Saturday, March 13
Bethlehem, Pa.
12:00 PM
Lehigh University
vs
Holy Cross
Lehigh To Open 2021 Spring Season Saturday Against Holy Cross
3/11/2021 9:10:00 AM | Football
BETHLEHEM, Pa. – For the first time since Nov. 23, 2019, Lehigh will play a football game as the Mountain Hawks open their 137th season of football Saturday against defending Patriot League champion Holy Cross at Goodman Stadium. The COVID-19 pandemic wiped out the traditional fall 2020 season, but six of the seven Patriot League schools are participating in a four-game league-only regular season that will be followed by an Apr. 17 Championship Game. Lehigh made measured improvements on defense during a 2019 season in which the Mountain Hawks went 4-7 overall and 3-3 against league opponents.
Lehigh will be led by senior co-captains Pete Haffner and Divine Buckrham and Preseason All-Patriot League honorees Jorge Portorreal and Alex Snyder, but the Mountain Hawks will be young, with 50 players on the roster in their first or second year.
As announced March 5, The Lehigh University COVID-19 Response Team approved a request from the Athletics Department to permit a limited number of guests to attend our outdoor home sports events. Our submission proposed allowing two (2) guests per team member to enter the permanent seating area of our venues, which is well-defined by fencing and gates at some venues and that will be defined and secured at other venues. The two guests will be expected to adhere to all University and Athletics Department health and safety protocols throughout their visit to our Goodman Campus.
We are unable to provide access to our venues for others, including season ticket holders, alumni, Lehigh faculty and staff or fans at this time. As stated in the University's message, if COVID-19 positivity rates remain low and there is not concerning evidence of transmission in these venues, we will plan to permit students as spectators at spring events.
Lehigh will play its first game since Nov. 23, 2019 as the COVID-19 pandemic erased Lehigh's 2020 spring practice segment and pushed the fall 2020 season into the spring. The six Patriot League teams have been split into two divisions and are all slated to play four-game schedules. Lehigh is in the South Division with Bucknell and Lafayette. Division winners will meet in the first Patriot League Championship game April 17 with the winner earning the league's automatic bid to the FCS playoffs, which begin the following week. Georgetown has opted out of the spring season.
The Mountain Hawks had six All-Patriot League selections in 2019 with three back for the spring 2021 campaign. Senior wide receiver Jorge Portorreal is a two-time All-Patriot League selection. Senior linebacker Pete Haffner earned second team honors in 2019. Sophomore Jack Bush was the all-league non-specialist special teams performer in 2019 and is primed for a larger role on defense this season.
A vastly improved defense kept the Mountain Hawks in most games during the 2019 season. The 2019 Mountain Hawks allowed 14 fewer points and 100 fewer yards of total offense than they did in 2018. Lehigh led the Patriot League in rushing defense in 2019, allowing 130.5 yards per game. The Mountain Hawks also led the league in opponents' third down conversions (35.1%) and ranked second in scoring defense (21.4 ppg.) and total defense (346.3 ypg.). The Mountain Hawks also registered 29 sacks, up 14 from their 2018 total. The Lehigh defense lost All-America linebacker Keith Woetzel to graduation, but returns several key contributors including All-Patriot League linebacker Pete Haffner, defensive ends Mikhari Sibblis and Erik Slater and safeties TyGee Leach and Divine Buckrham.
Lehigh will have a first-time starter at quarterback in this spring 2021 opener with sophomore Cross Wilkinson expected to earn the nod. Wilkinson is highly-regarded prospect from West Virginia who transferred to Lehigh following two seasons at Toledo. He appeared in one game as a true freshman versus Central Michigan in 2018. He won the preseason competition over senior Addison Shoup and several others. Shoup has been Lehigh's holder for the last two seasons and saw time at quarterback in six games in 2019. He scored the only touchdown in Lehigh's win over Merrimack with a 36-yard scamper and also threw the game-winning touchdown pass in Lehigh's 30-27 overtime win at Fordham.
Lehigh has an 84-46-6 all-time record in its season-opening contests. The Mountain Hawks have won six of their last 10 openers, with its last opening day win against Saint Francis in 2018. Lehigh is opening against Holy Cross for the third time. The Crusaders won 17-14 in Worcester in 1986, while the Mountain Hawks won 38-20 at Goodman Stadium in 2003. That 2003 game is the last time Lehigh opened its season against a Patriot League opponent.
The defending Patriot League champion Holy Cross Crusaders will play their first game Nov. 30, 2019 when they lost at Monmouth in the first round of the FCS playoffs. Holy Cross went 7-6 in 2019 and 5-1 against league opponents. The Crusaders were picked first in the league's preseason poll with six preseason All-Patriot League honorees: wide receiver Ayir Asante, offensive lineman Brian Foley, defensive lineman Benton Whitley, linebacker Jacob Dobbs, defensive back Joe Lang and kicker Derek Ng. Holy Cross has graduated 2019 Patriot League Offensive Player of the Year Domenic Cozier, but returns quarterback Connor Degenhardt and four of the top five receivers from last season. Dobbs led Holy Cross in tackles (93), tackles for loss (12) and sacks (six) as a true freshman in 2019.
Lehigh and Holy Cross get together for the 36th time with Lehigh holding a 19-15-1 lead in the series. These teams first met in 1924 and did not meet again until 1986.
Saturday's game kicks off just after noon from Goodman Stadium. The game will be televised in the Lehigh Valley on Service Electric Network 2/502 and streamed on ESPN+ while audio coverage will be available on Fox Sports Radio 1230/1320 AM and 94.7 FM Allentown and LVFoxSports.com. Pregame radio coverage begins at 11:30 a.m.
The Mountain Hawks will take to the road for the first time in this spring season when they travel to Colgate on Saturday, March 20. Lehigh will play in Hamilton for the second straight season after opening its 2019 Patriot League slate with a 21-14 victory. Zaythan Hill rushed for the go-ahead touchdown with 33 seconds left and Divine Buckrham made a now-famous game-saving tackle at the one yard line as time expired. This season's meeting will be a 3:30 p.m. kickoff from Andy Kerr Stadium in Hamilton, N.Y.
Like Lehigh Football on Facebook and follow on Twitter and Instagram for exclusive updates throughout the season.
Lehigh will be led by senior co-captains Pete Haffner and Divine Buckrham and Preseason All-Patriot League honorees Jorge Portorreal and Alex Snyder, but the Mountain Hawks will be young, with 50 players on the roster in their first or second year.
As announced March 5, The Lehigh University COVID-19 Response Team approved a request from the Athletics Department to permit a limited number of guests to attend our outdoor home sports events. Our submission proposed allowing two (2) guests per team member to enter the permanent seating area of our venues, which is well-defined by fencing and gates at some venues and that will be defined and secured at other venues. The two guests will be expected to adhere to all University and Athletics Department health and safety protocols throughout their visit to our Goodman Campus.
We are unable to provide access to our venues for others, including season ticket holders, alumni, Lehigh faculty and staff or fans at this time. As stated in the University's message, if COVID-19 positivity rates remain low and there is not concerning evidence of transmission in these venues, we will plan to permit students as spectators at spring events.
Lehigh will play its first game since Nov. 23, 2019 as the COVID-19 pandemic erased Lehigh's 2020 spring practice segment and pushed the fall 2020 season into the spring. The six Patriot League teams have been split into two divisions and are all slated to play four-game schedules. Lehigh is in the South Division with Bucknell and Lafayette. Division winners will meet in the first Patriot League Championship game April 17 with the winner earning the league's automatic bid to the FCS playoffs, which begin the following week. Georgetown has opted out of the spring season.
The Mountain Hawks had six All-Patriot League selections in 2019 with three back for the spring 2021 campaign. Senior wide receiver Jorge Portorreal is a two-time All-Patriot League selection. Senior linebacker Pete Haffner earned second team honors in 2019. Sophomore Jack Bush was the all-league non-specialist special teams performer in 2019 and is primed for a larger role on defense this season.
A vastly improved defense kept the Mountain Hawks in most games during the 2019 season. The 2019 Mountain Hawks allowed 14 fewer points and 100 fewer yards of total offense than they did in 2018. Lehigh led the Patriot League in rushing defense in 2019, allowing 130.5 yards per game. The Mountain Hawks also led the league in opponents' third down conversions (35.1%) and ranked second in scoring defense (21.4 ppg.) and total defense (346.3 ypg.). The Mountain Hawks also registered 29 sacks, up 14 from their 2018 total. The Lehigh defense lost All-America linebacker Keith Woetzel to graduation, but returns several key contributors including All-Patriot League linebacker Pete Haffner, defensive ends Mikhari Sibblis and Erik Slater and safeties TyGee Leach and Divine Buckrham.
Lehigh will have a first-time starter at quarterback in this spring 2021 opener with sophomore Cross Wilkinson expected to earn the nod. Wilkinson is highly-regarded prospect from West Virginia who transferred to Lehigh following two seasons at Toledo. He appeared in one game as a true freshman versus Central Michigan in 2018. He won the preseason competition over senior Addison Shoup and several others. Shoup has been Lehigh's holder for the last two seasons and saw time at quarterback in six games in 2019. He scored the only touchdown in Lehigh's win over Merrimack with a 36-yard scamper and also threw the game-winning touchdown pass in Lehigh's 30-27 overtime win at Fordham.
Lehigh has an 84-46-6 all-time record in its season-opening contests. The Mountain Hawks have won six of their last 10 openers, with its last opening day win against Saint Francis in 2018. Lehigh is opening against Holy Cross for the third time. The Crusaders won 17-14 in Worcester in 1986, while the Mountain Hawks won 38-20 at Goodman Stadium in 2003. That 2003 game is the last time Lehigh opened its season against a Patriot League opponent.
The defending Patriot League champion Holy Cross Crusaders will play their first game Nov. 30, 2019 when they lost at Monmouth in the first round of the FCS playoffs. Holy Cross went 7-6 in 2019 and 5-1 against league opponents. The Crusaders were picked first in the league's preseason poll with six preseason All-Patriot League honorees: wide receiver Ayir Asante, offensive lineman Brian Foley, defensive lineman Benton Whitley, linebacker Jacob Dobbs, defensive back Joe Lang and kicker Derek Ng. Holy Cross has graduated 2019 Patriot League Offensive Player of the Year Domenic Cozier, but returns quarterback Connor Degenhardt and four of the top five receivers from last season. Dobbs led Holy Cross in tackles (93), tackles for loss (12) and sacks (six) as a true freshman in 2019.
Lehigh and Holy Cross get together for the 36th time with Lehigh holding a 19-15-1 lead in the series. These teams first met in 1924 and did not meet again until 1986.
Saturday's game kicks off just after noon from Goodman Stadium. The game will be televised in the Lehigh Valley on Service Electric Network 2/502 and streamed on ESPN+ while audio coverage will be available on Fox Sports Radio 1230/1320 AM and 94.7 FM Allentown and LVFoxSports.com. Pregame radio coverage begins at 11:30 a.m.
The Mountain Hawks will take to the road for the first time in this spring season when they travel to Colgate on Saturday, March 20. Lehigh will play in Hamilton for the second straight season after opening its 2019 Patriot League slate with a 21-14 victory. Zaythan Hill rushed for the go-ahead touchdown with 33 seconds left and Divine Buckrham made a now-famous game-saving tackle at the one yard line as time expired. This season's meeting will be a 3:30 p.m. kickoff from Andy Kerr Stadium in Hamilton, N.Y.
| Date: | March 13, 2021 |
| Opponent: | Holy Cross Crusaders |
| Kickoff: | 12:05 p.m. |
| Stadium: | Goodman Stadium/16,000/Natural Grass |
| Location: | Bethlehem, Pa. |
| Lehigh's 2019 Record: | 4-7 overall, 3-3 Patriot League |
| Holy Cross' 2019 Record: | 7-6 overall, 5-1 Patriot League |
| Series: | Lehigh leads 19-15-1 |
| Television | Service Electric Network 2/502 and ESPN+ with Steve Degler and Mike Yadush '93 |
| Radio | Fox Sports Radio 1230/1320 and 94.7 FM Allentown with Matt Kerr and Lance Haynes '94 beginning at 11:30 a.m. |
| Internet Broadcast: | Video on ESPN+ (PatriotLeague.TV) Audio at LVFoxSports.com |
| Key Stats: | •Lehigh led the Patriot League in rushing defense in 2019, allowing 130.5 yards per game. •The Mountain Hawks ranked second in the Patriot League in scoring defense (21.4 ppg.) and total defense (346.3 ypg.) in 2019. •Eight of Lehigh's 11 games in 2019 were decided by seven points or less. •Lehigh's roster features 30 freshmen, 20 sophomores, 11 juniors and 12 seniors. |
Like Lehigh Football on Facebook and follow on Twitter and Instagram for exclusive updates throughout the season.
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