Saturday, November 16
Fairfield, Conn.
12:00 PM
Lehigh University
4-6
6
at
13
Sacred Heart
7-4
1st
2nd
3rd
4th
F
Lehigh
0
3
3
0
6
Sacred Heart
0
0
0
13
13
Sacred Heart comes back for 13-6 win over Mountain Hawks
11/16/2019 6:20:00 PM | Football
FAIRFIELD, Conn. – Despite a strong overall effort from the Lehigh defense, a pair of fourth quarter rushing touchdowns by Julius Chestnut lifted Sacred Heart to a come-from-behind 13-6 win over the Mountain Hawks Saturday at Campus Field. Defense carried the day for both sides as both offenses were kept under 300 total yards. Senior Keith Woetzel led the defensive charge with 15 tackles, but Lehigh's offense was held to 259 yards.
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Sophomore Alec Beesmer made his first career start at quarterback, completing 8-of-29 passes for 107 yards. Running back Rashawn Allen had his best game of the season, rushing 27 times for 113 yards, but the Mountain Hawks failed to put the ball in the end zone as they fall to 4-6 on the season.
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"We actually protected a lot better this week as compared to last," said Lehigh head coach Tom Gilmore. "There were times when we didn't and he had pressure on Alec, but they bottlenecked our receivers up on some occasions and he didn't have anyone to throw to. He had to tuck the ball and run, which he did a couple times real well. Other times, he took the sack or threw it away."
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Chestnut, who came into the day as the leading rusher in the FCS, scored on a nine-yard run on the first play of the fourth quarter and then added a 40-yard scamper on a third down with 1:48 to play. He finished with 130 yards on 25 carries for Sacred Heart (7-4).
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"We did a really good job defensively until right at the end of the third quarter there, giving up the touchdown," said Gilmore. "We actually instructed our guys on the last one, believe it or not, that if he was past first down yardage, to let him score. That's what the analytics say; it gives you the best chance because then they could just run the clock out. We did a good job for the majority of the game. We just gave up some plays on the one long drive and they got the points on the board. They were ahead by a point, so we had to take some chances."
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A 32-yard punt return by junior Jorge Portorreal late in the first quarter set Lehigh up for the only points of the first half. Beesmer scrambled for 11 to convert a 3rd-and-7 on the final play of the first quarter. A nine-yard completion to senior Devon Bibbens then put Lehigh at the Sacred Heart one. After three unsuccessful rushing attempts, senior Austin Henning booted a 20-yard field goal to put the Mountain Hawks up 3-0.
With its defense keeping the Pioneers in check, Lehigh put together an impressive nine-play drive midway through the third quarter. Allen had rushes of 14 and 16 yards and Beesmer also scrambled for 14. The drive stalled at the Sacred Heart 17 and Henning came on to kick a 35-yard field goal, giving Lehigh a 6-0 advantage with 4:28 left in the third. Â
Sacred Heart answered with its best drive of the game to close the third quarter and Chestunut's run on the first play of the fourth and the subsequent extra point put the Pioneers up 7-6.
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Lehigh tried to answer with a promising drive of its own, but back-to-back sacks knocked the Mountain Hawks out of field goal range.
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With under five minutes to play Lehigh was on the move again, but Beesmer lost the ball on a sack. Mike Wilen recovered and was headed in for an apparent touchdown when he fumbled and freshman Damon Stewart recovered at the Lehigh five.
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The Mountain Hawks punted from deep in their own end and after the defense faced a 3rd-and-4 from the Lehigh 40, Chestnut's second touchdown of the game established a seven point lead.
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Lehigh had 1:38 to work with down by seven after a missed extra point, but after one first down, the Mountain Hawks were backed up by an intentional grounding penalty. Beesmer eventually threw an incompletion on 4th-and-14 from midfield, allowing the Pioneers to run out the clock.
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Four different receivers had two receptions for Lehigh with Bibbens and sophomore Alex Snyder leading the way with 35 receiving yards.
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The Mountain Hawks will host Lafayette next Saturday in the 155th meeting of college football's most-played rivalry. Game time is set for 12:30 p.m. from Goodman Stadium. Tickets are still available and can be purchased at LehighTickets.com or by calling 610-7LU-GAME during business hours. The Lehigh-Lafayette game is presented by JFR Salvage, Inc.
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"It's Lafayette and it's our last game of the season," said Gimore. "We still mathematically have a shot at the title. There's a lot to play for. It's one of 11 opportunities we're guaranteed this year. We have to come out and play a lot better and more consistently. There were a lot of positive signs out there today, so we need to build on that and hopefully get it done a lot better this coming week."
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EXTRA POINTS… Lehigh failed to win the game prior to the Lafayette game for just the fourth tie in 17 seasons… this was the fourth time Lehigh has played a non-league game the week prior to Lafayette… the Mountain Hawks are now 0-5 in those games… Lehigh rushed for 100-plus yards for just the second time this season… Pete Haffner added 10 tackles… seniors Marquis Wilson and Juwan Morrow and freshman Mikhari Sibblis had tackles for loss… the Mountain Hawks were held without a sack for the third time in four games while the Pioneers recorded five sacks… Lehigh wore its gold helmets for the first time since week two.
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Like Lehigh Football on Facebook and follow on Twitter and Instagram for exclusive updates throughout the season.Â
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Sophomore Alec Beesmer made his first career start at quarterback, completing 8-of-29 passes for 107 yards. Running back Rashawn Allen had his best game of the season, rushing 27 times for 113 yards, but the Mountain Hawks failed to put the ball in the end zone as they fall to 4-6 on the season.
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"We actually protected a lot better this week as compared to last," said Lehigh head coach Tom Gilmore. "There were times when we didn't and he had pressure on Alec, but they bottlenecked our receivers up on some occasions and he didn't have anyone to throw to. He had to tuck the ball and run, which he did a couple times real well. Other times, he took the sack or threw it away."
Â
Chestnut, who came into the day as the leading rusher in the FCS, scored on a nine-yard run on the first play of the fourth quarter and then added a 40-yard scamper on a third down with 1:48 to play. He finished with 130 yards on 25 carries for Sacred Heart (7-4).
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"We did a really good job defensively until right at the end of the third quarter there, giving up the touchdown," said Gilmore. "We actually instructed our guys on the last one, believe it or not, that if he was past first down yardage, to let him score. That's what the analytics say; it gives you the best chance because then they could just run the clock out. We did a good job for the majority of the game. We just gave up some plays on the one long drive and they got the points on the board. They were ahead by a point, so we had to take some chances."
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A 32-yard punt return by junior Jorge Portorreal late in the first quarter set Lehigh up for the only points of the first half. Beesmer scrambled for 11 to convert a 3rd-and-7 on the final play of the first quarter. A nine-yard completion to senior Devon Bibbens then put Lehigh at the Sacred Heart one. After three unsuccessful rushing attempts, senior Austin Henning booted a 20-yard field goal to put the Mountain Hawks up 3-0.
Â11:36 2nd |Austin Henning's 19-yard field goal gives Lehigh the early 3-0 lead. #GoLehigh pic.twitter.com/tDEMD1QXjd
— Lehigh Football (@LehighFootball) November 16, 2019
With its defense keeping the Pioneers in check, Lehigh put together an impressive nine-play drive midway through the third quarter. Allen had rushes of 14 and 16 yards and Beesmer also scrambled for 14. The drive stalled at the Sacred Heart 17 and Henning came on to kick a 35-yard field goal, giving Lehigh a 6-0 advantage with 4:28 left in the third. Â
Â4:28 3rd | Austin Henning's field goal try from 35 yards is GOOD! And Lehigh takes a 6-0 lead over the Pioneers. #GoLehigh pic.twitter.com/d1hkIV6lF5
— Lehigh Football (@LehighFootball) November 16, 2019
Sacred Heart answered with its best drive of the game to close the third quarter and Chestunut's run on the first play of the fourth and the subsequent extra point put the Pioneers up 7-6.
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Lehigh tried to answer with a promising drive of its own, but back-to-back sacks knocked the Mountain Hawks out of field goal range.
Â
With under five minutes to play Lehigh was on the move again, but Beesmer lost the ball on a sack. Mike Wilen recovered and was headed in for an apparent touchdown when he fumbled and freshman Damon Stewart recovered at the Lehigh five.
Â
The Mountain Hawks punted from deep in their own end and after the defense faced a 3rd-and-4 from the Lehigh 40, Chestnut's second touchdown of the game established a seven point lead.
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Lehigh had 1:38 to work with down by seven after a missed extra point, but after one first down, the Mountain Hawks were backed up by an intentional grounding penalty. Beesmer eventually threw an incompletion on 4th-and-14 from midfield, allowing the Pioneers to run out the clock.
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Four different receivers had two receptions for Lehigh with Bibbens and sophomore Alex Snyder leading the way with 35 receiving yards.
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The Mountain Hawks will host Lafayette next Saturday in the 155th meeting of college football's most-played rivalry. Game time is set for 12:30 p.m. from Goodman Stadium. Tickets are still available and can be purchased at LehighTickets.com or by calling 610-7LU-GAME during business hours. The Lehigh-Lafayette game is presented by JFR Salvage, Inc.
Â
"It's Lafayette and it's our last game of the season," said Gimore. "We still mathematically have a shot at the title. There's a lot to play for. It's one of 11 opportunities we're guaranteed this year. We have to come out and play a lot better and more consistently. There were a lot of positive signs out there today, so we need to build on that and hopefully get it done a lot better this coming week."
Â
EXTRA POINTS… Lehigh failed to win the game prior to the Lafayette game for just the fourth tie in 17 seasons… this was the fourth time Lehigh has played a non-league game the week prior to Lafayette… the Mountain Hawks are now 0-5 in those games… Lehigh rushed for 100-plus yards for just the second time this season… Pete Haffner added 10 tackles… seniors Marquis Wilson and Juwan Morrow and freshman Mikhari Sibblis had tackles for loss… the Mountain Hawks were held without a sack for the third time in four games while the Pioneers recorded five sacks… Lehigh wore its gold helmets for the first time since week two.
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Like Lehigh Football on Facebook and follow on Twitter and Instagram for exclusive updates throughout the season.Â
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Team Stats
LEHIGH
SHU
Total Yards
259
275
Pass Yards
108
86
Rushing Yards
151
189
Penalty Yards
52
114
1st Downs
16
11
3rd Downs
6
5
4th Downs
1
0
TOP
32:37
27:16
2nd Quarter
LEHIGH 3, SHU 0
LEHIGH - Henning, Austin 20 yd field goal 9 plays, 41 yards, TOP 4:22
3rd Quarter
LEHIGH 6, SHU 0
LEHIGH - Henning, Austin 35 yd field goal 8 plays, 43 yards, TOP 4:42
4th Quarter
LEHIGH 6, SHU 7
SHU - CHESTNUT,Julius 9 yd run (BORGES, Dane kick), 10 plays, 68 yards, TOP 4:26
LEHIGH 6, SHU 13
SHU - CHESTNUT,Julius 40 yd run (BORGES, Dane kickfailed), 3 plays, 46 yards, TOP 0:34
Game Leaders
Passing Leaders
CMP
8
TD
0
YDS
107
INT
0
CMP
1
TD
0
YDS
1
INT
0
Players Mentioned
RB
/ FootballQB
/ Football
WR
/ Football
LB
/ Football
K/P
/ Football
DL
/ Football
WR
/ Football
DL
/ Football
TE
/ Football
OL
/ Football
DB
/ Football
LB
/ FootballLehigh Sports Central: Football
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