Lehigh University Athletics
Brisker, Githens and Mish all win Patriot League weekly awards
9/21/2015 12:21:00 PM | Football
BETHLEHEM, Pa. - Following an impressive win versus Penn in its home opener Saturday, three members of the Lehigh football team were recognized with Patriot League weekly awards on Monday. Freshman Micco Brisker was named the league's Rookie of the Week, junior Brian Githens earned Defensive Player of the Week and freshman Ed Mish garnered Special Teams Player of the Week.
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This marks the third time in as many weeks the Mountain Hawks were recognized with at least one weekly award. Freshman Dominic Bragalone earned back-to-back Rookie of the Week awards to begin his career while junior Colton Caslow was named Defensive Player of the Week following the season-opening win over Central Connecticut State.
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Brisker came on for an injured Dominick Bragalone and finished the afternoon with 22 rushes for 114 yards, averaging 5.2 yards per carry. In the process, he became Lehigh's first 100-yard rusher since Rich Sodeke last season at Georgetown. All 22 of Brisker's carries gained positive yardage or no gain. He was stellar in the second half, rushing 16 times for 88 yards. For the game, five of Brisker's carries went for first downs as he helped spearhead a Lehigh running attack that gained 245 yards. Brisker became Lehigh's first freshman to rush for 100 yards in a game since Dave Wilson rushed for 154 vs. Fordham in 2000.
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Githens finished the afternoon with a career-high 11 tackles (0.5 tackles for loss) from the secondary, including eight solo tackles. He also had an interception for the second straight week, this one coming early in the fourth quarter after a Lehigh turnover to help the Mountain Hawks regain momentum. Following his 28-yard return, the offense punched in its sixth touchdown of the afternoon to take a 42-14 lead. Githens has emerged as Lehigh's starter at free safety after no starts in either of his first two seasons.
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Mish was busy on Saturday, finishing a perfect 6-for-6 on extra points while five of his seven kickoffs went for touchbacks, his first five touchbacks of the season. The freshman averaged 64.3 yards per kickoff while his five PATs are the most for a Lehigh kicker since Ryan Pandy had five at Yale last season. Mish is now a perfect 10-for-10 on PATs this season and 3-for-3 on field goals.
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Junior Nick Shafnisky also received honorable mention laurels after finishing 24-of-34 passing for 250 yards and three touchdowns. He also rushed 16 times for 95 yards and two touchdowns.
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The Mountain Hawks will head back out on the road to play their second Ivy League opponent for a second straight week when they travel to Princeton next Saturday. Kickoff is set for 5 p.m. The game will be broadcast on ESPN Radio 1230 and 1320 as well as ESPNLV.com.
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Like Lehigh Football on Facebook and follow on Twitter for exclusive updates throughout the season.Â
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This marks the third time in as many weeks the Mountain Hawks were recognized with at least one weekly award. Freshman Dominic Bragalone earned back-to-back Rookie of the Week awards to begin his career while junior Colton Caslow was named Defensive Player of the Week following the season-opening win over Central Connecticut State.
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Brisker came on for an injured Dominick Bragalone and finished the afternoon with 22 rushes for 114 yards, averaging 5.2 yards per carry. In the process, he became Lehigh's first 100-yard rusher since Rich Sodeke last season at Georgetown. All 22 of Brisker's carries gained positive yardage or no gain. He was stellar in the second half, rushing 16 times for 88 yards. For the game, five of Brisker's carries went for first downs as he helped spearhead a Lehigh running attack that gained 245 yards. Brisker became Lehigh's first freshman to rush for 100 yards in a game since Dave Wilson rushed for 154 vs. Fordham in 2000.
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Githens finished the afternoon with a career-high 11 tackles (0.5 tackles for loss) from the secondary, including eight solo tackles. He also had an interception for the second straight week, this one coming early in the fourth quarter after a Lehigh turnover to help the Mountain Hawks regain momentum. Following his 28-yard return, the offense punched in its sixth touchdown of the afternoon to take a 42-14 lead. Githens has emerged as Lehigh's starter at free safety after no starts in either of his first two seasons.
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Mish was busy on Saturday, finishing a perfect 6-for-6 on extra points while five of his seven kickoffs went for touchbacks, his first five touchbacks of the season. The freshman averaged 64.3 yards per kickoff while his five PATs are the most for a Lehigh kicker since Ryan Pandy had five at Yale last season. Mish is now a perfect 10-for-10 on PATs this season and 3-for-3 on field goals.
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Junior Nick Shafnisky also received honorable mention laurels after finishing 24-of-34 passing for 250 yards and three touchdowns. He also rushed 16 times for 95 yards and two touchdowns.
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The Mountain Hawks will head back out on the road to play their second Ivy League opponent for a second straight week when they travel to Princeton next Saturday. Kickoff is set for 5 p.m. The game will be broadcast on ESPN Radio 1230 and 1320 as well as ESPNLV.com.
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Like Lehigh Football on Facebook and follow on Twitter for exclusive updates throughout the season.Â
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Players Mentioned
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