Lehigh University Athletics
Lehigh reflects on 2015 football season at annual banquet
2/9/2016 11:56:00 AM | Football
BETHLEHEM, Pa. - The Lehigh football program held its annual year-end awards banquet on Sunday, February 7 at Iacocca Hall to honor the achievements of the 2015 season. The Mountain Hawks went 6-5 in 2015 and capped the season with a 49-35 win over rival Lafayette in the 151st meeting of college football's most-played rivalry.
With more than 250 student-athletes, coaches, family members, alumni and friends of the Lehigh football program, the banquet featured lunch, a season highlight video, speeches from each of the captains and the handing-out of awards for outstanding performances in the 2015 season.(2/8/2016) 2015 Lehigh Football Banquet, 2/7/16
Junior quarterback Nick Shafnisky received the Archibald Johnston Cup, given to the program's most outstanding player. He also received the athletic department's outstanding athlete award. Shafnisky enjoyed a strong junior campaign leading the Patriot League's top offense in terms of total yards. He amassed 2,953 yards of total offense and accounted for 27 touchdowns, with 15 passing and a team-best 12 rushing scores. Shafnisky completed nearly 67 percent of his passes on the season and was named MVP of the Lehigh-Lafayette game, completing 21-of-27 passes for 283 yards and four touchdowns, while rushing for 109 yards and a fifth touchdown.
Senior linebacker Cody Kondas earned the Scholar-Athlete Award. Kondas owns a 3.29 grade point average as a management major and was named to the Academic All-Patriot League team as well as the Patriot League Academic Honor Roll. On the field, Kondas ranked fifth on the Mountain Hawks with 53 tackles in 2015.
Junior Jarrod Howard was honored with the James P. McConologue Award, which is given to the player that is "all football," and doubles as the Department's Coaches Award. Howard had seven receptions for 74 yards this past season but made a name for himself as a special teams terror, with 14 tackles.
Senior nose guard Greg Palma earned the Barry Fetterman Award, which is given to the player that exemplifies loyalty, unselfishness and dedication to Lehigh football. Palma started all 11 games on the nose for Lehigh and registered 30 tackles and four sacks.
The John C. Whitehead "Big LU" Award, which is given to the player who shows the most leadership with performance, was awarded to senior captain and tight end Chris Ruhl. While Ruhl only had three receptions in 2015, his blocking contributed to a strong Lehigh rushing attack while also providing strong leadership on offense. Ruhl was an Academic All-Patriot League selection and earned CoSIDA Academic All-District honors for his work in the classroom last November.
Senior captain and offensive lineman Matt Ford was the recipient of the Alexander G. Hahalis Award for most outstanding lineman. Ford started every game in each of the last two seasons at left guard and this year helped pave the way for Lehigh's first freshman 1,000-yard rusher. He earned first team All-Patriot League honors.
Captains Matt Laub and Olivier Rigaud garnered positional awards with Laub named Best Defensive Lineman and Rigaud garnering top Defensive Back honors. Laub made 32 tackles and had four sacks in his first full season as a defensive lineman and was named second team all-league. Rigaud was a first team All-Patriot League selection at cornerback. He finished third on the Mountain Hawks with 54 tackles and had a 72-yard fumble return touchdown against Princeton.
Junior Colton Caslow was honored with the team's Best Linebacker Award for the second straight year. Caslow earned his second consecutive first team all-league honor and led the Mountain Hawks with 95 tackles in just nine games.
Running back Dominick Bragalone collected the Best Offensive Back award. Lehigh's first Patriot League Rookie of the Year since 1986, Bragalone became Lehigh's first freshman 1,000 yard rusher, gaining 1,008 yards, while scoring seven touchdowns on the ground. Bragalone was also a first team All-Patriot League honoree and the ECAC Rookie of the Year. He finished eighth in the balloting for the STATS FCS Freshman Player of the Year award.
Sophomore Troy Pelletier won his second straight Best Receiver award. Pelletier led the Mountain Hawks with 78 catches for 831 yards and eight touchdowns. He set a new school record with 15 receptions against Princeton.
The Best Offensive Lineman award went to sophomore Tim O'Hara, a second team All-Patriot League selection who started all 11 games at left tackle after seeing limited action as a freshman.
Freshman Ed Mish received the Best Special Teams Player Award. Mish tallied 67 points, converting 40-of-43 extra points and 9-of-12 field goals with a long of 43 yards.
The Nick Timko Awards (Engineer Effort Award), which goes to the best scout team players on offense and defense, were given to freshman tight end Jimmy Schulz and freshman defensive lineman Harrison Kauffman.
The annual Lehigh football banquet was made possible by the Lehigh Athletics Partnership program, whose mission is to promote interest in Lehigh Athletics, to encourage and provide financial support to the program and to enhance relations with all former participants, fans, friends, and parents of Lehigh student-athletes. Lehigh football will begin its spring practice segment in late March.
With more than 250 student-athletes, coaches, family members, alumni and friends of the Lehigh football program, the banquet featured lunch, a season highlight video, speeches from each of the captains and the handing-out of awards for outstanding performances in the 2015 season.
Junior quarterback Nick Shafnisky received the Archibald Johnston Cup, given to the program's most outstanding player. He also received the athletic department's outstanding athlete award. Shafnisky enjoyed a strong junior campaign leading the Patriot League's top offense in terms of total yards. He amassed 2,953 yards of total offense and accounted for 27 touchdowns, with 15 passing and a team-best 12 rushing scores. Shafnisky completed nearly 67 percent of his passes on the season and was named MVP of the Lehigh-Lafayette game, completing 21-of-27 passes for 283 yards and four touchdowns, while rushing for 109 yards and a fifth touchdown.
Senior linebacker Cody Kondas earned the Scholar-Athlete Award. Kondas owns a 3.29 grade point average as a management major and was named to the Academic All-Patriot League team as well as the Patriot League Academic Honor Roll. On the field, Kondas ranked fifth on the Mountain Hawks with 53 tackles in 2015.
Junior Jarrod Howard was honored with the James P. McConologue Award, which is given to the player that is "all football," and doubles as the Department's Coaches Award. Howard had seven receptions for 74 yards this past season but made a name for himself as a special teams terror, with 14 tackles.
Senior nose guard Greg Palma earned the Barry Fetterman Award, which is given to the player that exemplifies loyalty, unselfishness and dedication to Lehigh football. Palma started all 11 games on the nose for Lehigh and registered 30 tackles and four sacks.
The John C. Whitehead "Big LU" Award, which is given to the player who shows the most leadership with performance, was awarded to senior captain and tight end Chris Ruhl. While Ruhl only had three receptions in 2015, his blocking contributed to a strong Lehigh rushing attack while also providing strong leadership on offense. Ruhl was an Academic All-Patriot League selection and earned CoSIDA Academic All-District honors for his work in the classroom last November.
Senior captain and offensive lineman Matt Ford was the recipient of the Alexander G. Hahalis Award for most outstanding lineman. Ford started every game in each of the last two seasons at left guard and this year helped pave the way for Lehigh's first freshman 1,000-yard rusher. He earned first team All-Patriot League honors.
Captains Matt Laub and Olivier Rigaud garnered positional awards with Laub named Best Defensive Lineman and Rigaud garnering top Defensive Back honors. Laub made 32 tackles and had four sacks in his first full season as a defensive lineman and was named second team all-league. Rigaud was a first team All-Patriot League selection at cornerback. He finished third on the Mountain Hawks with 54 tackles and had a 72-yard fumble return touchdown against Princeton.
Junior Colton Caslow was honored with the team's Best Linebacker Award for the second straight year. Caslow earned his second consecutive first team all-league honor and led the Mountain Hawks with 95 tackles in just nine games.
Running back Dominick Bragalone collected the Best Offensive Back award. Lehigh's first Patriot League Rookie of the Year since 1986, Bragalone became Lehigh's first freshman 1,000 yard rusher, gaining 1,008 yards, while scoring seven touchdowns on the ground. Bragalone was also a first team All-Patriot League honoree and the ECAC Rookie of the Year. He finished eighth in the balloting for the STATS FCS Freshman Player of the Year award.
Sophomore Troy Pelletier won his second straight Best Receiver award. Pelletier led the Mountain Hawks with 78 catches for 831 yards and eight touchdowns. He set a new school record with 15 receptions against Princeton.
The Best Offensive Lineman award went to sophomore Tim O'Hara, a second team All-Patriot League selection who started all 11 games at left tackle after seeing limited action as a freshman.
Freshman Ed Mish received the Best Special Teams Player Award. Mish tallied 67 points, converting 40-of-43 extra points and 9-of-12 field goals with a long of 43 yards.
The Nick Timko Awards (Engineer Effort Award), which goes to the best scout team players on offense and defense, were given to freshman tight end Jimmy Schulz and freshman defensive lineman Harrison Kauffman.
The annual Lehigh football banquet was made possible by the Lehigh Athletics Partnership program, whose mission is to promote interest in Lehigh Athletics, to encourage and provide financial support to the program and to enhance relations with all former participants, fans, friends, and parents of Lehigh student-athletes. Lehigh football will begin its spring practice segment in late March.
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