Saturday, October 11
New York, N.Y.
12:00 PM
Lehigh University
at
Columbia
Photo by: Hannah Ally
No. 7/8 Mountain Hawks Close Out Ivy Stretch Saturday at Columbia
10/7/2025 1:41:00 PM | Football
BETHLEHEM, Pa. – The final game of three straight against Ivy League opponents and the first of two straight in New York City sends No. 7/8 Lehigh to Columbia Saturday in the first meeting between the schools in 12 years. The Mountain Hawks moved to 6-0 on the season with a 31-13 victory over Yale at Goodman Stadium. Lehigh raced to an early 14-0 lead and then in the second half its defense took the ball away three times to secure the Mountain Hawks' 11th consecutive regular season victory. Junior running back Luke Yoder totaled 157 scrimmage yards and scored two touchdowns in the victory. Columbia fell to 1-2 on the season, dropping a 17-10 decision at Princeton in its Ivy opener. The Lions are facing their third Patriot League foe in their fourth game.
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In its sixth of 12 regular season contests, Lehigh moved to 6-0 with its 31-13 win over the Yale. The victory gave the Mountain Hawks their first 6-0 start since the 2012 team started 9-0. Lehigh also won its first four home games in a season for the first time since 2013. Lehigh scored on its first two drives of the game to build an early 14-0 lead and then the Mountain Hawks' defense delivered three takeaways in the second half.
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Fredericksburg, Va., native Brycen Edwards must like facing the Richmond Spiders from his home state. Lehigh's senior linebacker set a career high with 12 tackles in last November's FCS playoff win in Richmond. In week one, Edwards spearheaded Lehigh's outstanding defensive effort against the Spiders, with a team-leading eight tackles, plus a tackle for loss and a key third down pass breakup. He added nine tackles in wins over Sacred Heart and Yale and has a team-best 45 tackles through six games.
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Junior running back Luke Yoder was the senior member of a devastating 1-2 punch in the backfield for the Mountain Hawks in 2024. Yoder rushed for 1,014 yards and 10 touchdowns last season, averaging 5.3 yards per carry. A second team All-Patriot League honoree, Yoder was Lehigh's first 1,000-yard rusher since Dom Bragalone in 2017. Yoder scored at least one touchdown in each of Lehigh's first six games last season and had a pair of 100-yard rushing games. Yoder rushed for a career best 174 yards at Bucknell and followed that up with 173 yards and two touchdowns in the win over Penn. He has eclipsed the 100-yard rushing mark in four of Lehigh's six games this season. Yoder's 694 rushing yards rank fourth in the FCS.
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Lehigh has finished with a negative turnover margin in 10 of the last 11 seasons, a trend the Mountain Hawks look to reverse this fall. The Mountain Hawks corralled a Patriot League-leading 14 interceptions in 2024 but still finished the year with a minus-2 turnover margin. With three takeaways against Yale, Lehigh is now plus-7 through six games. Sophomore Mekhai Smith has an interception in four of Lehigh's six games, while juniors Davis Rice and Aidan Singleton picked off passes against Yale. The Mountain Hawks have also recovered five fumbles. Lehigh has turned the ball over just once in its last four games.
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Columbia plays its third Patriot League opponent in four games as the Lions host Lehigh. The Lions opened Ivy League play with a 17-10 loss at Princeton last Friday in the second of four Friday night contests for the Lions in 2025. Columbia raced to an early 10-0 lead only to see the Tigers score the game's final 17 points. The Lions have used three quarterbacks this season, with Chase Goodwin starting all three games. Xander Menapace finished the Princeton game at quarterback. Titus Evans is the Lions' top receiver with 14 catches for 203 yards, including eight for 93 at Princeton. Linebacker Jack Smiechowski leads the defense with 27 tackles and three interceptions. He had 15 tackles and an interception to lead the defense. Columbia shared the Ivy League title last year, going 7-3 overall and 5-2 in Ivy games. The Lions dropped their season opener at Lafayette and beat Georgetown in their home opener.
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Lehigh and Columbia have met 18 times with the Brown and White leading the series 12-5-1. The Mountain Hawks are unbeaten in the last 10 meetings, dating back to 1987. The 1994 contest ended in a 28-28 tie, Lehigh's last tie before overtime rules were established in 1995. Columbia's last win came by a 42-21 score in 1963 with the series going dormant from there until 1987. The only two meetings this century were won by Lehigh; 35-14 in 2012 at Goodman Stadium and 24-10 in 2013 in New York.
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Saturday's game kicks off just after noon from Robert K. Kraft Field at Wien Stadium in New York. The game will be broadcast on ESPN+ with audio coverage on FOX Sports Radio 94.7 FM and 1230 AM and LVFOXSports.com beginning at 11 a.m.
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The Mountain Hawks will have their bye next weekend before closing out the regular season with five straight Patriot League games. Lehigh will return to New York after its bye to face Fordham on Oct. 25 at Moglia Stadium.
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Follow Lehigh Football on X/Twitter and Instagram and like on Facebook for exclusive updates throughout the season
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In its sixth of 12 regular season contests, Lehigh moved to 6-0 with its 31-13 win over the Yale. The victory gave the Mountain Hawks their first 6-0 start since the 2012 team started 9-0. Lehigh also won its first four home games in a season for the first time since 2013. Lehigh scored on its first two drives of the game to build an early 14-0 lead and then the Mountain Hawks' defense delivered three takeaways in the second half.
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Fredericksburg, Va., native Brycen Edwards must like facing the Richmond Spiders from his home state. Lehigh's senior linebacker set a career high with 12 tackles in last November's FCS playoff win in Richmond. In week one, Edwards spearheaded Lehigh's outstanding defensive effort against the Spiders, with a team-leading eight tackles, plus a tackle for loss and a key third down pass breakup. He added nine tackles in wins over Sacred Heart and Yale and has a team-best 45 tackles through six games.
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Junior running back Luke Yoder was the senior member of a devastating 1-2 punch in the backfield for the Mountain Hawks in 2024. Yoder rushed for 1,014 yards and 10 touchdowns last season, averaging 5.3 yards per carry. A second team All-Patriot League honoree, Yoder was Lehigh's first 1,000-yard rusher since Dom Bragalone in 2017. Yoder scored at least one touchdown in each of Lehigh's first six games last season and had a pair of 100-yard rushing games. Yoder rushed for a career best 174 yards at Bucknell and followed that up with 173 yards and two touchdowns in the win over Penn. He has eclipsed the 100-yard rushing mark in four of Lehigh's six games this season. Yoder's 694 rushing yards rank fourth in the FCS.
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Lehigh has finished with a negative turnover margin in 10 of the last 11 seasons, a trend the Mountain Hawks look to reverse this fall. The Mountain Hawks corralled a Patriot League-leading 14 interceptions in 2024 but still finished the year with a minus-2 turnover margin. With three takeaways against Yale, Lehigh is now plus-7 through six games. Sophomore Mekhai Smith has an interception in four of Lehigh's six games, while juniors Davis Rice and Aidan Singleton picked off passes against Yale. The Mountain Hawks have also recovered five fumbles. Lehigh has turned the ball over just once in its last four games.
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Columbia plays its third Patriot League opponent in four games as the Lions host Lehigh. The Lions opened Ivy League play with a 17-10 loss at Princeton last Friday in the second of four Friday night contests for the Lions in 2025. Columbia raced to an early 10-0 lead only to see the Tigers score the game's final 17 points. The Lions have used three quarterbacks this season, with Chase Goodwin starting all three games. Xander Menapace finished the Princeton game at quarterback. Titus Evans is the Lions' top receiver with 14 catches for 203 yards, including eight for 93 at Princeton. Linebacker Jack Smiechowski leads the defense with 27 tackles and three interceptions. He had 15 tackles and an interception to lead the defense. Columbia shared the Ivy League title last year, going 7-3 overall and 5-2 in Ivy games. The Lions dropped their season opener at Lafayette and beat Georgetown in their home opener.
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Lehigh and Columbia have met 18 times with the Brown and White leading the series 12-5-1. The Mountain Hawks are unbeaten in the last 10 meetings, dating back to 1987. The 1994 contest ended in a 28-28 tie, Lehigh's last tie before overtime rules were established in 1995. Columbia's last win came by a 42-21 score in 1963 with the series going dormant from there until 1987. The only two meetings this century were won by Lehigh; 35-14 in 2012 at Goodman Stadium and 24-10 in 2013 in New York.
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Saturday's game kicks off just after noon from Robert K. Kraft Field at Wien Stadium in New York. The game will be broadcast on ESPN+ with audio coverage on FOX Sports Radio 94.7 FM and 1230 AM and LVFOXSports.com beginning at 11 a.m.
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The Mountain Hawks will have their bye next weekend before closing out the regular season with five straight Patriot League games. Lehigh will return to New York after its bye to face Fordham on Oct. 25 at Moglia Stadium.
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| Date: | October 11, 2025 |
| Opponent: | Columbia Lions |
| Kickoff: | 12:02 p.m. |
| Stadium: | Robert K. Kraft Field at Wien Stadium/17,000/FieldTurf |
| Location: | New York, N.Y. |
| Lehigh's record: | 6-0 overall, 2-0 Patriot League |
| Columbia's record: | 1-2 overall, 0-1 Ivy League |
| Series: | Lehigh leads 12-5-1 |
| Video: | ESPN+ with Lance Medow, Shawn FitzGerald and C.J. Brown |
| 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 leads the Patriot League in scoring offense, scoring defense, rushing offense, rushing defense and total defense. •The Mountain Hawks' 11 takeaways rank sixth in the FCS (six interceptions, five fumble recoveries) •Lehigh ranks in the top 10 in the FCS in rushing offense (5th, 243.8 ypg), rushing defense (3rd, 75.3 ypg) and total defense (290.3 ypg). |
Follow Lehigh Football on X/Twitter and Instagram and like on Facebook for exclusive updates throughout the season
Players Mentioned
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