Saturday, October 6
Princeton, N.J.
1:00 PM
Lehigh University
1-4
7
at
66
Princeton
4-0
1st
2nd
3rd
4th
F
Lehigh
7
0
0
0
7
Princeton
7
24
21
14
66
Lehigh looks ahead to Patriot League play after setback at No. 23 Princeton
10/6/2018 5:35:00 PM | Football
PRINCETON, N.J. – In its final regular season non-league game, Lehigh fell to No. 23/RV Princeton 66-7 Saturday at Princeton Stadium. The Tigers came into the game averaging nearly 49 points and 565 yards of total offense and eclipsed those marks. Princeton racked up a school record 733 yards of offense, marking the first time in more than 30 years that Lehigh allowed more than 700 yards.
The Tigers utilized the big play, producing six plays of 30 or more yards, many of which produced touchdowns or set up scores. Princeton's defense came in allowing under nine points and 269 yards per game and limited Lehigh to just 234 yards on the afternoon.
Princeton (4-0) took the opening kickoff and drove for a score, capped by Charlie Volker's 52-yard touchdown run. Lehigh went three-and-out on its opening possession but the defense came up with an early big play as senior Mark Walker stripped Jacob Birmelin with sophomore Divine Buckhram recovering at the Tiger 34.
"There were not many positive things here," Lehigh head coach Andy Coen said. "Early in the game the defense did a good job and got a turnover. The score was even after the first quarter but after that they just beat us up."
Seven plays later, Lehigh pulled even as the Mountain Hawks went for a 4th-and-8 from the Princeton 11 and senior quarterback Brad Mayes hit freshman Austin Dambach, who was making his first career start, and Dambach dove for the pylon for his first career touchdown.
"I thought (Austin) was going to be a good player from the time we recruited him," Coen said. "It took him this long to get out there because we had some veteran guys in front of him. He's going to be a great player for us as we move on."
A sack from junior Keith Woetzel stuffed Princeton's ensuing drive but Lehigh wasn't able to capitalize.
Princeton went in front for good early in the second quarter as John Lovett hit Collin Eaddy for a 10-yard touchdown on a shovel pass that sparked a 24-point second quarter and put the Tigers up 31-7 at halftime.
Lehigh struggled to find consistency offensively in the second half as Princeton added to its lead with 21 third quarter points and 14 more in the fourth to cap its record offensive day.
Mayes finished 16-of-33 for 133 yards with one touchdown and one interception. Dambach led Lehigh with 36 receiving yards and was one of three Mountain Hawks to catch four passes, along with junior Devon Bibbens and sophomore Jorge Portorreal.
Senior Dominick Bragalone was limited to 52 rushing yards on 22 carries. Classmate Jake Buskirk added 38 yards on eight carries over the game's final drive.
Safeties Sam McCloskey and Riley O'Neil led Lehigh's defense with 10 tackles, while Woetzel and senior Donavon Harris added nine.
"We did some positive things, but the last couple of scores we're just not tackling the right way," Coen said. "It's a lot of the little things that we didn't do again. For everything that we're doing, we just haven't been able to put it together."
Princeton was led by Lovett, the Tigers' dual threat quarterback, who completed 20-of-28 for 288 yards and three touchdowns and rushed 12 times for 111 yards and a score. Ryan Quigley and Volker combined to rush for 140 yards and four touchdowns, while Steve Carlson was the leading receiver with seven catches for 112 yards.
The Mountain Hawks suffered their fourth straight defeat, dropping to 1-4 on the season. Lehigh will look to wipe the slate clean as the Mountain Hawks prepare for a Patriot League slate in which they are 15-3 against over the last three seasons.
"I'm not worried about anything other than getting ready for Fordham," Coen said. "That's what we're looking at right now. It's all about the Patriot League."
The Mountain Hawks return to Goodman Stadium next Saturday to host Fordham in their Patriot League opener. Game time is set for 12:30 p.m. on Women's Health Day. Tickets can be purchased at LehighTickets.com or by calling 610-7LU-GAME during business hours.
EXTRA POINTS… Lehigh had won five of the last six meetings prior to Saturday but the Tigers have now won the last two meetings in New Jersey… The Tigers lead the all-time series 41-17-2… both teams turned the ball over twice with sophomore Jack Kircher recovering an errant pitch for Lehigh's other takeaway… junior Davis Maxie recorded a tackle for loss… the 59 point margin of defeat is the largest for Lehigh since a 77-14 loss at Idaho in 1993… that game also marked the last time Lehigh allowed more than 65 points in a game… Lehigh's mascot Clutch participated in Mascot Day activities at Princeton.
Like Lehigh Football on Facebook and follow on Twitter and Instagram for exclusive updates throughout the season.
The Tigers utilized the big play, producing six plays of 30 or more yards, many of which produced touchdowns or set up scores. Princeton's defense came in allowing under nine points and 269 yards per game and limited Lehigh to just 234 yards on the afternoon.
Princeton (4-0) took the opening kickoff and drove for a score, capped by Charlie Volker's 52-yard touchdown run. Lehigh went three-and-out on its opening possession but the defense came up with an early big play as senior Mark Walker stripped Jacob Birmelin with sophomore Divine Buckhram recovering at the Tiger 34.
"There were not many positive things here," Lehigh head coach Andy Coen said. "Early in the game the defense did a good job and got a turnover. The score was even after the first quarter but after that they just beat us up."
Seven plays later, Lehigh pulled even as the Mountain Hawks went for a 4th-and-8 from the Princeton 11 and senior quarterback Brad Mayes hit freshman Austin Dambach, who was making his first career start, and Dambach dove for the pylon for his first career touchdown.
"I thought (Austin) was going to be a good player from the time we recruited him," Coen said. "It took him this long to get out there because we had some veteran guys in front of him. He's going to be a great player for us as we move on."
A sack from junior Keith Woetzel stuffed Princeton's ensuing drive but Lehigh wasn't able to capitalize.
Princeton went in front for good early in the second quarter as John Lovett hit Collin Eaddy for a 10-yard touchdown on a shovel pass that sparked a 24-point second quarter and put the Tigers up 31-7 at halftime.
Lehigh struggled to find consistency offensively in the second half as Princeton added to its lead with 21 third quarter points and 14 more in the fourth to cap its record offensive day.
Mayes finished 16-of-33 for 133 yards with one touchdown and one interception. Dambach led Lehigh with 36 receiving yards and was one of three Mountain Hawks to catch four passes, along with junior Devon Bibbens and sophomore Jorge Portorreal.
Senior Dominick Bragalone was limited to 52 rushing yards on 22 carries. Classmate Jake Buskirk added 38 yards on eight carries over the game's final drive.
Safeties Sam McCloskey and Riley O'Neil led Lehigh's defense with 10 tackles, while Woetzel and senior Donavon Harris added nine.
"We did some positive things, but the last couple of scores we're just not tackling the right way," Coen said. "It's a lot of the little things that we didn't do again. For everything that we're doing, we just haven't been able to put it together."
Princeton was led by Lovett, the Tigers' dual threat quarterback, who completed 20-of-28 for 288 yards and three touchdowns and rushed 12 times for 111 yards and a score. Ryan Quigley and Volker combined to rush for 140 yards and four touchdowns, while Steve Carlson was the leading receiver with seven catches for 112 yards.
The Mountain Hawks suffered their fourth straight defeat, dropping to 1-4 on the season. Lehigh will look to wipe the slate clean as the Mountain Hawks prepare for a Patriot League slate in which they are 15-3 against over the last three seasons.
"I'm not worried about anything other than getting ready for Fordham," Coen said. "That's what we're looking at right now. It's all about the Patriot League."
The Mountain Hawks return to Goodman Stadium next Saturday to host Fordham in their Patriot League opener. Game time is set for 12:30 p.m. on Women's Health Day. Tickets can be purchased at LehighTickets.com or by calling 610-7LU-GAME during business hours.
EXTRA POINTS… Lehigh had won five of the last six meetings prior to Saturday but the Tigers have now won the last two meetings in New Jersey… The Tigers lead the all-time series 41-17-2… both teams turned the ball over twice with sophomore Jack Kircher recovering an errant pitch for Lehigh's other takeaway… junior Davis Maxie recorded a tackle for loss… the 59 point margin of defeat is the largest for Lehigh since a 77-14 loss at Idaho in 1993… that game also marked the last time Lehigh allowed more than 65 points in a game… Lehigh's mascot Clutch participated in Mascot Day activities at Princeton.
Like Lehigh Football on Facebook and follow on Twitter and Instagram for exclusive updates throughout the season.
Team Stats
LEHIGH
PRIN
Total Yards
234
733
Pass Yards
133
391
Rushing Yards
101
342
Penalty Yards
9
20
1st Downs
14
32
3rd Downs
7
7
4th Downs
1
2
TOP
28:15
29:08
1st Quarter
LEHIGH 0, PRIN 7
PRIN - Volker, Charlie 52 yd run (Ramos, Nicolas kick), 5 plays, 80 yards, TOP 1:54
LEHIGH 7, PRIN 7
LEHIGH - Dambach, Austin 11 yd pass from Mayes, Brad (Mish, Ed kick) 7 plays, 34 yards, TOP 2:46
2nd Quarter
LEHIGH 7, PRIN 14
PRIN - Eaddy, Collin 10 yd pass from Lovett, John (Ramos, Nicolas kick) 8 plays, 68 yards, TOP 3:00
LEHIGH 7, PRIN 21
PRIN - Bech, Tiger 70 yd pass from Lovett, John (Ramos, Nicolas kick) 1 plays, 70 yards, TOP 0:12
LEHIGH 7, PRIN 28
PRIN - Volker, Charlie 1 yd run (Ramos, Nicolas kick), 9 plays, 49 yards, TOP 2:39
LEHIGH 7, PRIN 31
PRIN - Ramos, Nicolas 21 yd field goal 7 plays, 48 yards, TOP 1:55
3rd Quarter
LEHIGH 7, PRIN 38
PRIN - Lovett, John 16 yd run (Ramos, Nicolas kick), 3 plays, 61 yards, TOP 0:53
LEHIGH 7, PRIN 45
PRIN - Horsted, Jesper 18 yd pass from Lovett, John (Ramos, Nicolas kick) 10 plays, 66 yards, TOP 0:35
LEHIGH 7, PRIN 52
PRIN - Quigley, Ryan 1 yd run (Ramos, Nicolas kick), 6 plays, 56 yards, TOP 3:17
4th Quarter
LEHIGH 7, PRIN 59
PRIN - Quigley, Ryan 9 yd run (Ramos, Nicolas kick), 10 plays, 80 yards, TOP 6:55
LEHIGH 7, PRIN 66
PRIN - Classi, Dylan 32 yd pass from Smith, Cole (Ramos, Nicolas kick) 7 plays, 78 yards, TOP 3:08
Game Leaders
CMP
16
TD
1
YDS
133
INT
1
Players Mentioned
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