Saturday, October 19
New Haven, Conn.
12:00 PM
Lehigh University
at
Yale
Photo by: Dan Stalsitz
Lehigh Returns From Two-Week Layoff With Visit To Yale
10/15/2024 12:24:00 PM | Football
BETHLEHEM, Pa. – Back from a rare two-week bye, Lehigh heads to New Haven, Conn. to face Yale in the non-league finale for both teams Saturday at Yale Bowl. Lehigh and Yale are both looking to bounce back after dropping overtime heartbreakers in their respective last outings. The Mountain Hawks dropped their league-opener to Bucknell in double overtime back on Sept. 28, while Yale let a 30-7 lead get away in an overtime loss to Dartmouth last Saturday. Lehigh returns to work behind a strong defense that is best in the Patriot League in total yardage and against the pass, along with an offense that produced 500 yards and 35 points against the Bison.
Lehigh's visit to Yale marks a return to New Haven for head coach Kevin Cahill, who coached on the Bulldogs' staff under Tony Reno from 2012-2022. Cahill was on staff for Yale's Ivy League championship teams in 2017, 2019 and 2022 and served as Associate Head Coach and Offensive Coordinator in his final five years. Yale went 4-1 against Lehigh with Cahill on staff, with the lone Mountain Hawks win coming in their last visit to the Yale Bowl in 2016. Lehigh assistant coaches Mark McMaster and Bobby Bozym coached on Yale's offensive staff under Cahill before following him to Bethlehem.
The moving of Lehigh's game at Army from Oct. 12 to Aug. 30 created a rare two-week bye for the Mountain Hawks. Lehigh last had back-to-back weeks off during the COVID-impacted Spring 2021 campaign, where the Mountain Hawks opened against Holy Cross on Mar. 13 and then due to various cancellations and postponements did not play again until facing Bucknell on Apr. 3. Prior to 2021, the last time Lehigh two weeks off in between regular season games was in 2001. 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.
One of the contributing factors to Lehigh's 3-2 start has been an improved pass defense. The Mountain Hawks lead the Patriot League and rank ninth nationally, allowing just 148 passing yards per game through the air. Lehigh also has seven interceptions in five games after recording just three during the 2023 campaign. Take out Lehigh's opener against run-heavy Army and the Mountain Hawks are still allowing just 170.8 passing yards, after allowing an average of 243.8 passing yards per game last season.
Junior Geoffrey Jamiel (136) and sophomore Mason Humphrey (109) both eclipsed the 100-yard receiving mark against Bucknell, marking the first time since Oct. 23, 2021 that Lehigh had two 100-yard receivers in the same game. That day, Eric Johnson (121) and Roemello Miner (102) eclipsed the century mark at Fordham. That game was also the last time prior to the Bucknell game that the Mountain Hawks gained 500 yards of total offense.
Yale closes out a three-game homestand when Lehigh visits on Saturday. The first two games of the homestand were decided by a single point with the Bulldogs beating CCSU 23-22 and then falling in overtime 44-43 against Dartmouth. Yale led a 30-7 halftime lead get away against the Big Green with the Bulldogs now 2-2 overall and 0-2 in Ivy League action. The preseason Ivy favorites, Yale was 7-3 last season. Yale has used three quarterbacks, with Grant Jordan seeing most of the action the last two weeks. He threw for 412 yards and five touchdowns against Dartmouth. Josh Pitsenberger is the top rusher with 268 yards and four touchdowns and David Pantelis (23 rec., 343 yards, 4 TD) is the top receiver. Abu Kamara leads the Bulldogs with 39 tackles.
Lehigh and Yale have met 26 previous times with the Bulldogs leading the series 198-7. This series has been highlighted by streaks, as Yale won the first 12 meetings and then the Mountain Hawks won the next five. Yale has now won seven of the last nine meetings in the series, but Lehigh claimed the most recent meeting at the Yale Bowl in 2016.
Lehigh and Yale will meet for the 27th time. The Patriot League and the Ivy League institutions both pride themselves on top notch academics. Lehigh has a substantial history against all eight Ivy members. The Mountain Hawks faced three Ivy League opponents in 2021 and two each of the last two seasons. Lehigh's 35-20 win over Princeton on Sept. 21 snapped an 11-game slide against the Ancient Eight. Lehigh's last road win over an Ivy foe was a 63-35 win at Yale in 2016.
Saturday's game kicks off just after noon from the Yale Bowl in New Haven, Conn. The game will be broadcast on ESPN+ with Lehigh radio coverage on Fox Sports Radio 94.7 FM and 1230 AM and LVFoxSports.com.
It's back to Patriot League play for the Mountain Hawks, who will host Fordham next Saturday on Pride Day, presented by Lehigh's Pride Center and Office of Diversity, Inclusion and Equity. Game time is set for noon. Lehigh's final five games will be against Patriot League foes, with three of the five slated for Goodman Stadium.
Follow Lehigh Football on X/Twitter and Instagram and like on Facebook for exclusive updates throughout the season.
Lehigh's visit to Yale marks a return to New Haven for head coach Kevin Cahill, who coached on the Bulldogs' staff under Tony Reno from 2012-2022. Cahill was on staff for Yale's Ivy League championship teams in 2017, 2019 and 2022 and served as Associate Head Coach and Offensive Coordinator in his final five years. Yale went 4-1 against Lehigh with Cahill on staff, with the lone Mountain Hawks win coming in their last visit to the Yale Bowl in 2016. Lehigh assistant coaches Mark McMaster and Bobby Bozym coached on Yale's offensive staff under Cahill before following him to Bethlehem.
The moving of Lehigh's game at Army from Oct. 12 to Aug. 30 created a rare two-week bye for the Mountain Hawks. Lehigh last had back-to-back weeks off during the COVID-impacted Spring 2021 campaign, where the Mountain Hawks opened against Holy Cross on Mar. 13 and then due to various cancellations and postponements did not play again until facing Bucknell on Apr. 3. Prior to 2021, the last time Lehigh two weeks off in between regular season games was in 2001. 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.
One of the contributing factors to Lehigh's 3-2 start has been an improved pass defense. The Mountain Hawks lead the Patriot League and rank ninth nationally, allowing just 148 passing yards per game through the air. Lehigh also has seven interceptions in five games after recording just three during the 2023 campaign. Take out Lehigh's opener against run-heavy Army and the Mountain Hawks are still allowing just 170.8 passing yards, after allowing an average of 243.8 passing yards per game last season.
Junior Geoffrey Jamiel (136) and sophomore Mason Humphrey (109) both eclipsed the 100-yard receiving mark against Bucknell, marking the first time since Oct. 23, 2021 that Lehigh had two 100-yard receivers in the same game. That day, Eric Johnson (121) and Roemello Miner (102) eclipsed the century mark at Fordham. That game was also the last time prior to the Bucknell game that the Mountain Hawks gained 500 yards of total offense.
Yale closes out a three-game homestand when Lehigh visits on Saturday. The first two games of the homestand were decided by a single point with the Bulldogs beating CCSU 23-22 and then falling in overtime 44-43 against Dartmouth. Yale led a 30-7 halftime lead get away against the Big Green with the Bulldogs now 2-2 overall and 0-2 in Ivy League action. The preseason Ivy favorites, Yale was 7-3 last season. Yale has used three quarterbacks, with Grant Jordan seeing most of the action the last two weeks. He threw for 412 yards and five touchdowns against Dartmouth. Josh Pitsenberger is the top rusher with 268 yards and four touchdowns and David Pantelis (23 rec., 343 yards, 4 TD) is the top receiver. Abu Kamara leads the Bulldogs with 39 tackles.
Lehigh and Yale have met 26 previous times with the Bulldogs leading the series 198-7. This series has been highlighted by streaks, as Yale won the first 12 meetings and then the Mountain Hawks won the next five. Yale has now won seven of the last nine meetings in the series, but Lehigh claimed the most recent meeting at the Yale Bowl in 2016.
Lehigh and Yale will meet for the 27th time. The Patriot League and the Ivy League institutions both pride themselves on top notch academics. Lehigh has a substantial history against all eight Ivy members. The Mountain Hawks faced three Ivy League opponents in 2021 and two each of the last two seasons. Lehigh's 35-20 win over Princeton on Sept. 21 snapped an 11-game slide against the Ancient Eight. Lehigh's last road win over an Ivy foe was a 63-35 win at Yale in 2016.
Saturday's game kicks off just after noon from the Yale Bowl in New Haven, Conn. The game will be broadcast on ESPN+ with Lehigh radio coverage on Fox Sports Radio 94.7 FM and 1230 AM and LVFoxSports.com.
It's back to Patriot League play for the Mountain Hawks, who will host Fordham next Saturday on Pride Day, presented by Lehigh's Pride Center and Office of Diversity, Inclusion and Equity. Game time is set for noon. Lehigh's final five games will be against Patriot League foes, with three of the five slated for Goodman Stadium.
| Date: | October 19, 2024 |
| Opponent: | Yale Bulldogs |
| Kickoff: | 12:02 p.m. |
| Stadium: | Yale Bowl/61,446/FieldTurf |
| Location: | New Haven, Conn. |
| Lehigh's record: | 3-2 overall, 0-1 Patriot League |
| Yale's record: | 2-2 overall, 0-2 Ivy League |
| Series: | Yale leads 19-7 |
| Video: | ESPN+ |
| Radio: | Fox Sports Radio 94.7 FM and 1230 AM and LVFoxSports.com with Matt Kerr, Steve Lomangino and Connor Brown beginning at 11 a.m. |
| Key Stats: | •Lehigh's 500 yards of total offense, 202 rushing yards and 298 passing yards against Bucknell were all highs for the Mountain Hawks under Kevin Cahill. •The Mountain Hawks rank ninth nationally in passing defense (148.0 ypg.) and 11th nationally in total defense (296.6 ypg.) •Junior DL Matt Spatny ranks fifth in the FCS in sacks (1.10 pg). |
Follow Lehigh Football on X/Twitter and Instagram and like on Facebook for exclusive updates throughout the season.
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