Lehigh Runs Past Fordham 33-19 For First League Win

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BETHLEHEM, Pa. – After falling behind 3-0, the Lehigh football team took control, scoring the next 33 points in a 33-19 victory over Fordham Saturday at Goodman Stadium. Saturday's game was Pride Day, presented by the Lehigh Pride Center and Lehigh's Office of Diversity, Inclusion and Equity. The Mountain Hawks racked up 314 first-half yards, including 201 on the ground as Lehigh snapped its two-game losing streak to improve to 4-3 overall and 1-1 in Patriot League play this season.

Lehigh eclipsed the 200-yard rushing mark for the third consecutive game, gaining 246 yards on 49 carries. First-year Jaden Green led the way with 147 yards and a touchdown on 17 carries.

All four of Lehigh's touchdowns Saturday were scored by first-years.

The teams traded punts in the first three possessions of Saturday's game before Fordham (0-8, 0-3 PL) put together a nine-play, 65-yard drive that stalled inside the Lehigh 30 yard line. Bennett Henderson's 44-yard field goal gave the Rams an early 3-0 lead.

The Mountain Hawks answered with a seven-play, 75-yard drive that featured tough running by Green and sophomore Luke Yoder. Green broke free for a 44-yard touchdown run to give Lehigh a 7-3 advantage it would not relinquish.

After getting the ball back, Lehigh moved into Fordham territory, but had to settle for a 41-yard field goal to extend its lead to 10-3 with 13:25 remaining in the first half.

On Fordham's next possession, Jack Capaldi was picked off by sophomore DJ Brown and Lehigh capitalized with an eight play drive, capped by a two-yard scoring run by first-year Matt Machalik to extend Lehigh's lead to 17-3.

The Rams' next possession ended when sophomore Aidan Singleton stopped Julius Loughridge one yard short of a first down on 4th-and-2. Lehigh took over at its 31 and moved eight plays, with Machalik again scoring on a two-yard run to put the Mountain Hawks up by three scores.

Late in the half, Lehigh got the ball back on the Fordham 45 and three plays later, first-years Hayden Johnson and Matt D'Avino connected on a 33-yard touchdown pass as the Mountain Hawks led 31-3 at the break. The reception was the first of D'Avino's career.

The only scoring in the third quarter was a safety for Lehigh following a bad snap on a Fordham punt. The Rams scored two touchdowns in the final period to account for the final margin.

Lehigh finished with a 372-226 advantage in total yardage, highlighted by the 246 on the ground. Yoder rushed 19 times for 75 yards.

Johnson completed 6-of-9 for 99 yards and a touchdown, while graduate student Dante Perri was 4-for-8 for 27 yards.

Junior Geoffrey Jamiel was the top receiver with 47 yards on three catches, including a 45-yard catch-and-run that set up Machalik's second touchdown.

Graduate student linebacker Mike DeNucci led the defensive effort with 11 tackles, including four for loss, and a career high-tying three sacks. Junior Brycen Edwards added 11 tackles as well. The Mountain Hawks tied a season-high with six sacks.

Loughridge led Fordham with 77 rushing yards and touchdown, plus 24 receiving yards. Quarterbacks Capaldi and Tripp Holley combined to go 15-of-34 for 128 yards.

Gallery: 10/27/24 Lehigh vs. Fordham

10/27/24 Lehigh vs. Fordham

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The Mountain Hawks will travel to Washington, D.C. next Saturday to face Georgetown. Game time is set for 12:30 p.m. from Cooper Field with broadcast coverage on ESPN+ and audio on FOX Sports Radio 94.7 FM and 1230 AM and LVFoxSports.com.

EXTRA POINTS… Lehigh's win over Fordham was its first over the Rams since 2019… the Mountain Hawks now lead the all-time series 26-10… Lehigh now has 19 sacks in four home games this season… the Mountain Hawks have now rushed for 100-plus yards in 14 consecutive games… junior Matt Spatny added 1.5 sacks with sophomore Jadin Nelson and junior TJ Burke making the stat sheet as well… the safety was the first for Lehigh since the 2022 Lafayette game and just the second in the last 13 seasons… Lehigh is 4-3 after seven games for the first time since the 2019 season... Lehigh honored its 1979 NCAA Division I-AA national runner-up squad and 1980 Lambert Cup Championship team during Saturday's game.

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