Saturday, September 2
Bethlehem, Pa.
12:30 PM
Lehigh University
vs
Villanova
Mountain Hawks to open 2017 campaign by hosting Villanova in top 20 showdown
8/29/2017 11:44:00 AM | Football
Game Notes | Tickets | Video | Audio | Live Stats
BETHLEHEM, Pa. – The 134th season of Lehigh football officially begins Saturday as the 17th-ranked Mountain Hawks welcome No. 10/9 Villanova to Goodman Stadium in a battle of nationally-ranked regional rivals. Saturday's season-opener is presented by the United States Marines.
The Mountain Hawks won their 11th Patriot League football championship in 2016, posting a 9-3 record that included a nine-game winning streak and a second straight win over Lafayette on the way to Lehigh's first FCS playoff appearance since 2011. Eight starters return to an offense that ranked in the top 10 in the FCS last year, including 1,000-yard receivers Troy Pelletier and Gatlin Casey and 1,000-yard rusher Dom Bragalone. Junior Brad Mayes takes over as Lehigh's starting quarterback.
Near the end of preseason camp, coach Andy Coen named four captains for the 2017 season. Fifth-year seniors Zach Duffy (Reading, Pa.) and Brandon Short (Mentor, Ohio) will serve as captains for the second straight season and will be joined by fifth-year defensive lineman Jimmy Mitchell (La Grange Park, Ill.) Safety Sam McCloskey (Altoona, Pa.) is the first Lehigh junior to be named a captain since Sedale Threatt in 2006.
With the graduation of 2016 Patriot League Offensive Player of the Year Nick Shafnisky, junior Brad Mayes takes over as Lehigh's starting quarterback. Mayes appeared in 13 games over his first two seasons, throwing for 2,124 yards and 20 touchdowns, against just six interceptions. The Tampa, Fla. native owns a 4-1 record as a starting quarterback, with the lone loss coming in last year's playoff game at New Hampshire. Mayes' first start in 2016 was memorable as he threw for a Lehigh and Yale Bowl-record 524 yards in a 63-35 Mountain Hawks win at Yale. He also matched a school record with six touchdown passes. In his first five career starts, Mayes has thrown 15 touchdown passes and just one interception.
Lehigh returns one of the top receiving duos in the FCS in seniors Troy Pelletier and Gatlin Casey. Last year both players earned first team All-Patriot League honors and ranked in the top 12 nationally in receiving. Pelletier and Casey combined for 158 catches, 2,413 yards and 26 touchdowns. With 1,278 and and 1,135 yards, respectively, Pelletier and Casey became just the second Lehigh duo to both go over 1,000 yards in a season. Lehigh's 2011 Patriot League Championship team featured Ryan Spadola (1,614) and Jake Drwal (1,060). Last season, Pelletier and Casey also both had 100-yard receiving games in consecutive wins over Princeton, Yale and Colgate, becoming the first duo to have 100 receiving yards in the same game since Lee Kurfis (117) and Sergio Fernandez-Soto (123) against New Hampshire in 2013.
After rushing for 1,008 yards and earning Patriot League Rookie of the Year honors as a freshman, tailback Dominick Bragalone put together another outstanding campaign in 2016, rushing for 1,171 yards and 14 touchdowns to earn first team All-Patriot League honors. Bragalone had four 100-yard rushing games, highlighted by a career-best 192-yard, three touchdown effort against Fordham. The South Williamsport, Pa. native owns 10 career 100-yard rushing games and joins Rabih Abdullah '97 as the only Lehigh runners to post two 1,000-yard rushing seasons. Bragalone begins the 2017 season 10th in school annals in career rushing yards.
Creating more turnovers defensively has been a major area of focus for the Mountain Hawks in recent years. After posting negative turnover margins and producing just 13 takeaways in both 2014 and 2015, Lehigh turned things around last season, posting a plus-9 turnover margin and creating 21 takeaways, including 17 interceptions. Lehigh picked off four passes (and added a fumble recovery) in a win at Holy Cross and also had three interceptions against Princeton and New Hampshire. Players accounting for nine of Lehigh's 17 interceptions return in 2017, led by junior Sam McCloskey, who led the Mountain Hawks with three.
Lehigh's roster features three student-athletes who earned fifth years of eligibility due to medical hardships: offensive linemen Zach Duffy and Brandon Short and defensive lineman Jimmy Mitchell. Both Duffy and Mitchell were sidelined in their true freshman seasons, while Short lost his sophomore season after three games. All three fifth-years will serve as team captains.
The Mountain Hawks have added 19 first-year student-athletes to their 2017 roster, including several who could contribute right away. Five freshmen appear on Lehigh's depth chart, including Jackson Evans, who is projected to start at guard. Six of Lehigh's 20 sophomores appeared in at least nine games as freshman, led by Riley O'Neil, who started all 12 games at free safety.
Villanova was picked third in the CAA preseason poll. The Wildcats went 9-4 in 2016, earning an at-large berth to the FCS playoffs. Villanova won its first round playoff game over Saint Francis before falling 10-7 at South Dakota State.
The Wildcats return 15 starters led by safety Rob Rolle, who was named to the preseason watch list for the Buck Buchanan Award as the top defensive player in the FCS. Linebacker Ed Shockley and punter John Hinchen joined Rolle on the Preseason All-CAA team. Longtime Wildcat assistant Mark Ferrante makes his head coaching debut taking over for his mentor Andy Talley. Villanova returns its starting quarterback in junior Zach Bednarczyk, top rusher in Aaron Forbes as well as its top nine receivers in terms of receptions from a season ago. Wide receiver Brandon Chadbourn is the older brother of Lehigh freshman running back Evan Chadbourn.
Lehigh has an 83-44-6 all-time record in its season-opening contests. The Mountain Hawks are 6-5 in season openers under Andy Coen and have won five of their last seven openers. Lehigh is just 4-7 in home openers under Andy Coen. This is the third time Lehigh has opened its season against Villanova with the Brown and White winning in 1919 and the Wildcats winning in 2007. Villanova also spoiled Lehigh's home opener in 2010.
Lehigh and Villanova will meet for the 14th time, with the Wildcats holding an 8-5 edge in the series. Villanova has won the last five meetings. Lehigh's last win in the series, a 31-28 triumph at Villanova in 2006 was Andy Coen's first win as a head coach.
Saturday's game kicks off just after 12:30 from Goodman Stadium. Tickets for the game are still available, and may be purchased by visiting LehighTickets.com or by calling (610) 7LU-GAME.
Lehigh will play three of its first four games at Goodman Stadium with the lone road game in that stretch set for next Saturday when the Mountain Hawks travel to Monmouth. The Mountain Hawks will look to avenge a loss to Monmouth in the 2016 season-opener. Game time is set for 1 p.m. from the newly-renovated Kessler Stadium in West Long Branch, N.J.
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BETHLEHEM, Pa. – The 134th season of Lehigh football officially begins Saturday as the 17th-ranked Mountain Hawks welcome No. 10/9 Villanova to Goodman Stadium in a battle of nationally-ranked regional rivals. Saturday's season-opener is presented by the United States Marines.
The Mountain Hawks won their 11th Patriot League football championship in 2016, posting a 9-3 record that included a nine-game winning streak and a second straight win over Lafayette on the way to Lehigh's first FCS playoff appearance since 2011. Eight starters return to an offense that ranked in the top 10 in the FCS last year, including 1,000-yard receivers Troy Pelletier and Gatlin Casey and 1,000-yard rusher Dom Bragalone. Junior Brad Mayes takes over as Lehigh's starting quarterback.
Near the end of preseason camp, coach Andy Coen named four captains for the 2017 season. Fifth-year seniors Zach Duffy (Reading, Pa.) and Brandon Short (Mentor, Ohio) will serve as captains for the second straight season and will be joined by fifth-year defensive lineman Jimmy Mitchell (La Grange Park, Ill.) Safety Sam McCloskey (Altoona, Pa.) is the first Lehigh junior to be named a captain since Sedale Threatt in 2006.
With the graduation of 2016 Patriot League Offensive Player of the Year Nick Shafnisky, junior Brad Mayes takes over as Lehigh's starting quarterback. Mayes appeared in 13 games over his first two seasons, throwing for 2,124 yards and 20 touchdowns, against just six interceptions. The Tampa, Fla. native owns a 4-1 record as a starting quarterback, with the lone loss coming in last year's playoff game at New Hampshire. Mayes' first start in 2016 was memorable as he threw for a Lehigh and Yale Bowl-record 524 yards in a 63-35 Mountain Hawks win at Yale. He also matched a school record with six touchdown passes. In his first five career starts, Mayes has thrown 15 touchdown passes and just one interception.
Lehigh returns one of the top receiving duos in the FCS in seniors Troy Pelletier and Gatlin Casey. Last year both players earned first team All-Patriot League honors and ranked in the top 12 nationally in receiving. Pelletier and Casey combined for 158 catches, 2,413 yards and 26 touchdowns. With 1,278 and and 1,135 yards, respectively, Pelletier and Casey became just the second Lehigh duo to both go over 1,000 yards in a season. Lehigh's 2011 Patriot League Championship team featured Ryan Spadola (1,614) and Jake Drwal (1,060). Last season, Pelletier and Casey also both had 100-yard receiving games in consecutive wins over Princeton, Yale and Colgate, becoming the first duo to have 100 receiving yards in the same game since Lee Kurfis (117) and Sergio Fernandez-Soto (123) against New Hampshire in 2013.
After rushing for 1,008 yards and earning Patriot League Rookie of the Year honors as a freshman, tailback Dominick Bragalone put together another outstanding campaign in 2016, rushing for 1,171 yards and 14 touchdowns to earn first team All-Patriot League honors. Bragalone had four 100-yard rushing games, highlighted by a career-best 192-yard, three touchdown effort against Fordham. The South Williamsport, Pa. native owns 10 career 100-yard rushing games and joins Rabih Abdullah '97 as the only Lehigh runners to post two 1,000-yard rushing seasons. Bragalone begins the 2017 season 10th in school annals in career rushing yards.
Creating more turnovers defensively has been a major area of focus for the Mountain Hawks in recent years. After posting negative turnover margins and producing just 13 takeaways in both 2014 and 2015, Lehigh turned things around last season, posting a plus-9 turnover margin and creating 21 takeaways, including 17 interceptions. Lehigh picked off four passes (and added a fumble recovery) in a win at Holy Cross and also had three interceptions against Princeton and New Hampshire. Players accounting for nine of Lehigh's 17 interceptions return in 2017, led by junior Sam McCloskey, who led the Mountain Hawks with three.
Lehigh's roster features three student-athletes who earned fifth years of eligibility due to medical hardships: offensive linemen Zach Duffy and Brandon Short and defensive lineman Jimmy Mitchell. Both Duffy and Mitchell were sidelined in their true freshman seasons, while Short lost his sophomore season after three games. All three fifth-years will serve as team captains.
The Mountain Hawks have added 19 first-year student-athletes to their 2017 roster, including several who could contribute right away. Five freshmen appear on Lehigh's depth chart, including Jackson Evans, who is projected to start at guard. Six of Lehigh's 20 sophomores appeared in at least nine games as freshman, led by Riley O'Neil, who started all 12 games at free safety.
Villanova was picked third in the CAA preseason poll. The Wildcats went 9-4 in 2016, earning an at-large berth to the FCS playoffs. Villanova won its first round playoff game over Saint Francis before falling 10-7 at South Dakota State.
The Wildcats return 15 starters led by safety Rob Rolle, who was named to the preseason watch list for the Buck Buchanan Award as the top defensive player in the FCS. Linebacker Ed Shockley and punter John Hinchen joined Rolle on the Preseason All-CAA team. Longtime Wildcat assistant Mark Ferrante makes his head coaching debut taking over for his mentor Andy Talley. Villanova returns its starting quarterback in junior Zach Bednarczyk, top rusher in Aaron Forbes as well as its top nine receivers in terms of receptions from a season ago. Wide receiver Brandon Chadbourn is the older brother of Lehigh freshman running back Evan Chadbourn.
Lehigh has an 83-44-6 all-time record in its season-opening contests. The Mountain Hawks are 6-5 in season openers under Andy Coen and have won five of their last seven openers. Lehigh is just 4-7 in home openers under Andy Coen. This is the third time Lehigh has opened its season against Villanova with the Brown and White winning in 1919 and the Wildcats winning in 2007. Villanova also spoiled Lehigh's home opener in 2010.
Lehigh and Villanova will meet for the 14th time, with the Wildcats holding an 8-5 edge in the series. Villanova has won the last five meetings. Lehigh's last win in the series, a 31-28 triumph at Villanova in 2006 was Andy Coen's first win as a head coach.
Saturday's game kicks off just after 12:30 from Goodman Stadium. Tickets for the game are still available, and may be purchased by visiting LehighTickets.com or by calling (610) 7LU-GAME.
Lehigh will play three of its first four games at Goodman Stadium with the lone road game in that stretch set for next Saturday when the Mountain Hawks travel to Monmouth. The Mountain Hawks will look to avenge a loss to Monmouth in the 2016 season-opener. Game time is set for 1 p.m. from the newly-renovated Kessler Stadium in West Long Branch, N.J.
| Date: | September 2, 2017 |
| Opponent: | No. 10/9 Villanova Wildcats |
| Kickoff: | 12:37 p.m. |
| Stadium: | Goodman Stadium/16,000/Natural Grass |
| Location: | Bethlehem, Pa. |
| Tickets: | Tickets can be purchased by calling 610-7LU-GAME or online at LehighTickets.com |
| Lehigh's '16 Record: | 9-3 overall, 6-0 Patriot League |
| Villanova's '16 Record: | 9-4 overall, 6-2 CAA |
| Series: | Villanova leads 8-5 |
| Television: | Service Electric 2 Sports live with Steve Degler, Mike Yadush '93 and Al Di Carlo |
| Radio: | ESPN Radio of the Lehigh Valley (1160, 1230 and 1320-AM) with Matt Kerr, Tom Fallon and Matt Markus |
| Internet Broadcast: | Video on the Patriot League Network (PatriotLeague.TV) Audio at ESPNLV.com |
| Key Stats: | •Lehigh set school records with 466 points and 5,806 yards of total offense in 2016. •The Mountain Hawks averaged 44.8 points in their nine wins in 2016 and scored exactly 21 points in all three of their losses. •Lehigh was 9-0 in 2016 when Gatlin Casey scored at least one touchdown, and 0-3 when Casey failed to reach the end zone. •Lehigh's roster features 19 freshmen, 20 sophomores, 30 juniors and 17 seniors (3 fifth-years). |
| Behind Enemy Lines: | http://www.villanova.com |
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