Saturday, April 13
Bethlehem, Pa.
11:00 AM
Lehigh University
vs
Brown and White Spring Game
Positives from all three phases as Lehigh holds annual Brown and White Spring Game
4/13/2019 4:15:00 PM | Football
BETHLEHEM, Pa. – Lehigh showcased the work it has put in during spring practice with the annual Brown and White Spring Game on a sunny and warm Saturday at Goodman Stadium. Tom Gilmore's first spring game as head coach saw the Mountain Hawks move the ball for close to 50 plays with some built in breaks for rest and some competitive positional drills.
"We saw both sides of the ball do some really good things," Gilmore said. We didn't do a lot of special teams today but I saw some good things there too. When the offense hit a couple of plays you're always worried about the defense and it works the same on the other side, when the defense makes a play."
Offensively, the Mountain Hawks put together two touchdown drives, while the defensive line had a strong effort with six would-be sacks (quarterbacks were not live for contact), and strong pressure. Lehigh's defense also came up with one takeaway, an interception by rising junior linebacker Pete Haffner.
Haffner was credited with three tackles and a sack to go along with his interception. Senior safety Riley O'Neil was credited with a team-high five tackles. Fifth-year defensive lineman Juwan Morrow had three tackles, all of which went for loss. In all, the defensive line had a strong day with senior Davis Maxie and juniors Jack Kircher, Erik Slater and Zac Troxell all making an impact.
"They've really come along," Gilmore said of the defensive line. "They're playing hard. They've gotten comfortable with the system. The defensive coaches are putting them in good positions to get that pressure, plus there were three or four times where we were tipping balls. We had some sacks, some tips and some pressures and it's good to see that we're getting that close. For our purposes at this point of the year, that's a good sign."
Collectively, the three Lehigh quarterbacks completed 11-of-23 yards for 115 yards, with two touchdown and an interception. Junior Addison Shoup had the most success, going 6-for-8 for 60 yards. He capped his first 14-play segment with a 15-yard touchdown pass to senior Devon Bibbens. The scoring drive was set up by a 17 yard pass over the middle to tight end Alex Snyder.
Sophomore Alec Beesmer completed his first three passes and finished 3-of-6 for 36 yards. He capped a seven play sequence with a 30-yard scoring strike to sophomore Austin Dambach, who made a nice adjustment in the end zone after the pass was deflected.
Dambach led the Lehigh receivers with 39 yards on two receptions. Juniors Jorge Portorreal and Matt Jordan also had two receptions.
Not counting the yards lost on "sacks," Lehigh rushed 15 times for 36 yards. Sophomore Rashawn Allen gained 15 yards on seven carries, while classmate Peter Lucas gained nine on five.
At quarterback, senior Tyler Monaco, Shoup and Beesmer alternated reps with each signal-caller getting a long series and then a shorter series of plays. The day ended with Monaco leading three plays from the nine-yard line. After the offense failed to reach the end zone, senior kicker Austin Henning booted a 22-yard field goal to end the day.
"All three quarterbacks are doing some good things, but we're inconsistent," Gilmore said. "We might throw a TD pass and then follow it up with an interception. That's going to happen at this time. All three of these quarterbacks are just getting significant practice reps for the first time in their careers. Tyler had some last year and now he's getting more and the other two guys are getting many more than they ever have. From that standpoint they're progressing pretty well but we're not where we need to be at this point."
Overall, the Mountain Hawks continued to show strong effort and enthusiasm. The coaches worked in some competitive positional drills – offensive skill players against defensive backs and offensive line versus defensive line – to break up the scrimmage while adding another competitive element to the day.
"Not only are we making what we're doing from a football standpoint competitive, but today since we didn't have a lot of depth we put some spacers in there," Gilmore said. "We had a couple of competitive drills and there's something to win or lose in those drills. It is competitive. The guys get fired up about it, and it's fun."
Prior to the start of the Brown and White Game, junior offensive lineman Matt Fest was awarded the Jim Gum Scholarship Award, which is presented in memory of former Lehigh football player James S. Gum '84. Fest, a native of New Hope, Pa., finished last season as Lehigh's starting center and will battle for time on the offensive line.
Lehigh will have one final spring practice Monday evening. The Mountain Hawks will open preseason camp in late July/early August and will kick off the 2019 campaign at home against Saint Francis (Pa.) on August 31.
"We've played with good emotion at times this spring and we've had some lulls," Gilmore said. "I have learned how to push some buttons with the team and the team has learned the expectations of what we're trying to do. This last week of spring has been awesome. It has been building. You see the energy and enthusiasm on the field. It's also a comfort level. Two weeks ago some of the guys didn't know some of the things we're doing. There's now a comfort level on top of that energy level."
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"We saw both sides of the ball do some really good things," Gilmore said. We didn't do a lot of special teams today but I saw some good things there too. When the offense hit a couple of plays you're always worried about the defense and it works the same on the other side, when the defense makes a play."
Offensively, the Mountain Hawks put together two touchdown drives, while the defensive line had a strong effort with six would-be sacks (quarterbacks were not live for contact), and strong pressure. Lehigh's defense also came up with one takeaway, an interception by rising junior linebacker Pete Haffner.
Haffner was credited with three tackles and a sack to go along with his interception. Senior safety Riley O'Neil was credited with a team-high five tackles. Fifth-year defensive lineman Juwan Morrow had three tackles, all of which went for loss. In all, the defensive line had a strong day with senior Davis Maxie and juniors Jack Kircher, Erik Slater and Zac Troxell all making an impact.
"They've really come along," Gilmore said of the defensive line. "They're playing hard. They've gotten comfortable with the system. The defensive coaches are putting them in good positions to get that pressure, plus there were three or four times where we were tipping balls. We had some sacks, some tips and some pressures and it's good to see that we're getting that close. For our purposes at this point of the year, that's a good sign."
Collectively, the three Lehigh quarterbacks completed 11-of-23 yards for 115 yards, with two touchdown and an interception. Junior Addison Shoup had the most success, going 6-for-8 for 60 yards. He capped his first 14-play segment with a 15-yard touchdown pass to senior Devon Bibbens. The scoring drive was set up by a 17 yard pass over the middle to tight end Alex Snyder.
Sophomore Alec Beesmer completed his first three passes and finished 3-of-6 for 36 yards. He capped a seven play sequence with a 30-yard scoring strike to sophomore Austin Dambach, who made a nice adjustment in the end zone after the pass was deflected.
Dambach led the Lehigh receivers with 39 yards on two receptions. Juniors Jorge Portorreal and Matt Jordan also had two receptions.
Not counting the yards lost on "sacks," Lehigh rushed 15 times for 36 yards. Sophomore Rashawn Allen gained 15 yards on seven carries, while classmate Peter Lucas gained nine on five.
At quarterback, senior Tyler Monaco, Shoup and Beesmer alternated reps with each signal-caller getting a long series and then a shorter series of plays. The day ended with Monaco leading three plays from the nine-yard line. After the offense failed to reach the end zone, senior kicker Austin Henning booted a 22-yard field goal to end the day.
"All three quarterbacks are doing some good things, but we're inconsistent," Gilmore said. "We might throw a TD pass and then follow it up with an interception. That's going to happen at this time. All three of these quarterbacks are just getting significant practice reps for the first time in their careers. Tyler had some last year and now he's getting more and the other two guys are getting many more than they ever have. From that standpoint they're progressing pretty well but we're not where we need to be at this point."
Overall, the Mountain Hawks continued to show strong effort and enthusiasm. The coaches worked in some competitive positional drills – offensive skill players against defensive backs and offensive line versus defensive line – to break up the scrimmage while adding another competitive element to the day.
"Not only are we making what we're doing from a football standpoint competitive, but today since we didn't have a lot of depth we put some spacers in there," Gilmore said. "We had a couple of competitive drills and there's something to win or lose in those drills. It is competitive. The guys get fired up about it, and it's fun."
Prior to the start of the Brown and White Game, junior offensive lineman Matt Fest was awarded the Jim Gum Scholarship Award, which is presented in memory of former Lehigh football player James S. Gum '84. Fest, a native of New Hope, Pa., finished last season as Lehigh's starting center and will battle for time on the offensive line.
Lehigh will have one final spring practice Monday evening. The Mountain Hawks will open preseason camp in late July/early August and will kick off the 2019 campaign at home against Saint Francis (Pa.) on August 31.
"We've played with good emotion at times this spring and we've had some lulls," Gilmore said. "I have learned how to push some buttons with the team and the team has learned the expectations of what we're trying to do. This last week of spring has been awesome. It has been building. You see the energy and enthusiasm on the field. It's also a comfort level. Two weeks ago some of the guys didn't know some of the things we're doing. There's now a comfort level on top of that energy level."
Like Lehigh Football on Facebook and follow on Twitter and Instagram for exclusive updates throughout the season.
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