Saturday, April 3
Behlehem, Pa.
12:00 PM
Lehigh University
vs
Bucknell
Photo by: Hannahally Photography
Mountain Hawks To Host Bucknell Saturday In South Division Opener
4/1/2021 8:22:00 PM | Football
BETHLEHEM, Pa. – Following three long weeks and numerous postponements and cancellations, Lehigh is expected to return to the field for the first time since March 13 as the Mountain Hawks open Patriot League South Division action against the Bucknell Bison Saturday at noon at Goodman Stadium.
The Mountain Hawks received a strong defensive effort in their opener against Holy Cross, but the offense was only able to muster a field goal in a 20-3 setback. Lehigh held Holy Cross to 209 yards of offense and forced three turnovers but only scored three points off of those takeaways, while the Crusaders scored 17 off three Lehigh turnovers. Bucknell had to wait two weeks to open its season but did so last weekend with a 38-13 home win over Lafayette. Lehigh head coach Tom Gilmore and Bucknell head coach Dave Cecchini were the coordinators on Lehigh's 2000 and 2001 Patriot League championship teams.
As announced March 5, The Lehigh University COVID-19 Response Team approved a request from the Athletics Department to permit a limited number (2) of Lehigh team guests (submitted in advance) to attend our outdoor home sports events, and 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. Visiting team guests are not permitted inside our venues at this time unless directly communicated to the visiting team for a specific event.
The Mountain Hawks' defense was an area of strength in 2019 and the unit picked up where it left off in last weekend's opener against Holy Cross. Lehigh limited Holy Cross to just 209 yards of total offense, 46 which came on the final drive where the Crusaders were able to run out the clock. The Mountain Hawks had nine tackles for loss, three sacks and three takeaways. Holy Cross' four scoring drives covered a total of 83 yards. Lehigh held Holy Cross to just 91 passing yards on the day. The last time Lehigh held a Patriot League opponent under 100 passing yards was the 2017 Lafayette game when the Mountain Hawks limited the Leopards to just 43 yards through the air.
Sophomore safety TyGee Leach enjoyed the finest all-around game of his career in the opener against Holy Cross. Leach led the Mountain Hawks with nine tackles, including a pair of tackles for loss, and recorded his first career interception, which he returned 15 yards to set up Lehigh's first quarter field goal. The Norristown, Pa., native was also credited with a pass breakup. Leach appeared in all 11 games as a freshman, starting the final seven at safety.
Much like the season opener 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.
Due to COVID-related cancellations and Patriot League schedule reshuffling, Lehigh has not played a game since its March 13 opener. When the Mountain Hawks take the field Saturday, it will mark the first time since 2001 that Lehigh had two off weeks in between regular season games. That year Lehigh opened its season with a 41-14 win at Georgetown on Sept. 1. The following week was Lehigh's bye and the Mountain Hawks' Sept. 15 game at Penn was canceled due to the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks. Lehigh returned to action Sept. 22 with a 34-10 home win against Princeton.
Bucknell's first two games were postponed but the Bison impressed in their season debut, rolling to a 38-13 victory over Lafayette last Saturday at Christy Mathewson-Memorial Stadium. The Bison limited the Leopards to 284 yards of total offense including just 15 on the ground, while picking off Lafayette quarterbacks four times. Junior Brandon Sanders caught 12 passes for 179 yards and two touchdowns and was the Patriot League's Offensive Player of the Week. Bucknell quarterbacks Logan Bitikofer and Tarrin Earle combined to throw for 328 yards and four touchdowns with no interceptions. Five Bison were named to the preseason all-league team: Sanders, offensive lineman P.J. Barr, defensive lineman Nnamdi Unachukwu, linebacker Simeon Page and defensive back Gavin Pringle.
Lehigh has played Bucknell more times than any opponent other than rival Lafayette. The Mountain Hawks and Bison meet for the 84th time with Lehigh holding a 48-32-3 advantage. Lehigh has won 19 of the last 22 games, winning 15 straight before back-to-back Bucknell wins in 2013 and 2014.
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.
Lehigh was originally slated to face Lafayette April 3 in the 156th edition of college football's most-played rivalry. The game was postponed on March 30, opening the door for the Patriot League rescheduling that moved the Bucknell game to April 3. The Mountain Hawks will now face Lafayette next Saturday (April 10) in Rivalry 156 with game time set for 12:30 p.m. from Fisher Stadium in Easton, Pa. Lehigh will be looking to avenge a 17-16 loss in November 2019, which snapped a four-game Mountain Hawk win streak in the series. A Lehigh victory over Bucknell would mean that the Mountain Hawks would clinch the Patriot League South Division with a victory over the Leopards. As per usual, everything is subject to change.
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The Mountain Hawks received a strong defensive effort in their opener against Holy Cross, but the offense was only able to muster a field goal in a 20-3 setback. Lehigh held Holy Cross to 209 yards of offense and forced three turnovers but only scored three points off of those takeaways, while the Crusaders scored 17 off three Lehigh turnovers. Bucknell had to wait two weeks to open its season but did so last weekend with a 38-13 home win over Lafayette. Lehigh head coach Tom Gilmore and Bucknell head coach Dave Cecchini were the coordinators on Lehigh's 2000 and 2001 Patriot League championship teams.
As announced March 5, The Lehigh University COVID-19 Response Team approved a request from the Athletics Department to permit a limited number (2) of Lehigh team guests (submitted in advance) to attend our outdoor home sports events, and 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. Visiting team guests are not permitted inside our venues at this time unless directly communicated to the visiting team for a specific event.
The Mountain Hawks' defense was an area of strength in 2019 and the unit picked up where it left off in last weekend's opener against Holy Cross. Lehigh limited Holy Cross to just 209 yards of total offense, 46 which came on the final drive where the Crusaders were able to run out the clock. The Mountain Hawks had nine tackles for loss, three sacks and three takeaways. Holy Cross' four scoring drives covered a total of 83 yards. Lehigh held Holy Cross to just 91 passing yards on the day. The last time Lehigh held a Patriot League opponent under 100 passing yards was the 2017 Lafayette game when the Mountain Hawks limited the Leopards to just 43 yards through the air.
Sophomore safety TyGee Leach enjoyed the finest all-around game of his career in the opener against Holy Cross. Leach led the Mountain Hawks with nine tackles, including a pair of tackles for loss, and recorded his first career interception, which he returned 15 yards to set up Lehigh's first quarter field goal. The Norristown, Pa., native was also credited with a pass breakup. Leach appeared in all 11 games as a freshman, starting the final seven at safety.
Much like the season opener 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.
Due to COVID-related cancellations and Patriot League schedule reshuffling, Lehigh has not played a game since its March 13 opener. When the Mountain Hawks take the field Saturday, it will mark the first time since 2001 that Lehigh had two off weeks in between regular season games. That year Lehigh opened its season with a 41-14 win at Georgetown on Sept. 1. The following week was Lehigh's bye and the Mountain Hawks' Sept. 15 game at Penn was canceled due to the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks. Lehigh returned to action Sept. 22 with a 34-10 home win against Princeton.
Bucknell's first two games were postponed but the Bison impressed in their season debut, rolling to a 38-13 victory over Lafayette last Saturday at Christy Mathewson-Memorial Stadium. The Bison limited the Leopards to 284 yards of total offense including just 15 on the ground, while picking off Lafayette quarterbacks four times. Junior Brandon Sanders caught 12 passes for 179 yards and two touchdowns and was the Patriot League's Offensive Player of the Week. Bucknell quarterbacks Logan Bitikofer and Tarrin Earle combined to throw for 328 yards and four touchdowns with no interceptions. Five Bison were named to the preseason all-league team: Sanders, offensive lineman P.J. Barr, defensive lineman Nnamdi Unachukwu, linebacker Simeon Page and defensive back Gavin Pringle.
Lehigh has played Bucknell more times than any opponent other than rival Lafayette. The Mountain Hawks and Bison meet for the 84th time with Lehigh holding a 48-32-3 advantage. Lehigh has won 19 of the last 22 games, winning 15 straight before back-to-back Bucknell wins in 2013 and 2014.
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.
Lehigh was originally slated to face Lafayette April 3 in the 156th edition of college football's most-played rivalry. The game was postponed on March 30, opening the door for the Patriot League rescheduling that moved the Bucknell game to April 3. The Mountain Hawks will now face Lafayette next Saturday (April 10) in Rivalry 156 with game time set for 12:30 p.m. from Fisher Stadium in Easton, Pa. Lehigh will be looking to avenge a 17-16 loss in November 2019, which snapped a four-game Mountain Hawk win streak in the series. A Lehigh victory over Bucknell would mean that the Mountain Hawks would clinch the Patriot League South Division with a victory over the Leopards. As per usual, everything is subject to change.
| Date: | April 3, 2021 |
| Opponent: | Bucknell Bison |
| Kickoff: | 12:05 p.m. |
| Stadium: | Goodman Stadium/16,000/Natural Grass |
| Location: | Bethlehem, Pa. |
| Lehigh's Record: | 0-1 overall, 0-0 PL South |
| Bucknell's Record: | 1-0 overall, 1-0 PL South |
| Series: | Lehigh leads 48-32-3 |
| Television | Service Electric Network 2/502 and ESPN+ with Doug Heater and Mike Yadush '93 |
| Radio | Fox Sports Radio 1230/1320 and 94.7 FM Allentown with Matt Kerr and Matt Markus beginning at 11:30 a.m. |
| Internet Broadcast: | Video on ESPN+ (PatriotLeague.TV) Audio at LVFoxSports.com |
| Key Stats: | •Lehigh's defense limited Holy Cross to 209 yards of total offense as the Mountain Hawks forced three turnovers and had three sacks. •Sixteen Lehigh freshmen saw action against Holy Cross, including four who started. •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. |
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