Saturday, November 26
Durham, N.H.
2:00 PM
Lehigh University
at
New Hampshire
Lehigh readies for playoff showdown Saturday at New Hampshire
11/22/2016 4:03:00 PM | Football
Game Notes | FCS Playoff Bracket | ESPN3 Video | Audio | All-League and major awards release | Lehigh Patriot League Champions Merchandise
BETHLEHEM, Pa. - Back in the playoffs for the first time since 2011, No. 18/15 Lehigh visits newly-renovated Wildcat Stadium on Saturday to face perennial postseason participant No. 22/21 New Hampshire. The Mountain Hawks enter the postseason having won nine straight games and are coming off a convincing 45-21 rivalry win at Lafayette, in which Lehigh built a 45-7 third quarter lead and never looked back. Senior quarterback Nick Shafnisky was named the game's MVP for the second straight year after throwing three touchdown passes and rushing for a fourth, while senior LaQuan Lambert led the defensive effort with eight tackles and 1.5 sacks.
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New Hampshire earned an at-large berth after a 7-4 regular season. The Wildcats won their rivalry game at Maine on a late field goal.
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The winner of the Lehigh-New Hampshire game gets No. 4 seed James Madison in the second round on Dec. 3.
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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 seven of the nine 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.
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Shafnisky now owns seven career 300-yard passing games and three 100-yard rushing games. He started Lehigh's 2014 visit to New Hampshire, completing 15-of-28 for just 106 yards with a touchdown and an interception. Shafnisky also rushed for a score but was sacked four times. On Nov. 22, Shafnisky was named Patriot League Offensive Player of the Year, becoming the first Mountain Hawk to win the award since Chris Lum in 2011. In addition to Shafnisky's major award, Lehigh head coach Andy Coen was named Coach of the Year for the second time in his career and the first since 2010.
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Eleven Lehigh football players garnered 13 spots on the All-Patriot League teams. All five of Lehigh's returning all-league performers were recognized again with wide receiver Troy Pelletier and linebacker Colton Caslow becoming three-time all-league selections and two-time first-team picks. Running back Dom Bragalone and offensive lineman Zach Duffy became two-time first-teamers while offensive lineman Tim O'Hara is now a two-time second team pick. Junior Gatlin Casey (WR/KR) and sophomore Ed Mish (K/P) were recognized at two different positions.
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Pelletier is the lone New Hampshire native on Lehigh's roster. The Deerfield native enjoyed a breakout game as a freshman in Lehigh's 2014 visit to UNH catching three passes for 30 yards and two touchdowns in just his second career game. He made his first career start the following week at Yale, caught five passes for 113 yards and a touchdown and has since remained a reliable weapon in Lehigh's passing game.
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After totaling 13 interceptions in the 2014 and 2015 seasons, combined, Lehigh has already picked off 14 passes in 2016. Lehigh's interceptions have been balanced, with 10 different players accounting for the 14 picks, including nine of Lehigh's 11 projected starters. Linebacker Evan Harvey, cornerback Brandon Leaks and safeties Sam McCloskey and Riley O'Neil are all tied for the team lead with two interceptions. O'Neil had Lehigh's lone pick in the win over Lafayette. Leaks leads all active Mountain Hawks with five interceptions. He recorded his first career interception in Lehigh's 2014 game at UNH.
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Lehigh closed out the regular season with a convincing 45-21 win over Lafayette in the 152nd meeting of college football's most-played rivalry. The Mountain Hawks have made 12 previous playoff appearances and are now 11-1 against Lafayette in the years in which Lehigh has qualified for the playoffs. In the 11 previous instances in which Lehigh closed out the regular season with a win over Lafayette prior to a playoff appearance, the Mountain Hawks are 7-4 in their first NCAA playoff game.
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Lehigh's win over Lafayette capped a perfect 6-0 Patriot League campaign for the Mountain Hawks. Going undefeated in league play usually bodes well for Lehigh in the postseason. Lehigh teams that went undefeated in the Patriot League regular season are 5-0 in their first NCAA playoff games, with wins in 1998, 2000, 2001, 2010 and 2011.Â
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New Hampshire 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 after earning an at-large bid. The Wildcats have opened the playoffs against the Patriot League champions in four consecutive years, defeating Lafayette in the 2013 first round and Fordham in the 2014 second round before losing to Colgate last year.
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The Wildcats lead the FCS with seven defensive touchdowns. Running back Dalton Crossan leads the offense with 1,005 rushing yards. Dual threat Trevor Knight has started all 11 games at quarterback. Freshman safety Pop Lacey leads the Wildcats with 66 tackles.
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Lehigh is making its 13th all-time playoff appearance and 10th at the FCS level. The Mountain Hawks last reached the postseason in 2011, following a 10-1 regular season. Lehigh received a first round bye, then won a 40-38 thriller at CAA champion Towson to advance to the quarterfinals, where they were eliminated by North Dakota State, as the Bison went on to win the first of their five consecutive national titles. The win at Towson was a shootout, that was eventually decided by a go-ahead fourth quarter safety by Tom Bianchi.
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Lehigh meets New Hampshire for the 16th time with the Wildcats leading the series 12-3. The Mountain Hawks snapped a nine-game UNH win streak with their win in 2013, but the Wildcats won the most recent meeting in 2014. Lehigh has not won in Durham since 1979, losing its last seven at UNH. These two teams first met in the 1975 NCAA playoffs.
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Saturday's game kicks off just after 2 p.m. Saturday from Wildcat Stadium in Durham, N.H. The game will be broadcast on ESPN3 via the WatchESPN app. Audio coverage will be available on ESPN Radio of the Lehigh Valley (1230/1320/1160-AM) beginning at 1 p.m.
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The winner of the Lehigh-New Hampshire game will face No. 4 national seed James Madison in the second round, Dec. 3 at 2 p.m. from Bridgeforth Stadium in Harrisonburg, Va. Lehigh recently lost to James Madison in the 2014 and 2015 seasons. The Dukes lead the all-time series 3-1.
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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. - Back in the playoffs for the first time since 2011, No. 18/15 Lehigh visits newly-renovated Wildcat Stadium on Saturday to face perennial postseason participant No. 22/21 New Hampshire. The Mountain Hawks enter the postseason having won nine straight games and are coming off a convincing 45-21 rivalry win at Lafayette, in which Lehigh built a 45-7 third quarter lead and never looked back. Senior quarterback Nick Shafnisky was named the game's MVP for the second straight year after throwing three touchdown passes and rushing for a fourth, while senior LaQuan Lambert led the defensive effort with eight tackles and 1.5 sacks.
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New Hampshire earned an at-large berth after a 7-4 regular season. The Wildcats won their rivalry game at Maine on a late field goal.
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The winner of the Lehigh-New Hampshire game gets No. 4 seed James Madison in the second round on Dec. 3.
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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 seven of the nine 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.
 Shafnisky now owns seven career 300-yard passing games and three 100-yard rushing games. He started Lehigh's 2014 visit to New Hampshire, completing 15-of-28 for just 106 yards with a touchdown and an interception. Shafnisky also rushed for a score but was sacked four times. On Nov. 22, Shafnisky was named Patriot League Offensive Player of the Year, becoming the first Mountain Hawk to win the award since Chris Lum in 2011. In addition to Shafnisky's major award, Lehigh head coach Andy Coen was named Coach of the Year for the second time in his career and the first since 2010.
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Eleven Lehigh football players garnered 13 spots on the All-Patriot League teams. All five of Lehigh's returning all-league performers were recognized again with wide receiver Troy Pelletier and linebacker Colton Caslow becoming three-time all-league selections and two-time first-team picks. Running back Dom Bragalone and offensive lineman Zach Duffy became two-time first-teamers while offensive lineman Tim O'Hara is now a two-time second team pick. Junior Gatlin Casey (WR/KR) and sophomore Ed Mish (K/P) were recognized at two different positions.
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Pelletier is the lone New Hampshire native on Lehigh's roster. The Deerfield native enjoyed a breakout game as a freshman in Lehigh's 2014 visit to UNH catching three passes for 30 yards and two touchdowns in just his second career game. He made his first career start the following week at Yale, caught five passes for 113 yards and a touchdown and has since remained a reliable weapon in Lehigh's passing game.
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After totaling 13 interceptions in the 2014 and 2015 seasons, combined, Lehigh has already picked off 14 passes in 2016. Lehigh's interceptions have been balanced, with 10 different players accounting for the 14 picks, including nine of Lehigh's 11 projected starters. Linebacker Evan Harvey, cornerback Brandon Leaks and safeties Sam McCloskey and Riley O'Neil are all tied for the team lead with two interceptions. O'Neil had Lehigh's lone pick in the win over Lafayette. Leaks leads all active Mountain Hawks with five interceptions. He recorded his first career interception in Lehigh's 2014 game at UNH.
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Lehigh closed out the regular season with a convincing 45-21 win over Lafayette in the 152nd meeting of college football's most-played rivalry. The Mountain Hawks have made 12 previous playoff appearances and are now 11-1 against Lafayette in the years in which Lehigh has qualified for the playoffs. In the 11 previous instances in which Lehigh closed out the regular season with a win over Lafayette prior to a playoff appearance, the Mountain Hawks are 7-4 in their first NCAA playoff game.
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Lehigh's win over Lafayette capped a perfect 6-0 Patriot League campaign for the Mountain Hawks. Going undefeated in league play usually bodes well for Lehigh in the postseason. Lehigh teams that went undefeated in the Patriot League regular season are 5-0 in their first NCAA playoff games, with wins in 1998, 2000, 2001, 2010 and 2011.Â
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New Hampshire 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 after earning an at-large bid. The Wildcats have opened the playoffs against the Patriot League champions in four consecutive years, defeating Lafayette in the 2013 first round and Fordham in the 2014 second round before losing to Colgate last year.
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The Wildcats lead the FCS with seven defensive touchdowns. Running back Dalton Crossan leads the offense with 1,005 rushing yards. Dual threat Trevor Knight has started all 11 games at quarterback. Freshman safety Pop Lacey leads the Wildcats with 66 tackles.
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Lehigh is making its 13th all-time playoff appearance and 10th at the FCS level. The Mountain Hawks last reached the postseason in 2011, following a 10-1 regular season. Lehigh received a first round bye, then won a 40-38 thriller at CAA champion Towson to advance to the quarterfinals, where they were eliminated by North Dakota State, as the Bison went on to win the first of their five consecutive national titles. The win at Towson was a shootout, that was eventually decided by a go-ahead fourth quarter safety by Tom Bianchi.
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Lehigh meets New Hampshire for the 16th time with the Wildcats leading the series 12-3. The Mountain Hawks snapped a nine-game UNH win streak with their win in 2013, but the Wildcats won the most recent meeting in 2014. Lehigh has not won in Durham since 1979, losing its last seven at UNH. These two teams first met in the 1975 NCAA playoffs.
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Saturday's game kicks off just after 2 p.m. Saturday from Wildcat Stadium in Durham, N.H. The game will be broadcast on ESPN3 via the WatchESPN app. Audio coverage will be available on ESPN Radio of the Lehigh Valley (1230/1320/1160-AM) beginning at 1 p.m.
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The winner of the Lehigh-New Hampshire game will face No. 4 national seed James Madison in the second round, Dec. 3 at 2 p.m. from Bridgeforth Stadium in Harrisonburg, Va. Lehigh recently lost to James Madison in the 2014 and 2015 seasons. The Dukes lead the all-time series 3-1.
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| Date: | November 26, 2016 |
| Event: | NCAA FCS Playoffs, First Round |
| Opponent: | No. 22/21 New Hampshire Wildcats |
| Kickoff: | 2:05 p.m. |
| Stadium: | Wildcat Stadium/11,015/FieldTurf |
| Location: | Durham, N.H. |
| Tickets: | Available through UNH by calling (603) 862-4000 |
| Lehigh's Record: | 9-2 overall, 6-0 Patriot League |
| UNH's Record | 7-4 overall, 6-2 Colonial Athletic Association |
| Series: | New Hampshire leads 12-3 |
| Video: | ESPN3 available via WatchESPN with Bob Picozzi and Marcus Ray |
| Radio | ESPN Radio of the Lehigh Valley (1230/1320/1160-AM) with Matt Kerr, Mike Yadush '93 and Steve Lomangino beginning at 1 p.m. |
| Internet Broadcast: | Video at WatchESPN Audio at ESPNLV.com |
| Key Stats: | •Lehigh is averaging 533.8 yards of offense and 44.8 points per game in its current nine-game winning streak. •Lehigh leads the Patriot League in passing offense and third down conversions. •The Mountain Hawks have lost just eight turnovers this season, the fewest in the FCS. |
| Behind Enemy Lines: | http://www.unhwildcats.com |
Like Lehigh Football on Facebook and follow on Twitter for exclusive updates throughout the season.
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