Saturday, November 9
Lewisburg, Pa.
1:00 PM
Lehigh University
at
Bucknell
Lehigh heads to Bucknell for final Patriot League road tilt
11/5/2019 12:20:00 PM | Football
BETHLEHEM, Pa. – Looking to bounce back from its first Patriot League loss, Lehigh heads to Bucknell Saturday for its final Patriot League road game. The Mountain Hawks battled back from 14-0 and 24-7 deficits but ultimately came up seven points short against Holy Cross. Junior linebacker Pete Haffner picked off a pair of passes, while senior quarterback Tyler Monaco completed 26-of-39 passes for a career-high 282 yards and a touchdown. Senior Devon Bibbens had his third 100-yard receiving game of the season with six catches for 102 yards and a touchdown.
Haffner, has chipped in 65 tackles to rank second on the team and has added 5.5 tackles for loss and two sacks. Haffner picked off two passes against Holy Cross to go along with seven tackles. They were the first two interceptions of his career, as Haffner became the first Lehigh player with two interceptions in one game since Quentin Jones had two against Holy Cross in 2015. It was also the first two-interception game for a Patriot League player this season, which won Haffner the league's Defensive Player of the Week award. Haffner made a career-high 13 tackles against Villanova and had 10 against Bucknell last November.
After leaving the Colgate game early due to injury, senior wide receiver Devon Bibbens returned to the lineup with one of the best all-around games of his career. Bibbens established a new career high with 10 receptions and caught a pair of touchdowns, including the game-winner in overtime. He showed off his well-roundedness as a receiver, but delivering a key block on the perimeter that helped spring Zaythan Hill on his 94-yard touchdown. Bibbens was named Patriot League Offensive Player of the Week for his efforts. Bibbens has been terrific over the last five games he finished. Starting with a 101-yard, two touchdown effort at UC Davis, Bibbens is averaging 7.4 receptions for 102 yards and a touchdown over those five games. He had six catches for 91 yards against Georgetown, including a 48-yard catch-and-run on the game's final drive that set up Austin Henning's game-winning field goal. Bibbens had his third 100-yard receiving game of the season and fifth of his career versus Holy Cross.
It didn't come down to the final play, but Lehigh's game with Holy Cross was not decided until the final minute. The Mountain Hawks were driving for a potential tying touchdown but Holy Cross' Chris Riley came up with an interception at the Crusader five yard line to deal Lehigh its first league loss. All three of Lehigh's league wins have come on the final play.
Much like last week's game with Holy Cross, there are a number of connections between the coaching staffs at Lehigh and Bucknell. Most notably, Lehigh head coach Tom Gilmore and Bucknell head coach Dave Cecchini served as defensive and offensive coordinators together at Lehigh from 2000-2002, first under Kevin Higgins, and then Pete Lembo. They led their respective units on Patriot League championship teams in 2000 and 2001. Current defensive coordinator Mike Kashurba coached at Bucknell in 2012 and 2013 while defensive line coach Matt Borich was a standout lineman for the Bison from 1997-2000 and spent the last 10 seasons on Bucknell's coaching staff. On the Bison side, Cecchini is a former All-America receiver for the Brown and White. His staff includes former Lehigh team captain and assistant coach Matt Ford '16. Assistant coaches Jason Miran, Isaac Collins and Vinny Giacalone have all enjoyed stints at Lehigh during their coaching careers.
Bucknell resumes league play following its second bye week of the season. The Bison are 1-7 overall against a tough schedule that included FBS Temple plus nationally-ranked FCS teams Villanova, Princeton and Towson in the non-league. Bucknell's lone victory was a convincing 32-14 decision at Colgate on Oct. 12. In its last action, Bucknell fell 21-17 at Lafayette. The Bison average just under 16 points and 287 yards per game. Logan Bitikofer has established himself at quarterback, completing 59 percent of his passes with seven touchdowns and three interceptions. Brandon Sanders is the top receiver with 52 catches for 495 yards and three touchdowns. Bucknell allows just under 38 points and 477 yards per game defensively. Rick Mottram has a team-high 69 tackles and two interceptions, while Simeon Page has 8.5 tackles for loss and six sacks.
Lehigh has played Bucknell more times than any opponent other than rival Lafayette. The Mountain Hawks and Bison meet for the 83rd time with Lehigh holding a 48-31-3 advantage. Lehigh has won 19 of the last 21 games, winning 15 straight before back-to-back Bucknell wins in 2013 and 2014.
Saturday's game kicks off just after 1 p.m. from Christy Mathewson-Memorial Stadium in Lewisburg, Pa. The game will be broadcast on Stadium's over-the-air channel as well as the Patriot League Network, while audio coverage will be available on Fox Sports Radio 1230/1320 AM and 94.7 FM Allentown, LVFoxSports.com and the TuneIn App, beginning at noon.
Lehigh will remain on the road for a rare November non-league regular season game as the Mountain Hawks head to Fairfield, Conn. to battle NEC member Sacred Heart. It will be the first-ever meeting between the Mountain Hawks and Pioneers in football. Game time is set for noon from Campus Field.
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Haffner, has chipped in 65 tackles to rank second on the team and has added 5.5 tackles for loss and two sacks. Haffner picked off two passes against Holy Cross to go along with seven tackles. They were the first two interceptions of his career, as Haffner became the first Lehigh player with two interceptions in one game since Quentin Jones had two against Holy Cross in 2015. It was also the first two-interception game for a Patriot League player this season, which won Haffner the league's Defensive Player of the Week award. Haffner made a career-high 13 tackles against Villanova and had 10 against Bucknell last November.
After leaving the Colgate game early due to injury, senior wide receiver Devon Bibbens returned to the lineup with one of the best all-around games of his career. Bibbens established a new career high with 10 receptions and caught a pair of touchdowns, including the game-winner in overtime. He showed off his well-roundedness as a receiver, but delivering a key block on the perimeter that helped spring Zaythan Hill on his 94-yard touchdown. Bibbens was named Patriot League Offensive Player of the Week for his efforts. Bibbens has been terrific over the last five games he finished. Starting with a 101-yard, two touchdown effort at UC Davis, Bibbens is averaging 7.4 receptions for 102 yards and a touchdown over those five games. He had six catches for 91 yards against Georgetown, including a 48-yard catch-and-run on the game's final drive that set up Austin Henning's game-winning field goal. Bibbens had his third 100-yard receiving game of the season and fifth of his career versus Holy Cross.
It didn't come down to the final play, but Lehigh's game with Holy Cross was not decided until the final minute. The Mountain Hawks were driving for a potential tying touchdown but Holy Cross' Chris Riley came up with an interception at the Crusader five yard line to deal Lehigh its first league loss. All three of Lehigh's league wins have come on the final play.
Much like last week's game with Holy Cross, there are a number of connections between the coaching staffs at Lehigh and Bucknell. Most notably, Lehigh head coach Tom Gilmore and Bucknell head coach Dave Cecchini served as defensive and offensive coordinators together at Lehigh from 2000-2002, first under Kevin Higgins, and then Pete Lembo. They led their respective units on Patriot League championship teams in 2000 and 2001. Current defensive coordinator Mike Kashurba coached at Bucknell in 2012 and 2013 while defensive line coach Matt Borich was a standout lineman for the Bison from 1997-2000 and spent the last 10 seasons on Bucknell's coaching staff. On the Bison side, Cecchini is a former All-America receiver for the Brown and White. His staff includes former Lehigh team captain and assistant coach Matt Ford '16. Assistant coaches Jason Miran, Isaac Collins and Vinny Giacalone have all enjoyed stints at Lehigh during their coaching careers.
Bucknell resumes league play following its second bye week of the season. The Bison are 1-7 overall against a tough schedule that included FBS Temple plus nationally-ranked FCS teams Villanova, Princeton and Towson in the non-league. Bucknell's lone victory was a convincing 32-14 decision at Colgate on Oct. 12. In its last action, Bucknell fell 21-17 at Lafayette. The Bison average just under 16 points and 287 yards per game. Logan Bitikofer has established himself at quarterback, completing 59 percent of his passes with seven touchdowns and three interceptions. Brandon Sanders is the top receiver with 52 catches for 495 yards and three touchdowns. Bucknell allows just under 38 points and 477 yards per game defensively. Rick Mottram has a team-high 69 tackles and two interceptions, while Simeon Page has 8.5 tackles for loss and six sacks.
Lehigh has played Bucknell more times than any opponent other than rival Lafayette. The Mountain Hawks and Bison meet for the 83rd time with Lehigh holding a 48-31-3 advantage. Lehigh has won 19 of the last 21 games, winning 15 straight before back-to-back Bucknell wins in 2013 and 2014.
Saturday's game kicks off just after 1 p.m. from Christy Mathewson-Memorial Stadium in Lewisburg, Pa. The game will be broadcast on Stadium's over-the-air channel as well as the Patriot League Network, while audio coverage will be available on Fox Sports Radio 1230/1320 AM and 94.7 FM Allentown, LVFoxSports.com and the TuneIn App, beginning at noon.
Lehigh will remain on the road for a rare November non-league regular season game as the Mountain Hawks head to Fairfield, Conn. to battle NEC member Sacred Heart. It will be the first-ever meeting between the Mountain Hawks and Pioneers in football. Game time is set for noon from Campus Field.
| Date: | November 9, 2019 |
| Opponent: | Bucknell Bison |
| Kickoff: | 1:06 p.m. |
| Stadium: | Christy Mathewson-Memorial Stadium/13,100/FieldTurf |
| Location: | Lewisburg, Pa. |
| Lehigh's record: | 4-4 overall, 3-1 Patriot League |
| Bucknell's record: | 1-7 overall, 1-2 Patriot League |
| Series: | Lehigh leads 48-31-3 |
| Television | Stadium OTA with Matt Martucci and Dave Owens. Check local listings to see if game will be televised in your area |
| Radio | Fox Sports Radio 1230/1320 AM and 94.7 FM Allentown with Matt Kerr, Mike Yadush '93 and Steve Lomangino. Pregame coverage begins at noon. |
| Internet Broadcast: | Video at PatriotLeague.TV Audio at LVFoxSports.com, TuneIn App |
| Key Stats: | •Lehigh boasts the top rushing defense in the Patriot League (128.8 ypg.) while Bucknell ranks sixth in rushing offense (78.8 ypg.). •Six of Lehigh's eight games have been decided by seven points or less. The Mountain Hawks are 4-2 in those games. •Lehigh went 31-6 with two Patriot League titles from 2000-02 when Tom Gilmore and Dave Cecchini served as the Mountain Hawks' defensive and offensive coordinators. |
| Behind Enemy Lines: | http://www.bucknellbison.com |
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