Saturday, September 23
Bethlehem, Pa.
12:30 PM
Lehigh University
vs
Penn
Defending Patriot, Ivy League Champions Clash as Lehigh hosts Penn
9/19/2017 12:06:00 PM | Football
Game Notes | Tickets | Video | Audio | Live Stats
BETHLEHEM, Pa. – The defending champions of the Patriot League and Ivy League meet at Goodman Stadium Saturday as Lehigh welcomes Penn. The Mountain Hawks will try again to break their season-opening slide as they play the back end of consecutive games against Ivy League foes. Lehigh dug itself an early 14-0 hole for the second straight week and was unable to recover in a 56-28 loss to Yale last weekend. Junior Brad Mayes threw for 304 yards and three touchdowns while seniors Gatlin Casey and Troy Pelletier and freshman Jorge Portorreal all had 95-plus receiving yards, but the visiting Bulldogs racked up 566 yards of total offense to hand Lehigh its third straight setback.
Lehigh's first three games have featured several noteworthy similarities between them. The Mountain Hawks have won the coin toss and deferred in each of the three games, with their opponents receiving and scoring a quick touchdown on their opening drive. Lehigh has taken the ball to start the second half in each game and has scored on a long touchdown pass on the second play from scrimmage in all three games. The other constant for the Mountain Hawks through three games is that they've dropped all three.
While Lehigh's offense has been productive in 2017, the Mountain Hawks are at their best when their offense is balanced. Through three games, Lehigh has passed the ball on 56 percent of its plays and has gained over 100 rushing yards and 250 passing yards in just one of those three games. Last year, the Mountain Hawks had a 51-49 run-pass ratio for the season and eclipsed 100 rushing yards and 250 passing yards in seven of their 12 games.
Freshman wide receiver Jorge Portorreal had the best game of his young career against Yale, catching five passes for 99 yards and a touchdown. All five of Portorreal's catches went for first downs, including three 3rd-and-long conversions. Portorreal was named Patriot League Rookie of the Week on Monday. He has eight catches for 133 yards through three games and has also returned two kickoffs for 37 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. Junior Sam McCloskey led Lehigh returnees with three interceptions. Lehigh has struggled to create turnovers early in this season with just two takeaways, both of which came off of muffed punts. Lehigh is minus-3 in turnover margin through three games.
Saturday's game marks Andy Coen's third meeting with Penn as a head coach, after spending six seasons with the Quakers under Al Bagnoli prior to his return to Lehigh. Coen spent six seasons as Penn's offensive coordinator where he helped the Quakers to three Ivy League titles and a top ten national finish in 2003. While Coen led Penn's offense, Quaker head coach Ray Priore was Penn's defensive coordinator and secondary coach.
Penn has shared the last two Ivy League titles following back-to-back 7-3 campaigns. The Quakers opened their 2017 season with a 42-24 win over Ohio Dominican last Saturday at Franklin Field. Trailing 10-7 at the half, Penn scored 35 second half points and finished with 559 total yards including 302 on the ground.
Preseason All-American wide receiver Justin Watson is the Quakers' top offensive threat and had eight receptions for 134 yards and two touchdowns last week. Karekin Brooks rushed for 142 yards and two scores, while Will Fischer-Colbrie threw for 198 yards and two touchdowns in his first career start at quarterback. The Quakers return a total of 10 All-Ivy selections, with first team defensive end Louis Vecchio leading the way for five All-Ivy returnees on defense.
Lehigh and Penn meet for the 60th time with the Quakers holding a 44-15 advantage. The Mountain Hawks have beaten the Quakers in each of the last two seasons after the programs had previously not met since 2003. Lehigh and Penn met regularly in the 1960s, 70s, 80s and 90s. Lehigh has won 13 of the last 17 meetings dating back to 1975. These teams first met in 1885.
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 its next two games away from Goodman Stadium, beginning next Saturday when the Mountain Hawks travel to Staten Island, N.Y. for their first-ever meeting with Wagner. It will mark Lehigh's final non-league game of the regular season. Game time is set for 6 p.m. from Hameline Field.
Like Lehigh Football on Facebook and follow on Twitter for exclusive updates throughout the season.
BETHLEHEM, Pa. – The defending champions of the Patriot League and Ivy League meet at Goodman Stadium Saturday as Lehigh welcomes Penn. The Mountain Hawks will try again to break their season-opening slide as they play the back end of consecutive games against Ivy League foes. Lehigh dug itself an early 14-0 hole for the second straight week and was unable to recover in a 56-28 loss to Yale last weekend. Junior Brad Mayes threw for 304 yards and three touchdowns while seniors Gatlin Casey and Troy Pelletier and freshman Jorge Portorreal all had 95-plus receiving yards, but the visiting Bulldogs racked up 566 yards of total offense to hand Lehigh its third straight setback.
Lehigh's first three games have featured several noteworthy similarities between them. The Mountain Hawks have won the coin toss and deferred in each of the three games, with their opponents receiving and scoring a quick touchdown on their opening drive. Lehigh has taken the ball to start the second half in each game and has scored on a long touchdown pass on the second play from scrimmage in all three games. The other constant for the Mountain Hawks through three games is that they've dropped all three.
While Lehigh's offense has been productive in 2017, the Mountain Hawks are at their best when their offense is balanced. Through three games, Lehigh has passed the ball on 56 percent of its plays and has gained over 100 rushing yards and 250 passing yards in just one of those three games. Last year, the Mountain Hawks had a 51-49 run-pass ratio for the season and eclipsed 100 rushing yards and 250 passing yards in seven of their 12 games.
Freshman wide receiver Jorge Portorreal had the best game of his young career against Yale, catching five passes for 99 yards and a touchdown. All five of Portorreal's catches went for first downs, including three 3rd-and-long conversions. Portorreal was named Patriot League Rookie of the Week on Monday. He has eight catches for 133 yards through three games and has also returned two kickoffs for 37 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. Junior Sam McCloskey led Lehigh returnees with three interceptions. Lehigh has struggled to create turnovers early in this season with just two takeaways, both of which came off of muffed punts. Lehigh is minus-3 in turnover margin through three games.
Saturday's game marks Andy Coen's third meeting with Penn as a head coach, after spending six seasons with the Quakers under Al Bagnoli prior to his return to Lehigh. Coen spent six seasons as Penn's offensive coordinator where he helped the Quakers to three Ivy League titles and a top ten national finish in 2003. While Coen led Penn's offense, Quaker head coach Ray Priore was Penn's defensive coordinator and secondary coach.
Penn has shared the last two Ivy League titles following back-to-back 7-3 campaigns. The Quakers opened their 2017 season with a 42-24 win over Ohio Dominican last Saturday at Franklin Field. Trailing 10-7 at the half, Penn scored 35 second half points and finished with 559 total yards including 302 on the ground.
Preseason All-American wide receiver Justin Watson is the Quakers' top offensive threat and had eight receptions for 134 yards and two touchdowns last week. Karekin Brooks rushed for 142 yards and two scores, while Will Fischer-Colbrie threw for 198 yards and two touchdowns in his first career start at quarterback. The Quakers return a total of 10 All-Ivy selections, with first team defensive end Louis Vecchio leading the way for five All-Ivy returnees on defense.
Lehigh and Penn meet for the 60th time with the Quakers holding a 44-15 advantage. The Mountain Hawks have beaten the Quakers in each of the last two seasons after the programs had previously not met since 2003. Lehigh and Penn met regularly in the 1960s, 70s, 80s and 90s. Lehigh has won 13 of the last 17 meetings dating back to 1975. These teams first met in 1885.
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 its next two games away from Goodman Stadium, beginning next Saturday when the Mountain Hawks travel to Staten Island, N.Y. for their first-ever meeting with Wagner. It will mark Lehigh's final non-league game of the regular season. Game time is set for 6 p.m. from Hameline Field.
| Date: | September 23, 2017 |
| Opponent: | Penn Quakers |
| 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 Record: | 0-3 overall, 0-0 Patriot League |
| Penn's Record: | 1-0 overall, 0-0 Ivy League |
| Series: | Penn leads 44-15 |
| Television: | Service Electric 2 Sports live with Steve Degler, Mike Yadush '93 and Al Di Carlo |
| Radio: | ESPN Radio of the Lehigh Valley (1230/1320/1160-AM) with Matt Kerr, Jim Guzzo, Matt Markus and Tom Fallon. Pregame coverage begins at 11:30 a.m. |
| Internet Broadcast: | Video on the Patriot League Network (PatriotLeague.TV) Audio at ESPNLV.com |
| Key Stats: | •Lehigh ranks second in the FCS in passing offense at 354.3 yards per game •The Mountain Hawks have scored on a long touchdown pass on the second play of the second half in all three previous games this season. •Lehigh has won 13 of the last 17 games versus Penn after the Quakers won 34 straight against the Brown and White from 1890-1975. |
| Behind Enemy Lines: | http://www.pennathletics.com |
Like Lehigh Football on Facebook and follow on Twitter for exclusive updates throughout the season.
Players Mentioned
WR
/ Football
QB
/ Football
DB
/ Football
WR
/ Football
WR
/ FootballLehigh Sports Central: Football
Tuesday, December 02
MHT EP6 - Football
Thursday, November 20
Brown & Flight - Episode 4
Friday, November 14
Football Blitz
Friday, October 31
