Saturday, October 29
12:30 PM
Lehigh University
vs
Fordham
No. 24 Lehigh hosts Fordham Saturday in key Patriot League clash
10/25/2016 10:40:00 AM | Football
Game Notes | Tickets | Video | Audio | Live Stats
BETHLEHEM, Pa. – The two remaining unbeaten teams in Patriot League football meet Saturday at Goodman Stadium as Lehigh hosts Fordham in a game with significant league title implications. The Mountain Hawks have won six straight games and are coming off a 46-14 win at Holy Cross where they scored 46 straight points after falling behind 7-0 early. Dominick Bragalone rushed for a career-high 182 yards and a pair of touchdowns, while the Lehigh defense recorded five sacks and five takeaways. Lehigh entered the national rankings for the first time in three years, coming in at No. 24 in the Coaches Poll. Fordham has won three straight games, all at home, and held off upset-minded Georgetown 17-14 last weekend.
Saturday's Lehigh-Fordham game is presented by Yianni's Taverna.
Lehigh and Fordham both feature high-powered offenses that rank 1-2 in the Patriot League and sit in the top 10 nationally. The Mountain Hawks boast the league's best passing attack, averaging 343.4 yards on the ground but are coming off a balanced effort at Holy Cross where they rushed for 222 yards and passed for 295. Fordham ranks fourth in the league in passing offense but averages a league-best 276 yards per game on the ground. The Rams average just over 41 points per game, while Lehigh is just over 40 points per contest.
While Lehigh's high-powered offense has received most of the headlines in 2016, the Mountain Hawks' defense has improved considerably as the season has progressed. After allowing just 177 total yards at Georgetown, Lehigh yielded 304 in the win at Holy Cross. More than half of the Crusaders' total yardage came on a 75-yard touchdown drive on their opening possession and an 86-yard scoring drive late in the fourth quarter that accounted for the 46-14 final margin. Lehigh recorded season highs with five sacks, 11 tackles for loss and five takeaways against the Crusaders. After yielding 432.5 yards per game in its first two games (both losses), Lehigh has improved its defense, allowing just 362.2 yards per game during its current six game winning streak.
Last year, tailback Dominick Bragalone became the first Lehigh freshman to eclipse the 1,000 yard rushing mark on the way to becoming Lehigh's first Patriot League Rookie of the Year for football since 1986. Bragalone's 1,008 yards mark the 10th highest single-season total in school history. Bragalone entered the Holy Cross game with just one 100-yard rushing game to his credit this season after registering six as a freshman. He responded with a career-best 182 yards on 17 carries, highlighted by a 66-yard touchdown run in the third quarter. He was named Patriot League Offensive Player of the Week on Monday.
Creating more turnovers has been a point of emphasis for Lehigh's defense for several years, but the results had not materialized until Lehigh's last three games. The Mountain Hawks had just 13 takeaways in each of the last two seasons, but matched that number in eight games thanks to five takeaways at Holy Cross. The five takeaways were the most for a Lehigh team since it recovered three fumbles and picked off two passes in a win over Yale in 2011. The four interceptions against the Crusaders were the most for the Mountain Hawks since they picked off five in a win at Harvard in 2005. Lehigh has turned a minus-2 turnover margin into a plus-7 during its six-game winning streak.
Lehigh is ranked 24th in this week's FCS Coaches Poll marking the Mountain Hawks' return to the national polls for the first time since Nov. 25, 2013 when they were ranked 24th in both polls. Lehigh is currently second among others receiving votes in the STATS FCS Top 25.
Fordham visits Bethlehem winners of three straight games. The Rams are 5-2 overall and recently swept a three-game home stand, defeating Lafayette, Yale and most recently, Georgetown. Playing without starting quarterback Kevin Anderson, the Rams scored the only points of the second half on a field goal to hold off the upstart Hoyas 17-14. Fordham is 5-0 at home and 0-2 on the road with the losses coming at FBS member Navy and in overtime at Monmouth.
The Rams are led by junior running back Chase Edmonds, an All-American who is a candidate for STATS FCS Offensive Player of the Year honors. Edmonds rushed for 179 yards against Georgetown to become Fordham's all-time leading rusher, and recently broke his own Patriot League record, rushing for 359 yards against Lafayette. Fordham ranks fourth nationally in total offense and fifth in scoring offense. Safety Caleb Ham is the reigning Patriot League Defensive Player of the Week after intercepting a pair of passes versus the Georgetown. He has three interceptions on the season. The Rams won the 2014 Patriot League title and have made the FCS Playoffs in three consecutive years.
Lehigh has played Fordham 28 previous times with the Mountain Hawks winning 23 of those meetings. With wins in each of the last three seasons, Fordham has won back-to-back games against Lehigh for the first time in series history. These two teams met for the first time in 1923 then did not meet again until 1989.
On Saturday, Lehigh will compete in the Game Day Recycling Challenge, a nationwide competition between universities to reduce waste at football games. The challenge is to educate fans about waste reduction, and weigh all trash and recycling from one game. Lehigh will implement its waste production program and will track and report waste reduction and disposal data.
Saturday's game kicks off just after 12:30 from 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. Saturday's Lehigh-Fordham game is presented by Yianni's Taverna.
Lehigh closes out its home schedule next Saturday when the Bucknell Bison visit Goodman Stadium on Military Appreciation Day. The Mountain Hawks beat Bucknell 21-10 last season after dropping the two previous meetings with the Bison. Kickoff is set for just after 12:30 p.m.
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BETHLEHEM, Pa. – The two remaining unbeaten teams in Patriot League football meet Saturday at Goodman Stadium as Lehigh hosts Fordham in a game with significant league title implications. The Mountain Hawks have won six straight games and are coming off a 46-14 win at Holy Cross where they scored 46 straight points after falling behind 7-0 early. Dominick Bragalone rushed for a career-high 182 yards and a pair of touchdowns, while the Lehigh defense recorded five sacks and five takeaways. Lehigh entered the national rankings for the first time in three years, coming in at No. 24 in the Coaches Poll. Fordham has won three straight games, all at home, and held off upset-minded Georgetown 17-14 last weekend.
Saturday's Lehigh-Fordham game is presented by Yianni's Taverna.
Lehigh and Fordham both feature high-powered offenses that rank 1-2 in the Patriot League and sit in the top 10 nationally. The Mountain Hawks boast the league's best passing attack, averaging 343.4 yards on the ground but are coming off a balanced effort at Holy Cross where they rushed for 222 yards and passed for 295. Fordham ranks fourth in the league in passing offense but averages a league-best 276 yards per game on the ground. The Rams average just over 41 points per game, while Lehigh is just over 40 points per contest.
While Lehigh's high-powered offense has received most of the headlines in 2016, the Mountain Hawks' defense has improved considerably as the season has progressed. After allowing just 177 total yards at Georgetown, Lehigh yielded 304 in the win at Holy Cross. More than half of the Crusaders' total yardage came on a 75-yard touchdown drive on their opening possession and an 86-yard scoring drive late in the fourth quarter that accounted for the 46-14 final margin. Lehigh recorded season highs with five sacks, 11 tackles for loss and five takeaways against the Crusaders. After yielding 432.5 yards per game in its first two games (both losses), Lehigh has improved its defense, allowing just 362.2 yards per game during its current six game winning streak.
Last year, tailback Dominick Bragalone became the first Lehigh freshman to eclipse the 1,000 yard rushing mark on the way to becoming Lehigh's first Patriot League Rookie of the Year for football since 1986. Bragalone's 1,008 yards mark the 10th highest single-season total in school history. Bragalone entered the Holy Cross game with just one 100-yard rushing game to his credit this season after registering six as a freshman. He responded with a career-best 182 yards on 17 carries, highlighted by a 66-yard touchdown run in the third quarter. He was named Patriot League Offensive Player of the Week on Monday.
Creating more turnovers has been a point of emphasis for Lehigh's defense for several years, but the results had not materialized until Lehigh's last three games. The Mountain Hawks had just 13 takeaways in each of the last two seasons, but matched that number in eight games thanks to five takeaways at Holy Cross. The five takeaways were the most for a Lehigh team since it recovered three fumbles and picked off two passes in a win over Yale in 2011. The four interceptions against the Crusaders were the most for the Mountain Hawks since they picked off five in a win at Harvard in 2005. Lehigh has turned a minus-2 turnover margin into a plus-7 during its six-game winning streak.
Lehigh is ranked 24th in this week's FCS Coaches Poll marking the Mountain Hawks' return to the national polls for the first time since Nov. 25, 2013 when they were ranked 24th in both polls. Lehigh is currently second among others receiving votes in the STATS FCS Top 25.
Fordham visits Bethlehem winners of three straight games. The Rams are 5-2 overall and recently swept a three-game home stand, defeating Lafayette, Yale and most recently, Georgetown. Playing without starting quarterback Kevin Anderson, the Rams scored the only points of the second half on a field goal to hold off the upstart Hoyas 17-14. Fordham is 5-0 at home and 0-2 on the road with the losses coming at FBS member Navy and in overtime at Monmouth.
The Rams are led by junior running back Chase Edmonds, an All-American who is a candidate for STATS FCS Offensive Player of the Year honors. Edmonds rushed for 179 yards against Georgetown to become Fordham's all-time leading rusher, and recently broke his own Patriot League record, rushing for 359 yards against Lafayette. Fordham ranks fourth nationally in total offense and fifth in scoring offense. Safety Caleb Ham is the reigning Patriot League Defensive Player of the Week after intercepting a pair of passes versus the Georgetown. He has three interceptions on the season. The Rams won the 2014 Patriot League title and have made the FCS Playoffs in three consecutive years.
Lehigh has played Fordham 28 previous times with the Mountain Hawks winning 23 of those meetings. With wins in each of the last three seasons, Fordham has won back-to-back games against Lehigh for the first time in series history. These two teams met for the first time in 1923 then did not meet again until 1989.
On Saturday, Lehigh will compete in the Game Day Recycling Challenge, a nationwide competition between universities to reduce waste at football games. The challenge is to educate fans about waste reduction, and weigh all trash and recycling from one game. Lehigh will implement its waste production program and will track and report waste reduction and disposal data.
Saturday's game kicks off just after 12:30 from 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. Saturday's Lehigh-Fordham game is presented by Yianni's Taverna.
Lehigh closes out its home schedule next Saturday when the Bucknell Bison visit Goodman Stadium on Military Appreciation Day. The Mountain Hawks beat Bucknell 21-10 last season after dropping the two previous meetings with the Bison. Kickoff is set for just after 12:30 p.m.
| Date: | October 29, 2016 |
| Opponent: | Fordham Rams |
| 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 online at LehighTickets.com |
| Lehigh's record: | 6-2 overall, 3-0 Patriot League |
| Fordham's record: | 5-2 overall, 2-0 Patriot League |
| Series: | Lehigh leads 23-5 |
| Television | Service Electric 2 Sports live with Steve Degler, Mike Yadush '93 and Al Di Carlo |
| Radio | ESPN Radio of the Lehigh Valley (1160, 1230 and 1320-AM) with Matt Kerr, Tom Fallon and Matt Markus |
| Internet Broadcast: | Video on the Patriot League Network (PatriotLeague.TV) Audio at ESPNLV.com |
| Key Stats: | •Lehigh is averaging 550.8 yards of offense and 46.7 points per game in its current six-game winning streak. •Fordham and Lehigh rank 1-2 in the Patriot League in both scoring offense and total offense. The Rams own the top rushing attack while the Mountain Hawks lead in passing. •Lehigh leads the Patriot League in both third down conversions and third down defense. |
| Behind Enemy Lines: | http://www.fordhamsports.com |
Players Mentioned
RB
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