Mountain Hawks headed to New Hampshire for first round of FCS playoffs
11/20/2016 12:41:00 PM | Football
Championship Bracket | Lehigh Patriot League Champions Merchandise | Recap:Â No. 19/17 Lehigh rolls past 'Pards 45-21 to claim #Rivalry152
BETHLEHEM, Pa. – One day after defeating rival Lafayette 45-21 in the 152nd meeting of college football's most-played rivalry, the Patriot League champion Lehigh football team learned its playoff fate on Sunday. The Mountain Hawks will travel to Durham, N.H. to face a familiar foe in New Hampshire, who earned an at-large bid out of the Colonial Athletic Association.
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The Lehigh-UNH first round game will kick off at 2 p.m. from Wildcat Stadium. It will be streamed on ESPN3, which is available via WatchESPN. Radio coverage will be available on ESPN Radio of the Lehigh Valley.
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"I figured that's probably where we would go as that's been the pattern lately for Patriot League teams," Lehigh head coach Andy Coen said. "I'm excited about it. We have a history with New Hampshire. I haven't seen them this year but they played Holy Cross early in the season and it was a competitive game. I think our guys will be up to the challenge."
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Lehigh enters the playoffs at 9-2 overall as the Mountain Hawks enter the postseason on a nine-game winning streak. The Mountain Hawks are ranked 18th in the latest STATS FCS Top 25, unveiled Sunday morning. Lehigh will be making its 10th FCS playoff appearance and its first since 2011, when the Mountain Hawks had a first round bye, then won at CAA champion Towson 40-38 before losing in the quarterfinals to eventual National Champion North Dakota State.
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New Hampshire is ranked 22nd in the latest STATS FCS Top 25. The Wildcats completed a 7-4 regular season with a 24-21 win over Maine on Saturday to wrap-up CAA play at 6-2. UNH will be making its FCS-best 13th consecutive playoff appearance. The Wildcats have opened the playoffs against the Patriot League champions in four consecutive years.
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Lehigh and New Hampshire have met 15 previous times with the Wildcats owning a 12-3 series edge. UNH downed Lehigh 45-27 in the most recent meeting on Sept. 13, 2014. The Mountain Hawks' last win in the series was a 34-27 triumph at Goodman Stadium in 2013. Saturday's game will be the second postseason meeting between Lehigh and UNH, with the Wildcats claiming a 35-21 win in the Division II playoffs in 1975.
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"Things change over time but we have an idea of what they like to do and how they like to do it," Coen said.
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The winner of the Lehigh-New Hampshire game will face No. 4 national seed James Madison in Harrisonburg, Virginia on Saturday, Dec. 3.
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Ticket information will be announced when it becomes available.
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Like Lehigh Football on Facebook and follow on Twitter for exclusive updates throughout the season.
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BETHLEHEM, Pa. – One day after defeating rival Lafayette 45-21 in the 152nd meeting of college football's most-played rivalry, the Patriot League champion Lehigh football team learned its playoff fate on Sunday. The Mountain Hawks will travel to Durham, N.H. to face a familiar foe in New Hampshire, who earned an at-large bid out of the Colonial Athletic Association.
Â
The Lehigh-UNH first round game will kick off at 2 p.m. from Wildcat Stadium. It will be streamed on ESPN3, which is available via WatchESPN. Radio coverage will be available on ESPN Radio of the Lehigh Valley.
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"I figured that's probably where we would go as that's been the pattern lately for Patriot League teams," Lehigh head coach Andy Coen said. "I'm excited about it. We have a history with New Hampshire. I haven't seen them this year but they played Holy Cross early in the season and it was a competitive game. I think our guys will be up to the challenge."
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Lehigh enters the playoffs at 9-2 overall as the Mountain Hawks enter the postseason on a nine-game winning streak. The Mountain Hawks are ranked 18th in the latest STATS FCS Top 25, unveiled Sunday morning. Lehigh will be making its 10th FCS playoff appearance and its first since 2011, when the Mountain Hawks had a first round bye, then won at CAA champion Towson 40-38 before losing in the quarterfinals to eventual National Champion North Dakota State.
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New Hampshire is ranked 22nd in the latest STATS FCS Top 25. The Wildcats completed a 7-4 regular season with a 24-21 win over Maine on Saturday to wrap-up CAA play at 6-2. UNH will be making its FCS-best 13th consecutive playoff appearance. The Wildcats have opened the playoffs against the Patriot League champions in four consecutive years.
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Lehigh and New Hampshire have met 15 previous times with the Wildcats owning a 12-3 series edge. UNH downed Lehigh 45-27 in the most recent meeting on Sept. 13, 2014. The Mountain Hawks' last win in the series was a 34-27 triumph at Goodman Stadium in 2013. Saturday's game will be the second postseason meeting between Lehigh and UNH, with the Wildcats claiming a 35-21 win in the Division II playoffs in 1975.
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"Things change over time but we have an idea of what they like to do and how they like to do it," Coen said.
Â
The winner of the Lehigh-New Hampshire game will face No. 4 national seed James Madison in Harrisonburg, Virginia on Saturday, Dec. 3.
Â
Ticket information will be announced when it becomes available.
Â
Like Lehigh Football on Facebook and follow on Twitter for exclusive updates throughout the season.
Â
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