Saturday, November 19
Easton, Pa.
12:30 PM
Lehigh University
at
Lafayette
Patriot League champs head to Easton Saturday for 152nd edition of The Rivalry
11/15/2016 11:07:00 AM | Football
Game Notes | Watch | ListenÂ
The Rivalry: Lehigh vs. Lafayette | Lehigh Patriot League Champions Merchandise
BETHLEHEM, Pa. - Coming off a bye week that followed the clinching of its 11th Patriot League championship, No. 19/17 Lehigh closes out its regular season as the Mountain Hawks visit Fisher Stadium Saturday to battle Lafayette in the 152nd meeting of college football's most-played rivalry. Lehigh will be gunning for its ninth straight victory overall and second straight over the Leopards before shifting focus to the FCS playoffs, which begin Nov. 26. The Mountain Hawks relied on a strong defensive effort to hold off Bucknell 20-13 in their last game on Nov. 5 as Lehigh outscored the Bison 13-0 in the second half to clinch the league title and an automatic playoff berth.
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While Lehigh's offense has ranked among the nation's best all season, the Mountain Hawks had to rely on their defense to secure their 11th Patriot League championship with the victory over Bucknell. Lehigh's 357 yards of offense were its lowest since the season-opener against Monmouth but the defense limited Bucknell to 382 yards, including just 133 in the second half. The Mountain Hawks forced a pair of turnovers and recorded four sacks to help erase a 13-7 halftime deficit. Lehigh's defense shut out an opponent in the second half for the third time this season.
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Senior linebacker Pierce Ripanti enjoyed the best game of his senior season in the victory over Bucknell. Ripanti totaled 10 tackles, good for second on the Mountain Hawks and added two tackles for loss. He contributed two huge plays in the second half. On Bucknell's first play after Lehigh took a 17-13 lead, Ripanti deflected and then picked off a R.J. Nitti pass for his first career interception. That interception led to a field goal. Later, Ripanti thwarted Bucknell's final offensive possession, storming off the edge to sack Nitti on 4th-and-13 as Lehigh took over possession on downs, picked up one first down, and then ran out the clock. Ripanti ranks third on the Mountain Hawks with 58 tackles and has a pair of sacks on the season. He was named Patriot League Defensive Player of the Week on Nov. 7.
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Senior quarterback Nick Shafnisky returned to the starting lineup against Fordham and showcased his dual threat ability. Shafnisky threw just 18 passes and completed 10 for 238 yards and a touchdown, but added 108 yards and three touchdowns as a rusher. He has started six of the eight games during Lehigh's current winning streak, throwing for more than 300 yards against Penn, Princeton and Colgate. Shafnisky accounted for six touchdowns at Penn and then threw for a career-high 461 yards in the win over Princeton. Those performances won Shafnisky back-to-back Patriot League Offensive Player of the Week awards and he was also named the STATS FCS National Offensive Player of the Week for his performance against the Tigers. After forgettable performances against Lafayette in his first two seasons, Shafnisky enjoyed one of the finest games of his career in last year's rivalry game, completing 21-of-27 passes for 283 yards and four touchdowns, while also rushing for 109 yards and a score. Shafnisky now owns seven career 300-yard passing games and three 100-yard rushing games.
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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. In back-to-back games, Bragalone rushed for 182 yards against Holy Cross and then established a new career-high with 192 against Fordham. He totaled five touchdowns in those two games, including a career-long 70 yard rush against the Rams. Those career efforts earned Bragalone back-to-back Patriot League Offensive Player of the Week awards. He needs just four yards to reach 1,000 for the second straight season. If he does so, he would join Rabih Abdullah '97 as just the second Lehigh player to record two 1,000-yard rushing seasons.
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Lafayette enters its season finale looking to salvage its season with a potential third win in four years against its rival. The Leopards come in at 2-8 following a 38-17 loss at Colgate on Saturday. Lafayette won its opener at Central Connecticut State and then lost seven straight games before beating Georgetown on Oct. 29.
The Leopards rank third in the Patriot League in passing offense with seniors Drew Reed and Blake Searfoss seeing the majority of time at quarterback. Reed was the MVP of meeting 149 as a freshman in 2013. Matt Mrazek is Lafayette's top receiver with 64 receptions for 673 yards and eight touchdowns. The Leopards average 69.4 yards per game on the ground and allow 254.3 yards rushing per game. Michael Root leads Lafayette with 82 tackles this season. Rob Hinchen has a team best 3.5 sacks and 10 tackles for loss to go along with 75 stops. Lafayette leads the Patriot League in pass defense, yielding just 164.3 yards per game.
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The Mountain Hawks' win over Bucknell secured Lehigh's 10th FCS (formerly I-AA) playoff berth and its first since 2011. Lehigh's win against Bucknell marked the sixth time the Mountain Hawks clinched an NCAA playoff berth the week prior to facing arch rival Lafayette. Lehigh owns a 5-0 record against the Leopards in games following the clinching of a FCS playoff berth.
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In a three-year stretch from 1995 to 1997, Lehigh spotted Lafayette an early double-digit lead, only to come back and win the game. In 1995, Lafayette went ahead by 16 with 11:33 to play only to see Lehigh come back to win on Brian Klingerman's one-handed touchdown catch in overtime. The next year, Lafayette raced to a 19-0 lead late in the first half, before Lehigh scored the final 23 points of the contest. In 1997, Lehigh dug itself an early 21-0 hole but rallied to win 43-31. Those three comebacks sparked Lehigh's longest winning streak in the series as the Mountain Hawks won seven straight against the Leopards from 1995-2001.
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The team that holds onto the ball usually wins in this heated rivalry. Since 1998 the team that wins the turnover battle has won 12 of the 18 games (Lehigh and Lafayette were even in turnovers in 2010 and 2015). Lehigh won the turnover battle but lost the 2007 rivalry game, while Lafayette won the turnover battle but lost games in 1999, 2003 and 2012. Lehigh last won the turnover battle in 2011 (plus-3).
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Lehigh and Lafayette meet for the 152nd time with the Leopards holding a 78-68 lead. There have also been five ties in the series with the last occurring in 1964. The Mountain Hawks have won 14 of the last 22 meetings in the series. While Lafayette dominated the early years of the Rivalry, Lehigh owns an impressive 41-23-2 record since 1950. This will be the 72nd meeting in Easton and fifth since the Fisher Stadium renovation. Lehigh has won the last three games played at Fisher Stadium and will visit Easton for the first time since 2012. Andy Coen is 6-4 versus Lafayette and has won six of the last eight games.
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Saturday's game kicks off just after 12:30 p.m. from Fisher Stadium in Easton, Pa. Lehigh's ticket allotment is sold out but a limited number of tickets are available through Lafayette. Fans unable to make it to Fisher Stadium can watch the game on WFMZ-TV (Service Electric dial position 8/508) and the Patriot League Network. Audio coverage will be available on ESPN Radio of the Lehigh Valley (1230/1320/1160-AM) and ESPNLV.com beginning at 11:30 a.m.
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Lehigh will learn its FCS playoff fate on Sunday morning when the brackets are announced at 11 a.m. on ESPNU. The Mountain Hawks will likely play in one of eight first round games on Saturday Nov. 26. Lehigh is one of five teams that has already clinched a playoff berth joining the Citadel (Southern), James Madison (CAA), Saint Francis (NEC) and San Diego (Pioneer).
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Like Lehigh Football on Facebook and follow on Twitter for exclusive updates throughout the season.
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The Rivalry: Lehigh vs. Lafayette | Lehigh Patriot League Champions Merchandise
BETHLEHEM, Pa. - Coming off a bye week that followed the clinching of its 11th Patriot League championship, No. 19/17 Lehigh closes out its regular season as the Mountain Hawks visit Fisher Stadium Saturday to battle Lafayette in the 152nd meeting of college football's most-played rivalry. Lehigh will be gunning for its ninth straight victory overall and second straight over the Leopards before shifting focus to the FCS playoffs, which begin Nov. 26. The Mountain Hawks relied on a strong defensive effort to hold off Bucknell 20-13 in their last game on Nov. 5 as Lehigh outscored the Bison 13-0 in the second half to clinch the league title and an automatic playoff berth.
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While Lehigh's offense has ranked among the nation's best all season, the Mountain Hawks had to rely on their defense to secure their 11th Patriot League championship with the victory over Bucknell. Lehigh's 357 yards of offense were its lowest since the season-opener against Monmouth but the defense limited Bucknell to 382 yards, including just 133 in the second half. The Mountain Hawks forced a pair of turnovers and recorded four sacks to help erase a 13-7 halftime deficit. Lehigh's defense shut out an opponent in the second half for the third time this season.
 Senior linebacker Pierce Ripanti enjoyed the best game of his senior season in the victory over Bucknell. Ripanti totaled 10 tackles, good for second on the Mountain Hawks and added two tackles for loss. He contributed two huge plays in the second half. On Bucknell's first play after Lehigh took a 17-13 lead, Ripanti deflected and then picked off a R.J. Nitti pass for his first career interception. That interception led to a field goal. Later, Ripanti thwarted Bucknell's final offensive possession, storming off the edge to sack Nitti on 4th-and-13 as Lehigh took over possession on downs, picked up one first down, and then ran out the clock. Ripanti ranks third on the Mountain Hawks with 58 tackles and has a pair of sacks on the season. He was named Patriot League Defensive Player of the Week on Nov. 7.
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Senior quarterback Nick Shafnisky returned to the starting lineup against Fordham and showcased his dual threat ability. Shafnisky threw just 18 passes and completed 10 for 238 yards and a touchdown, but added 108 yards and three touchdowns as a rusher. He has started six of the eight games during Lehigh's current winning streak, throwing for more than 300 yards against Penn, Princeton and Colgate. Shafnisky accounted for six touchdowns at Penn and then threw for a career-high 461 yards in the win over Princeton. Those performances won Shafnisky back-to-back Patriot League Offensive Player of the Week awards and he was also named the STATS FCS National Offensive Player of the Week for his performance against the Tigers. After forgettable performances against Lafayette in his first two seasons, Shafnisky enjoyed one of the finest games of his career in last year's rivalry game, completing 21-of-27 passes for 283 yards and four touchdowns, while also rushing for 109 yards and a score. Shafnisky now owns seven career 300-yard passing games and three 100-yard rushing games.
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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. In back-to-back games, Bragalone rushed for 182 yards against Holy Cross and then established a new career-high with 192 against Fordham. He totaled five touchdowns in those two games, including a career-long 70 yard rush against the Rams. Those career efforts earned Bragalone back-to-back Patriot League Offensive Player of the Week awards. He needs just four yards to reach 1,000 for the second straight season. If he does so, he would join Rabih Abdullah '97 as just the second Lehigh player to record two 1,000-yard rushing seasons.
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Lafayette enters its season finale looking to salvage its season with a potential third win in four years against its rival. The Leopards come in at 2-8 following a 38-17 loss at Colgate on Saturday. Lafayette won its opener at Central Connecticut State and then lost seven straight games before beating Georgetown on Oct. 29.
The Leopards rank third in the Patriot League in passing offense with seniors Drew Reed and Blake Searfoss seeing the majority of time at quarterback. Reed was the MVP of meeting 149 as a freshman in 2013. Matt Mrazek is Lafayette's top receiver with 64 receptions for 673 yards and eight touchdowns. The Leopards average 69.4 yards per game on the ground and allow 254.3 yards rushing per game. Michael Root leads Lafayette with 82 tackles this season. Rob Hinchen has a team best 3.5 sacks and 10 tackles for loss to go along with 75 stops. Lafayette leads the Patriot League in pass defense, yielding just 164.3 yards per game.
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The Mountain Hawks' win over Bucknell secured Lehigh's 10th FCS (formerly I-AA) playoff berth and its first since 2011. Lehigh's win against Bucknell marked the sixth time the Mountain Hawks clinched an NCAA playoff berth the week prior to facing arch rival Lafayette. Lehigh owns a 5-0 record against the Leopards in games following the clinching of a FCS playoff berth.
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In a three-year stretch from 1995 to 1997, Lehigh spotted Lafayette an early double-digit lead, only to come back and win the game. In 1995, Lafayette went ahead by 16 with 11:33 to play only to see Lehigh come back to win on Brian Klingerman's one-handed touchdown catch in overtime. The next year, Lafayette raced to a 19-0 lead late in the first half, before Lehigh scored the final 23 points of the contest. In 1997, Lehigh dug itself an early 21-0 hole but rallied to win 43-31. Those three comebacks sparked Lehigh's longest winning streak in the series as the Mountain Hawks won seven straight against the Leopards from 1995-2001.
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The team that holds onto the ball usually wins in this heated rivalry. Since 1998 the team that wins the turnover battle has won 12 of the 18 games (Lehigh and Lafayette were even in turnovers in 2010 and 2015). Lehigh won the turnover battle but lost the 2007 rivalry game, while Lafayette won the turnover battle but lost games in 1999, 2003 and 2012. Lehigh last won the turnover battle in 2011 (plus-3).
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Lehigh and Lafayette meet for the 152nd time with the Leopards holding a 78-68 lead. There have also been five ties in the series with the last occurring in 1964. The Mountain Hawks have won 14 of the last 22 meetings in the series. While Lafayette dominated the early years of the Rivalry, Lehigh owns an impressive 41-23-2 record since 1950. This will be the 72nd meeting in Easton and fifth since the Fisher Stadium renovation. Lehigh has won the last three games played at Fisher Stadium and will visit Easton for the first time since 2012. Andy Coen is 6-4 versus Lafayette and has won six of the last eight games.
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Saturday's game kicks off just after 12:30 p.m. from Fisher Stadium in Easton, Pa. Lehigh's ticket allotment is sold out but a limited number of tickets are available through Lafayette. Fans unable to make it to Fisher Stadium can watch the game on WFMZ-TV (Service Electric dial position 8/508) and the Patriot League Network. Audio coverage will be available on ESPN Radio of the Lehigh Valley (1230/1320/1160-AM) and ESPNLV.com beginning at 11:30 a.m.
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Lehigh will learn its FCS playoff fate on Sunday morning when the brackets are announced at 11 a.m. on ESPNU. The Mountain Hawks will likely play in one of eight first round games on Saturday Nov. 26. Lehigh is one of five teams that has already clinched a playoff berth joining the Citadel (Southern), James Madison (CAA), Saint Francis (NEC) and San Diego (Pioneer).
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| Date: | November 19, 2016 |
| Opponent: | Lafayette Leopards |
| Kickoff: | 12:40 p.m. |
| Stadium: | Fisher Stadium/13,132/FieldTurf |
| Location: | Easton, Pa. |
| Tickets: | A limited number of tickets are available through Lafayette |
| Lehigh's Record: | 8-2 overall, 5-0 Patriot League |
| Lafayette's Record | 2-8 overall, 1-4 Patriot League |
| Series: | Lafayette leads 78-68-5 |
| Television | WFMZ-TV with Steve Degler, Kyle Berger and Dan Moscaritolo |
| Radio | ESPN Radio of the Lehigh Valley (1230/1320/1160-AM) with Matt Kerr, Tom Fallon and Matt Markus beginning at 11:30 a.m. |
| Internet Broadcast: | Video at PatriotLeague.TV Audio at ESPNLV.com |
| Key Stats: | •Lehigh is averaging 536.8 yards of offense and 44.8 points per game in its current eight-game winning streak. •Lehigh leads the Patriot League in passing offense and third down conversions. •Lehigh has won 32 of 51 games versus Lafayette since the teams played to a 6-6 tie in the 100th meeting in 1964. |
| Behind Enemy Lines: | http://www.goleopards.com |
Like Lehigh Football on Facebook and follow on Twitter for exclusive updates throughout the season.
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