Saturday, December 6
Bethlehem, Pa.
12:00 PM
Lehigh University
vs
Villanova
Photo by: Hannah Ally
No. 5 Lehigh Hosts No. 12 Villanova Saturday in FCS Second Round
12/2/2025 2:57:00 PM | Football
BETHLEHEM, Pa. – For the first time since 2004, Goodman Stadium will host an FCS playoff game as Lehigh hosts Villanova Saturday at noon in a matchup of future conference rivals for a spot in next week's quarterfinals. The Mountain Hawks completed a 12-0 regular season with a 42-32 win over Lafayette in Rivalry 161 to claim their 14th Patriot League championship, and earned the No. 5 seed and a first round playoff bye. Lehigh rushed for 340 yards against the Leopards, with junior Luke Yoder carrying for 234 and scoring four touchdowns to earn game MVP honors. Villanova comes in riding a nine-game winning streak. The 12th-seeded Wildcats rolled to a 52-7 win over Harvard in their first round game last week.
The winner of the Lehigh-Villanova game will face the winner of No. 4 Tarleton State and North Dakota in the quarterfinals, set for Dec. 12 or 13.
Lehigh Athletics Ticketing Update as of Tuesday afternoon
Lehigh placed a league-leading 14 players on the All-Patriot League teams, announced Nov. 25. The Mountain Hawks had 12 first team honorees and a pair of second team selections following their 12-0 regular season. Senior offensive lineman Langston Jones and senior defensive linemen TJ Burke and Matt Spatny all earned first team all-league laurels for the second straight year. Junior running back Luke Yoder, senior wide receiver Geoffrey Jamiel and senior offensive lineman Aidan Palmer landed on the first team after earning second team honors in 2024. Sophomore running back Jaden Green earned second team all-league honors for the second straight season. Lehigh's first time, first team All-Patriot League selections were sophomore quarterback Hayden Johnson, junior tight end Joseph Marranca, senior linebacker Tyler Ochojski, junior cornerback Aidan Singleton, sophomore safety Mekhai Smith and sophomore punter Connor Poole. Senior linebacker Brycen Edwards is a first time all-league selection landing on the second team.
Junior running back Luke Yoder delivered a performance for the ages in Lehigh's Patriot League title-clinching 42-32 win at Lafayette. Yoder rushed for a career-high 234 yards and four touchdowns on the way to earning game MVP honors. The 234 yards were the fourth-highest single game total in program history and the second-most by a Lehigh rusher in a Rivalry game. He joined Rabih Abdullah (1997) and Jack Rizzo (1971) as Lehigh rushers to score four touchdowns against Lafayette. Yoder earned Patriot League and Stats Perform national Offensive Player of the Week honors for his performance. The Palm Harbor, Fla., native has rushed for 1,329 yards and 15 touchdowns this season, while averaging 7.1 yards per carry. Just the second Lehigh runner with multiple 1,000-yard rushing seasons (Dom Bragalone '19), Yoder was named Patriot League Offensive Player of the Year and a finalist for the Walter Payton Award last week. Yoder's 1,329 yards rank seventh in the FCS and fifth on Lehigh's single-season list.
One of the key cogs in one of the nation's top defensive units, senior linebacker Tyler Ochojski was named Patriot League Defensive Player of the Year and is a finalist for the Buck Buchanan Award, given to the top defensive player in the FCS. Ochojski enjoyed a monster game against Georgetown, registering three of Lehigh's seven sacks along with four tackles for loss in the Mountain Hawks' 41-0 shutout. A two-time Patriot League Defensive Player of the Week, Ochojski has 56 tackles in 2025 with 12 tackles for loss and a team-best 10 sacks. He earned his first Patriot League Defensive Player of the Week award after a two-sack effort at Duquesne, including a forced fumble that ultimately sealed the win for Lehigh. Ochojski has seven sacks over Lehigh's last five games.
Lehigh's 12-0 regular season earned the Mountain Hawks the right to host a playoff game at Goodman Stadium for the third time, and the first time since 2004. The Mountain Hawks defeated Hofstra 24-21 in overtime on Dec. 1, 2001 in the first playoff game at Goodman Stadium. On Nov. 27 2004, Lehigh lost 14-13 to a James Madison team that went on to win the national championship. Lehigh is 6-0 at Goodman Stadium this season as part of its first undefeated regular season home campaign since 2001. Lehigh is 129-74-1 (.635) all-time at Goodman Stadium, which opened in 1988.
Lehigh has now eclipsed the 100-yard rushing mark in 32 straight games dating back to the 2023 season. Lehigh posted its fourth 300-yard rushing game of the season with 340 yards on the ground at Lafayette. Two weeks earlier, Lehigh gained 343 against Holy Cross, its most since gaining 349 on the ground against Fordham in 2016. The Mountain Hawks also rushed for 323 at Bucknell and an even 300 against Penn. Last year, Lehigh led the Patriot League in rushing, averaging 201.8 yards per game. Luke Yoder led the way with 1,014 yards, averaging 5.3 yards per carry. Behind Yoder, first-year running backs Jaden Green and Aaron Crossley and quarterbacks Hayden Johnson and Matt Machalik combined for 1,503 yards and 18 rushing touchdowns while averaging 5.3 yards per rush. Through 12 games, that quintet has gained 2,798 yards and scored 32 touchdowns while averaging 6.2 yards per carry. Lehigh ranks fourth nationally in rushing offense, averaging 235.3 yards per game.
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 nine takeaways over its last seven games, Lehigh is now plus-10 through 12 games. Sophomore Mekhai Smith has four interceptions and recovered a fumble against Georgetown. Junior Aidan Singleton's second interception of the season was a 26-yard pick-six against the Hoyas. The Mountain Hawks have also recovered six fumbles. Lehigh overcame two turnovers against Holy Cross after turning the ball over just once in its previous seven games.
No strangers to postseason play, Villanova reached the postseason for the fifth time in the last seven seasons as an at-large selection out of the CAA. The Wildcats moved to 10-2 on the season with their ninth straight victory as Villanova throttled Harvard 52-7 last week in the first round. Villanova gained 513 yards of offense, including 319 on the ground. Isaiah Ragland rushed for 152 yards and a 45-yard touchdown. Villanova had 13 players earn All-CAA honors, including return specialist Ja'briel Mace, who was named Special Teams Player of the Year. Mace, Ragland and David Avit have all rushed for more than 600 yards this season and have combined for 19 touchdowns. Quarterback Pat McQuaide has appeared in all 12 games and has thrown 22 touchdown passes with just two interceptions. Shane Hartzell leads the Wildcat defense with 81 tackles, 14 tackles for loss and seven sacks. Graduate student cornerback Jordan Adderley was a member of Lehigh's 2024 Patriot League championship team, but hasn't played for Villanova since October 18.
Lehigh and Villanova will meet for the 20th time, with the Wildcats holding a 14-5 edge in the series. Villanova has won the last 11 meetings. Lehigh's last win in the series came back in 2006. This will be Villanova's eighth visit to Lehigh since the series resumed in 2004 (2004, 2007, 2010, 2017, 2018, 2021, 2023). Lehigh won the first four meetings (1903, 1914, 1919 and 1924), while Villanova won in 1925 and 1927 prior to the 77-year break in the series. This is the first postseason meeting between the Mountain Hawks and Wildcats.
For the second straight year Lehigh will open the postseason against a future conference foe. Last year, Lehigh beat Richmond with the Spiders joining the Patriot League as an associate member in football for the 2025 season. After this season, Villanova is leaving the CAA along with William & Mary to join the Patriot League in 2026.
Saturday's game kicks off just after noon from Goodman Stadium. Tickets are still available and be purchased at LehighTickets.com.
Follow Lehigh Football on X/Twitter and Instagram and like on Facebook for exclusive updates throughout the season.
The winner of the Lehigh-Villanova game will face the winner of No. 4 Tarleton State and North Dakota in the quarterfinals, set for Dec. 12 or 13.
Lehigh Athletics Ticketing Update as of Tuesday afternoon
- All chairback seats are expected to be sold by Wednesday.
- Tickets are the same price on game day at Goodman Stadium. Fans are encouraged to skip the line and purchase HERE.
- Tailgating is permitted in all general parking lots.
- A large crowd is expected. Fans are advised to arrive early to minimize traffic.
- Villanova fans are encouraged to park/tailgate on the north side of Goodman Stadium, accessible via college drive.
- Due to this game, Saturday's men's basketball game vs. LIU at Stabler Arena has been moved to a 5 p.m. start.
Lehigh placed a league-leading 14 players on the All-Patriot League teams, announced Nov. 25. The Mountain Hawks had 12 first team honorees and a pair of second team selections following their 12-0 regular season. Senior offensive lineman Langston Jones and senior defensive linemen TJ Burke and Matt Spatny all earned first team all-league laurels for the second straight year. Junior running back Luke Yoder, senior wide receiver Geoffrey Jamiel and senior offensive lineman Aidan Palmer landed on the first team after earning second team honors in 2024. Sophomore running back Jaden Green earned second team all-league honors for the second straight season. Lehigh's first time, first team All-Patriot League selections were sophomore quarterback Hayden Johnson, junior tight end Joseph Marranca, senior linebacker Tyler Ochojski, junior cornerback Aidan Singleton, sophomore safety Mekhai Smith and sophomore punter Connor Poole. Senior linebacker Brycen Edwards is a first time all-league selection landing on the second team.
Junior running back Luke Yoder delivered a performance for the ages in Lehigh's Patriot League title-clinching 42-32 win at Lafayette. Yoder rushed for a career-high 234 yards and four touchdowns on the way to earning game MVP honors. The 234 yards were the fourth-highest single game total in program history and the second-most by a Lehigh rusher in a Rivalry game. He joined Rabih Abdullah (1997) and Jack Rizzo (1971) as Lehigh rushers to score four touchdowns against Lafayette. Yoder earned Patriot League and Stats Perform national Offensive Player of the Week honors for his performance. The Palm Harbor, Fla., native has rushed for 1,329 yards and 15 touchdowns this season, while averaging 7.1 yards per carry. Just the second Lehigh runner with multiple 1,000-yard rushing seasons (Dom Bragalone '19), Yoder was named Patriot League Offensive Player of the Year and a finalist for the Walter Payton Award last week. Yoder's 1,329 yards rank seventh in the FCS and fifth on Lehigh's single-season list.
One of the key cogs in one of the nation's top defensive units, senior linebacker Tyler Ochojski was named Patriot League Defensive Player of the Year and is a finalist for the Buck Buchanan Award, given to the top defensive player in the FCS. Ochojski enjoyed a monster game against Georgetown, registering three of Lehigh's seven sacks along with four tackles for loss in the Mountain Hawks' 41-0 shutout. A two-time Patriot League Defensive Player of the Week, Ochojski has 56 tackles in 2025 with 12 tackles for loss and a team-best 10 sacks. He earned his first Patriot League Defensive Player of the Week award after a two-sack effort at Duquesne, including a forced fumble that ultimately sealed the win for Lehigh. Ochojski has seven sacks over Lehigh's last five games.
Lehigh's 12-0 regular season earned the Mountain Hawks the right to host a playoff game at Goodman Stadium for the third time, and the first time since 2004. The Mountain Hawks defeated Hofstra 24-21 in overtime on Dec. 1, 2001 in the first playoff game at Goodman Stadium. On Nov. 27 2004, Lehigh lost 14-13 to a James Madison team that went on to win the national championship. Lehigh is 6-0 at Goodman Stadium this season as part of its first undefeated regular season home campaign since 2001. Lehigh is 129-74-1 (.635) all-time at Goodman Stadium, which opened in 1988.
Lehigh has now eclipsed the 100-yard rushing mark in 32 straight games dating back to the 2023 season. Lehigh posted its fourth 300-yard rushing game of the season with 340 yards on the ground at Lafayette. Two weeks earlier, Lehigh gained 343 against Holy Cross, its most since gaining 349 on the ground against Fordham in 2016. The Mountain Hawks also rushed for 323 at Bucknell and an even 300 against Penn. Last year, Lehigh led the Patriot League in rushing, averaging 201.8 yards per game. Luke Yoder led the way with 1,014 yards, averaging 5.3 yards per carry. Behind Yoder, first-year running backs Jaden Green and Aaron Crossley and quarterbacks Hayden Johnson and Matt Machalik combined for 1,503 yards and 18 rushing touchdowns while averaging 5.3 yards per rush. Through 12 games, that quintet has gained 2,798 yards and scored 32 touchdowns while averaging 6.2 yards per carry. Lehigh ranks fourth nationally in rushing offense, averaging 235.3 yards per game.
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 nine takeaways over its last seven games, Lehigh is now plus-10 through 12 games. Sophomore Mekhai Smith has four interceptions and recovered a fumble against Georgetown. Junior Aidan Singleton's second interception of the season was a 26-yard pick-six against the Hoyas. The Mountain Hawks have also recovered six fumbles. Lehigh overcame two turnovers against Holy Cross after turning the ball over just once in its previous seven games.
No strangers to postseason play, Villanova reached the postseason for the fifth time in the last seven seasons as an at-large selection out of the CAA. The Wildcats moved to 10-2 on the season with their ninth straight victory as Villanova throttled Harvard 52-7 last week in the first round. Villanova gained 513 yards of offense, including 319 on the ground. Isaiah Ragland rushed for 152 yards and a 45-yard touchdown. Villanova had 13 players earn All-CAA honors, including return specialist Ja'briel Mace, who was named Special Teams Player of the Year. Mace, Ragland and David Avit have all rushed for more than 600 yards this season and have combined for 19 touchdowns. Quarterback Pat McQuaide has appeared in all 12 games and has thrown 22 touchdown passes with just two interceptions. Shane Hartzell leads the Wildcat defense with 81 tackles, 14 tackles for loss and seven sacks. Graduate student cornerback Jordan Adderley was a member of Lehigh's 2024 Patriot League championship team, but hasn't played for Villanova since October 18.
Lehigh and Villanova will meet for the 20th time, with the Wildcats holding a 14-5 edge in the series. Villanova has won the last 11 meetings. Lehigh's last win in the series came back in 2006. This will be Villanova's eighth visit to Lehigh since the series resumed in 2004 (2004, 2007, 2010, 2017, 2018, 2021, 2023). Lehigh won the first four meetings (1903, 1914, 1919 and 1924), while Villanova won in 1925 and 1927 prior to the 77-year break in the series. This is the first postseason meeting between the Mountain Hawks and Wildcats.
For the second straight year Lehigh will open the postseason against a future conference foe. Last year, Lehigh beat Richmond with the Spiders joining the Patriot League as an associate member in football for the 2025 season. After this season, Villanova is leaving the CAA along with William & Mary to join the Patriot League in 2026.
Saturday's game kicks off just after noon from Goodman Stadium. Tickets are still available and be purchased at LehighTickets.com.
| Date: | December 6, 2025 |
| Opponent: | No. 12 Villanova Wildcats |
| Kickoff: | 12:02 p.m. |
| Stadium: | Goodman Stadium/16,000/Natural Grass |
| Location: | Bethlehem, Pa. |
| Lehigh's record: | 12-0 overall, 7-0 Patriot League |
| Villanova's record: | 10-2 overall, 7-1 CAA |
| Series: | Villanova leads 14-5 |
| Video: | ESPN+ with Robert Lee and Barrett Brooks |
| Radio: | Fox Sports Radio 94.7 FM and 1230 AM and LVFoxSports.com with Matt Kerr, Mike Yadush and Connor Brown beginning at 11 a.m. |
| Key Stats: | •Lehigh leads the FCS in rushing defense (73.7 ypg.) and red zone defense (0.655). •The Mountain Hawks have four 300-yard rushing games this season after totaling five between 2001 and 2024 •Lehigh (7) and Villanova (5) rank fourth and first, respectively, in the FCS in fewest turnovers lost. |
Follow Lehigh Football on X/Twitter and Instagram and like on Facebook for exclusive updates throughout the season.
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