn a second-straight berth to the FCS playoffs.
Recap of the game from the 2000 Lehigh Media Guide:
Lehigh won its fifth straight game against rival Lafayette in the 135th meeting of college football's most-played rivalry. A sellout crowd of 16,000 saw the Mountain Hawks earn a share of the Patriot League championship with Colgate. Lehigh jumped out to a quick 7-0 lead on a Phil Stambaugh 36-yard touchdown pass to Kody Fedorcha. The lead increased to 14-0 thanks to a Stambaugh 12-yard scoring strike to Brian Endler. Lehigh's defense then took control and sealed the game on a Matt Salvaterra interception with 1:25 left to play. Lehigh outgained Lafayette 410-280 and held a three minute time of possession advantage. Ronald Jean earned MVP honors.
The Mountain Hawks are known for their powerful offenses, but down 21-0 early to the Leopards, it seemed like too big a hole to climb out of. Yet running back Rabih Abdullah, quarterback Phil Stambaugh and wideout Joe Falzone recovered from early mistakes to outscore Lafayette 43-10 the rest of the way. Stambaugh would go 32 for 49 with 323 yards passing, while Abdullah would amass 143 all-purpose yards and two screen-pass touchdowns, enough to earn him MVP honors.
Recap of the game from the 1998 Lehigh Media Guide:
In the last two meetings of these bitter rivals, Lafayette has led by 19 and 16 points respectively, but Lehigh managed to pull off miraculous victories. Apparently, Lehigh decided that these margins were too easy to recover from, "choosing" to spot the Leopards the first 21 points of the game. By doing so, the Mountain Hawks allowed their opponents to score first in every game of the 1997 season. Lehigh recovered quickly, putting together an 11-play, 82-yard drive capped by Rabih Abdullah's 12-yard touchdown reception, his first of two on the day. The Mountain Hawks followed that with a scoring toss from Phil Stambaugh to Deron Braswell, covering 45 yards, and making the halftime score a respectable 21-14. Each team put seven points on the board in the third quarter, the Mountain Hawks' share coming on Abdullah's 3-yard run. Joe Falzone was the star of the fourth quarter, catching a 19-yard touchdown pass from Stambaugh, setting up Abdullah's 9-yard scoring streak with a 47-yard grab and passing to Bruce Peltzer for a 2-point conversion. The latter followed Abdullah's second rushing touchdown of the game and fourth overall. Abdullah was named the game's MVP for his stellar performance and Phil Stambaugh came through in the big game once again. Lehigh has now won four of its last five encounters with Lafayette.
Score by quarters
1
2
3
4
Final
Lafayette
14
7
7
3
31
Lehigh
0
14
7
22
43
Rabih Abdullah hoists the MVP TrophyScoring Summary 1st Quarter Lafayette - Stahlnecker 1 run (Menecola kick) 2:59 Lafayette - Moore 5 run (Menecola kick) 2:05 2nd Quarter Lafayette - Stahlnecker 2 run (Menecola kick) 8:29 Lehigh - Abdullah 12 pass from Stambaugh (Swartz kick) 4:41 Lehigh - Braswell 45 pass from Stambaugh (Swartz kick) 1:12 3rd Quarter Lafayette - Moore 13 run (Menecola kick) 10:43 Lehigh - Abdullah 3 run (Swartz kick) 2:25 4th Quarter Lehigh - Falzone 19 pass from Stambaugh (Swartz kick) 11:46 Lafayette - Menecola 33 FG 9:08 Lehigh - Abdullah 9 pass from Stambaugh (Swartz kick) 6:46 Lehigh - Abdullah 1 run (Peltzer pass from Falzone) 1:45
Statistical Leaders Rushing:
Lafayette, Moore 22-136, 2 TD; Stahlnecker 10-25, 2 TD
Rabih Abdullah carries the ball against the LeopardsMatt Swartz kicks an extra point against Lafayette
Oct. 28 - The Catch
Game 131 - Nov. 18, 1995 - Lehigh 37, Lafayette 30 (2 OT) Â It wasn't initially clear that this game would determine the Patriot League championship, but as the day turned to dusk and Lehigh rallied from a 30-14 deficit in the 4th quarter to improbably tie the game, suddenly the first overtime Rivalry game was going to determine the Patriot League championship-if the game wouldn't get called on account of darkness first. In the first period of the second overtime, wideout Brian Klingerman, with the sun setting, made a spectacular one-handed grab of Bob Aylsworth's pass in the end zone to take the lead. And after Lehigh's defensive line stuffed Lafayette on 4th-and-1, the Championship was theirs.
Recap of the game from the 1996 Lehigh Media Guide:
Brian Klingerman hauled in a 14-yard touchdown catch for a dramatic, come-from-behind double overtime victory and a Patriot League Championship - all with one hand. The senior ended his career with a sensational outstretched grab in the back of the end zone to lead Lehigh over Lafayette in the 131st meeting of college football's most-played rivalry. Lehigh overcame a 30-14 deficit to win its second league title in three years. After both teams failed to score on their first overtime possessions, Lehigh took the lead on the unbelievable Klingerman catch from quarterback Bob Aylsworth on second and 10 from the 14. The win was clinched when on fourth down and two yards to go, Lafayette's tailback slipped in the backfield and was downed three yards short of the first down.
Score by quarters
1
2
3
4
OT
OT2
Final
Lafayette
0
14
9
7
0
0
30
Lehigh
0
14
0
16
0
7
37
Lehigh celebrates the 1995 Patriot League Championship in the locker room following its 37-30 2 OT win over Lafayette Scoring Summary 2nd Quarter Lafayette - Miller 59 pass from Clair (Menecola kick) 14:30 Lehigh - Klingerman 24 pass from Aylsworth (Swartz kick) 10:36 Lafayette - O'Neil 8 run (Menecola kick) 3:14 Lehigh - Klingerman 30 pass from Aylsworth (Swartz kick) 1:16 3rd Quarter Lafayette - Menecola 30 FG 10:11 Lafayette - O'Neil 10 run (kick failed) 8:31 4th Quarter Lafayette - Miller 82 pass from Clair (Menecola kick) 11:33 Lehigh - Meurer 37 pass from Aylsworth (Klingerman pass) 8:49 Lehigh - Abdullah 8 run (Abdullah rush) 3:41 Second Overtime Lehigh - Klingerman 14 pass from Aylsworth (Swartz kick)
Statistical Leaders Rushing:
Lafayette, O'Neil 23-89, 2 TD, Stahlnecker 8-56
Lehigh, Abdullah 42-223, TD
Passing:
Lafayette, Clair 17-23, 211 yards, 2 TD, 1 INT
Lehigh, Aylsworth 24-50, 240 yards, 4 D, 1 INT
Receiving:
Lafayette, McPheeters 5-70, Miller 3-150, 2 TD
Lehigh, Klingerman 10-118, 3 TD, Abdullah 6-20
Tackles:
Lafayette, Howard 14, Cope, Conaboy, Urban and Morrissey 9
Game 123 - Nov. 21, 1987 - Lehigh 17, Lafayette 10 Â The final college football played in Taylor Stadium was also one of the coldest days in Rivalry history, turning away many fans who would have otherwise been subjected to minus-17-degree wind chills. Down 10-9 in the fourth quarter, quarterback Mark McGowan engineered a ten-play, 59-yard drive in the freezing cold, taking the ball himself over the goal line to get the game-clinching score.
Recap of the game from the 1988 Lehigh Media Guide:
BETHLEHEM, Pa. - Mark McGowan completed 16 of 23 passes for 120 yards in leading Lehigh to a 17-10 victory over Lafayette in the 123rd renewal of college football's most-played rivalry. The win was Lehigh's 51st to Lafayette's 67.
McGowan led Lehigh to a winning touchdown on an 11-play, 60-yard drive shortly after Lafayette had forged into a 10-9 lead in the fourth quarter. There were crucial third-down completions to TE Tom Marron of seven yards, and TE Vance Cassell of 10 yards. McGowan also executed a 21-yard bootleg around right end which took the ball to the one yard line, where he plunged into the end zone for the score. His conversion pass to Sims added two points and gave Lehigh its seven-point margin with 5:08 left to play.
In the opening quarter McGowan led a 13-play drive into the end zone completing five passes in five attempts including a one-yard TD flip to Marron. Beattie missed the conversion attempt. Two more completions and a 12-yard scramble put Beattie in position for a 28-yard field goal and a 9-0 lead on the last play of the period.
Coaches' MVPs: Offense - McGowan and Curtis; Defense - Rife and Hite; Special Teams - Banco  QB Mark McGowan celebrates after Lehigh takes a 17-10 lead Official Game MVP: Mark McGowan, QB, Lehigh
Score by quarters
1
2
3
4
Final
Lafayette (4-7)
0
7
0
3
10
Lehigh (5-5-1)
9
0
0
8
17
Scoring Summary Lehigh - Marron 1 pass from McGowan (kick failed) Lehigh - FG Beattie, 28 Lafayette - Johnson 5 pass from Baur (Hodson kick) Lafayette - FG Hodson, 25 Lehigh - McGowan 1 run (Sims pass from McGowan)
Statistical Leaders Rushing:
Lehigh, Curtis 17-86, Sims 17-35
Lafayette, Adams 15-45, Baur 11-18
Passing:
Lehigh, McGowan 16-23, 120 yards, 1 TD, 0 INT
Lafayette, Baur 15-35, 183 yards, 1 TD, 2 INT
Receiving:
Lehigh, Curtis 4-28, Sims, 4-28, Marron 3-17
Lafayette, Johnson 5-42, Lechner 3-50
Oct. 17 - Lehigh rallies for rivalry win to spark National Championship Run
Today we think of the 1977 Lehigh football team as the Division II champions - they won as a wild-card invitee to the playoffs - but that championship would not have come about had it not been for the Engineers' come-from-behind victory against the rival Leopards in the final game of the regular season. Down 17-14 and seeing a possible playoff berth fade away in the second half, defensive back Pete Fenton blocked a 50-yard Lafayette field-goal to help spark three unanswered touchdowns to win the game. Lehigh's Hall-of-Fame connection of quarterback Mike Rieker '78 and receiver Steve Kreider '79 hooked up for the go-ahead 14-yard touchdown in the third quarter, with Rieker tossing two more touchdowns in the fourth quarter on the way to earning game MVP honors. Â Mike Rieker '78 delivers a pass against Jacksonville State Score by quarters
The win over Lafayette, Lehigh's fifth consecutive win of the 1977 season, brought the Engineers' record to 9-2. The Engineers went on to defeat Massachusetts 30-23 in their playoff opener, with a fourth quarter touchdown pass from Rieker to Kreider again the difference. Lehigh then advanced to the Rockne Bowl in Davis, California, where the Engineers defeated UC-Davis 39-0 to advance to the National Championship Game. At the Pioneer Bowl, in Wichita Falls, Texas, Lehigh blanked Jacksonville State 33-0 to finish the season as Division II National Champions with a 12-2 record. The Engineers rushed for 305 yards and forced six turnovers in the victory. Rieker threw a pair of touchdown passes to Kreider, while the quarterback and running backs Dave Aprill and Mike Ford all rushed for scores as well.
A blog post covering this game can be found HERE. Â Coach John WhiteheadMike Rieker '78 and Steve Kreider '79 connected for the go-ahead TD against LafayetteA blocked FG by Pete Fenton '78 sparked Lehigh's comeback
Oct. 13 - Lehigh claims Lambert Cup in Leckonby's final game
Game 97 - Nov. 18, 1961 - Lehigh 17, Lafayette 14
With the Lambert Cup on the line, a heavily favored Lehigh squad raced to a 14-0 lead behind scores from Walt King and Boyd Taylor. The Leopards took advantage of seven Lehigh turnovers, five fumbles and two interceptions, to block Engineer drives and eventually, tie the game at 14-14. Lafayette punted the ball away with under a minute to play and Lehigh quarterback Johnny DeNoia completed his only pass of the day, a 44-yarder to Pat Clark, to move Lehigh down to the Lafayette five yard line. Andy Larko came on to kick the decisive 20-yard field goal, the only one of his college career, with six seconds remaining. One week later, Lehigh would claim the Lambert Cup for the second time. This game was the final game as head coach for the legendary Bill Leckonby. The win capped a 7-2 season for the Brown and White. Taylor was voted the game's Most Valuable Player.
LFN ranked this game as the fifth-best in the pre-Patriot League era. He wrote about this game in this piece from 2011, commemorating its 50th anniversary. http://lehighfootballnation.blogspot.com/2011/11/flashback-november-18th-1961-lehigh-17.html  Legendary coach Bill Leckonby emerged victorious in his final game as Lehigh's head coachPat Clark's 44-yard reception set up the game-winning field goalBoyd Taylor with the 1961 MVP trophy
Oct. 8 - We begin with a double dose: the two oldest games on the countdown
Game 11 - Oct. 30, 1889 - Lehigh 16, Lafayette 10Lehigh's 1889 Team "Champions of Pennsylvania" Playing for the mythical "Championship of Pennsylvania," the first game in the home-and-home series was one of the more thrilling Rivalry matchups. In Bethlehem at old Lehigh Field, with the fans separated from the players only by rope, Lehigh, led by running backs Paul Dashiell and Samuel Warriner fell behind early 10-0. But Lehigh's innovation that would predate the Flying Wedge, the "Lehigh V", would eventually wear down the Maroon and White. Dashiell and Warriner would orchestrate 16 unanswered points for a thrilling, come-from-behind, 16-10 win. LFN rates this game the second best of the Lehigh's independent era.
Game 63 - Nov. 23, 1929 - Lehigh 13, Lafayette 12 The Rivalry was in real danger of being cancelled, with Lafayette in the midst of a 10-game winning streak over the Brown and White. It had been five years since Lehigh had ever had any sort of lead on the Leopards. But a talented, determined young recruiting class would finally break through for a win, depending on two blocked kicks, one from a substitute center, to seal the victory. LFN lists this game, as the top Lehigh win in the rivalry in the pre-Patriot League era.
