Saturday, November 6
Lewisburg, Pa.
1:00 PM
Lehigh University
at
Bucknell
Photo by: Hannahally Photography
Season's Final Road Trip Sends Mountain Hawks To Bucknell Saturday
11/2/2021 1:25:00 PM | Football
BETHLEHEM, Pa. – Two teams still looking for their first Patriot League victory this fall meet at Christy Mathewson-Memorial Stadium Saturday as Lehigh travels to Bucknell for its final road game of the season. In the last two weeks the Mountain Hawks turned in their best offensive performance of the year at Fordham and then their best statistical defensive performance of the year against Holy Cross, but were unable to come away with a victory. Last week, Lehigh battled within 14-12 of Holy Cross after three quarters following a touchdown pass from sophomore Dante Perri to Jalen Burbage, but two fourth quarter Mountain Hawk miscues allowed the Crusaders to capitalize on short fields as Holy Cross prevailed 31-12. Bucknell has won just once this season and is coming off of its fourth straight league loss, 33-10 at Colgate last weekend.
One week after Lehigh's offense had its best game of the season at Fordham, the Mountain Hawks' defense enjoyed its best performance of the year against Holy Cross. Lehigh allowed a season-low 233 yards, while setting season highs with seven tackles for loss, four sacks and two takeaways. The Mountain Hawks allowed held a Crusader team averaging a league-best 210.7 rushing yards per game coming into the game to just 78 yards on the ground. Junior safety TyGee Leach tied a career high with nine tackles to lead the defense while adding 1.5 tackles for loss and half a sack. Senior Nate Norris added seven tackles and a fumble recovery. Sophomore Liam McIntyre had two of Lehigh's four sacks and classmate LaTreil Wimberly had his first career interception. During the spring season, Lehigh ranked in the top 10 nationally in scoring defense, rushing defense and total defense.
The Lehigh defense received a boost against Holy Cross with the return of fifth-year linebacker Pete Haffner, who missed five games due to injury. Haffner is a two-year captain, a three-year starter and a two-time second team All-Patriot League selection. He has appeared in 35 career games with 202 tackles, 16 tackles for loss, 6.5 sacks and two interceptions. Haffner led Lehigh with 28 tackles and three tackles for loss in the spring season and added a fumble recovery against Holy Cross. He opened his fifth season by leading Lehigh with 11 tackles, while adding 1.5 tackles for loss and half a sack against Villanova. Haffner is also accomplished academically where he is a three-time Academic All-Patriot League honoree and two-time CoSIDA Academic All-District selection.
In this era of offensive football, the numbers indicate that the Lehigh-Bucknell game could turn into another defensive battle. The Mountain Hawks and Bison are ranked at the bottom of the Patriot League in both scoring offense and total offense. In the spring, these teams combined for just 429 yards of offense and six points in Bucknell's 6-0 victory at Goodman Stadium. The Apr. 3 game in Bethlehem marked the first Lehigh game in which neither team scored a touchdown since Oct. 9, 1976, when Lehigh lost 3-0... to Bucknell.
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. Defensive coordinator Mike Kashurba coached at Bucknell in 2012 and 2013. 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 brings a 1-7 overall record and 0-4 Patriot League mark into Saturday's game. The Bison defeated Cornell on Oct. 2 for their lone win this season but have since dropped four straight league games, including a 33-10 setback at Colgate last week. Bucknell won the Patriot League South Division in the spring season and lost to Holy Cross in the championship game. The Bison have used four different quarterbacks this season with sophomore Nick Semptimphelter and freshman Nick Grady sharing time as of late. Jared Cooper is the top rusher, while Damian Harris and Dominic Lyles have been Bucknell's top receivers. Defensively, the Bison are led by linebacker Ben Allen (52 tackles, 3.0 TFL), and defensive backs Brent Jackson (51 tackles, 1.5 TFL), and Jonathan Searcy (51 tackles, 2 sacks, 1 INT).
Lehigh has played Bucknell more times than any opponent other than rival Lafayette. The Mountain Hawks and Bison meet for the 85th time with Lehigh holding a 48-33-3 advantage. Lehigh has won 19 of the last 23 games, winning 15 straight before back-to-back Bucknell wins in 2013 and 2014. The Bison's other two wins during that time frame have come during the last two seasons.
Saturday's game kicks off just after 1 p.m. from Christy Mathewson-Memorial Stadium in Lewisburg, Pa. The game will be broadcast on ESPN+ with audio coverage on Fox Sports Radio 1230/1320 AM and 94.7 FM Allentown and LVFoxSports.com beginning at noon.
Lehigh will play final two games at Goodman Stadium, beginning with a visit from Georgetown next Saturday on Salute to Service Day, presented by Weis Markets. Game time is set for noon. The Mountain Hawks will close out the regular season on Nov. 20 when they host Lafayette in #Rivalry157.
Like Lehigh Football on Facebook and follow on Twitter and Instagram for exclusive updates throughout the season.
One week after Lehigh's offense had its best game of the season at Fordham, the Mountain Hawks' defense enjoyed its best performance of the year against Holy Cross. Lehigh allowed a season-low 233 yards, while setting season highs with seven tackles for loss, four sacks and two takeaways. The Mountain Hawks allowed held a Crusader team averaging a league-best 210.7 rushing yards per game coming into the game to just 78 yards on the ground. Junior safety TyGee Leach tied a career high with nine tackles to lead the defense while adding 1.5 tackles for loss and half a sack. Senior Nate Norris added seven tackles and a fumble recovery. Sophomore Liam McIntyre had two of Lehigh's four sacks and classmate LaTreil Wimberly had his first career interception. During the spring season, Lehigh ranked in the top 10 nationally in scoring defense, rushing defense and total defense.
The Lehigh defense received a boost against Holy Cross with the return of fifth-year linebacker Pete Haffner, who missed five games due to injury. Haffner is a two-year captain, a three-year starter and a two-time second team All-Patriot League selection. He has appeared in 35 career games with 202 tackles, 16 tackles for loss, 6.5 sacks and two interceptions. Haffner led Lehigh with 28 tackles and three tackles for loss in the spring season and added a fumble recovery against Holy Cross. He opened his fifth season by leading Lehigh with 11 tackles, while adding 1.5 tackles for loss and half a sack against Villanova. Haffner is also accomplished academically where he is a three-time Academic All-Patriot League honoree and two-time CoSIDA Academic All-District selection.
In this era of offensive football, the numbers indicate that the Lehigh-Bucknell game could turn into another defensive battle. The Mountain Hawks and Bison are ranked at the bottom of the Patriot League in both scoring offense and total offense. In the spring, these teams combined for just 429 yards of offense and six points in Bucknell's 6-0 victory at Goodman Stadium. The Apr. 3 game in Bethlehem marked the first Lehigh game in which neither team scored a touchdown since Oct. 9, 1976, when Lehigh lost 3-0... to Bucknell.
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. Defensive coordinator Mike Kashurba coached at Bucknell in 2012 and 2013. 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 brings a 1-7 overall record and 0-4 Patriot League mark into Saturday's game. The Bison defeated Cornell on Oct. 2 for their lone win this season but have since dropped four straight league games, including a 33-10 setback at Colgate last week. Bucknell won the Patriot League South Division in the spring season and lost to Holy Cross in the championship game. The Bison have used four different quarterbacks this season with sophomore Nick Semptimphelter and freshman Nick Grady sharing time as of late. Jared Cooper is the top rusher, while Damian Harris and Dominic Lyles have been Bucknell's top receivers. Defensively, the Bison are led by linebacker Ben Allen (52 tackles, 3.0 TFL), and defensive backs Brent Jackson (51 tackles, 1.5 TFL), and Jonathan Searcy (51 tackles, 2 sacks, 1 INT).
Lehigh has played Bucknell more times than any opponent other than rival Lafayette. The Mountain Hawks and Bison meet for the 85th time with Lehigh holding a 48-33-3 advantage. Lehigh has won 19 of the last 23 games, winning 15 straight before back-to-back Bucknell wins in 2013 and 2014. The Bison's other two wins during that time frame have come during the last two seasons.
Saturday's game kicks off just after 1 p.m. from Christy Mathewson-Memorial Stadium in Lewisburg, Pa. The game will be broadcast on ESPN+ with audio coverage on Fox Sports Radio 1230/1320 AM and 94.7 FM Allentown and LVFoxSports.com beginning at noon.
Lehigh will play final two games at Goodman Stadium, beginning with a visit from Georgetown next Saturday on Salute to Service Day, presented by Weis Markets. Game time is set for noon. The Mountain Hawks will close out the regular season on Nov. 20 when they host Lafayette in #Rivalry157.
| Date: | November 6, 2021 |
| Opponent: | Bucknell Bison |
| Kickoff: | 1:05 p.m. |
| Stadium: | Christy Mathewson-Memorial Stadium |
| Location: | Lewisburg, Pa. |
| Lehigh's record: | 0-8 overall, 0-3 Patriot League |
| Bucknell's record: | 1-7 overall, 0-4 Patriot League |
| Series: | Lehigh leads 48-33-3 |
| Television: | None |
| Video: | ESPN+ (PatriotLeague.TV) |
| Radio: | Fox Sports Radio 1230/1320 AM and 94.7 FM Allentown beginning at noon with Matt Kerr, Jim Guzzo and Matt Markus. |
| Internet Audio: | LVFoxSports.com |
| Key Stats: | • Lehigh's defense allowed its fewest total yards of the season against Holy Cross and had season highs most tackles for loss, sacks and takeaways. •The Mountain Hawks have allowed an average of just 82.5 rushing yards per game in their last two games after allowing an average of 228 in their first six. • Eight of Lehigh's 12 Patriot League games played under Tom Gilmore have been decided by seven points or less. • 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, respectively. |
Like Lehigh Football on Facebook and follow on Twitter and Instagram for exclusive updates throughout the season.
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