Saturday, November 23
Bethlehem, Pa.
12:00 PM
Lehigh University
vs
Lafayette
Photo by: Hannahally Photography
Mountain Hawks Host #Rivalry160 Saturday, Looking To Capitalize On Opportunity
11/19/2024 1:16:00 PM | Football
BETHLEHEM, Pa. – Riding a four-game winning streak, Lehigh controls its own destiny as the Mountain Hawks welcome Lafayette to Goodman Stadium Saturday for the 160th meeting of college football's most-played rivalry, presented by Lehigh Valley Orthopedic Institute. Lehigh was strong in all three phases in its 45-17 victory over Colgate last Saturday. A victory would give the Mountain Hawks their 13th Patriot League football championship and the league's automatic bid to the playoffs, with Lehigh trying to accomplish both feats for the first time since 2017. Lafayette defeated Stonehill in non-league action last Saturday and can clinch a second straight winning season and spoil Lehigh's title hopes with a victory over the Mountain Hawks.
For the seventh time since the start of the 2010 season, the Mountain Hawks will take the field knowing that a victory will give them a Patriot League championship and the league's automatic bid to the FCS playoffs. The Mountain Hawks are 4-2 in the six previous "championship" games and are 3-0 when their opponents cannot clinch a playoff berth with a victory. In the Rivalry, Lehigh lost a winner-take-all game in 2013 but won their 12th league title with a win in #Rivalry153 in 2017. Prior to that, Lehigh's last Patriot League title-clinching win over Lafayette came back in 1999.
First-year quarterback Hayden Johnson was named Patriot League Rookie of the Week on Monday. Johnson made his first career start in Lehigh's win over Colgate and had a strong showing, completing 16-of-21 passes for 204 yards with three touchdown passes. He led the Mountain Hawks on six scoring drives Saturday, while establishing new career highs for passing yards and touchdown passes. Johnson has seen significant time in all 10 games this season and is completing 68.5 percent of his passes for 915 yards with seven touchdowns. He has also rushed 47 times for 203 yards and three touchdowns in 2024.
Lehigh has benefitted from some outstanding first-half performances on the way to its 7-3 record. The Mountain Hawks are outscoring opponents 186-90 in first halves in 2024 and have outscored opponents 155-27 in the first halves of their seven wins. Lehigh has been especially tough in the second quarter, outscoring foes 127-49 in the second period this season. In Lehigh's seven wins, the Mountain Hawks have outscored opponents 113-7 in the second quarter, with Holy Cross scoring the only opponent second-quarter points in a game won by the Mountain Hawks.
Lehigh has now eclipsed the 100-yard rushing mark in 17 straight games dating back to last season, with the Mountain Hawks having eclipsed 200 rushing yards in five of their last six games. The Mountain Hawks' 202 rushing yards against Bucknell were their most since gaining 260 on the ground against Fordham in 2021. Lehigh's 310 rushing yards at Georgetown were its most since gaining 306 at Fordham in 2017. Prior to this season, the last time Lehigh rushed for 200 or more yards in four straight games was in 2015, when the Mountain Hawks eclipsed the 200-yard mark in their final four contests. Lehigh leads the Patriot League in rushing and ranks ninth nationally, averaging 209.8 yards per game. Sophomore Luke Yoder leads the way with 821 yards on 156 carries, a 5.3 yard per carry average. Yoder has 10 rushing touchdowns and scored at least one in each of Lehigh's first six games. Behind Yoder, Lehigh's next four leading rushers are first-years, with running backs Jaden Green and Aaron Crossley and quarterbacks Hayden Johnson and Matt Machalik combining for 1,167 yards and 14 rushing touchdowns while averaging 5.6 yards per rush.
Lafayette, last year's Patriot League champion and FCS playoff representative from the league, enters the Rivalry game at 6-5 overall. The Leopards are 2-3 in league play with wins over Fordham and Colgate and losses to Georgetown, Holy Cross and Bucknell. While the Leopards are looking to play spoiler, Lafayette does boast the Patriot League's top-ranked offense in terms of yardage (378.3) and ranks second to Lehigh in rushing offense, scoring defense, pass defense and total defense. Lafayette stepped out of league play last weekend, defeating Stonehill 42-10 for its second consecutive win. Four of Lafayette's five Patriot League games were decided by seven points or less. The Leopard offense is led by running back Jamar Curtis, who has rushed for 1,008 yards and scored 14 touchdowns. Quarterback Dean DeNobile, last year's Rivalry game MVP, has thrown for 2,246 yards with 14 touchdowns and 10 interceptions. Safety Saiku White leads the Lafayette defense with 76 tackles and three interceptions.
Rivalry 160 marks the first time in 19 years that both Lehigh and Lafayette both enter their Rivalry clash with winning records. You have to go back to 2005 when 8-2 Lehigh hosted 7-3 Lafayette in Rivalry 141. Lehigh would prefer to not address the result of that game. Lafayette entered the 2006 Rivalry game at 5-5 while Lehigh had the same 5-5 mark in 2007, but this is the first time since 2005 that both teams enter the Rivalry with winning records.
Lehigh and Lafayette meet for the 160th time with the Leopards holding an 82-72 lead. There have also been five ties in the series with the last occurring in 1964. The Mountain Hawks have won 18 of the last 29 meetings in the series. While Lafayette dominated the early years of the Rivalry, Lehigh owns an impressive 45-27-2 record since 1950. This will be the 83rd meeting in Bethlehem and the 19th at Goodman Stadium. Lehigh has won 12 of the 18 games played at Goodman Stadium.
Saturday's game kicks off just after noon from Goodman Stadium. Tickets are still available and can be purchased at LehighTickets.com or by calling 610-758-4263 during business hours (10 a.m. – 4 p.m.).
Follow Lehigh Football on X/Twitter and Instagram and like on Facebook for exclusive updates throughout the season.
For the seventh time since the start of the 2010 season, the Mountain Hawks will take the field knowing that a victory will give them a Patriot League championship and the league's automatic bid to the FCS playoffs. The Mountain Hawks are 4-2 in the six previous "championship" games and are 3-0 when their opponents cannot clinch a playoff berth with a victory. In the Rivalry, Lehigh lost a winner-take-all game in 2013 but won their 12th league title with a win in #Rivalry153 in 2017. Prior to that, Lehigh's last Patriot League title-clinching win over Lafayette came back in 1999.
First-year quarterback Hayden Johnson was named Patriot League Rookie of the Week on Monday. Johnson made his first career start in Lehigh's win over Colgate and had a strong showing, completing 16-of-21 passes for 204 yards with three touchdown passes. He led the Mountain Hawks on six scoring drives Saturday, while establishing new career highs for passing yards and touchdown passes. Johnson has seen significant time in all 10 games this season and is completing 68.5 percent of his passes for 915 yards with seven touchdowns. He has also rushed 47 times for 203 yards and three touchdowns in 2024.
Lehigh has benefitted from some outstanding first-half performances on the way to its 7-3 record. The Mountain Hawks are outscoring opponents 186-90 in first halves in 2024 and have outscored opponents 155-27 in the first halves of their seven wins. Lehigh has been especially tough in the second quarter, outscoring foes 127-49 in the second period this season. In Lehigh's seven wins, the Mountain Hawks have outscored opponents 113-7 in the second quarter, with Holy Cross scoring the only opponent second-quarter points in a game won by the Mountain Hawks.
Lehigh has now eclipsed the 100-yard rushing mark in 17 straight games dating back to last season, with the Mountain Hawks having eclipsed 200 rushing yards in five of their last six games. The Mountain Hawks' 202 rushing yards against Bucknell were their most since gaining 260 on the ground against Fordham in 2021. Lehigh's 310 rushing yards at Georgetown were its most since gaining 306 at Fordham in 2017. Prior to this season, the last time Lehigh rushed for 200 or more yards in four straight games was in 2015, when the Mountain Hawks eclipsed the 200-yard mark in their final four contests. Lehigh leads the Patriot League in rushing and ranks ninth nationally, averaging 209.8 yards per game. Sophomore Luke Yoder leads the way with 821 yards on 156 carries, a 5.3 yard per carry average. Yoder has 10 rushing touchdowns and scored at least one in each of Lehigh's first six games. Behind Yoder, Lehigh's next four leading rushers are first-years, with running backs Jaden Green and Aaron Crossley and quarterbacks Hayden Johnson and Matt Machalik combining for 1,167 yards and 14 rushing touchdowns while averaging 5.6 yards per rush.
Lafayette, last year's Patriot League champion and FCS playoff representative from the league, enters the Rivalry game at 6-5 overall. The Leopards are 2-3 in league play with wins over Fordham and Colgate and losses to Georgetown, Holy Cross and Bucknell. While the Leopards are looking to play spoiler, Lafayette does boast the Patriot League's top-ranked offense in terms of yardage (378.3) and ranks second to Lehigh in rushing offense, scoring defense, pass defense and total defense. Lafayette stepped out of league play last weekend, defeating Stonehill 42-10 for its second consecutive win. Four of Lafayette's five Patriot League games were decided by seven points or less. The Leopard offense is led by running back Jamar Curtis, who has rushed for 1,008 yards and scored 14 touchdowns. Quarterback Dean DeNobile, last year's Rivalry game MVP, has thrown for 2,246 yards with 14 touchdowns and 10 interceptions. Safety Saiku White leads the Lafayette defense with 76 tackles and three interceptions.
Rivalry 160 marks the first time in 19 years that both Lehigh and Lafayette both enter their Rivalry clash with winning records. You have to go back to 2005 when 8-2 Lehigh hosted 7-3 Lafayette in Rivalry 141. Lehigh would prefer to not address the result of that game. Lafayette entered the 2006 Rivalry game at 5-5 while Lehigh had the same 5-5 mark in 2007, but this is the first time since 2005 that both teams enter the Rivalry with winning records.
Lehigh and Lafayette meet for the 160th time with the Leopards holding an 82-72 lead. There have also been five ties in the series with the last occurring in 1964. The Mountain Hawks have won 18 of the last 29 meetings in the series. While Lafayette dominated the early years of the Rivalry, Lehigh owns an impressive 45-27-2 record since 1950. This will be the 83rd meeting in Bethlehem and the 19th at Goodman Stadium. Lehigh has won 12 of the 18 games played at Goodman Stadium.
Saturday's game kicks off just after noon from Goodman Stadium. Tickets are still available and can be purchased at LehighTickets.com or by calling 610-758-4263 during business hours (10 a.m. – 4 p.m.).
| Date: | November 23, 2024 |
| Opponent: | Lafayette Leopards |
| Kickoff: | 12:02 p.m. |
| Stadium: | Goodman Stadium/16,000/Natural Grass |
| Location: | Bethlehem, Pa. |
| Lehigh's record: | 7-3 overall, 4-1 Patriot League |
| Lafayette's record: | 6-5 overall, 2-3 Patriot League |
| Series: | Lafayette leads 82-72-5 |
| Video: | ESPN+ with Marco Socci and Matt Markus |
| Radio: | Fox Sports Radio 94.7 FM and 1230 AM and LVFoxSports.com with Matt Kerr, Jim Guzzo and Connor Brown beginning at 11 a.m. |
| Key Stats: | •Lehigh ranks sixth nationally in passing defense (158.0 ypg.) and eighth in total defense (291.1 ypg.) •The Mountain Hawks are averaging 239.4 rushing yards per game during Patriot League play. •Lehigh is outscoring its opponents 125-27 in the first half at Goodman Stadium this season. •Lehigh has won 36 of the 59 games versus Lafayette since the teams played to a 6-6 tie in the 100th meeting in 1964. |
Follow Lehigh Football on X/Twitter and Instagram and like on Facebook for exclusive updates throughout the season.
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