Lehigh University Athletics
Saturday, September 19
12:30 PM
Lehigh University
vs
Penn
Mountain Hawks to make home debut Saturday vs. Penn
9/15/2015 12:12:00 PM | Football
Game Notes | Tickets | Video | Audio | Live Stats
BETHLEHEM, Pa. – After opening with two straight road games, Lehigh makes its 2015 Goodman Stadium debut Saturday against the Penn Quakers in the first meeting between the schools since 2003. A string of 31 unanswered first-half points doomed the Mountain Hawks in their first loss of the season, 55-17 last weekend at No. 11/13 James Madison. Junior Nick Shafnisky threw for 263 yards and a pair of touchdowns for Lehigh but James Madison's high-powered offense generated 618 total yards, while the defense transformed three Mountain Hawk turnovers into 21 points.
Penn opens its season on Saturday, its first season since 1992 without Al Bagnoli on the sidelines as longtime assistant Ray Priore takes over as head coach. The Quakers are coming off a 2-8 campaign a season ago that saw Penn go 2-5 in Ivy League play with wins over Columbia and Cornell. Penn was picked sixth in the Ivy League preseason poll. The Quakers return 42 letter winners from a season ago including a pair of returning All-Ivy selections in tight end Ryan O'Malley and defensive end Tyler Drake. Alek Torgersen returns as Penn's starting quarterback. Torgersen started all ten games in 2014 and has made 11 straight starts overall.
Freshman Dom Bragalone captured his second consecutive Patriot League Rookie of the Week award on Monday. Bragalone accounted for 103 yards of total offense and scored his first career touchdown against James Madison. On Lehigh's second play from scrimmage Bragalone caught a 72-yard touchdown pass from Nick Shafnisky. Bragalone started Lehigh's first two games at tailback, rushing for 68 yards on 17 carries at CCSU. He is averaging 3.2 yards per carry so far this season, but leads the Mountain Hawks with 136 receiving yards on just four catches.
Defensively, the Mountain Hawks have gone through peaks and valleys in their first two games. The new look Lehigh defense had a strong showing in its opener, limiting Central Connecticut State to 274 yards and 14 points, well below its 2014 season averages; but against James Madison, the Mountain Hawks yielded 618 yards of total offense and 55 points. Lehigh has picked up its sack production with five through two games after a pair of down years there. The Mountain Hawks have registered two takeaways through two games, a Tyler Cavenas fumble recovery and a Brian Githens interception, but have been unable to turn either into points.
To replace a large class lost to graduation, Lehigh's 2015 roster features 33 freshmen, several of who are expected to contribute right away. Thirteen freshmen have already seen game action, including tailback Dom Bragalone, who has started Lehigh's first two games. Running back Micco Brisker, kicker Ed Mish, snapper Mark Walker and kickoff returners Donavon Harris and Mike Gies and defensive backs Kareem Montgomery and Sam McCloskey have appeared in both games. Quarterback Brad Mayes, running back Nick Thevanayagam, receiver Luke Christiano, linebacker Jake Buskirk and offensive lineman Eric Hawkinson made their Lehigh debuts at James Madison.
After playing its first two games in 2015 on the road, Lehigh should be happy to play the first of five games at Goodman Stadium this season, but home openers have not been kind to the Mountain Hawks in the first nine years of Andy Coen's tenure. Lehigh is just 3-6 in home openers since Coen took over in 2006. The Mountain Hawks have won two of their last three home openers, beating Monmouth in 2012 and CCSU in 2013. Lehigh's other home opening win under Coen was a 19-0 shutout of Drake in 2008.
Lehigh and Penn meet for the 58th time with the Quakers holding a 44-13 advantage. These teams have not met since 2003 after meeting regularly in the 1960s, 70s, 80s and 90s. Penn has won the last two games in the series with Lehigh's most recent win coming by a 17-10 score in 2000. Lehigh has won 11 of the last 15 meetings dating back to 1975. These teams first met in 1885.
Saturday's game kicks off just after 12:30 on Youth Sports Day at Goodman Stadium. Youth Sports Day activities include inflatable games and face painting by the Lehigh Dance Team from 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. in front of the main entrance to Goodman Stadium.
Tickets for the game are still available, and may be purchased in one of three ways: by visiting the Lehigh ticket office located in Stabler Arena, by calling (610) 7LU-GAME, or on-line anytime at LehighTickets.com.
Lehigh returns to the road next Saturday for the second of three consecutive games against Ivy League opponents as the Mountain Hawks visit Princeton. Game time is set for 5 p.m. from Princeton Stadium in New Jersey.
Like Lehigh Football on Facebook and follow on Twitter for exclusive updates throughout the season.
BETHLEHEM, Pa. – After opening with two straight road games, Lehigh makes its 2015 Goodman Stadium debut Saturday against the Penn Quakers in the first meeting between the schools since 2003. A string of 31 unanswered first-half points doomed the Mountain Hawks in their first loss of the season, 55-17 last weekend at No. 11/13 James Madison. Junior Nick Shafnisky threw for 263 yards and a pair of touchdowns for Lehigh but James Madison's high-powered offense generated 618 total yards, while the defense transformed three Mountain Hawk turnovers into 21 points.
Penn opens its season on Saturday, its first season since 1992 without Al Bagnoli on the sidelines as longtime assistant Ray Priore takes over as head coach. The Quakers are coming off a 2-8 campaign a season ago that saw Penn go 2-5 in Ivy League play with wins over Columbia and Cornell. Penn was picked sixth in the Ivy League preseason poll. The Quakers return 42 letter winners from a season ago including a pair of returning All-Ivy selections in tight end Ryan O'Malley and defensive end Tyler Drake. Alek Torgersen returns as Penn's starting quarterback. Torgersen started all ten games in 2014 and has made 11 straight starts overall.
Freshman Dom Bragalone captured his second consecutive Patriot League Rookie of the Week award on Monday. Bragalone accounted for 103 yards of total offense and scored his first career touchdown against James Madison. On Lehigh's second play from scrimmage Bragalone caught a 72-yard touchdown pass from Nick Shafnisky. Bragalone started Lehigh's first two games at tailback, rushing for 68 yards on 17 carries at CCSU. He is averaging 3.2 yards per carry so far this season, but leads the Mountain Hawks with 136 receiving yards on just four catches.
Defensively, the Mountain Hawks have gone through peaks and valleys in their first two games. The new look Lehigh defense had a strong showing in its opener, limiting Central Connecticut State to 274 yards and 14 points, well below its 2014 season averages; but against James Madison, the Mountain Hawks yielded 618 yards of total offense and 55 points. Lehigh has picked up its sack production with five through two games after a pair of down years there. The Mountain Hawks have registered two takeaways through two games, a Tyler Cavenas fumble recovery and a Brian Githens interception, but have been unable to turn either into points.
To replace a large class lost to graduation, Lehigh's 2015 roster features 33 freshmen, several of who are expected to contribute right away. Thirteen freshmen have already seen game action, including tailback Dom Bragalone, who has started Lehigh's first two games. Running back Micco Brisker, kicker Ed Mish, snapper Mark Walker and kickoff returners Donavon Harris and Mike Gies and defensive backs Kareem Montgomery and Sam McCloskey have appeared in both games. Quarterback Brad Mayes, running back Nick Thevanayagam, receiver Luke Christiano, linebacker Jake Buskirk and offensive lineman Eric Hawkinson made their Lehigh debuts at James Madison.
After playing its first two games in 2015 on the road, Lehigh should be happy to play the first of five games at Goodman Stadium this season, but home openers have not been kind to the Mountain Hawks in the first nine years of Andy Coen's tenure. Lehigh is just 3-6 in home openers since Coen took over in 2006. The Mountain Hawks have won two of their last three home openers, beating Monmouth in 2012 and CCSU in 2013. Lehigh's other home opening win under Coen was a 19-0 shutout of Drake in 2008.
Lehigh and Penn meet for the 58th time with the Quakers holding a 44-13 advantage. These teams have not met since 2003 after meeting regularly in the 1960s, 70s, 80s and 90s. Penn has won the last two games in the series with Lehigh's most recent win coming by a 17-10 score in 2000. Lehigh has won 11 of the last 15 meetings dating back to 1975. These teams first met in 1885.
Saturday's game kicks off just after 12:30 on Youth Sports Day at Goodman Stadium. Youth Sports Day activities include inflatable games and face painting by the Lehigh Dance Team from 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. in front of the main entrance to Goodman Stadium.
Tickets for the game are still available, and may be purchased in one of three ways: by visiting the Lehigh ticket office located in Stabler Arena, by calling (610) 7LU-GAME, or on-line anytime at LehighTickets.com.
Lehigh returns to the road next Saturday for the second of three consecutive games against Ivy League opponents as the Mountain Hawks visit Princeton. Game time is set for 5 p.m. from Princeton Stadium in New Jersey.
| Date: | September 19, 2015 |
| Opponent: | Penn Quakers |
| Kickoff: | 12:37 p.m. |
| Stadium: | Goodman Stadium/16,000/Natural Grass |
| Location: | Bethlehem, Pa. |
| Tickets: | Tickets can be purchased by calling (610) 7LU-GAME, or on-line at LehighTickets.com |
| Lehigh's Record: | 1-1, 0-0 Patriot League |
| Penn's Record: | 0-0, 0-0 Ivy League |
| Series: | Penn leads 44-13 |
| Television: | Service Electric 2 Sports with Steve Degler, Mike Yadush '93 and Al Di Carlo |
| Radio: | ESPN Radio 1230 and 1320 with Matt Kerr, Tom Fallon and Matt Markus |
| Internet: | Video on the Patriot League Network Audio at ESPNLV.com |
| Key Stats: | •Through two games Lehigh leads the Patriot League in both total offense (412 ypg.) and passing offense (286 ypg.). •Junior quarterback Nick Shafnisky ranks seventh in the FCS averaging 331 yards of total offense per game. •Lehigh has won 11 of the last 14 games versus Penn after the Quakers won 34 straight against the Brown and White from 1890-1975. |
| Behind Enemy Lines: | http://www.pennathletics.com |
Like Lehigh Football on Facebook and follow on Twitter for exclusive updates throughout the season.
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