Lehigh University Athletics
Lehigh looks back on championship season, receives rings at end-of-year banquet
2/20/2017 4:52:00 PM | Football
BETHLEHEM, Pa. - The Lehigh football team celebrated its Patriot League Championship season Sunday, Feb. 19 at its annual end-of-year awards banquet at Iacocca Hall on Mountaintop Campus. The Mountain Hawks finished the year with a 9-3 record overall and a perfect 6-0 mark in the conference en route to their first league title since 2011.
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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 2016 season. The team also received its championship rings at the event.
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The banquet was highlighted by senior quarterback Nick Shafnisky winning the Archibald Johnston Cup for the second year in a row following a Patriot League Offensive Player of the Year award performance. Shafnisky finished the season with 2,489 passing yards and 20 touchdowns, adding 302 yards on the ground and 11 rushing touchdowns. After combining for six touchdowns (three passing, three rushing) against Penn on Sept. 16, he threw for a career-high 461 yards and four touchdowns the next week against Princeton. Shafnisky won MVP honors of the Lehigh-Lafayette game for the second straight year and added ECAC Offensive Player of the Year honors to his Patriot League recognition.
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Senior offensive lineman Micah Tennant won the department's Scholar-Athlete Award after earning a 3.90 grade point average as a mechanical engineering major. Tennant started in all 12 games for the Mountain Hawks at left guard this past year and earned first team CoSIDA Academic All-America honors in addition to being named Academic All-Patriot League.
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Senior captain and offensive lineman Zach Duffy took home the James P. McConologue award, which is given to the player that is "all football," and also serves as the Department's Coaches Award. Duffy was a first-team All-Patriot League performer after starting 11 games at right tackle. Duffy will return next season for a fifth year of eligibility after missing his true freshman campaign due to injury.
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Senior linebacker Evan Harvey was given the Barry Fetterman Award, which is given to the player that exemplifies loyalty, unselfishness and dedication to Lehigh football. Harvey tied for a team lead in tackles with 72, also recording 1.5 sacks, three interceptions and a forced fumble.
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Senior linebacker Colton Caslow won the John C. Whitehead "Big LU" award, which is given to the player who shows the most leadership with performance. A team captain and the leader of Lehigh's much-improved defense, Caslow finished the year with 72 tackles, 3.5 sacks, an interception and two forced fumbles.
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The Alexander G. Hahalis Award was given to senior offensive lineman Brandon Short. This award is given to the most outstanding lineman on the team. Short, who will also return next year for a fifth year, was a second-team All-Patriot League selection after starting all 12 games at center. He also won the Best Offensive Lineman Award.
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Junior defensive lineman Tyler Cavenas received the Best Defensive Lineman Award after racking up 55 tackles, five sacks and an interception. Cavenas was a second-team All-Patriot League member.
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The Best Linebacker Award was given to senior linebacker Pierce Ripanti after his 70-tackle performance in 2016. He also added three sacks and an interception, including the Patriot League Championship-clinching sack on fourth down of Lehigh's 20-13 win over Bucknell on Nov. 5.
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Brandon Leaks, a senior, won the Best Defensive Back Award. He recorded 44 tackles, a pair of interceptions and a team-high six pass breakups. Leaks also served as the veteran leader of a young but improving secondary.
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(2/20/2017) 2016 Lehigh Football Banquet, 2/19/17
Sophomore running back Dom Bragalone and junior wide receiver Troy Pelletier repeated as Best Running Back and Best Wide Receiver, respectively, after winning the awards last year. Bragalone surpassed the 1,000-yard mark for the second straight year, totaling 1,171 rushing yards and 14 touchdowns. Pelletier, who along with Bragalone was a first-team All-Patriot League selection in 2016, finished the year with 1,278 receiving yards and 12 touchdowns. It's Pelletier's third time winning the award. He also earned a pair of third-team All-America honors for his performance in 2016.
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Sophomore Ed Mish won the Best Special Teams Player Award for the second year in a row. He made all 62 extra point attempts and 5-of-8 field goals, including a long of 40. He also served as the team's punter for the first time, pinning 10 of his 42 punts inside the 20-yard line for an average of 43 yards per punt. Mish also was a first-team All-Patriot League pick at both kicker and punter.
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Freshman defensive back Alex Duke and sophomore wide receiver Cam Richardson won the Nick Timko Awards (Engineer Effort Award), which go to the best scout team players on offense and defense.
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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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Story by Austin Vitelli '17
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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 2016 season. The team also received its championship rings at the event.
Â
The banquet was highlighted by senior quarterback Nick Shafnisky winning the Archibald Johnston Cup for the second year in a row following a Patriot League Offensive Player of the Year award performance. Shafnisky finished the season with 2,489 passing yards and 20 touchdowns, adding 302 yards on the ground and 11 rushing touchdowns. After combining for six touchdowns (three passing, three rushing) against Penn on Sept. 16, he threw for a career-high 461 yards and four touchdowns the next week against Princeton. Shafnisky won MVP honors of the Lehigh-Lafayette game for the second straight year and added ECAC Offensive Player of the Year honors to his Patriot League recognition.
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Senior offensive lineman Micah Tennant won the department's Scholar-Athlete Award after earning a 3.90 grade point average as a mechanical engineering major. Tennant started in all 12 games for the Mountain Hawks at left guard this past year and earned first team CoSIDA Academic All-America honors in addition to being named Academic All-Patriot League.
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Senior captain and offensive lineman Zach Duffy took home the James P. McConologue award, which is given to the player that is "all football," and also serves as the Department's Coaches Award. Duffy was a first-team All-Patriot League performer after starting 11 games at right tackle. Duffy will return next season for a fifth year of eligibility after missing his true freshman campaign due to injury.
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Senior linebacker Evan Harvey was given the Barry Fetterman Award, which is given to the player that exemplifies loyalty, unselfishness and dedication to Lehigh football. Harvey tied for a team lead in tackles with 72, also recording 1.5 sacks, three interceptions and a forced fumble.
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Senior linebacker Colton Caslow won the John C. Whitehead "Big LU" award, which is given to the player who shows the most leadership with performance. A team captain and the leader of Lehigh's much-improved defense, Caslow finished the year with 72 tackles, 3.5 sacks, an interception and two forced fumbles.
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The Alexander G. Hahalis Award was given to senior offensive lineman Brandon Short. This award is given to the most outstanding lineman on the team. Short, who will also return next year for a fifth year, was a second-team All-Patriot League selection after starting all 12 games at center. He also won the Best Offensive Lineman Award.
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Junior defensive lineman Tyler Cavenas received the Best Defensive Lineman Award after racking up 55 tackles, five sacks and an interception. Cavenas was a second-team All-Patriot League member.
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The Best Linebacker Award was given to senior linebacker Pierce Ripanti after his 70-tackle performance in 2016. He also added three sacks and an interception, including the Patriot League Championship-clinching sack on fourth down of Lehigh's 20-13 win over Bucknell on Nov. 5.
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Brandon Leaks, a senior, won the Best Defensive Back Award. He recorded 44 tackles, a pair of interceptions and a team-high six pass breakups. Leaks also served as the veteran leader of a young but improving secondary.
Â
Sophomore running back Dom Bragalone and junior wide receiver Troy Pelletier repeated as Best Running Back and Best Wide Receiver, respectively, after winning the awards last year. Bragalone surpassed the 1,000-yard mark for the second straight year, totaling 1,171 rushing yards and 14 touchdowns. Pelletier, who along with Bragalone was a first-team All-Patriot League selection in 2016, finished the year with 1,278 receiving yards and 12 touchdowns. It's Pelletier's third time winning the award. He also earned a pair of third-team All-America honors for his performance in 2016.
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Sophomore Ed Mish won the Best Special Teams Player Award for the second year in a row. He made all 62 extra point attempts and 5-of-8 field goals, including a long of 40. He also served as the team's punter for the first time, pinning 10 of his 42 punts inside the 20-yard line for an average of 43 yards per punt. Mish also was a first-team All-Patriot League pick at both kicker and punter.
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Freshman defensive back Alex Duke and sophomore wide receiver Cam Richardson won the Nick Timko Awards (Engineer Effort Award), which go to the best scout team players on offense and defense.
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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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Story by Austin Vitelli '17
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Players Mentioned
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