Bragalone named Rookie of the Year; eight Mountain Hawks named to All-League teams
11/24/2015 11:05:00 AM | Football
BETHLEHEM, Pa. – Running back Dominick Bragalone became Lehigh's first Patriot League Rookie of the Year in 29 years, leading the way for the eight Mountain Hawks who garnered All-Patriot League recognition, as the all-league teams and major award winners for football were announced Tuesday.
Bragalone was one of five Mountain Hawks to be named first team all-league, along with sophomore wide receiver Troy Pelletier, senior offensive lineman Matt Ford, junior linebacker Colton Caslow and senior cornerback Olivier Rigaud. Lehigh's three second-team selections include junior offensive lineman Zach Duffy, sophomore offensive lineman Tim O'Hara and senior defensive end Matt Laub.
The first Lehigh freshman to rush for 1,000 yards in a season, Bragalone eclipsed the milestone on the final carry of Lehigh's 49-35 win over rival Lafayette on Saturday, breaking free down the left sideline for a 44 yard touchdown. Bragalone carried 179 times for 1,008 yards and seven touchdowns, averaging 5.6 yards per carry to produce Lehigh's 11th 1,000 yard rushing season in school history. He added 14 receptions for 254 yards and totaled eight touchdowns, including five over his last three games. Bragalone had six 100-yard rushing games, with a high of 169 in Lehigh's win over Georgetown on Halloween.
Bragalone is just the second Lehigh player to be named Rookie of the Year in football, and the first since Mark McGowan won the inaugural award in 1986. He joined Patriot League Offensive Player of the Year Chase Edmonds of Fordham as the two first-team running backs.
Pelletier and Caslow both moved up to the first team after garnering second team accolades in 2014. Pelletier led a deep Lehigh receiving corps with 78 catches for 831 yards and eight touchdowns. He had three 100-yard receiving games and established a new school single-game record with 15 receptions at Princeton in late September.
Caslow led the Mountain Hawks with 95 tackles despite missing two games due to injury. Lehigh's middle linebacker finished second on the Mountain Hawks with eight tackles for loss and added one sack. He had five double-digit tackle games, highlighted by a career-high 17 stops in Lehigh's season opening win at Central Connecticut State.
Captains Ford and Rigaud were Lehigh's other two first-team selections. Ford was the leader of an offensive line that set the foundation for the Mountain Hawks' high-powered, but balanced offensive attack. He started all 11 games at left guard and made 22 consecutive starts at the position dating back to last season.
Regarded as Lehigh's top cover corner, Rigaud tied for third on the Mountain Hawks with 54 tackles and added two tackles for loss and half a sack. He tied for the team lead with four pass breakups. Rigaud scored his first career touchdown at Princeton after forcing a fumble and returning it 72 yards for the score.
Lehigh's bookend offensive tackles O'Hara and Duffy were the Mountain Hawks' offensive second team selections. O'Hara started all 11 games, while Duffy started 10 for a line in which the five starters started together in 54 of 55 possible games. The two tackles helped Lehigh rush for 188.2 yards per game and pass for 274.3 yards per game. They also paved the way for a 1,000 yard rusher and provided protection for a Lehigh offense that generated 32.3 points per game.
Laub garnered his first career all-league recognition with a strong showing in his first season playing exclusively on the defensive line. In 11 games at defensive end, Laub made 32 tackles, including 5.5 for loss and added four sacks. He also had a forced fumble and a fumble recovery to his credit. Laub began his season with 1.5 sacks at CCSU and later had a two tackles for loss effort against Georgetown.
In addition to Bragalone and Edmonds, the other two major Patriot League awards went to Bucknell defensive back Clayton Ewell (Defensive Player of the Year) and Colgate's Dan Hunt (Coach of the Year).
Lehigh's win over Lafayette on Saturday clinched Lehigh's fifth winning season in the last six years as the Mountain Hawks finished at 6-5 overall and 4-2 in the Patriot League.
Like Lehigh Football on Facebook and follow on Twitter for exclusive updates throughout the season.
Bragalone was one of five Mountain Hawks to be named first team all-league, along with sophomore wide receiver Troy Pelletier, senior offensive lineman Matt Ford, junior linebacker Colton Caslow and senior cornerback Olivier Rigaud. Lehigh's three second-team selections include junior offensive lineman Zach Duffy, sophomore offensive lineman Tim O'Hara and senior defensive end Matt Laub.
The first Lehigh freshman to rush for 1,000 yards in a season, Bragalone eclipsed the milestone on the final carry of Lehigh's 49-35 win over rival Lafayette on Saturday, breaking free down the left sideline for a 44 yard touchdown. Bragalone carried 179 times for 1,008 yards and seven touchdowns, averaging 5.6 yards per carry to produce Lehigh's 11th 1,000 yard rushing season in school history. He added 14 receptions for 254 yards and totaled eight touchdowns, including five over his last three games. Bragalone had six 100-yard rushing games, with a high of 169 in Lehigh's win over Georgetown on Halloween.
Bragalone is just the second Lehigh player to be named Rookie of the Year in football, and the first since Mark McGowan won the inaugural award in 1986. He joined Patriot League Offensive Player of the Year Chase Edmonds of Fordham as the two first-team running backs.
Pelletier and Caslow both moved up to the first team after garnering second team accolades in 2014. Pelletier led a deep Lehigh receiving corps with 78 catches for 831 yards and eight touchdowns. He had three 100-yard receiving games and established a new school single-game record with 15 receptions at Princeton in late September.
Caslow led the Mountain Hawks with 95 tackles despite missing two games due to injury. Lehigh's middle linebacker finished second on the Mountain Hawks with eight tackles for loss and added one sack. He had five double-digit tackle games, highlighted by a career-high 17 stops in Lehigh's season opening win at Central Connecticut State.
Captains Ford and Rigaud were Lehigh's other two first-team selections. Ford was the leader of an offensive line that set the foundation for the Mountain Hawks' high-powered, but balanced offensive attack. He started all 11 games at left guard and made 22 consecutive starts at the position dating back to last season.
Regarded as Lehigh's top cover corner, Rigaud tied for third on the Mountain Hawks with 54 tackles and added two tackles for loss and half a sack. He tied for the team lead with four pass breakups. Rigaud scored his first career touchdown at Princeton after forcing a fumble and returning it 72 yards for the score.
Lehigh's bookend offensive tackles O'Hara and Duffy were the Mountain Hawks' offensive second team selections. O'Hara started all 11 games, while Duffy started 10 for a line in which the five starters started together in 54 of 55 possible games. The two tackles helped Lehigh rush for 188.2 yards per game and pass for 274.3 yards per game. They also paved the way for a 1,000 yard rusher and provided protection for a Lehigh offense that generated 32.3 points per game.
Laub garnered his first career all-league recognition with a strong showing in his first season playing exclusively on the defensive line. In 11 games at defensive end, Laub made 32 tackles, including 5.5 for loss and added four sacks. He also had a forced fumble and a fumble recovery to his credit. Laub began his season with 1.5 sacks at CCSU and later had a two tackles for loss effort against Georgetown.
In addition to Bragalone and Edmonds, the other two major Patriot League awards went to Bucknell defensive back Clayton Ewell (Defensive Player of the Year) and Colgate's Dan Hunt (Coach of the Year).
Lehigh's win over Lafayette on Saturday clinched Lehigh's fifth winning season in the last six years as the Mountain Hawks finished at 6-5 overall and 4-2 in the Patriot League.
Like Lehigh Football on Facebook and follow on Twitter for exclusive updates throughout the season.
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