Saturday, April 10
Easton, Pa.
12:30 PM
Lehigh University
at
Lafayette
Photo by: Hannahally Photography
156th Edition of Lehigh-Lafayette Set For Saturday in Easton
4/8/2021 11:41:00 AM | Football
BETHLEHEM, Pa. – For the first time ever, college football's most-played rivalry will be contested in the spring as Lehigh travels to Lafayette for the 156th meeting at Fisher Stadium. The COVID-19 pandemic has moved the game from the Saturday before Thanksgiving to April 10. This game was originally scheduled for April 3, but was postponed a week due to a COVID issue in Lafayette's program. Instead, Lehigh hosted Bucknell last Saturday and fell 6-0 despite another strong defensive effort. Lafayette comes in at 1-1 as the Leopards defeated Colgate on March 13 but dropped a 38-13 decision at Bucknell in its last game March 27. Lehigh has won nine of the last 12 Rivalry games, with Lafayette's 17-16 win in Bethlehem in November 2019 snapping a four-game win streak for the Mountain Hawks.
Lafayette has allowed a limited number of invited team guests for Lehigh on Saturday. Those guests are provided by team members in advance. No other Lehigh spectators will be permitted at the game.
Lafayette College Spectator Policy
Lehigh and Lafayette will meet on the gridiron, 140 days after the teams were initially scheduled to meet at Fisher Stadium in the originally scheduled 2020 regular season finale. While 2020 was the first year since 1896 in which there was no Lehigh-Lafayette football game, these two programs will meet for the 124th consecutive season.
While Leigh's defensive success in its first two games may not be surprising, the play of several young Mountain Hawks in the secondary has opened some eyes. Lehigh leads the Patriot League in pass defense, allowing just 119 yards per game through two games. The Mountain Hawks have been playing with a pair of first time starters at cornerback in sophomore Jack Bush and freshman LaTreil Wimberly, while sophomore Mitch Lawhead and freshmen Donovan Thomas, Corey Melzer and Spencer Roof have all seen time at safety. One week after a 12-reception, 179-yard effort against Lafayette, Bucknell's Brandon Sanders was held to three catches for 24 yards by Lehigh, with Wimberly leading the coverage efforts. Senior Divine Buckrham and sophomore TyGee Leach are veterans at safety. Leach had a big opener against Holy Cross with nine tackles, two tackles for loss, and his first career interception, which set up the Mountain Hawks' field goal.
Sophomore Cross Wilkinson has started Lehigh's first two games at quarterback. Wilkinson is highly-regarded prospect from West Virginia who transferred to Lehigh following two seasons at Toledo. He has completed a solid 61 percent of his passes in two games but has thrown for just 223 yards. Since the 2000 season, Lehigh is 6-6 in Rivalry games in which its quarterback is making its first start against Lafayette. Quarterbacks to win in their first starts against the Leopards include Brant Hall (2000), Kyle Keating (2003), JB Clark (2008), Chris Lum (2010), Mike Colvin (2012) and Brad Mayes (2017).
Lehigh's offense has not been able to match the success of its defense as the Mountain Hawks have mustered just one field goal through two games. Last week's shutout loss to Bucknell was Lehigh's first shutout at home since Villanova blanked the Mountain Hawks 35-0 in the 2010 home opener. The Bucknell game was the first Lehigh game in which neither team scored a touchdown since October 9, 1976, when Lehigh lost 3-0... to Bucknell. Lehigh has failed to score a touchdown in consecutive games for the first time since 1966 when the Engineers were shutout in their final two games by Bucknell and Lafayette.
Lafayette brings a 1-1 record into Rivalry 156. The Leopards opened their season with a 24-10 home win over Colgate, but fell 38-13 at Bucknell on March 27. After a strong offensive showing against Colgate, the Leopards were held in check by Bucknell as Lafayette gained just 284 yards of offense, while Leopard quarterbacks threw four interceptions. Senior Cole Northrup has started the first two games at quarterback for Lafayette. The Leopards feature Patriot League Defensive Player of the Year Malik Hamm on the defensive line. Hamm has 14 tackles, 2.5 tackles for loss and 0.5 sacks this season. Defensive back Jordan Anderson and linebacker Major Jordan are also in double digit tackles this season. Jaden Sutton is the leading rusher with 97 yards, while Quinn Revere has been the top receiver with 128 yards on nine catches.
One of the great moments in Lehigh's Rivalry history and Lehigh football history celebrated its 25th anniversary in November. The 131st meeting, played Nov. 18, 1995 at Goodman Stadium was the first Rivalry game and Lehigh's first game of any kind to be decided in overtime. Lehigh found itself down 30-14 midway through the fourth quarter but mounted a furious rally to tie the game at 30-30. Following a scoreless first overtime, Lehigh took the lead on the opening possession of the second overtime. With darkness descending upon Goodman Stadium, wide receiver Brian Klingerman made a one-handed grab of a Bob Aylsworth pass in the back of the end zone to give Lehigh a 37-30. A defensive stand in Lafayette's possession in the second overtime preserved the win, and Patriot League championship No. 2 for Lehigh. Klingerman was named the game's Most Valuable Player.
When Lehigh and Lafayette did not meet during the 2020 calendar year it became the first year since 1896 that did not feature a Lehigh-Lafayette football game. Since the birth of The Rivalry in 1884, 1896 was the only year that Lehigh and Lafayette did not meet on the gridiron. That cancellation was due to an eligibility dispute regarding Lafayette halfback George Barclay, which was not resolved in time for the game to be contested. Lehigh capped a 2-5 season a week early with a 26-0 win over the Maryland Athletic Club.
Lehigh and Lafayette meet for the 156th time with the Leopards holding a 79-71 lead. There have also been five ties in the series with the last occurring in 1964. The Mountain Hawks have won 17 of the last 26 meetings in the series. While Lafayette dominated the early years of the Rivalry, Lehigh owns an impressive 44-24-2 record since 1950. This will be the 74th meeting in Easton and the seventh since the Fisher Stadium renovation. Lehigh has won the last five games played at Fisher Stadium. Tom Gilmore was 3-1 versus Lafayette as Lehigh's Defensive Coordinator, and was 8-6 against the Leopards in his time as head coach at Holy Cross.
Saturday's game kicks off just after 12:30 p.m. from Fisher Stadium in Easton. Lehigh's television broadcast will air in the Lehigh Valley on Service Electric Network 2/502 and will be 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 12 p.m.
With Bucknell having cliched the Patriot League South Division last weekend, the Bison will play in the Patriot League Championship Game. Following Rivalry 156, Lehigh will shift preparations to the fall 2021 campaign.
Like Lehigh Football on Facebook and follow on Twitter and Instagram for exclusive updates throughout the season.
Lafayette has allowed a limited number of invited team guests for Lehigh on Saturday. Those guests are provided by team members in advance. No other Lehigh spectators will be permitted at the game.
Lafayette College Spectator Policy
Lehigh and Lafayette will meet on the gridiron, 140 days after the teams were initially scheduled to meet at Fisher Stadium in the originally scheduled 2020 regular season finale. While 2020 was the first year since 1896 in which there was no Lehigh-Lafayette football game, these two programs will meet for the 124th consecutive season.
While Leigh's defensive success in its first two games may not be surprising, the play of several young Mountain Hawks in the secondary has opened some eyes. Lehigh leads the Patriot League in pass defense, allowing just 119 yards per game through two games. The Mountain Hawks have been playing with a pair of first time starters at cornerback in sophomore Jack Bush and freshman LaTreil Wimberly, while sophomore Mitch Lawhead and freshmen Donovan Thomas, Corey Melzer and Spencer Roof have all seen time at safety. One week after a 12-reception, 179-yard effort against Lafayette, Bucknell's Brandon Sanders was held to three catches for 24 yards by Lehigh, with Wimberly leading the coverage efforts. Senior Divine Buckrham and sophomore TyGee Leach are veterans at safety. Leach had a big opener against Holy Cross with nine tackles, two tackles for loss, and his first career interception, which set up the Mountain Hawks' field goal.
Sophomore Cross Wilkinson has started Lehigh's first two games at quarterback. Wilkinson is highly-regarded prospect from West Virginia who transferred to Lehigh following two seasons at Toledo. He has completed a solid 61 percent of his passes in two games but has thrown for just 223 yards. Since the 2000 season, Lehigh is 6-6 in Rivalry games in which its quarterback is making its first start against Lafayette. Quarterbacks to win in their first starts against the Leopards include Brant Hall (2000), Kyle Keating (2003), JB Clark (2008), Chris Lum (2010), Mike Colvin (2012) and Brad Mayes (2017).
Lehigh's offense has not been able to match the success of its defense as the Mountain Hawks have mustered just one field goal through two games. Last week's shutout loss to Bucknell was Lehigh's first shutout at home since Villanova blanked the Mountain Hawks 35-0 in the 2010 home opener. The Bucknell game was the first Lehigh game in which neither team scored a touchdown since October 9, 1976, when Lehigh lost 3-0... to Bucknell. Lehigh has failed to score a touchdown in consecutive games for the first time since 1966 when the Engineers were shutout in their final two games by Bucknell and Lafayette.
Lafayette brings a 1-1 record into Rivalry 156. The Leopards opened their season with a 24-10 home win over Colgate, but fell 38-13 at Bucknell on March 27. After a strong offensive showing against Colgate, the Leopards were held in check by Bucknell as Lafayette gained just 284 yards of offense, while Leopard quarterbacks threw four interceptions. Senior Cole Northrup has started the first two games at quarterback for Lafayette. The Leopards feature Patriot League Defensive Player of the Year Malik Hamm on the defensive line. Hamm has 14 tackles, 2.5 tackles for loss and 0.5 sacks this season. Defensive back Jordan Anderson and linebacker Major Jordan are also in double digit tackles this season. Jaden Sutton is the leading rusher with 97 yards, while Quinn Revere has been the top receiver with 128 yards on nine catches.
One of the great moments in Lehigh's Rivalry history and Lehigh football history celebrated its 25th anniversary in November. The 131st meeting, played Nov. 18, 1995 at Goodman Stadium was the first Rivalry game and Lehigh's first game of any kind to be decided in overtime. Lehigh found itself down 30-14 midway through the fourth quarter but mounted a furious rally to tie the game at 30-30. Following a scoreless first overtime, Lehigh took the lead on the opening possession of the second overtime. With darkness descending upon Goodman Stadium, wide receiver Brian Klingerman made a one-handed grab of a Bob Aylsworth pass in the back of the end zone to give Lehigh a 37-30. A defensive stand in Lafayette's possession in the second overtime preserved the win, and Patriot League championship No. 2 for Lehigh. Klingerman was named the game's Most Valuable Player.
When Lehigh and Lafayette did not meet during the 2020 calendar year it became the first year since 1896 that did not feature a Lehigh-Lafayette football game. Since the birth of The Rivalry in 1884, 1896 was the only year that Lehigh and Lafayette did not meet on the gridiron. That cancellation was due to an eligibility dispute regarding Lafayette halfback George Barclay, which was not resolved in time for the game to be contested. Lehigh capped a 2-5 season a week early with a 26-0 win over the Maryland Athletic Club.
Lehigh and Lafayette meet for the 156th time with the Leopards holding a 79-71 lead. There have also been five ties in the series with the last occurring in 1964. The Mountain Hawks have won 17 of the last 26 meetings in the series. While Lafayette dominated the early years of the Rivalry, Lehigh owns an impressive 44-24-2 record since 1950. This will be the 74th meeting in Easton and the seventh since the Fisher Stadium renovation. Lehigh has won the last five games played at Fisher Stadium. Tom Gilmore was 3-1 versus Lafayette as Lehigh's Defensive Coordinator, and was 8-6 against the Leopards in his time as head coach at Holy Cross.
Saturday's game kicks off just after 12:30 p.m. from Fisher Stadium in Easton. Lehigh's television broadcast will air in the Lehigh Valley on Service Electric Network 2/502 and will be 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 12 p.m.
With Bucknell having cliched the Patriot League South Division last weekend, the Bison will play in the Patriot League Championship Game. Following Rivalry 156, Lehigh will shift preparations to the fall 2021 campaign.
| Date: | April 10, 2021 |
| Opponent: | Lafayette Leopards |
| Kickoff: | 12:35 p.m. |
| Stadium: | Fisher Stadium/13,132/FieldTurf |
| Location: | Easton, Pa. |
| Lehigh's Record: | 0-2 overall, 0-1 PL South |
| Lafayette's Record | 1-1 overall, 0-1 PL South |
| Series: | Lafayette Leads 79-71-5 |
| Television | Service Electric Network 2/502 and ESPN+ with Steve Degler and Doug Heater |
| Radio | Fox Sports Radio 1230/1320 and 94.7 FM Allentown with Matt Kerr and Lance Haynes '94 beginning at 12 p.m. |
| Internet Broadcast: | Video on ESPN+ (PatriotLeague.TV) Audio at LVFoxSports.com |
| Key Stats: | •Lehigh's leads the Patriot League in total defense (224.0 ypg) and pass defense (119.0 ypg.) and ranks second in scoring defense (13.0 ppg.) •The Bucknell game was the first Lehigh football game since 1976 in which neither team scored a touchdown. •Lehigh has won 35 of 55 games versus Lafayette since the teams played to a 6-6 tie in the 100th meeting in 1964. |
Like Lehigh Football on Facebook and follow on Twitter and Instagram for exclusive updates throughout the season.
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