Saturday, October 21
Lewisburg, Pa.
1:00 PM
Lehigh University
at
Bucknell
Photo by: Hannahally Photography
Mountain Hawks To Visit Bucknell Saturday
10/17/2023 2:49:00 PM | Football
BETHLEHEM, Pa. – Two teams searching for their first Patriot League win in 2023 meet Saturday at Christy Mathewson - Memorial Stadium as Lehigh visits Bucknell. The Mountain Hawks will look to stop a five-game slide before heading into their bye next week. Lehigh is looking to bounce back from a 17-7 loss to Georgetown on a rain-soaked day at Goodman Stadium. The Mountain Hawk defense held the Hoyas to just 10 points through the game's first 56 minutes but the offense struggled to find consistency. Georgetown more than doubled Lehigh in time of possession. Sophomore Nick Peltekian led the way with 13 tackles and three tackles for loss, while senior Eric Johnson scored his first touchdown of the season. Bucknell snapped a three-game losing streak with a 21-13 win at Cornell last weekend.
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Sophomore safety Nick Peltekian led the defense against Georgetown. Peltekian registered a game-high 13 tackles and added three tackles for loss as Lehigh limited the Hoyas to just 10 points through the first three quarters. The Mahwah, N.J. native ranks second on the team with 51 tackles and four tackles for loss. He also led Lehigh's defensive effort at Dartmouth with a team-best 11 tackles and a forced fumble at the goal line that teammate Logan Jones returned for a touchdown. Peltekian has started all seven games at safety after missing the entire 2022 season due to injury.
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Lehigh has 24 first-year student-athletes on its roster and recent history shows that many will be relied upon to contribute right away. Eight first-years appear on Lehigh's depth chart, with lineman Austin Huff, tight end Jake Stalsitz, running back Luke Yoder and wide receiver Mason Humphrey on offense and defensive lineman Andrew Sharga and defensive backs DJ Brown, Aidan Singleton and Joshua Jones representing the defense. Fifteen first-year players have seen action in at least one game so far this season: Aidan Singleton has started Lehigh's last six games at cornerback and is one of seven first-year players to appear in all seven games, joining Brown, Humphrey, Shargam Stalsitz, tight end Joseph Marranca and defensive lineman Jadin Nelson. Lehigh started seven first years against Georgetown: Yoder, Stalsitz, Huff, Singleton, Jones, Brown and linebacker William Parton.
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First-year running back Luke Yoder has emerged as Lehigh's top rusher, with 283 yards over the Mountain Hawks' last five games. Yoder rushed for 103 yards on 14 carries at Fordham, on the way to earning Patriot League Rookie of the Week honors. He added 81 yards last week against Georgetown and is now averaging 5.3 yards per carry and 56.6 yards per game this season. Yoder scored his first career touchdown on a two-yard run against Cornell.
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Bucknell returns home after picking up its second victory of the season last weekend as the Bison defeated Cornell 21-13 in Ithaca, N.Y. Both of Bucknell's victories have come by the same 21-13 score as the Bison also defeated VMI on Sept. 9. The Bison are 0-2 in Patriot League play with losses to Lafayette and Holy Cross that preceded last week's win at Cornell. Bucknell took to the ground in its win at Cornell, led by Coleman Bennett who ran 29 times for 157 yards. Ralph Rucker has been the primary quarterback with a 58% completion percentage and nine touchdowns to just three interceptions. Eric Weatherly has 320 receiving yards and four touchdowns. Blake Leake paces the Bucknell defense with 51 tackles and also has 3.5 tackles for loss.
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Lehigh has played Bucknell more times than any opponent other than rival Lafayette. The Mountain Hawks and Bison meet for the 86th time with Lehigh holding a 49-34-3 advantage. Lehigh has won 20 of the last 25 games, winning 15 straight before back-to-back Bucknell wins in 2013 and 2014. The Mountain Hawks have won four of their last five visits to Lewisburg.
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There are a number of connections between the coaching staffs at Lehigh and Bucknell. Most notably, Bucknell head coach Dave Cecchini is a former All-America wide receiver for Lehigh who enjoyed two assistant coaching stints with the Mountain Hawks. Lehigh special teams coordinator Mike Kashurba and offensive line coach Mike Morita have previously coached at Bucknell. On the Bison side, assistant head coach Vinny Giacalone coached at Lehigh in the early 2010s while offensive line coach Sean Pearson coached Lehigh's offensive line last season.
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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 94.7 FM and 1230 AM in Easton and LVFoxSports.com beginning at noon.
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Lehigh will have its bye next weekend and will return action on Nov. 4 when the Mountain Hawks welcome four-time defending Patriot League champion Holy Cross to Goodman Stadium on Salute to Service, presented by Weis Markets. Game time is set for noon.
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Like Lehigh Football on Facebook and follow on Twitter and Instagram for exclusive updates throughout the season.Â
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Sophomore safety Nick Peltekian led the defense against Georgetown. Peltekian registered a game-high 13 tackles and added three tackles for loss as Lehigh limited the Hoyas to just 10 points through the first three quarters. The Mahwah, N.J. native ranks second on the team with 51 tackles and four tackles for loss. He also led Lehigh's defensive effort at Dartmouth with a team-best 11 tackles and a forced fumble at the goal line that teammate Logan Jones returned for a touchdown. Peltekian has started all seven games at safety after missing the entire 2022 season due to injury.
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Lehigh has 24 first-year student-athletes on its roster and recent history shows that many will be relied upon to contribute right away. Eight first-years appear on Lehigh's depth chart, with lineman Austin Huff, tight end Jake Stalsitz, running back Luke Yoder and wide receiver Mason Humphrey on offense and defensive lineman Andrew Sharga and defensive backs DJ Brown, Aidan Singleton and Joshua Jones representing the defense. Fifteen first-year players have seen action in at least one game so far this season: Aidan Singleton has started Lehigh's last six games at cornerback and is one of seven first-year players to appear in all seven games, joining Brown, Humphrey, Shargam Stalsitz, tight end Joseph Marranca and defensive lineman Jadin Nelson. Lehigh started seven first years against Georgetown: Yoder, Stalsitz, Huff, Singleton, Jones, Brown and linebacker William Parton.
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First-year running back Luke Yoder has emerged as Lehigh's top rusher, with 283 yards over the Mountain Hawks' last five games. Yoder rushed for 103 yards on 14 carries at Fordham, on the way to earning Patriot League Rookie of the Week honors. He added 81 yards last week against Georgetown and is now averaging 5.3 yards per carry and 56.6 yards per game this season. Yoder scored his first career touchdown on a two-yard run against Cornell.
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Bucknell returns home after picking up its second victory of the season last weekend as the Bison defeated Cornell 21-13 in Ithaca, N.Y. Both of Bucknell's victories have come by the same 21-13 score as the Bison also defeated VMI on Sept. 9. The Bison are 0-2 in Patriot League play with losses to Lafayette and Holy Cross that preceded last week's win at Cornell. Bucknell took to the ground in its win at Cornell, led by Coleman Bennett who ran 29 times for 157 yards. Ralph Rucker has been the primary quarterback with a 58% completion percentage and nine touchdowns to just three interceptions. Eric Weatherly has 320 receiving yards and four touchdowns. Blake Leake paces the Bucknell defense with 51 tackles and also has 3.5 tackles for loss.
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Lehigh has played Bucknell more times than any opponent other than rival Lafayette. The Mountain Hawks and Bison meet for the 86th time with Lehigh holding a 49-34-3 advantage. Lehigh has won 20 of the last 25 games, winning 15 straight before back-to-back Bucknell wins in 2013 and 2014. The Mountain Hawks have won four of their last five visits to Lewisburg.
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There are a number of connections between the coaching staffs at Lehigh and Bucknell. Most notably, Bucknell head coach Dave Cecchini is a former All-America wide receiver for Lehigh who enjoyed two assistant coaching stints with the Mountain Hawks. Lehigh special teams coordinator Mike Kashurba and offensive line coach Mike Morita have previously coached at Bucknell. On the Bison side, assistant head coach Vinny Giacalone coached at Lehigh in the early 2010s while offensive line coach Sean Pearson coached Lehigh's offensive line last season.
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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 94.7 FM and 1230 AM in Easton and LVFoxSports.com beginning at noon.
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Lehigh will have its bye next weekend and will return action on Nov. 4 when the Mountain Hawks welcome four-time defending Patriot League champion Holy Cross to Goodman Stadium on Salute to Service, presented by Weis Markets. Game time is set for noon.
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| Date: | October 21, 2023 |
| Opponent: | Bucknell Bison |
| Kickoff: | 1:02 p.m. |
| Stadium: | Christy Mathewson-Memorial Stadium |
| Location: | Lewisburg, Pa. |
| Lehigh's record: | 1-6 overall, 0-2 Patriot League |
| Bucknell's record: | 2-4 overall, 0-2 Patriot League |
| Series: | Lehigh leads 49-34-3 |
| Video: | ESPN+ |
| Radio: | Fox Sports Radio 94.7 FM and 1230 AM and LVFoxSports.com with Matt Kerr, Jim Guzzo and Connor Mills beginning at 12 p.m. |
| Key Stats: | •The last time these teams met in Lewisburg, running back Jack DiPietro enjoyed a career day with 164 scrimmage yards (93 rushing, 71 receiving) and two touchdowns. •Over their last three games the Mountain Hawks have registered seven sacks while allowing zero. •Lehigh and Bucknell are the bottom two teams in the Patriot League in both rushing offense and rushing defense. |
Like Lehigh Football on Facebook and follow on Twitter and Instagram for exclusive updates throughout the season.Â
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