Saturday, September 7
Villanova, Pa.
6:00 PM
Lehigh University
at
Villanova
Mountain Hawks to face first road test Saturday at No. 24 Villanova
9/3/2019 12:09:00 PM | Football
BETHLEHEM, Pa. – Following a heartbreaking one-point opening day loss, Lehigh takes to the road for the first time in 2019 to face No. 24/RV Villanova Saturday at Villanova Stadium. The Mountain Hawks came up a point short against Saint Francis, as a solid defensive effort was overshadowed by Red Flash touchdown passes of 75 and 35 yards, the latter of which put the visitors ahead with 1:35 to play. Lehigh's defense allowed just 68 rushing yards and 251 total yards outside of the two long touchdown passes. The Mountain Hawks forced three turnovers, with senior Sam McCloskey running a fumble back 56 yards for a touchdown, but the offense mustered just 281 yards.
Safety Sam McCloskey began his fifth year in the Brown and White by making an impact on special teams. McCloskey had a pair of fumble recoveries against Saint Francis. The first came off a muffed punt and led to a Lehigh field goal. The second came on a fumble by Saint Francis punter Ryan Oliver, which McCloskey returned 56 yards for his first career touchdown. Later in the first half McCloskey also downed an Austin Henning punt at the Saint Francis one yard line. McCloskey added four tackles on defense for the Mountain Hawks, and was named Patriot League Special Teams Player of the Week for his efforts.
After finishing with a negative turnover margin in four of the last five seasons, the Mountain Hawks started strong in 2019 with three takeaways and a plus-2 turnover margin against Saint Francis. Lehigh recovered three fumbles against the Red Flash, marking the first time the Mountain Hawks had three fumble recoveries since a 35-14 win at Central Connecticut State on Sept. 8, 2012. The Mountain Hawks had exactly 13 takeaways in four of the last five seasons and are 23 percent of the way to that total after just one game. Last year, Lehigh turned its 13 takeaways into just 48 points. On Saturday, the Mountain Hawks scored 10 points off of their three takeaways.
With the graduation of all-league performer Ed Mish, Lehigh will rely on senior Austin Henning and freshman Dylan Van Dusen in the kicking game. Mish was a four-year kicker and three-year punter for the Mountain Hawks. He departed with the highest career punting average in program history. Henning stepped in for an injured Mish during the 2017 season, converting 14-of-18 extra point attempts. He handled placements and punts against Saint Francis, making the first two field goals of his career. Van Dusen handled kickoffs.
Seven Mountain Hawks made their first career starts against Saint Francis, including three freshmen. On offense, seniors Ryan Oneidas and Alex Motley started for the first time on the right side of the line, while freshman Ian O'Connor started in a two tight end set. Defensively, nose tackle Bartek Rybka and outside linebacker Erik Slater were rotation players last year who made thier first starts against the Red Flash, along with freshmen Mikhari Sibblis and Brandon Spencer. In addition to the seven first-time starters, quarterback Tyler Monaco, running back Rashawn Allen and tight end Alex Snyder all made just their second career starts.
Villanova enjoyed an early bye week after a convincing 34-14 road win against defending Patriot League Champion Colgate in week zero. The victory moved the Wildcats into the STATS FCS Top 25 at No. 24. Villanova went 5-6 last season, opening with wins at FBS Temple and Lehigh before dropping six of its final nine games. The Wildcats rushed for 239 yards at Colgate, led by Justin Covington's 134. Dual threat quarterback Danny Smith threw for 205 yards and three touchdowns and also rushed for 37 yards and a score. On defense, cornerback Jaquan Amos, Villanova's top tackler a season ago, had seven tackles, plus a fumble recovery and a 27-yard interception return touchdown. Amos was named FCS National Defensive Player of the Week by STATS. The Wildcats held the Raiders to just 288 yards of total offense.
Lehigh and Villanova will meet for the 16th time, with the Wildcats holding a 10-5 edge in the series. Villanova has won the last seven meetings. Lehigh's last win in the series came back in 2006. Tom Gilmore went 0-1 against Villanova during his time at Holy Cross, with a 38-28 loss in the opening round of the 2009 FCS playoffs. This will be Lehigh's fifth visit to Villanova since the series resumed in 2004 (2006, 2008, 2009, 2016).
Saturday's game kicks off just after 6 p.m. from Villanova Stadium. Video will be available on FloFootball.com as part of FloSports' subscription-based service. Audio will be available on Fox Sports Radio 1230 and 1320, LVFoxSports.com and the TuneIn App, beginning at 5 p.m.
Lehigh will remain on the road, and will take its longest road trip in 21 years when the Mountain Hawks head to California to battle No. 5/4 UC Davis next Saturday. This will be the second-ever meeting between Lehigh and UC Davis with the other coming in the 1977 Knute Rockne Bowl/Division II national semifinal, won by the Brown and White 39-30. Lehigh's last trip to California was on Sept. 19, 1998, when the Mountain Hawks beat St. Mary's 22-16. Game time is set for 10 p.m. ET/7 p.m. PT from Aggie Stadium in Davis, Calif.
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Safety Sam McCloskey began his fifth year in the Brown and White by making an impact on special teams. McCloskey had a pair of fumble recoveries against Saint Francis. The first came off a muffed punt and led to a Lehigh field goal. The second came on a fumble by Saint Francis punter Ryan Oliver, which McCloskey returned 56 yards for his first career touchdown. Later in the first half McCloskey also downed an Austin Henning punt at the Saint Francis one yard line. McCloskey added four tackles on defense for the Mountain Hawks, and was named Patriot League Special Teams Player of the Week for his efforts.
After finishing with a negative turnover margin in four of the last five seasons, the Mountain Hawks started strong in 2019 with three takeaways and a plus-2 turnover margin against Saint Francis. Lehigh recovered three fumbles against the Red Flash, marking the first time the Mountain Hawks had three fumble recoveries since a 35-14 win at Central Connecticut State on Sept. 8, 2012. The Mountain Hawks had exactly 13 takeaways in four of the last five seasons and are 23 percent of the way to that total after just one game. Last year, Lehigh turned its 13 takeaways into just 48 points. On Saturday, the Mountain Hawks scored 10 points off of their three takeaways.
With the graduation of all-league performer Ed Mish, Lehigh will rely on senior Austin Henning and freshman Dylan Van Dusen in the kicking game. Mish was a four-year kicker and three-year punter for the Mountain Hawks. He departed with the highest career punting average in program history. Henning stepped in for an injured Mish during the 2017 season, converting 14-of-18 extra point attempts. He handled placements and punts against Saint Francis, making the first two field goals of his career. Van Dusen handled kickoffs.
Seven Mountain Hawks made their first career starts against Saint Francis, including three freshmen. On offense, seniors Ryan Oneidas and Alex Motley started for the first time on the right side of the line, while freshman Ian O'Connor started in a two tight end set. Defensively, nose tackle Bartek Rybka and outside linebacker Erik Slater were rotation players last year who made thier first starts against the Red Flash, along with freshmen Mikhari Sibblis and Brandon Spencer. In addition to the seven first-time starters, quarterback Tyler Monaco, running back Rashawn Allen and tight end Alex Snyder all made just their second career starts.
Villanova enjoyed an early bye week after a convincing 34-14 road win against defending Patriot League Champion Colgate in week zero. The victory moved the Wildcats into the STATS FCS Top 25 at No. 24. Villanova went 5-6 last season, opening with wins at FBS Temple and Lehigh before dropping six of its final nine games. The Wildcats rushed for 239 yards at Colgate, led by Justin Covington's 134. Dual threat quarterback Danny Smith threw for 205 yards and three touchdowns and also rushed for 37 yards and a score. On defense, cornerback Jaquan Amos, Villanova's top tackler a season ago, had seven tackles, plus a fumble recovery and a 27-yard interception return touchdown. Amos was named FCS National Defensive Player of the Week by STATS. The Wildcats held the Raiders to just 288 yards of total offense.
Lehigh and Villanova will meet for the 16th time, with the Wildcats holding a 10-5 edge in the series. Villanova has won the last seven meetings. Lehigh's last win in the series came back in 2006. Tom Gilmore went 0-1 against Villanova during his time at Holy Cross, with a 38-28 loss in the opening round of the 2009 FCS playoffs. This will be Lehigh's fifth visit to Villanova since the series resumed in 2004 (2006, 2008, 2009, 2016).
Saturday's game kicks off just after 6 p.m. from Villanova Stadium. Video will be available on FloFootball.com as part of FloSports' subscription-based service. Audio will be available on Fox Sports Radio 1230 and 1320, LVFoxSports.com and the TuneIn App, beginning at 5 p.m.
Lehigh will remain on the road, and will take its longest road trip in 21 years when the Mountain Hawks head to California to battle No. 5/4 UC Davis next Saturday. This will be the second-ever meeting between Lehigh and UC Davis with the other coming in the 1977 Knute Rockne Bowl/Division II national semifinal, won by the Brown and White 39-30. Lehigh's last trip to California was on Sept. 19, 1998, when the Mountain Hawks beat St. Mary's 22-16. Game time is set for 10 p.m. ET/7 p.m. PT from Aggie Stadium in Davis, Calif.
| Date: | September 7, 2019 |
| Opponent: | No. 24/RV Villanova Wildcats |
| Kickoff: | 6:05 p.m. |
| Stadium: | Villanova Stadium/12,500/FieldTurf |
| Location: | Villanova, Pa. |
| Tickets: | Tickets can be purchased through Villanova at Villanova.com |
| Lehigh's record: | 0-1 overall, 0-0 Patriot League |
| Villanova's record: | 1-0 overall, 0-0 CAA |
| Series: | Villanova leads 10-5 |
| Television | None |
| Radio | Fox Sports Radio 1230 and 1320 with Matt Kerr, Matt Markus and Steve Lomangino |
| Internet Broadcast: | Video on FloFootball.com (subscription required) Audio at LVFoxSports.com, TuneIn App |
| Key Stats: | •Lehigh was plus-2 in turnover margin against Saint Francis and recovered three fumbles in a game for the first time since Sept. 8, 2012. •In its last two games dating back to last season, Lehigh's first touchdown has come by way of fumble return (Davis Maxie at Lafayette, Sam McCloskey vs. Saint Francis). •Lehigh's 11 rushing yards against Saint Francis in Tom Gilmore's debut were its fewest since rushing for seven yards against Albany in Andy Coen's coaching debut in 2006. |
| Behind Enemy Lines: | http://www.villanova.com |
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