Saturday, October 21
Lewisburg, Pa.
1:00 PM
Lehigh University
2-6 , 1-2
27
at
18
Bucknell
2-5 , 0-3
1st
2nd
3rd
4th
F
Lehigh
7
13
0
7
27
Bucknell
0
3
0
15
18
Photo by: Hannahally Photography
Strong Defensive Effort Carries Lehigh To 27-18 Win At Bucknell
10/21/2023 5:38:00 PM | Football
LEWISBURG, Pa. – The Lehigh football team built a 20-0 first half lead and never looked back on the way to the Mountain Hawks' first Patriot League win of the season. Lehigh's defense limited Bucknell to three points through the games' first 55 minutes in a 27-18 triumph Saturday at Christy Mathewson-Memorial Stadium.
Â
First-year running back Luke Yoder rushed 38 times for 138 yards and two touchdowns while the Mountain Hawks' defense limited Bucknell to 252 total yards.
Â
Sophomore Nick Peltekian registered seven tackles, added two pass breakups and had a key 57-yard punt return touchdown in the second quarter.
With the victory, Lehigh heads into its bye week at 2-6 overall and 1-2 in Patriot League play.
Â
"I'm really happy with the way the kids competed," Lehigh head coach Kevin Cahill said. "I don't think we competed like that last week and that was the challenge all week. Compete, and compete with confidence.
Â
"I'm happy with the defense, they competed hard," Cahill continued. "They owned it and did a great job. Offensively we still need to get better. We have a lot of things we need to clean up there. I'm just happy for the win. If you came to one of our practices, you wouldn't know if we had one win or one loss. I'm proud of the way the kids have gone to work."
Â
On a windy afternoon in Lewisburg, defense and the run game were the stories of the day. Bucknell drove into Lehigh territory on its first possession but senior Mike DeNucci blocked a 52-yard Matt Shearer field goal attempt. DeNucci also led the Mountain Hawks with nine tackles.
Â
The Mountain Hawks capitalized on the missed field goal, marching 62 yards in 12 plays. Sophomore quarterback Brayten Silbor converted a 3rd and 3 with a 13-yard rush and on the next play Yoder powered in from a yard out.
Â
Lehigh moved deep into Bucknell territory on both of its next two possessions, but had to settle for field goal attempts. Sophomore Nick Garrido connected from 31 and then 35 yards to extend Lehigh's lead to 13-0 with 5:48 in the first half.
Â
Following each of Lehigh's first three scoring drives, the Mountain Hawks forced Bucknell punts with third down sacks. After a sack by sophomore Matt Spatny, Peltekian grabbed the ensuing punt as his 43 yard line and raced 57 yards to the end zone for Lehigh's first punt return touchdown in 15 years, which put the Brown and White up 20-0.
Â
"The punt return touchdown was huge for us," Cahill said. "We kept moving the ball offensively, but we stopped ourselves in the red zone. Going 2-for-3 in field goals in the first half is not ideal. Those need to be touchdowns. If we want to be a winning team and go to where we want to go, they have to be touchdowns."
Â
A muffed punt allowed Shearer to kick a 35-yard field goal as time expired in the first half as Lehigh led 20-3 at the break.
Â
Both defenses took control in a third quarter that did not feature any scoring, and that battle carried into the fourth period as the wind continued to intensify. Bucknell's Tyler Beverett fumbled midway through the fourth quarter with first-year Jadin Nelson recovering at the Bison 19. Seven plays later, Yoder scored his second touchdown of the day on a two-yard rush to put Lehigh up 27-3.
Â
Bucknell (2-5, 0-3 PL) scored the game's final 11 points on a Josh Gary 88-yard kickoff return touchdown and a three-yard pass from Nick Semptimphelter to Derrick Anderson Jr. and a subsequent two point conversion.
Â
Lehigh gained 315 yards of offense including a season-high 188 on the ground. Silbor completed just 8-of-29 in windy conditions for 129 yards, with Yoder and seniors Eric Johnson and Connor Kennedy each hauling in two passes.
Â
Defensively, senior Drew DeMorat chipped in with eight tackles, 1.5 tackles for loss and a pair of half sacks. Lehigh finished with four sacks on the day. Spatny, DeMorat, Nelson and fifth-year Dean Colton were all credited with one.
Â
"We had some guys down on defense and the next guy stepped up," Cahill said. "We had some true freshmen playing today that haven't played football yet. Their first experience was in this game and that didn't matter. The energy and the confidence our defense played with today it's contagious and the defense played really well."
Â
The Mountain Hawks have their bye next weekend and will return to action on Nov. 4 when they welcome Holy Cross to Goodman Stadium on Salute to Service, presented by Weis Markets. Game time is set for noon. Tickets can be purchased at LehighTickets.com or by calling 610-758-4263 during business hours.
Â
EXTRA POINTS…  Lehigh has now won two straight games against Bucknell in Lewisburg and has defeated the Bison for the 21st time in the last 26 meetings… The Mountain Hawks won the game prior to their bye week for the first time since 2019… Lehigh's offensive line paved the way for 100+ rushing yards, while allowing zero sacks for the fourth straight week… Nelson made his first career start at defensive tackle… Yoder's 38 carries were the most for a Lehigh running back since Dom Bragalone rushed 32 times at Lafayette in 2018… prior to Peltekian's punt return touchdown, Lehigh's last punt return touchdown was an 84-yarder by Jarard Cribbs against Cornell on Oct. 4, 2018.
Â
Like Lehigh Football on Facebook and follow on Twitter and Instagram for exclusive updates throughout the season.
Â
Â
First-year running back Luke Yoder rushed 38 times for 138 yards and two touchdowns while the Mountain Hawks' defense limited Bucknell to 252 total yards.
Â
Sophomore Nick Peltekian registered seven tackles, added two pass breakups and had a key 57-yard punt return touchdown in the second quarter.
ÂNick Peltekian with the 57-yard house call. First punt return TD for Lehigh since 2008!
— Lehigh Football (@LehighFootball) October 21, 2023
Watch: https://t.co/D5oX2kC4Y7@PatriotLeagueTV @espn#GoLehigh #TheNest pic.twitter.com/Jjff1axqO3
With the victory, Lehigh heads into its bye week at 2-6 overall and 1-2 in Patriot League play.
Â
"I'm really happy with the way the kids competed," Lehigh head coach Kevin Cahill said. "I don't think we competed like that last week and that was the challenge all week. Compete, and compete with confidence.
Â
"I'm happy with the defense, they competed hard," Cahill continued. "They owned it and did a great job. Offensively we still need to get better. We have a lot of things we need to clean up there. I'm just happy for the win. If you came to one of our practices, you wouldn't know if we had one win or one loss. I'm proud of the way the kids have gone to work."
Â
On a windy afternoon in Lewisburg, defense and the run game were the stories of the day. Bucknell drove into Lehigh territory on its first possession but senior Mike DeNucci blocked a 52-yard Matt Shearer field goal attempt. DeNucci also led the Mountain Hawks with nine tackles.
Â
The Mountain Hawks capitalized on the missed field goal, marching 62 yards in 12 plays. Sophomore quarterback Brayten Silbor converted a 3rd and 3 with a 13-yard rush and on the next play Yoder powered in from a yard out.
Â
Lehigh moved deep into Bucknell territory on both of its next two possessions, but had to settle for field goal attempts. Sophomore Nick Garrido connected from 31 and then 35 yards to extend Lehigh's lead to 13-0 with 5:48 in the first half.
Â
Following each of Lehigh's first three scoring drives, the Mountain Hawks forced Bucknell punts with third down sacks. After a sack by sophomore Matt Spatny, Peltekian grabbed the ensuing punt as his 43 yard line and raced 57 yards to the end zone for Lehigh's first punt return touchdown in 15 years, which put the Brown and White up 20-0.
Â
"The punt return touchdown was huge for us," Cahill said. "We kept moving the ball offensively, but we stopped ourselves in the red zone. Going 2-for-3 in field goals in the first half is not ideal. Those need to be touchdowns. If we want to be a winning team and go to where we want to go, they have to be touchdowns."
Â
A muffed punt allowed Shearer to kick a 35-yard field goal as time expired in the first half as Lehigh led 20-3 at the break.
Â
Both defenses took control in a third quarter that did not feature any scoring, and that battle carried into the fourth period as the wind continued to intensify. Bucknell's Tyler Beverett fumbled midway through the fourth quarter with first-year Jadin Nelson recovering at the Bison 19. Seven plays later, Yoder scored his second touchdown of the day on a two-yard rush to put Lehigh up 27-3.
Â
Bucknell (2-5, 0-3 PL) scored the game's final 11 points on a Josh Gary 88-yard kickoff return touchdown and a three-yard pass from Nick Semptimphelter to Derrick Anderson Jr. and a subsequent two point conversion.
Â
Lehigh gained 315 yards of offense including a season-high 188 on the ground. Silbor completed just 8-of-29 in windy conditions for 129 yards, with Yoder and seniors Eric Johnson and Connor Kennedy each hauling in two passes.
Â
Defensively, senior Drew DeMorat chipped in with eight tackles, 1.5 tackles for loss and a pair of half sacks. Lehigh finished with four sacks on the day. Spatny, DeMorat, Nelson and fifth-year Dean Colton were all credited with one.
Â
"We had some guys down on defense and the next guy stepped up," Cahill said. "We had some true freshmen playing today that haven't played football yet. Their first experience was in this game and that didn't matter. The energy and the confidence our defense played with today it's contagious and the defense played really well."
Â
The Mountain Hawks have their bye next weekend and will return to action on Nov. 4 when they welcome Holy Cross to Goodman Stadium on Salute to Service, presented by Weis Markets. Game time is set for noon. Tickets can be purchased at LehighTickets.com or by calling 610-758-4263 during business hours.
Â
EXTRA POINTS…  Lehigh has now won two straight games against Bucknell in Lewisburg and has defeated the Bison for the 21st time in the last 26 meetings… The Mountain Hawks won the game prior to their bye week for the first time since 2019… Lehigh's offensive line paved the way for 100+ rushing yards, while allowing zero sacks for the fourth straight week… Nelson made his first career start at defensive tackle… Yoder's 38 carries were the most for a Lehigh running back since Dom Bragalone rushed 32 times at Lafayette in 2018… prior to Peltekian's punt return touchdown, Lehigh's last punt return touchdown was an 84-yarder by Jarard Cribbs against Cornell on Oct. 4, 2018.
Â
Like Lehigh Football on Facebook and follow on Twitter and Instagram for exclusive updates throughout the season.
Â
Team Stats
LEH
BUC
Total Yards
315
252
Pass Yards
127
172
Rushing Yards
188
80
Penalty Yards
70
45
1st Downs
17
17
3rd Downs
8
5
4th Downs
1
0
TOP
35:30
24:30
1st Quarter
LEH 7, BUC 0
LEH - Yoder,Luke 1 yd run (Garrido,Nick kick), 12 plays, 62 yards, TOP 04:55
2nd Quarter
LEH 10, BUC 0
LEH - Garrido,Nick 31 yd field goal 12 plays, 67 yards, TOP 04:48
LEH 13, BUC 0
LEH - Garrido,Nick 35 yd field goal 7 plays, 13 yards, TOP 02:30
LEH 20, BUC 0
LEH - Peltekian,Nick 57 yd punt return (Garrido,Nick kick)
LEH 20, BUC 3
BUC - Schearer,Matt 35 yd field goal 1 plays, yards, TOP 00:04
4th Quarter
LEH 27, BUC 3
LEH - Yoder,Luke 2 yd run (Garrido,Nick kick), 7 plays, 18 yards, TOP 03:31
LEH 27, BUC 10
BUC - Gary,Josh 88 yd kickoff return (Schearer,Matt kick)
LEH 27, BUC 18
BUC - Anderson Jr.,Derrick 3 yd pass from Semptimphelter,Nick (Weatherly,Eric rush) 9 plays, 87 yards, TOP 01:47
Game Leaders
Passing Leaders
CMP
8
TD
0
YDS
127
INT
2
Players Mentioned
DL
/ Football
LB
/ Football
LB
/ Football
K/P
/ Football
WR
/ Football
WR
/ Football
DL
/ Football
DB
/ FootballQB
/ Football
DL
/ Football
RB
/ Football2025 Brown & Flight - Episode 1
Thursday, September 18
Lehigh Sports Central: Football
Wednesday, August 27
2025 Lehigh Football Season Preview: Special Teams
Thursday, August 21
2025 Lehigh Football Season Preview: Defense
Thursday, August 21
