Lehigh University Athletics
Lehigh celebrates 2019 season at annual football banquet
2/25/2020 12:30:00 PM | Football
BETHLEHEM, Pa. — The 2019 Lehigh football team held its annual end-of-season banquet Sunday in the Wood Dining Room at Iacocca Hall. Nearly 250 student-athletes, coaches, family members, alumni and friends of Lehigh football rallied to celebrate the achievements from the 2019 campaign and the graduating class of Mountain Hawks.
Sunday's program included lunch, video highlights, speeches from Lehigh's captains and the allocation of program awards for the 2019 season.
The Archibald Johnston Cup is given annually to the program's most outstanding player. This year's recipient was senior linebacker Keith Woetzel, who established himself as one of the top defensive players in the Patriot League and regionally and led Lehigh in tackles for the third consecutive season. Woetzel ranked second in FCS in solo tackles per game (7.2), fourth in sacks (1.09), sixth in tackles (10.7) and 12th in tackles for loss (1.6). His 12 sacks set a program single season record. Woetzel garnered third team All-American recognition by the Associated Press and STATS FCS. Woetzel also was a finalist for the Buck Buchanan Award, given to the outstanding defensive player in the FCS. He finished 21st in the final balloting. The Archibald Johnston Cup also doubles as the Lehigh Athletics Department's Outstanding Athlete award.
The Scholar-Athlete Award, given to the player that demonstrates prowess both on the field and academically, was given to sophomore running back Rashawn Allen. Named to the Patriot League Academic Roll for two consecutive years, Allen has a 3.63 cumulative GPA in Lehigh's rigorous electrical engineering program. Allen started all 11 games at running back, finishing second for Lehigh in rushing yards (334) as part of a backfield rotation. He had a season-best 113 yards at Sacred Heart in November.
Given to the player that is "all football," senior defensive back Riley O'Neil was honored with the James P. McConologue Award, which also represents the Department's Coaches Award. O'Neil started all 11 games as a team captain and was named to the Patriot League Honor Roll for the first time in his career. After moving from safety to outside linebacker, O'Neil finished third on the team with 52 tackles and added six tackles for loss and his fourth career interception.
Fifth-year safety Sam McCloskey took home the Barry Fetterman Award, given to the player who exemplifies loyalty, unselfishness and dedication to Lehigh football. A team captain for the third-consecutive season and last year's recipient of the James P. McConologue Award, McCloskey finished fifth on the team with 36 tackles and had two fumble recoveries on special teams, one of which was returned 56 yards for his first-career touchdown. McCloskey provided strong leadership all season and was a second team All-Patriot League honoree for the second straight year.
The John C. Whitehead (Big LU) Award is given to the player who shows the most leadership with performance. This year's recipient was junior linebacker Pete Haffner, who ranked second on the team with 4.5 sacks and third with 10 tackles for loss, while also garnering second team All-Patriot League honors and Academic All-Patriot League laurels.
Sophomore Justin Gurth won the Alexander G. Hahalis Award, given to the most outstanding lineman. Starting in all 11 games, Gurth moved from tackle to center where he brought consistency and resilience to the offensive line for the second-consecutive season.
The offensive positional awards were given to senior wide receiver Devon Bibbens, junior offensive lineman Chris Fournier and freshman running back Zaythan Hill.
Bibbens received first team All-Patriot League recognition, led the league in receiving yards per game and led the Mountain Hawks in receptions, yards and touchdown catches. Bibbens finished his career with 1,557 receiving yards and 10 touchdowns.
With a running streak of 22 consecutive starts, Fournier won the outstanding lineman award for his consistency and exceptional performances on the offensive line. Fournier has been a mainstay at left tackle for the Mountain Hawks over the last two years.
Hill won the top running back award as a true freshman. He led the Mountain Hawks in rushing yards (396) and rushing touchdowns (five) in his nine appearances and set a Patriot League record with a 94-yard touchdown run at Fordham in October.
Woetzel, junior defensive back Jaylen Floyd and junior defensive lineman Erik Slater took home the defensive positional awards.
While Woetzel added top linebacker to his first award of the night, Floyd took home the outstanding defensive back award. Floyd ranked fourth on the Mountain Hawks with 49 tackles, added 2.5 tackles for loss and led Lehigh with six pass breakups. He also severed as one of Lehigh's primary kickoff and punt returners.
Starting in 10 games in a hybrid outside linebacker/defensive end role, Slater garnered the outstanding defensive lineman award. He ranked second on the team with 12 tackles for loss and third with four sacks.
True freshman Jack Pilson was this year's recipient of the outstanding special teams player award. Pilson appeared in 10 games, contributing primarily on special teams.
The Nick Timko Award, which also serves as the Engineer Effort Award, is awarded by the Lehigh Southside Boosters to the best scout team players on offense and defense. This year's recipients were freshman offensive lineman Hudson Reynolds and freshman defensive lineman Dean Colton.
The Lehigh football program's annual celebration is made possible by the Lehigh Athletics Partnership program, whose mission is to generate interest in Lehigh athletics, to encourage and provide financial support to the program and to inspire positive relations with all current and former participants, fans, friends and parents of Lehigh student-athletes.
Like Lehigh Football on Facebook and follow on Twitter and Instagram for exclusive updates throughout the season.
Story by Madison Schmitt '20
Sunday's program included lunch, video highlights, speeches from Lehigh's captains and the allocation of program awards for the 2019 season.
The Archibald Johnston Cup is given annually to the program's most outstanding player. This year's recipient was senior linebacker Keith Woetzel, who established himself as one of the top defensive players in the Patriot League and regionally and led Lehigh in tackles for the third consecutive season. Woetzel ranked second in FCS in solo tackles per game (7.2), fourth in sacks (1.09), sixth in tackles (10.7) and 12th in tackles for loss (1.6). His 12 sacks set a program single season record. Woetzel garnered third team All-American recognition by the Associated Press and STATS FCS. Woetzel also was a finalist for the Buck Buchanan Award, given to the outstanding defensive player in the FCS. He finished 21st in the final balloting. The Archibald Johnston Cup also doubles as the Lehigh Athletics Department's Outstanding Athlete award.
The Scholar-Athlete Award, given to the player that demonstrates prowess both on the field and academically, was given to sophomore running back Rashawn Allen. Named to the Patriot League Academic Roll for two consecutive years, Allen has a 3.63 cumulative GPA in Lehigh's rigorous electrical engineering program. Allen started all 11 games at running back, finishing second for Lehigh in rushing yards (334) as part of a backfield rotation. He had a season-best 113 yards at Sacred Heart in November.
Given to the player that is "all football," senior defensive back Riley O'Neil was honored with the James P. McConologue Award, which also represents the Department's Coaches Award. O'Neil started all 11 games as a team captain and was named to the Patriot League Honor Roll for the first time in his career. After moving from safety to outside linebacker, O'Neil finished third on the team with 52 tackles and added six tackles for loss and his fourth career interception.
Fifth-year safety Sam McCloskey took home the Barry Fetterman Award, given to the player who exemplifies loyalty, unselfishness and dedication to Lehigh football. A team captain for the third-consecutive season and last year's recipient of the James P. McConologue Award, McCloskey finished fifth on the team with 36 tackles and had two fumble recoveries on special teams, one of which was returned 56 yards for his first-career touchdown. McCloskey provided strong leadership all season and was a second team All-Patriot League honoree for the second straight year.
The John C. Whitehead (Big LU) Award is given to the player who shows the most leadership with performance. This year's recipient was junior linebacker Pete Haffner, who ranked second on the team with 4.5 sacks and third with 10 tackles for loss, while also garnering second team All-Patriot League honors and Academic All-Patriot League laurels.
Sophomore Justin Gurth won the Alexander G. Hahalis Award, given to the most outstanding lineman. Starting in all 11 games, Gurth moved from tackle to center where he brought consistency and resilience to the offensive line for the second-consecutive season.
The offensive positional awards were given to senior wide receiver Devon Bibbens, junior offensive lineman Chris Fournier and freshman running back Zaythan Hill.
Bibbens received first team All-Patriot League recognition, led the league in receiving yards per game and led the Mountain Hawks in receptions, yards and touchdown catches. Bibbens finished his career with 1,557 receiving yards and 10 touchdowns.
With a running streak of 22 consecutive starts, Fournier won the outstanding lineman award for his consistency and exceptional performances on the offensive line. Fournier has been a mainstay at left tackle for the Mountain Hawks over the last two years.
Hill won the top running back award as a true freshman. He led the Mountain Hawks in rushing yards (396) and rushing touchdowns (five) in his nine appearances and set a Patriot League record with a 94-yard touchdown run at Fordham in October.
Woetzel, junior defensive back Jaylen Floyd and junior defensive lineman Erik Slater took home the defensive positional awards.
While Woetzel added top linebacker to his first award of the night, Floyd took home the outstanding defensive back award. Floyd ranked fourth on the Mountain Hawks with 49 tackles, added 2.5 tackles for loss and led Lehigh with six pass breakups. He also severed as one of Lehigh's primary kickoff and punt returners.
Starting in 10 games in a hybrid outside linebacker/defensive end role, Slater garnered the outstanding defensive lineman award. He ranked second on the team with 12 tackles for loss and third with four sacks.
True freshman Jack Pilson was this year's recipient of the outstanding special teams player award. Pilson appeared in 10 games, contributing primarily on special teams.
The Nick Timko Award, which also serves as the Engineer Effort Award, is awarded by the Lehigh Southside Boosters to the best scout team players on offense and defense. This year's recipients were freshman offensive lineman Hudson Reynolds and freshman defensive lineman Dean Colton.
The Lehigh football program's annual celebration is made possible by the Lehigh Athletics Partnership program, whose mission is to generate interest in Lehigh athletics, to encourage and provide financial support to the program and to inspire positive relations with all current and former participants, fans, friends and parents of Lehigh student-athletes.
Like Lehigh Football on Facebook and follow on Twitter and Instagram for exclusive updates throughout the season.
Story by Madison Schmitt '20
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