Lehigh University Athletics
Mountain Hawks reflect on 2013 season at annual football banquet
2/17/2014 4:10:00 PM | Football
BETHLEHEM, Pa. – The 2013 Lehigh football banquet was held at Iacocca Hall on Lehigh's Mountaintop Campus on Saturday, February 15. The Mountain Hawks looked back at their 8-3 season and celebrated a senior class that finished 39-9 in its four years, while capturing two Patriot League championships.
More than 300 players, parents, alumni, friends, coaches and support staff were on hand for the event, which featured dinner, senior reflections and the handing out of team awards, recognizing the top performances from the 2013 season.
Senior wide receiver Lee Kurfis earned two accolades, earning both the Archibald Johnston Cup for the Most Outstanding Player and the Best Receiver award. The supply chain management major received numerous All-America accolades including first team honors from the Sports Network and second team laurels from the Associated Press. He was also a first team All-Patriot League selection and an ECAC All-Star. He set a Lehigh single-season record with 99 receptions last season and added 1,351 receiving yards and nine touchdowns.
Senior running back Keith Sherman earned the John C. Whitehead "Big LU" Award, which is given to the player who shows the most leadership and performance. Sherman served as team captain and was a first team All-Patriot League selection. The Sociology/ Social Psychology major became Lehigh's first 1,000 yard rusher since 2002, finishing with 1,064 rushing yards and 12 total touchdowns.
Senior linebacker Nigel Muhammad received the James P. McConologue Award given to the player who is "all football." Muhammad was a team captain and recorded 59 total tackles and two sacks in the fall, as well as his first career interception in a win over Holy Cross.
Senior offensive lineman A.J. Hood received the Barry Fetterman Award, given to the player who best exemplifies loyalty, dedication and unselfishness. Hood appeared in all 11 games as a senior, making six starts and emerged as one of the senior leaders on the offensive line.
Junior offensive lineman Ned Daryoush was given the Alexander G. Hahalis Award for the most outstanding lineman. The Bethesda, Md. Native was a first team All-Patriot League selection, his second straight All-League honor and has made 22 straight starts at left tackle.
Senior quarterback Brandon Bialkowski received the Best Offensive Back Award. The psychology major threw for 2,647 yards and 18 touchdowns in just eight games before suffering a season-ending injury against Bucknell. Bialkowski eclipsed the 300-yard passing mark in each of Lehigh's first six games and was a second team All-Patriot League selection.
The Best Defensive Back Award went to senior political science major Tyler Ward. The Charlottesville, Va. native was a team captain and first team All-Patriot League selection. He was Lehigh's leading tackler with 98 stops and led the team with two interceptions.
Tim Newton earned the best Defensive Lineman Award. The junior from Longwood, Fla was a first team All-Patriot League selection and led the Mountain Hawks in sacks and tackles for a loss with 5.5 and 8.5, respectively.
The Best Linebacker Award was presented to junior Isaiah Campbell. The accounting major started all 11 games at outside linebacker and made 46 total tackles. His first career interception clinched Lehigh's come-from-behind win at Princeton.
The Best Offensive Lineman Award was given to senior Matt Lippincott. The Easton, Pa. native anchored the offensive line and started all 11 games at center. He was a second team All-Patriot League selection.
Senior punter Tim Divers received the Best Special Teams Player Award. The accounting major averaged 40.8 yards per punt and was a first team All-Patriot League selection. Divers had a season-long 64 yard punt against Columbia that netted him Patriot League and Sports Network national Special Teams Player of the Week honors.
Senior running back Cody Haupt took home the department's Scholar-Athlete award. The supply chain management major has a 3.63 GPA and was a multi-year member of the Patriot League Academic Honor Roll. He saw action in all 11 games, primarily on special teams but also rushed for 29 yards on six carries.
The Nick Timko Awards (Engineer Effort Award) were given to freshman offensive lineman Brandon Short and freshman defensive back Brandon Leaks. Short received the Scout Team Offense award and is an engineering major. He also served as Lehigh's backup center. Leaks earned the Scout Team Defense award. The engineering major appeared in all 11 games as Lehigh's primary kickoff returner averaging 21.9 yards on 41 returns.
The annual Lehigh football banquet was made possible by the Lehigh Athletics Partnership program, whose mission is to promote interest in Lehigh Athletics, to encourage and provide financial support to the program and to enhance relations with all former participants, fans, friends, and parents of Lehigh student-athletes.
Story by Connor Tait '14
More than 300 players, parents, alumni, friends, coaches and support staff were on hand for the event, which featured dinner, senior reflections and the handing out of team awards, recognizing the top performances from the 2013 season.
Senior wide receiver Lee Kurfis earned two accolades, earning both the Archibald Johnston Cup for the Most Outstanding Player and the Best Receiver award. The supply chain management major received numerous All-America accolades including first team honors from the Sports Network and second team laurels from the Associated Press. He was also a first team All-Patriot League selection and an ECAC All-Star. He set a Lehigh single-season record with 99 receptions last season and added 1,351 receiving yards and nine touchdowns.
Senior running back Keith Sherman earned the John C. Whitehead "Big LU" Award, which is given to the player who shows the most leadership and performance. Sherman served as team captain and was a first team All-Patriot League selection. The Sociology/ Social Psychology major became Lehigh's first 1,000 yard rusher since 2002, finishing with 1,064 rushing yards and 12 total touchdowns.
Senior linebacker Nigel Muhammad received the James P. McConologue Award given to the player who is "all football." Muhammad was a team captain and recorded 59 total tackles and two sacks in the fall, as well as his first career interception in a win over Holy Cross.
Senior offensive lineman A.J. Hood received the Barry Fetterman Award, given to the player who best exemplifies loyalty, dedication and unselfishness. Hood appeared in all 11 games as a senior, making six starts and emerged as one of the senior leaders on the offensive line.
Junior offensive lineman Ned Daryoush was given the Alexander G. Hahalis Award for the most outstanding lineman. The Bethesda, Md. Native was a first team All-Patriot League selection, his second straight All-League honor and has made 22 straight starts at left tackle.
Senior quarterback Brandon Bialkowski received the Best Offensive Back Award. The psychology major threw for 2,647 yards and 18 touchdowns in just eight games before suffering a season-ending injury against Bucknell. Bialkowski eclipsed the 300-yard passing mark in each of Lehigh's first six games and was a second team All-Patriot League selection.
The Best Defensive Back Award went to senior political science major Tyler Ward. The Charlottesville, Va. native was a team captain and first team All-Patriot League selection. He was Lehigh's leading tackler with 98 stops and led the team with two interceptions.
Tim Newton earned the best Defensive Lineman Award. The junior from Longwood, Fla was a first team All-Patriot League selection and led the Mountain Hawks in sacks and tackles for a loss with 5.5 and 8.5, respectively.
The Best Linebacker Award was presented to junior Isaiah Campbell. The accounting major started all 11 games at outside linebacker and made 46 total tackles. His first career interception clinched Lehigh's come-from-behind win at Princeton.
The Best Offensive Lineman Award was given to senior Matt Lippincott. The Easton, Pa. native anchored the offensive line and started all 11 games at center. He was a second team All-Patriot League selection.
Senior punter Tim Divers received the Best Special Teams Player Award. The accounting major averaged 40.8 yards per punt and was a first team All-Patriot League selection. Divers had a season-long 64 yard punt against Columbia that netted him Patriot League and Sports Network national Special Teams Player of the Week honors.
Senior running back Cody Haupt took home the department's Scholar-Athlete award. The supply chain management major has a 3.63 GPA and was a multi-year member of the Patriot League Academic Honor Roll. He saw action in all 11 games, primarily on special teams but also rushed for 29 yards on six carries.
The Nick Timko Awards (Engineer Effort Award) were given to freshman offensive lineman Brandon Short and freshman defensive back Brandon Leaks. Short received the Scout Team Offense award and is an engineering major. He also served as Lehigh's backup center. Leaks earned the Scout Team Defense award. The engineering major appeared in all 11 games as Lehigh's primary kickoff returner averaging 21.9 yards on 41 returns.
The annual Lehigh football banquet was made possible by the Lehigh Athletics Partnership program, whose mission is to promote interest in Lehigh Athletics, to encourage and provide financial support to the program and to enhance relations with all former participants, fans, friends, and parents of Lehigh student-athletes.
Story by Connor Tait '14
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