Lehigh University Athletics
Friday, September 2
Villanova, Pa.
6:00 PM
Lehigh University
at
Villanova
Mountain Hawks To Open 2022 Season Friday Night At No. 5/6 Villanova
8/30/2022 11:16:00 AM | Football
BETHLEHEM, Pa. – Lehigh heads down the Main Line to open its 139th season of football with a visit to No. 5/6 Villanova under Friday night lights. The Mountain Hawks closed out the 2021 season with three consecutive victories and will look that carry that momentum into the new campaign with a more veteran-laden team than in previous seasons. Lehigh returns 17 starters, including 10 on defense, led by All-Patriot League honorees TyGee Leach, LaTreil Wimberly and Mikhari Sibblis. Junior Dante Perri returns at quarterback after leading an improved unit to success in the second half of last season. Perri leads an offense that features a wealth of returning skill position players, including Lehigh's top two rushers and seven of its top eight receivers. Villanova went 10-3 last season and is coming off an appearance in the FCS quarterfinals.
Lehigh's offensive improvement in the second half of last season coincided with Dante Perri taking over as the Mountain Hawks' starting quarterback. Perri appeared in nine games as a sophomore with six starts. In his final five games, Perri completed 64 percent of his passes, averaging 228 yards per game and totaling five touchdowns and just two interceptions. He played a major role in Lehigh's three-game winning streak to end the season. At Fordham, Perri completed 27-of-37 passes for 317 yards and two touchdowns, for Lehigh's first 300-yard passing game since 2018. The Philadelphia native was voted one of Lehigh's four captains prior to his junior campaign.
A defensive unit that has grown together during the Tom Gilmore era is expected to be an area of strength for the Mountain Hawks in 2022. Eighteen of the 22 defensive players listed on Lehigh's depth chart have significant game experience. Lehigh ranked third in the Patriot League in both scoring and total defense in 2021 but the numbers improved significantly over the last five games. The Mountain Hawks allowed 60 fewer yards per game in its final five games compared to its first six. Lehigh's projected starting defense features 10 juniors and seniors plus sophomore Logan Jones, who appeared in all 11 games as a first-year, with eight starts. All three of Lehigh's returning All-Patriot League honorees from 2021 reside on the defensive side of the ball: lineman Mikhari Sibblis and defensive backs TyGee Leach and LaTreil Wimberly.
A strong special teams unit helped keep the Mountain Hawks in every game during the 2021 Patriot League season. Lehigh blocked an FCS-best five punts in 2021 and also ranked fifth in the FCS in kickoff return defense, allowing just 14.92 yards per return. Wide receiver Tommy Lewis blocked a team-best two punts, while running back Jack DiPietro blocked a punt against Lafayette which was returned for the eventual game-winning touchdown. Kicker Dylan Van Dusen also returns after converting all 13 extra point attempts and going 10-for-12 on field goal attempts in 2021.
Lehigh's 2022 roster includes 18 seniors, including one fifth-year and one sixth-year. Fourteen of the 18 appear on Lehigh's depth chart (page 10). Tight end Alex Snyder is back for a fifth-year in the brown and white, while linebacker Nate Norris is back for his sixth year due to medical hardship and the COVID-19 pandemic. Norris played his first full season in 2021 and tied with fellow senior TyGee Leach for the team lead with 69 tackles.
Lehigh has an 84-48-6 all-time record in its season-opening contests. The Mountain Hawks are 4-6 in their last 10 openers, with three straight losses. Lehigh's last opening day win came against Saint Francis in 2018. Lehigh is opening against Villanova for the fifth time. The Brown and White won its 1919 opener over Villanova, while the Wildcats prevailed in 2007, 2017 and 2021.
Villanova opens its season after going 10-3 in 2021. The Wildcats were the No. 5 seed in the FCS playoffs and defeated Holy Cross in the second round before falling to South Dakota State in the quarterfinals. Villanova tops the CAA preseason poll. Offensive linemen Michael Corbi and Colin Gamroth were named to the preseason All-CAA team along with wide receiver Rayjaun Pringle and special teamer TD Ayo-Durojaiye. Corbi was also named a first team preseason All-American by STATS Perform. The Wildcats lost quarterback Dan Smith to graduation with junior Connor Watkins expected to replace him.
Lehigh and Villanova will meet for the 18th time, with the Wildcats holding a 12-5 edge in the series. Villanova has won the last nine meetings. Lehigh's last win in the series came back in 2006. Tom Gilmore is 0-3 against Villanova with a 38-28 loss in the opening round of the 2009 FCS playoffs while at Holy Cross and losses as Lehigh's head coach in 2019 and 2021. This will be Lehigh's sixth visit to Villanova since the series resumed in 2004 (2006, 2008, 2009, 2016, 2019). Lehigh won the first four meetings (1903, 1914, 1919 and 1924), while Villanova won in 1925 and 1927 prior to the 77-year break in the series.
Lehigh's season-opener at Villanova marks its first Friday night game in seven years and just its second since 1980. The Mountain Hawks won at Central Connecticut State to open the 2015 season on Friday, Sept. 4. Prior to that, Lehigh and Penn squared off five times on a Friday night between 1973 and 1980 with the Quakers winning three of the five games. Prior to 2015, Lehigh's last non-Saturday game was a 37-26 win at Buffalo on a Thursday, Aug. 29, 2002.
Friday's game kicks off just after 6 p.m. from Villanova Stadium. The game will be broadcast on FloFootball with audio coverage on Fox Sports Radio 94.7 FM and 1230 AM in Easton and online at LVFoxSports.com beginning at 5 p.m.
The Mountain Hawks will get an early look at Patriot League opposition when they travel to Georgetown for an early Patriot League opener on Sept. 10. Lehigh defeated Georgetown in both 2019 and 2021 and will visit Washington, D.C. for the first time since 2018. Game time is set for 5 p.m. from Cooper Field.
Like Lehigh Football on Facebook and follow on Twitter and Instagram for exclusive updates throughout the season.
Lehigh's offensive improvement in the second half of last season coincided with Dante Perri taking over as the Mountain Hawks' starting quarterback. Perri appeared in nine games as a sophomore with six starts. In his final five games, Perri completed 64 percent of his passes, averaging 228 yards per game and totaling five touchdowns and just two interceptions. He played a major role in Lehigh's three-game winning streak to end the season. At Fordham, Perri completed 27-of-37 passes for 317 yards and two touchdowns, for Lehigh's first 300-yard passing game since 2018. The Philadelphia native was voted one of Lehigh's four captains prior to his junior campaign.
A defensive unit that has grown together during the Tom Gilmore era is expected to be an area of strength for the Mountain Hawks in 2022. Eighteen of the 22 defensive players listed on Lehigh's depth chart have significant game experience. Lehigh ranked third in the Patriot League in both scoring and total defense in 2021 but the numbers improved significantly over the last five games. The Mountain Hawks allowed 60 fewer yards per game in its final five games compared to its first six. Lehigh's projected starting defense features 10 juniors and seniors plus sophomore Logan Jones, who appeared in all 11 games as a first-year, with eight starts. All three of Lehigh's returning All-Patriot League honorees from 2021 reside on the defensive side of the ball: lineman Mikhari Sibblis and defensive backs TyGee Leach and LaTreil Wimberly.
A strong special teams unit helped keep the Mountain Hawks in every game during the 2021 Patriot League season. Lehigh blocked an FCS-best five punts in 2021 and also ranked fifth in the FCS in kickoff return defense, allowing just 14.92 yards per return. Wide receiver Tommy Lewis blocked a team-best two punts, while running back Jack DiPietro blocked a punt against Lafayette which was returned for the eventual game-winning touchdown. Kicker Dylan Van Dusen also returns after converting all 13 extra point attempts and going 10-for-12 on field goal attempts in 2021.
Lehigh's 2022 roster includes 18 seniors, including one fifth-year and one sixth-year. Fourteen of the 18 appear on Lehigh's depth chart (page 10). Tight end Alex Snyder is back for a fifth-year in the brown and white, while linebacker Nate Norris is back for his sixth year due to medical hardship and the COVID-19 pandemic. Norris played his first full season in 2021 and tied with fellow senior TyGee Leach for the team lead with 69 tackles.
Lehigh has an 84-48-6 all-time record in its season-opening contests. The Mountain Hawks are 4-6 in their last 10 openers, with three straight losses. Lehigh's last opening day win came against Saint Francis in 2018. Lehigh is opening against Villanova for the fifth time. The Brown and White won its 1919 opener over Villanova, while the Wildcats prevailed in 2007, 2017 and 2021.
Villanova opens its season after going 10-3 in 2021. The Wildcats were the No. 5 seed in the FCS playoffs and defeated Holy Cross in the second round before falling to South Dakota State in the quarterfinals. Villanova tops the CAA preseason poll. Offensive linemen Michael Corbi and Colin Gamroth were named to the preseason All-CAA team along with wide receiver Rayjaun Pringle and special teamer TD Ayo-Durojaiye. Corbi was also named a first team preseason All-American by STATS Perform. The Wildcats lost quarterback Dan Smith to graduation with junior Connor Watkins expected to replace him.
Lehigh and Villanova will meet for the 18th time, with the Wildcats holding a 12-5 edge in the series. Villanova has won the last nine meetings. Lehigh's last win in the series came back in 2006. Tom Gilmore is 0-3 against Villanova with a 38-28 loss in the opening round of the 2009 FCS playoffs while at Holy Cross and losses as Lehigh's head coach in 2019 and 2021. This will be Lehigh's sixth visit to Villanova since the series resumed in 2004 (2006, 2008, 2009, 2016, 2019). Lehigh won the first four meetings (1903, 1914, 1919 and 1924), while Villanova won in 1925 and 1927 prior to the 77-year break in the series.
Lehigh's season-opener at Villanova marks its first Friday night game in seven years and just its second since 1980. The Mountain Hawks won at Central Connecticut State to open the 2015 season on Friday, Sept. 4. Prior to that, Lehigh and Penn squared off five times on a Friday night between 1973 and 1980 with the Quakers winning three of the five games. Prior to 2015, Lehigh's last non-Saturday game was a 37-26 win at Buffalo on a Thursday, Aug. 29, 2002.
Friday's game kicks off just after 6 p.m. from Villanova Stadium. The game will be broadcast on FloFootball with audio coverage on Fox Sports Radio 94.7 FM and 1230 AM in Easton and online at LVFoxSports.com beginning at 5 p.m.
The Mountain Hawks will get an early look at Patriot League opposition when they travel to Georgetown for an early Patriot League opener on Sept. 10. Lehigh defeated Georgetown in both 2019 and 2021 and will visit Washington, D.C. for the first time since 2018. Game time is set for 5 p.m. from Cooper Field.
| Date: | September 2, 2022 |
| Opponent: | No. 5/6 Villanova Wildcats |
| Kickoff: | 6:03 p.m. |
| Stadium: | Villanova Stadium/12,500/FieldTurf |
| Location: | Villanova, Pa. |
| Lehigh's 2021 record: | 3-8 overall, 3-3 Patriot League |
| Villanova's 2021 record: | 10-3 overall, 7-1 CAA |
| Series: | Villanova leads 12-5 |
| Video: | FloFootball |
| Radio: | Fox Sports Radio 94.7 FM and 1230 AM and LVFoxSports.com with Matt Kerr, Matt Markus and Steve Lomangino beginning at 5 p.m. |
| Key Stats: | •Over the final five games of the 2021 season, Lehigh averaged 205 more yards of offense and allowed 161 fewer yards than it did over its first six games. •The Mountain Hawks led the FCS with five blocked punts in 2021 and ranked fifth in the FCS in kickoff return defense, allowing 14.92 yards per return. •Lehigh's roster features 26 first-years, 18 sophomores, 29 juniors and 18 seniors (including one fifth-year and one sixth-year). |
Like Lehigh Football on Facebook and follow on Twitter and Instagram for exclusive updates throughout the season.
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