Saturday, September 28
Bethlehem, Pa.
12:00 PM
Lehigh University
vs
Bucknell
Photo by: Hannahally Photography
Lehigh Welcomes Bucknell Saturday In Patriot League Opener On Tackle Cancer Day
9/24/2024 3:35:00 PM | Football
BETHLEHEM, Pa. – Lehigh carries a three-game winning streak into Patriot League play as the Mountain Hawks host Bucknell in the league opener for both squads Saturday at Goodman Stadium on Tackle Cancer Day presented by Red Robin in partnership with the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society. The Mountain Hawks are coming off an impressive 35-20 home win over Princeton last weekend with running backs Luke Yoder and Jaden Green both scoring two touchdowns. A strong defensive effort saw the Mountain Hawks record six sacks and three interceptions, while allowing just 212 yards of offense and minus-7 rushing yards. Bucknell comes into league play at 2-2 after an impressive 34-18 win over Marist last time out.
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First-year Jaden Green continued his strong start to his Lehigh career with an 18-carry, 82-yard, two-touchdown effort in the Mountain Hawks' win over Princeton. Green scored on an 11-yard rush to give Lehigh a 14-7 lead it would not relinquish and later capped the scoring with a 34-yard scamper. Green was named Patriot League Rookie of the Week on Monday. In addition to his 162 rushing yards and three touchdowns, the San Francisco native is averaging 31.8 yards on five kickoff returns, including a 28-yarder against the Tigers.
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One of the contributing factors to Lehigh's 3-1 start has been an improved pass defense. The Mountain Hawks lead the Patriot League and rank ninth nationally, allowing just 147.5 yards per game through the air. Lehigh also leads the Patriot League with seven interceptions, which ranks third among FCS teams. Take out Lehigh's opener against run-heavy Army and the Mountain Hawks are still allowing just 177.7 passing yards, after allowing an average of 243.8 passing yards per game last season.
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One of the goals for the Lehigh football program has been to re-establish a competitive advantage at Goodman Stadium. The Mountain Hawks won just five home games over the previous five seasons but have opened the home slate with wins over Wagner and Princeton. In doing so, Lehigh has won its first two home games for the first time since 2013, when the Mountain Hawks won their first four games at Goodman Stadium, including September wins over Central Connecticut State and New Hampshire. Lehigh's 3-1 start also marks its best four game record since that 2013 team started 4-0. The Mountain Hawks have outscored their first two opponents 63-7 in the first half of their first two home games, with Lehigh also plus-6 in turnover margin with seven takeaways.
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One of Lehigh's defensive strengths in recent years has been its ability to get to opposing quarterbacks. The Mountain Hawks have finished second in the Patriot League in sacks in each of the last three seasons, averaging 23 per campaign. Last year, Lehigh recorded at least one sack in nine of 11 games, with a high of four in a win at Bucknell, on the way to a 21-sack total. Lehigh returns 14.5 of its 21 sacks from a season ago. Defensive lineman Matt Spatny led the Mountain Hawks with five, while fellow linemen TJ Burke (two) and Jadin Nelson (two) along with linebacker Mike DeNucci (1.5) registered more than one. Lehigh's sack attack came alive versus Princeton with six sacks, its most since recording six in a win at Fordham in 2019. The Mountain Hawks have eight sacks in two home games and zero in two road games. Spatny leads the way with 3.5, including 2.5 in the win over the Tigers.
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Bucknell brings a 2-2 record into its Patriot League opener. The Bison own victories over VMI and Marist and have dropped games at Navy and at home against Merrimack. Last weekend, Bucknell used a 20-point second quarter explosion to build a 27-7 halftime lead on the way to a 34-18 home win over Marist. Quarterback Ralph Rucker IV went 21-of-27 for 272 yards and three touchdowns on the way to being named Patriot League Offensive Player of the Week. TJ Cadden caught one of those touchdowns and added a punt return touchdown to earn his second Patriot League Special Teams Player of the Week award. Gavin Willis and Nick Hoying are the top tacklers on defense, while Alex Smith Jr. returned an interception for a touchdown against the Red Foxes. Bucknell was 4-7 overall last year and 1-5 in Patriot League play with a win at Colgate. The Bison were picked seventh in the Patriot League Preseason Poll.
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There are a number of connections between the coaching staffs at Lehigh and Bucknell. Most notably, Bucknell head coach Dave Cecchini is a former All-America wide receiver for Lehigh who enjoyed two assistant coaching stints with the Mountain Hawks. Lehigh special teams coordinator Mike Kashurba and offensive line coach Mike Morita have previously coached at Bucknell. On the Bison side, assistant head coach Vinny Giacalone coached at Lehigh in the early 2010s while offensive line coach Sean Pearson coached Lehigh's offensive line during the 2022 season.
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Lehigh has played Bucknell more times than any opponent other than rival Lafayette. The Mountain Hawks and Bison meet for the 88th time with Lehigh holding a 50-34-3 advantage. Lehigh has won 21 of the last 26 games, winning 15 straight before back-to-back Bucknell wins in 2013 and 2014. The Mountain Hawks will look to beat the Bison in Bethlehem for the first time since 2018.
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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.
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With Lehigh's Army game moved from its originally-scheduled Oct. 12 date to Aug. 30, the Mountain Hawks will now have a rare two-week bye. Lehigh will return to action with a game at Yale on Oct. 19 for its non-league finale with its final five games against Patriot League opposition. Three of those five will be at home with Fordham (Oct. 26), Colgate (Nov. 16) and Lafayette (Nov. 23) visiting Goodman Stadium.
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Follow Lehigh Football on X/Twitter and Instagram and like on Facebook for exclusive updates throughout the season.Â
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First-year Jaden Green continued his strong start to his Lehigh career with an 18-carry, 82-yard, two-touchdown effort in the Mountain Hawks' win over Princeton. Green scored on an 11-yard rush to give Lehigh a 14-7 lead it would not relinquish and later capped the scoring with a 34-yard scamper. Green was named Patriot League Rookie of the Week on Monday. In addition to his 162 rushing yards and three touchdowns, the San Francisco native is averaging 31.8 yards on five kickoff returns, including a 28-yarder against the Tigers.
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One of the contributing factors to Lehigh's 3-1 start has been an improved pass defense. The Mountain Hawks lead the Patriot League and rank ninth nationally, allowing just 147.5 yards per game through the air. Lehigh also leads the Patriot League with seven interceptions, which ranks third among FCS teams. Take out Lehigh's opener against run-heavy Army and the Mountain Hawks are still allowing just 177.7 passing yards, after allowing an average of 243.8 passing yards per game last season.
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One of the goals for the Lehigh football program has been to re-establish a competitive advantage at Goodman Stadium. The Mountain Hawks won just five home games over the previous five seasons but have opened the home slate with wins over Wagner and Princeton. In doing so, Lehigh has won its first two home games for the first time since 2013, when the Mountain Hawks won their first four games at Goodman Stadium, including September wins over Central Connecticut State and New Hampshire. Lehigh's 3-1 start also marks its best four game record since that 2013 team started 4-0. The Mountain Hawks have outscored their first two opponents 63-7 in the first half of their first two home games, with Lehigh also plus-6 in turnover margin with seven takeaways.
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One of Lehigh's defensive strengths in recent years has been its ability to get to opposing quarterbacks. The Mountain Hawks have finished second in the Patriot League in sacks in each of the last three seasons, averaging 23 per campaign. Last year, Lehigh recorded at least one sack in nine of 11 games, with a high of four in a win at Bucknell, on the way to a 21-sack total. Lehigh returns 14.5 of its 21 sacks from a season ago. Defensive lineman Matt Spatny led the Mountain Hawks with five, while fellow linemen TJ Burke (two) and Jadin Nelson (two) along with linebacker Mike DeNucci (1.5) registered more than one. Lehigh's sack attack came alive versus Princeton with six sacks, its most since recording six in a win at Fordham in 2019. The Mountain Hawks have eight sacks in two home games and zero in two road games. Spatny leads the way with 3.5, including 2.5 in the win over the Tigers.
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Bucknell brings a 2-2 record into its Patriot League opener. The Bison own victories over VMI and Marist and have dropped games at Navy and at home against Merrimack. Last weekend, Bucknell used a 20-point second quarter explosion to build a 27-7 halftime lead on the way to a 34-18 home win over Marist. Quarterback Ralph Rucker IV went 21-of-27 for 272 yards and three touchdowns on the way to being named Patriot League Offensive Player of the Week. TJ Cadden caught one of those touchdowns and added a punt return touchdown to earn his second Patriot League Special Teams Player of the Week award. Gavin Willis and Nick Hoying are the top tacklers on defense, while Alex Smith Jr. returned an interception for a touchdown against the Red Foxes. Bucknell was 4-7 overall last year and 1-5 in Patriot League play with a win at Colgate. The Bison were picked seventh in the Patriot League Preseason Poll.
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There are a number of connections between the coaching staffs at Lehigh and Bucknell. Most notably, Bucknell head coach Dave Cecchini is a former All-America wide receiver for Lehigh who enjoyed two assistant coaching stints with the Mountain Hawks. Lehigh special teams coordinator Mike Kashurba and offensive line coach Mike Morita have previously coached at Bucknell. On the Bison side, assistant head coach Vinny Giacalone coached at Lehigh in the early 2010s while offensive line coach Sean Pearson coached Lehigh's offensive line during the 2022 season.
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Lehigh has played Bucknell more times than any opponent other than rival Lafayette. The Mountain Hawks and Bison meet for the 88th time with Lehigh holding a 50-34-3 advantage. Lehigh has won 21 of the last 26 games, winning 15 straight before back-to-back Bucknell wins in 2013 and 2014. The Mountain Hawks will look to beat the Bison in Bethlehem for the first time since 2018.
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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.
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With Lehigh's Army game moved from its originally-scheduled Oct. 12 date to Aug. 30, the Mountain Hawks will now have a rare two-week bye. Lehigh will return to action with a game at Yale on Oct. 19 for its non-league finale with its final five games against Patriot League opposition. Three of those five will be at home with Fordham (Oct. 26), Colgate (Nov. 16) and Lafayette (Nov. 23) visiting Goodman Stadium.
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| Date: | September 28, 2024 |
| Opponent: | Bucknell Bison |
| Kickoff: | 12:02 p.m. |
| Stadium: | Goodman Stadium/16,000/Natural Grass |
| Location: | Bethlehem, Pa. |
| Lehigh's record: | 3-1 overall, 0-0 Patriot League |
| Bucknell's record: | 2-2 overall, 0-0 Patriot League |
| Series: | Lehigh leads 50-34-3 |
| Video: | ESPN+ with Marco Socci and Jim Guzzo |
| Radio: | Fox Sports Radio 94.7 FM and 1230 AM and LVFoxSports.com with Matt Kerr, Tom Fallon and Connor Brown beginning at 11 a.m. |
| Key Stats: | •Lehigh ranks third nationally with seven pass interceptions, including three in both of its home games. •The Mountain Hawks lead the Patriot League and rank ninth nationally in passing yards allowed (147.5 ypg.) •First-year Jaden Green ranks third nationally in kickoff return average (31.8). •Lehigh won its first two home games for the first time since 2013. |
Follow Lehigh Football on X/Twitter and Instagram and like on Facebook for exclusive updates throughout the season.Â
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