Saturday, October 13
Bethlehem, Pa.
12:30 PM
Lehigh University
1-5 , 0-1
14
vs
43
Fordham
1-5 , 1-1
1st
2nd
3rd
4th
F
Fordham
0
22
7
14
43
Lehigh
0
6
0
8
14
Mountain Hawks drop Patriot League opener to Fordham, 43-14
10/13/2018 4:50:00 PM | Football
BETHLEHEM, Pa. – A 22-point second quarter staked Fordham to a 16-point halftime lead and the Lehigh football team was unable to recover as the Mountain Hawks dropped their Patriot League opener to the Rams 43-14 Saturday at Goodman Stadium.
Lehigh had its highest offensive output of the season, gaining 370 yards, but the Mountain Hawks finished minus-2 in turnovers and were hurt by six penalties as they fall to 1-5 overall and 0-1 in the league.
Tim DeMorat threw for 299 yards and two touchdowns while the Rams gained 189 yards rushing as Fordham picks up its first win, improving to 1-5 overall and 1-1 in the league.
"We didn't play very well today," Lehigh head coach Andy Coen said. "(I) just went back with the guys and looking at each other through the mirror there, we're doing stuff that's killing ourselves. Turnovers, fumbles here and there. Penalties. So many penalties. We had three or four offensive pass interferences. We do things every day in practice about how to do those things and these things happen. It kills us. That's coaching. I'll take the hit on that. We've just got to keep working at it and get better. I'm here to make these guys better football players and right now, that's not happening. That's something we have to get better at."
Senior quarterback Brad Mayes threw for a season-best 282 yards on 20-of-31 with two touchdowns but threw three interceptions, including two on batted balls. Junior Devon Bibbens had his second career 100-yard game with 112 yards and a touchdown on five receptions. Sophomore Jorge Portorreal led Lehigh with seven receptions for 88 yards.
After a scoreless first period that saw Fordham miss a field goal on its opening drive and Lehigh throw an interception in Fordham territory, the Rams broke through early in the second period on a pass from DeMorat to Jonathan Lumley that turned into a 73-yard catch-and-run touchdown. A two-point conversion pass put Fordham up 8-0.
Lehigh answered with a five-play, 79-yard drive. Mayes opened the drive with a 45-yard completion to Bibbens. A 23-yard rush by freshman Rashawn Allen put the Mountain Hawks in the red zone before Mayes capped the drive with an 11-yard pass to Bibbens. The extra point was blocked leaving Lehigh down 8-6.
Fordham came right back, using another big play to set up a score. DeMorat hit Austin Longi for 40 yards down to the one before Naim Mayfield's one-yard run put the Rams up 15-6. DeMorat scored on a one-yard run right before the half to give the Rams a 22-6 lead at the break.
On its second drive of the third quarter the Mountain Hawks put together an impressive 10-play drive that featured a 33-yard pass from Mayes to freshman Raymond Falcone that converted a 3rd-and-16. The drive stalled in the red zone, however, as Mayes was intercepted by Jesse Bramble on the Fordham two.
An 87-yard pass from DeMorat to Corey Caddle late in the third quarter put the Rams up by 23. The pass was the longest play from scrimmage in Goodman Stadium history, surpassing an 86-yard pass from Lehigh's Luke Ciannello to Mike Sutton against Hofstra in the 2001 NCAA playoffs.
Lehigh's final eight points came early in the fourth quarter as Mayes his freshman Austin Dambach for a 21-yard touchdown and then converted a two-point pass to Portorreal.
"Those guys are both going to be really good players," Coen said of the two freshman wide receivers. They're young and they make some mistakes here and there, but they're going to be really good players over the next few years for sure."
Fordham added two fourth-quarter rushing touchdowns to extend their margin of victory.
"(The defense) started pretty well and then again, when we're not moving the ball, the defense is left out there," Coen said. "But the defense certainly did not hold up its side of the bargain in this game. We gave up way too many yards rushing the ball."
The Mountain Hawks return to the road for their next two games, beginning Saturday with a trip to Georgetown. Game time is set for 2 p.m. from Cooper Field with video coverage on the Patriot League Network and audio coverage on Fox Sports Radio 1230 and 1320.
EXTRA POINTS… Lehigh honored its 1993 and 1998 Patriot League Championship teams at halftime… Fordham is now 2-14 all-time against Lehigh in Bethlehem… the Mountain Hawks recorded three sacks, by seniors Harrison Kauffman and Juwan Morrow and junior Davis Maxie… senior Sam McCloskey led Lehigh with 11 tackles and 1.5 tackles for loss… Maxie and Morrow each had two tackles for loss… Falcone made his first career start at wide receiver and had three catches for 50 yards… Lehigh rushed for just 88 yards, with senior Dom Bragalone held to 34 on 19 carries… the Mountain Hawks fell to 9-4 in Patriot League openers under Andy Coen, losing for the first time since 2014… sophomore Matt Fest became the third different Mountain Hawk to start at center this season.
Like Lehigh Football on Facebook and follow on Twitter and Instagram for exclusive updates throughout the season.
Lehigh had its highest offensive output of the season, gaining 370 yards, but the Mountain Hawks finished minus-2 in turnovers and were hurt by six penalties as they fall to 1-5 overall and 0-1 in the league.
Tim DeMorat threw for 299 yards and two touchdowns while the Rams gained 189 yards rushing as Fordham picks up its first win, improving to 1-5 overall and 1-1 in the league.
"We didn't play very well today," Lehigh head coach Andy Coen said. "(I) just went back with the guys and looking at each other through the mirror there, we're doing stuff that's killing ourselves. Turnovers, fumbles here and there. Penalties. So many penalties. We had three or four offensive pass interferences. We do things every day in practice about how to do those things and these things happen. It kills us. That's coaching. I'll take the hit on that. We've just got to keep working at it and get better. I'm here to make these guys better football players and right now, that's not happening. That's something we have to get better at."
Senior quarterback Brad Mayes threw for a season-best 282 yards on 20-of-31 with two touchdowns but threw three interceptions, including two on batted balls. Junior Devon Bibbens had his second career 100-yard game with 112 yards and a touchdown on five receptions. Sophomore Jorge Portorreal led Lehigh with seven receptions for 88 yards.
After a scoreless first period that saw Fordham miss a field goal on its opening drive and Lehigh throw an interception in Fordham territory, the Rams broke through early in the second period on a pass from DeMorat to Jonathan Lumley that turned into a 73-yard catch-and-run touchdown. A two-point conversion pass put Fordham up 8-0.
Lehigh answered with a five-play, 79-yard drive. Mayes opened the drive with a 45-yard completion to Bibbens. A 23-yard rush by freshman Rashawn Allen put the Mountain Hawks in the red zone before Mayes capped the drive with an 11-yard pass to Bibbens. The extra point was blocked leaving Lehigh down 8-6.
Fordham came right back, using another big play to set up a score. DeMorat hit Austin Longi for 40 yards down to the one before Naim Mayfield's one-yard run put the Rams up 15-6. DeMorat scored on a one-yard run right before the half to give the Rams a 22-6 lead at the break.
On its second drive of the third quarter the Mountain Hawks put together an impressive 10-play drive that featured a 33-yard pass from Mayes to freshman Raymond Falcone that converted a 3rd-and-16. The drive stalled in the red zone, however, as Mayes was intercepted by Jesse Bramble on the Fordham two.
An 87-yard pass from DeMorat to Corey Caddle late in the third quarter put the Rams up by 23. The pass was the longest play from scrimmage in Goodman Stadium history, surpassing an 86-yard pass from Lehigh's Luke Ciannello to Mike Sutton against Hofstra in the 2001 NCAA playoffs.
Lehigh's final eight points came early in the fourth quarter as Mayes his freshman Austin Dambach for a 21-yard touchdown and then converted a two-point pass to Portorreal.
"Those guys are both going to be really good players," Coen said of the two freshman wide receivers. They're young and they make some mistakes here and there, but they're going to be really good players over the next few years for sure."
Fordham added two fourth-quarter rushing touchdowns to extend their margin of victory.
"(The defense) started pretty well and then again, when we're not moving the ball, the defense is left out there," Coen said. "But the defense certainly did not hold up its side of the bargain in this game. We gave up way too many yards rushing the ball."
The Mountain Hawks return to the road for their next two games, beginning Saturday with a trip to Georgetown. Game time is set for 2 p.m. from Cooper Field with video coverage on the Patriot League Network and audio coverage on Fox Sports Radio 1230 and 1320.
EXTRA POINTS… Lehigh honored its 1993 and 1998 Patriot League Championship teams at halftime… Fordham is now 2-14 all-time against Lehigh in Bethlehem… the Mountain Hawks recorded three sacks, by seniors Harrison Kauffman and Juwan Morrow and junior Davis Maxie… senior Sam McCloskey led Lehigh with 11 tackles and 1.5 tackles for loss… Maxie and Morrow each had two tackles for loss… Falcone made his first career start at wide receiver and had three catches for 50 yards… Lehigh rushed for just 88 yards, with senior Dom Bragalone held to 34 on 19 carries… the Mountain Hawks fell to 9-4 in Patriot League openers under Andy Coen, losing for the first time since 2014… sophomore Matt Fest became the third different Mountain Hawk to start at center this season.
Like Lehigh Football on Facebook and follow on Twitter and Instagram for exclusive updates throughout the season.
Team Stats
FORDHAM
LEHIGH
Total Yards
488
370
Pass Yards
299
282
Rushing Yards
189
88
Penalty Yards
25
68
1st Downs
21
16
3rd Downs
6
5
4th Downs
1
0
TOP
32:30
27:30
2nd Quarter
FORDHAM 8, LEHIGH 0
FORDHAM - Lumley, Jonatha 73 yd pass from DeMorat, Tim (Gildea, Jack pass) 3 plays, 81 yards, TOP 1:20
FORDHAM 8, LEHIGH 6
LEHIGH - Bibbens, Devon 11 yd pass from Mayes, Brad (Mish, Ed kickblocked) 5 plays, 79 yards, TOP 2:12
FORDHAM 15, LEHIGH 6
FORDHAM - Mayfield, Naim 1 yd run (Mevis, Andrew kick), 8 plays, 75 yards, TOP 3:10
FORDHAM 22, LEHIGH 6
FORDHAM - DeMorat, Tim 1 yd run (Mevis, Andrew kick), 10 plays, 64 yards, TOP 4:10
3rd Quarter
FORDHAM 29, LEHIGH 6
FORDHAM - Caddle, Corey 87 yd pass from DeMorat, Tim (Mevis, Andrew kick) 3 plays, 91 yards, TOP 0:47
4th Quarter
FORDHAM 36, LEHIGH 6
FORDHAM - Hopkins, Tyriek 20 yd run (Mevis, Andrew kick), 6 plays, 68 yards, TOP 2:50
FORDHAM 36, LEHIGH 14
LEHIGH - Dambach, Austin 21 yd pass from Mayes, Brad (Portorreal, J. pass) 6 plays, 75 yards, TOP 1:42
FORDHAM 43, LEHIGH 14
FORDHAM - Mayfield, Naim 5 yd run (Mevis, Andrew kick), 5 plays, 25 yards, TOP 3:20
Game Leaders
Passing Leaders
CMP
20
TD
2
YDS
282
INT
3
Players Mentioned
RB
/ Football
WR
/ Football
WR
/ Football
WR
/ Football
DL
/ Football
DL
/ FootballQB
/ Football
DB
/ Football
DL
/ Football
WR
/ FootballLehigh Sports Central: Football
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