Saturday, October 10
Lewisburg, Pa.
1:00 PM
Lehigh University
at
Bucknell
Lehigh looks to get back on track as league play begins at Bucknell
10/6/2015 11:06:00 AM | Football
Game Notes | Watch | Listen
BETHLEHEM, Pa. – Looking to snap a two-game slide, Lehigh visits Bucknell Saturday in the Patriot League opener for both teams. The Mountain Hawks were unable to overcome a 13-0 halftime deficit in a 27-12 Homecoming loss to Yale. Lehigh was out-gained 529-317 and while Lehigh's defense came up with three takeaways, the Mountain Hawks were only able to turn those takeaways into two points. Sophomore Troy Pelletier had his third consecutive game of at least ten catches and 100 receiving yards, but Lehigh gained just 87 yards on the ground as Yale controlled the line of scrimmage on both sides of the ball.
Bucknell enters its league opener at 3-1 overall. The Bison overcame a 12 point fourth quarter deficit to defeat VMI 28-22 in overtime in Lexington, Va. Matt DelMauro scored the game-winning touchdown on a 23-yard run. Bucknell also owns wins over Marist and Cornell with its lone loss coming at the hands of Duquesne.
The Bison feature a stingy defense that allows just 15.5 points per game, 106 rushing yards per game and just 285.8 total yards per game. Junior R.J. Nitti is Bucknell's starting quarterback, while classmate C.J. Williams is the top rusher, with 410 yards. Both players missed last year's Lehigh game due to injury. Will Carter is Bucknell's leading receiver with 15 catches for 146 yards. Bucknell claimed three Patriot League weekly awards on Monday, with sophomore linebacker Ben Richard (defense), sophomore running back/kickoff returner Joey DeFloria (special teams) and freshman cornerback Bryan Marine (rookie) being recognized.
An injury limited sophomore wide receiver Troy Pelletier to just three receptions in Lehigh's first two games, but Pelletier's production has exploded with 35 receptions in the Mountain Hawks' last three games, highlighted by a school-record 15 catches at Princeton. Pelletier gained 158 yards against the Tigers and caught his fourth touchdown of the season. Pelletier caught 49 passes as a freshman and led the Mountain Hawks with 815 receiving yards and seven touchdowns in 2014. The New Hampshire native was one of 20 finalists for the Jerry Rice Award, given to the top first year player in the FCS. Lehigh's previous single game reception record was 14, a mark established six times by five different players, most recently Lee Kurfis at Columbia in 2013. Lehigh Hall of Famer Rennie Benn '86 caught 14 passes in a game on two separate occasions.
Junior Brian Githens and sophomore Quentin Jones were among Lehigh's top defensive performers against Yale. Githens, in his first year starting at free safety made a career-high 12 tackles and added three pass breakups against the Bulldogs. The New Jersey native leads Lehigh with two interceptions this season and was named Patriot League Defensive Player of the Week after an 11 tackle, one interception performance against Penn. Jones has started four games at strong safety, and while he had just four tackles against Yale he had a hand in two of the three turnovers forced by Lehigh. In the first half, Jones recorded his first career interception. Jones later stripped a Yale ball carrier at the Lehigh one yard line and the ball went out of the end zone for a Lehigh touchback.
Heading into the season Lehigh hoped to improve its turnover margin but that has yet to be the case so far this season. The Mountain Hawks were minus-3 in turnovers last season and are minus-5 through five games this year. Lehigh's five lost fumbles are more than the Mountain Hawks lost all of last year. The Mountain Hawks also hoped to improve their takeaway numbers but after recording just 13 takeaways last year. Lehigh has seven takeaways through five games in 2015, including three against Yale, but have turned those seven turnovers into just 15 points. Lehigh's opponents have turned 12 Mountain Hawk turnovers into 41 points.
Lehigh and Bucknell both open their Patriot League schedules on Saturday. The Mountain Hawks were picked fifth in the league's preseason poll, while the Bison were picked second. Lehigh has enjoyed pretty good success in league openers under Andy Coen as the Mountain Hawks are 6-3 in their first game against a league opponent since 2006. The Mountain Hawks lost last year's opener to Bucknell at home, and also lost their first game against a league foe in 2013 at Fordham, but the loss to the Rams did not count against the league standings at that time. Prior to last season, the last time Lehigh started league play at 0-1 was 2007.
Lehigh has played Bucknell more times than any Patriot League opponent in school annals other than rival Lafayette. The Mountain Hawks and Bison meet for the 79th time with Lehigh holding a 44-31 advantage (there have also been three ties). Bucknell has followed a 15-game Lehigh winning streak in the series with two consecutive wins.
Saturday's game kicks off just after 1 p.m. from Christy Mathewson-Memorial Stadium in Lewisburg, Pa. Streaming video of the contest will be available on the Patriot League Network, while audio coverage will be available on ESPN Radio 1230 and 1320 and ESPNLV.com, with pregame coverage beginning at noon.
Lehigh will have its bye week next weekend and will return to action on October 24 when the Mountain Hawks visit defending Patriot League champion and preseason favorite Fordham. The Rams have won two straight over the Mountain Hawks and have made back-to-back FCS playoff appearances. Kickoff is set for 1 p.m. from Jack Coffey Field in the Bronx, N.Y. The Mountain Hawks will return to Goodman Stadium on October 31 when they host Georgetown.
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BETHLEHEM, Pa. – Looking to snap a two-game slide, Lehigh visits Bucknell Saturday in the Patriot League opener for both teams. The Mountain Hawks were unable to overcome a 13-0 halftime deficit in a 27-12 Homecoming loss to Yale. Lehigh was out-gained 529-317 and while Lehigh's defense came up with three takeaways, the Mountain Hawks were only able to turn those takeaways into two points. Sophomore Troy Pelletier had his third consecutive game of at least ten catches and 100 receiving yards, but Lehigh gained just 87 yards on the ground as Yale controlled the line of scrimmage on both sides of the ball.
Bucknell enters its league opener at 3-1 overall. The Bison overcame a 12 point fourth quarter deficit to defeat VMI 28-22 in overtime in Lexington, Va. Matt DelMauro scored the game-winning touchdown on a 23-yard run. Bucknell also owns wins over Marist and Cornell with its lone loss coming at the hands of Duquesne.
The Bison feature a stingy defense that allows just 15.5 points per game, 106 rushing yards per game and just 285.8 total yards per game. Junior R.J. Nitti is Bucknell's starting quarterback, while classmate C.J. Williams is the top rusher, with 410 yards. Both players missed last year's Lehigh game due to injury. Will Carter is Bucknell's leading receiver with 15 catches for 146 yards. Bucknell claimed three Patriot League weekly awards on Monday, with sophomore linebacker Ben Richard (defense), sophomore running back/kickoff returner Joey DeFloria (special teams) and freshman cornerback Bryan Marine (rookie) being recognized.
An injury limited sophomore wide receiver Troy Pelletier to just three receptions in Lehigh's first two games, but Pelletier's production has exploded with 35 receptions in the Mountain Hawks' last three games, highlighted by a school-record 15 catches at Princeton. Pelletier gained 158 yards against the Tigers and caught his fourth touchdown of the season. Pelletier caught 49 passes as a freshman and led the Mountain Hawks with 815 receiving yards and seven touchdowns in 2014. The New Hampshire native was one of 20 finalists for the Jerry Rice Award, given to the top first year player in the FCS. Lehigh's previous single game reception record was 14, a mark established six times by five different players, most recently Lee Kurfis at Columbia in 2013. Lehigh Hall of Famer Rennie Benn '86 caught 14 passes in a game on two separate occasions.
Junior Brian Githens and sophomore Quentin Jones were among Lehigh's top defensive performers against Yale. Githens, in his first year starting at free safety made a career-high 12 tackles and added three pass breakups against the Bulldogs. The New Jersey native leads Lehigh with two interceptions this season and was named Patriot League Defensive Player of the Week after an 11 tackle, one interception performance against Penn. Jones has started four games at strong safety, and while he had just four tackles against Yale he had a hand in two of the three turnovers forced by Lehigh. In the first half, Jones recorded his first career interception. Jones later stripped a Yale ball carrier at the Lehigh one yard line and the ball went out of the end zone for a Lehigh touchback.
Heading into the season Lehigh hoped to improve its turnover margin but that has yet to be the case so far this season. The Mountain Hawks were minus-3 in turnovers last season and are minus-5 through five games this year. Lehigh's five lost fumbles are more than the Mountain Hawks lost all of last year. The Mountain Hawks also hoped to improve their takeaway numbers but after recording just 13 takeaways last year. Lehigh has seven takeaways through five games in 2015, including three against Yale, but have turned those seven turnovers into just 15 points. Lehigh's opponents have turned 12 Mountain Hawk turnovers into 41 points.
Lehigh and Bucknell both open their Patriot League schedules on Saturday. The Mountain Hawks were picked fifth in the league's preseason poll, while the Bison were picked second. Lehigh has enjoyed pretty good success in league openers under Andy Coen as the Mountain Hawks are 6-3 in their first game against a league opponent since 2006. The Mountain Hawks lost last year's opener to Bucknell at home, and also lost their first game against a league foe in 2013 at Fordham, but the loss to the Rams did not count against the league standings at that time. Prior to last season, the last time Lehigh started league play at 0-1 was 2007.
Lehigh has played Bucknell more times than any Patriot League opponent in school annals other than rival Lafayette. The Mountain Hawks and Bison meet for the 79th time with Lehigh holding a 44-31 advantage (there have also been three ties). Bucknell has followed a 15-game Lehigh winning streak in the series with two consecutive wins.
Saturday's game kicks off just after 1 p.m. from Christy Mathewson-Memorial Stadium in Lewisburg, Pa. Streaming video of the contest will be available on the Patriot League Network, while audio coverage will be available on ESPN Radio 1230 and 1320 and ESPNLV.com, with pregame coverage beginning at noon.
Lehigh will have its bye week next weekend and will return to action on October 24 when the Mountain Hawks visit defending Patriot League champion and preseason favorite Fordham. The Rams have won two straight over the Mountain Hawks and have made back-to-back FCS playoff appearances. Kickoff is set for 1 p.m. from Jack Coffey Field in the Bronx, N.Y. The Mountain Hawks will return to Goodman Stadium on October 31 when they host Georgetown.
| Date: | October 10, 2015 |
| Opponent: | Bucknell Bison |
| Kickoff: | 1:05 p.m. |
| Stadium: | Christy Mathewson-Memorial Stadium/13,100/FieldTurf |
| Location: | Lewisburg, Pa. |
| Tickets: | Tickets can be purchased by calling Bucknell at (570) 577-1000 |
| Lehigh's Record: | 2-3 overall, 0-0 Patriot League |
| Bucknell's Record: | 3-1 overall, 0-0 Patriot League |
| Series: | Lehigh leads 44-31-3 |
| Television | None |
| Radio | ESPN Radio 1230 and 1320 AM with Matt Kerr, Matt Markus and Steve Lomangino beginning at noon |
| Internet Broadcast: | Video on the Patriot League Network (PatriotLeague.TV) Audio at ESPNLV.com |
| Key Stats: | •Lehigh boasts the league's top overall offense (439.4 ypg), while Bucknell features the league's top defense (285.8 ypg.) •The Mountain Hawks have rushed for 100 yards or more in 21 of their last 27 games, but two of the six games they failed to reach 100 yards were against Bucknell. •Sophomore wide receiver Troy Pelletier has 35 receptions for 371 yards and four touchdowns in Lehigh's last three games. |
| Behind Enemy Lines: | http://www.bucknellbison.com |
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