Saturday, October 11
New York, N.Y.
12:00 PM
Lehigh University
31
at
7
Columbia
Photo by: Lucas Morrell
No. 7/8 Lehigh Dominates Columbia 31-7 For Seventh Straight Win
10/11/2025 3:43:00 PM | Football
NEW YORK – Behind a balanced offensive attack and a dominant defensive performance, No. 7/8 rolled to its seventh straight win as the Mountain Hawks downed Columbia 31-7 Saturday at Robert K. Kraft Field. The Mountain Hawks built a 31-0 lead midway through the third quarter as they picked up their 12th consecutive regular season win dating back to last season.
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Lehigh's defense allowed 228 total yards, including just 39 on the ground. The Mountain Hawks (7-0) outgained the Lions (1-3) 264-42 in the first half with most of Columbia's yardage coming after Lehigh built its 31-point lead.
Defensively, Lehigh registered six sacks, nine tackles for loss and two interceptions. Seniors Brycen Edwards and Matt Spatny both registered two sacks. Edwards led Lehigh with seven tackles, while Spatny added six.
Sophomore quarterback Hayden Johnson completed 17-of-23 passes for a career-high 240 yards and a touchdown and also led the Mountain Hawks with 68 rushing yards on eight attempts.
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Senior Geoffrey Jamiel had a career-high 182 receiving yards on nine catches, including a highlight-reel 45-yard one-handed reception and a career-long 63-yard touchdown catch from Johnson.
As a team, Lehigh rushed 46 times for 193 yards. Junior Luke Yoder carried 13 times for 67 yards and a touchdown and sophomore Matt Machalik had nine carries for 38 yards and two scores.
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After Columbia went 3-and-out on its opening drive, Lehigh marched 77 yards in 12 plays. Two Yoder touchdown runs were negated by Lehigh penalties, but Machalik scored on a four-yard run to put Lehigh up 7-0 with 8:02 left in the opening quarter.
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In the second quarter, Jamiel's one-handed grab helped set up a seven-yard touchdown run by Yoder. Senior Nick Garrido added a season-long 38-yard field goal as Lehigh led 17-0 at halftime.
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On the third play of the third quarter, Johnson hit Jamiel deep down the middle of the field and Jamiel broke a tackle and ran 63 yards for the score to extend the Lehigh lead.
On the Mountain Hawks' next possession, they drove 48 yards in eight plays, with Machalik scoring his second touchdown of the game from two yards out to give Lehigh a 31-0 lead.
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Columbia's only score was a 74-yard touchdown pass from Xander Menapace to Titus Evans. Menapace completed 11-of-21 for 178 yards with a touchdown and two interceptions. He was also sacked five times.
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The Mountain Hawks have their bye next weekend and will return to action at Fordham Oct. 25 at 1 p.m.
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EXTRA POINTS… Lehigh has now won six straight games against Columbia and is unbeaten in the last 11 meetings against the Lions… the Mountain Hawks earned a three-game sweep of Ivy League opponents for the first time since 2016 (Penn, Princeton, Yale)… Garrido improved to 7-for-7 on field goals and 18-for-18 on extra points this season… the touchdown pass from Johnson to Jamiel was the first one allowed by Columbia this season… interceptions by senior Mason Moore and sophomore Luke Denny moved Lehigh to plus-9 in turnover margin this season… the picks were the first of the season for Moore and the first of Denny's career… senior Jasuah Philemon and sophomore Preston Davis recorded their first career sacks.
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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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Lehigh's defense allowed 228 total yards, including just 39 on the ground. The Mountain Hawks (7-0) outgained the Lions (1-3) 264-42 in the first half with most of Columbia's yardage coming after Lehigh built its 31-point lead.
ÂPost-Columbia win with @coach_cahill ! pic.twitter.com/fXvSe5mpsh
— Lehigh Football (@LehighFootball) October 11, 2025
Defensively, Lehigh registered six sacks, nine tackles for loss and two interceptions. Seniors Brycen Edwards and Matt Spatny both registered two sacks. Edwards led Lehigh with seven tackles, while Spatny added six.
ÂA big day for senior Matt Spatny included 6 tackles and 2 sacks! pic.twitter.com/e5HM810xRw
— Lehigh Football (@LehighFootball) October 11, 2025
Sophomore quarterback Hayden Johnson completed 17-of-23 passes for a career-high 240 yards and a touchdown and also led the Mountain Hawks with 68 rushing yards on eight attempts.
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Senior Geoffrey Jamiel had a career-high 182 receiving yards on nine catches, including a highlight-reel 45-yard one-handed reception and a career-long 63-yard touchdown catch from Johnson.
ÂThis catch !!! 🤯
— Lehigh Football (@LehighFootball) October 11, 2025
Watch: https://t.co/WwX6MkGY1t@espn @PatriotLeague #PLTop3 #SCTop10#TheNest pic.twitter.com/9WpFTYm3aM
As a team, Lehigh rushed 46 times for 193 yards. Junior Luke Yoder carried 13 times for 67 yards and a touchdown and sophomore Matt Machalik had nine carries for 38 yards and two scores.
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After Columbia went 3-and-out on its opening drive, Lehigh marched 77 yards in 12 plays. Two Yoder touchdown runs were negated by Lehigh penalties, but Machalik scored on a four-yard run to put Lehigh up 7-0 with 8:02 left in the opening quarter.
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In the second quarter, Jamiel's one-handed grab helped set up a seven-yard touchdown run by Yoder. Senior Nick Garrido added a season-long 38-yard field goal as Lehigh led 17-0 at halftime.
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On the third play of the third quarter, Johnson hit Jamiel deep down the middle of the field and Jamiel broke a tackle and ran 63 yards for the score to extend the Lehigh lead.
ÂColumbia has now allowed 1 passing touchdown in 2025.
— Lehigh Football (@LehighFootball) October 11, 2025
Johnson to Jamiel for 63 yards to open the second half!
Watch: https://t.co/WwX6MkGY1t@espn @PatriotLeague#TheNest pic.twitter.com/MNSPIGRmtz
On the Mountain Hawks' next possession, they drove 48 yards in eight plays, with Machalik scoring his second touchdown of the game from two yards out to give Lehigh a 31-0 lead.
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Columbia's only score was a 74-yard touchdown pass from Xander Menapace to Titus Evans. Menapace completed 11-of-21 for 178 yards with a touchdown and two interceptions. He was also sacked five times.
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The Mountain Hawks have their bye next weekend and will return to action at Fordham Oct. 25 at 1 p.m.
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EXTRA POINTS… Lehigh has now won six straight games against Columbia and is unbeaten in the last 11 meetings against the Lions… the Mountain Hawks earned a three-game sweep of Ivy League opponents for the first time since 2016 (Penn, Princeton, Yale)… Garrido improved to 7-for-7 on field goals and 18-for-18 on extra points this season… the touchdown pass from Johnson to Jamiel was the first one allowed by Columbia this season… interceptions by senior Mason Moore and sophomore Luke Denny moved Lehigh to plus-9 in turnover margin this season… the picks were the first of the season for Moore and the first of Denny's career… senior Jasuah Philemon and sophomore Preston Davis recorded their first career sacks.
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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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Players Mentioned
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RB
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