Saturday, November 16
Bethlehem, Pa.
12:00 PM
Lehigh University
vs
Colgate
Photo by: Hannahally Photography
Lehigh Returns Home For Key Clash With Colgate On Salute To Service
11/12/2024 2:03:00 PM | Football
BETHLEHEM, Pa. – Lehigh returns to Goodman Stadium for its final two regular season games as the Mountain Hawks host Colgate on Salute to Service, presented by Weis Markets. The Mountain Hawks return home having won three straight games, most recently a gritty 10-7 triumph at Holy Cross, to move into a first place tie with the Crusaders and Bucknell with two games remaining. Lehigh's defense limited Holy Cross to 254 yards of offense, with sophomore Andrew Sharga blocking the Crusaders' game-tying 52-yard field goal attempt in the final seconds. Colgate looks to snap a three-game losing streak after the Raiders let a 13-point fourth-quarter lead get away in a 21-20 home loss to Lafayette last weekend.
Â
An improving defense that ranks statistically among the nation's best has keyed Lehigh's three-game winning streak. In its last three games, Lehigh is allowing an average of just 247.3 yards and 10.7 points per game. The Mountain Hawks now lead the Patriot League in scoring defense (22.2), total defense (287.8) and pass defense (145.9), with Lehigh ranking fifth in the FCS against the pass and eighth in total yards allowed. Lehigh also leads the Patriot League in sacks (25) and interceptions (12).
Â
First-year Connor Poole was named Patriot League Special Teams Player of the Week on Monday, the second straight week a Lehigh specialist has won the award. In the defensive battle at Holy Cross, Poole helped flip field position by averaging 46.5 yards on four punts, with two downed inside the Holy Cross 20 yard line. Poole's first punt of the day pinned the Crusaders at their one yard line and he later boomed a career long-tying 56 yarder that forced Holy Cross to start its final drive from its own 14. The Williamsport, Pa., product is averaging 39.5 yards per punt this season and is also averaging 59.5 yards on 41 kickoffs with 15 touchbacks.
Â
Lehigh scored just 10 points in its win at Holy Cross, marking just the second time in the last 37 years that the Brown and White won a game in which it scored 10 or fewer points. The Mountain Hawks scored 10 points in a 10-3 win over Merrimack on Oct. 5, 2019. Prior to that, the last time Lehigh scored 10 or fewer points in a winning effort was on Oct. 10, 1987 when Lehigh defeated Colgate 7-6.
Â
Graduate student linebacker Mike DeNucci continues to lead Lehigh's defensive resurgence in 2024. DeNucci registered 11 tackles and added four tackles for loss and three sacks in the win over Fordham to earn Patriot League Defensive Player of the Week honors. He has totaled 19 more tackles in Lehigh's last two games with key sacks in victories at Georgetown and Fordham. Lehigh has limited its last three opponents to an average of 248.7 yards per game, with 12 sacks and four interceptions during that time. A two-time second team All-Patriot League honoree, DeNucci was Lehigh's top tackler in 2022 and ranked second in tackles last season. He leads Lehigh with 74 stops this season and has added 10 tackles for loss and 5.5 sacks. The Denville, N.J. native needs six more tackles to become the fifth Lehigh player to record 300 career tackles.
Â
Colgate looks to stop a three-game losing streak as the Raiders bring a 2-8 overall record and 1-3 Patriot League mark to Goodman Stadium. The Raiders let a 20-7 fourth-quarter lead get away last weekend in a 21-20 home loss to Lafayette. Two fourth quarter turnovers led to the Leopards scoring the go-ahead points. Colgate's wins this season have come at home against Cornell (41-24) and Georgetown (38-28). The Raiders have used four quarterbacks, with Jake Stearney seeing most of the action. Aleks Sitkowski is the reigning Patriot League Rookie of the Week. Marco Maldonado is the top rusher with 363 yards and two touchdowns, while Treyvhon Saunders is the top receiver with 71 catches for 629 yards and a touchdown. Cole Kozlowski leads the Raider defense with 117 tackles, including eight for loss, and 3.5 sacks.
Â
Â
Lehigh meets Colgate for the 62nd time with the Raiders holding a 32-27 lead. There have also been two ties. Lehigh has won eight of the last 13 meetings, but Colgate's wins in 2012 and 2015 clinched Patriot League titles for the Raiders. The Mountain Hawks have won three of the last four games played at Goodman Stadium.
Â
Saturday's game kicks off just after noon from Goodman Stadium. Tickets can be purchased at LehighTickets.com or by calling 610-758-4263 during business hours.
Â
Lehigh remains at Goodman Stadium next Saturday to close out the regular season against Lafayette in the 160th meeting of college football's most-played rivalry. Game time is set for noon as the Mountain Hawks look to snap a two-game losing streak in the series.
Â
Â
Â
Follow Lehigh Football on X/Twitter and Instagram and like on Facebook for exclusive updates throughout the season.
Â
An improving defense that ranks statistically among the nation's best has keyed Lehigh's three-game winning streak. In its last three games, Lehigh is allowing an average of just 247.3 yards and 10.7 points per game. The Mountain Hawks now lead the Patriot League in scoring defense (22.2), total defense (287.8) and pass defense (145.9), with Lehigh ranking fifth in the FCS against the pass and eighth in total yards allowed. Lehigh also leads the Patriot League in sacks (25) and interceptions (12).
Â
First-year Connor Poole was named Patriot League Special Teams Player of the Week on Monday, the second straight week a Lehigh specialist has won the award. In the defensive battle at Holy Cross, Poole helped flip field position by averaging 46.5 yards on four punts, with two downed inside the Holy Cross 20 yard line. Poole's first punt of the day pinned the Crusaders at their one yard line and he later boomed a career long-tying 56 yarder that forced Holy Cross to start its final drive from its own 14. The Williamsport, Pa., product is averaging 39.5 yards per punt this season and is also averaging 59.5 yards on 41 kickoffs with 15 touchbacks.
Â
Lehigh scored just 10 points in its win at Holy Cross, marking just the second time in the last 37 years that the Brown and White won a game in which it scored 10 or fewer points. The Mountain Hawks scored 10 points in a 10-3 win over Merrimack on Oct. 5, 2019. Prior to that, the last time Lehigh scored 10 or fewer points in a winning effort was on Oct. 10, 1987 when Lehigh defeated Colgate 7-6.
Â
Graduate student linebacker Mike DeNucci continues to lead Lehigh's defensive resurgence in 2024. DeNucci registered 11 tackles and added four tackles for loss and three sacks in the win over Fordham to earn Patriot League Defensive Player of the Week honors. He has totaled 19 more tackles in Lehigh's last two games with key sacks in victories at Georgetown and Fordham. Lehigh has limited its last three opponents to an average of 248.7 yards per game, with 12 sacks and four interceptions during that time. A two-time second team All-Patriot League honoree, DeNucci was Lehigh's top tackler in 2022 and ranked second in tackles last season. He leads Lehigh with 74 stops this season and has added 10 tackles for loss and 5.5 sacks. The Denville, N.J. native needs six more tackles to become the fifth Lehigh player to record 300 career tackles.
Â
Colgate looks to stop a three-game losing streak as the Raiders bring a 2-8 overall record and 1-3 Patriot League mark to Goodman Stadium. The Raiders let a 20-7 fourth-quarter lead get away last weekend in a 21-20 home loss to Lafayette. Two fourth quarter turnovers led to the Leopards scoring the go-ahead points. Colgate's wins this season have come at home against Cornell (41-24) and Georgetown (38-28). The Raiders have used four quarterbacks, with Jake Stearney seeing most of the action. Aleks Sitkowski is the reigning Patriot League Rookie of the Week. Marco Maldonado is the top rusher with 363 yards and two touchdowns, while Treyvhon Saunders is the top receiver with 71 catches for 629 yards and a touchdown. Cole Kozlowski leads the Raider defense with 117 tackles, including eight for loss, and 3.5 sacks.
Â
Â
Lehigh meets Colgate for the 62nd time with the Raiders holding a 32-27 lead. There have also been two ties. Lehigh has won eight of the last 13 meetings, but Colgate's wins in 2012 and 2015 clinched Patriot League titles for the Raiders. The Mountain Hawks have won three of the last four games played at Goodman Stadium.
Â
Saturday's game kicks off just after noon from Goodman Stadium. Tickets can be purchased at LehighTickets.com or by calling 610-758-4263 during business hours.
Â
Lehigh remains at Goodman Stadium next Saturday to close out the regular season against Lafayette in the 160th meeting of college football's most-played rivalry. Game time is set for noon as the Mountain Hawks look to snap a two-game losing streak in the series.
Â
Â
| Date: | November 16, 2024 |
| Opponent: | Colgate Raiders |
| Kickoff: | 12:02 p.m. |
| Stadium: | Goodman Stadium/16,000/Natural Grass |
| Location: | Bethlehem, Pa. |
| Lehigh's record: | 6-3 overall, 3-1 Patriot League |
| Colgate's record: | 2-8 overall, 1-3 Patriot League |
| Series: | Colgate leads 33-27-2 |
| Video: | ESPN+ with Marco Socci and Mike Yadush '93 |
| Radio: | Fox Sports Radio 94.7 FM and 1230 AM and LVFoxSports.com with Matt Kerr, Lance Haynes '94 and Connor Brown beginning at 11 a.m. |
| Key Stats: | •Lehigh ranks fifth nationally in passing defense (145.9 ypg.) and eighth in total defense (287.8 ypg.) •The Mountain Hawks top the Patriot League in scoring offense (28.3) and scoring defense (22.2). •Lehigh is outscoring its opponents 108-24 in the first half at Goodman Stadium this season. |
Follow Lehigh Football on X/Twitter and Instagram and like on Facebook for exclusive updates throughout the season.
Players Mentioned
2025 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
