Saturday, September 27
Bethlehem, Pa.
12:00 PM
Lehigh University
vs
Penn
Photo by: Hannah Ally
No. 10/9 Mountain Hawks Host Penn Saturday As Part of Family Weekend
9/23/2025 2:16:00 PM | Football
BETHLEHEM, Pa. – A three-game stretch against Ivy League opponents begins at Goodman Stadium Saturday as No. 10/9 Lehigh hosts Penn as part of Family Weekend, presented by Lehigh Valley Orthopedic Institute, part of Jefferson Health. The Mountain Hawks rushed for 323 yards and registered six sacks in a 41-24 win at Bucknell, which moved Lehigh to 2-0 in the Patriot League and 4-0 overall for the first time since 2013. Junior Luke Yoder rushed for a career-high 174 yards while sophomore Jaden Green rushed for 127 and totaled three touchdowns. Lehigh used a 21-0 third-quarter run to build a 38-10 advantage and never looked back. Penn opened its season with a 24-21 win at Stonehill. The Quakers were 4-6 in 2024.
Running backs Luke Yoder and Jaden Green both eclipsed the 100-yard rushing mark in the win at Bucknell as the Mountain Hawks rushed for 323 yards as a team. Yoder set a career high with 174 yards, while Green added 127. The duo totaled four touchdowns, with Green scoring two on the ground and one via a reception. It marked the first time Lehigh had two rushers gain more than 100 yards in a game since Oct. 29, 2016 when Dom Bragalone (192) and Nick Shafnisky (108) eclipsed the century mark in a win over Fordham.
Lehigh specialists have captured the last two Patriot League Special Teams Player of the Week awards, with sophomore punter Connor Poole honored on Sept. 15 after averaging 52.4 yards on five first-half punts at Duquesne, including a career-long 57 yard effort. Senior kicker Nick Garrido was recognized on Sept. 22 after scoring a career high 11 points in the win at Bucknell. Garrido kicked his first two field goals of the season and was a perfect 5-for-5 on extra points.
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. Lehigh is plus-2 through four games and is plus-3 over its last two games. Sophomore Mekhai Smith has an interception in three of Lehigh's four games, while Charles Soska and Dillon Sheehan have recovered fumbles. Lehigh has not turned the ball over in its last two games.
One of Lehigh's defensive strengths in recent years has been its ability to get to opposing quarterbacks. After finishing second in the Patriot League in sacks the previous three seasons, Lehigh led the league with 34 sacks in 2024 and ranked 19th nationally averaging 2.62 sacks per game. The Mountain Hawks had six sacks in home wins over Princeton and Fordham and totaled 20 during their six-game late-season winning streak. Defensive lineman Matt Spatny had a team-best 11.5 last season, including 3.5 in Lehigh's last two regular season games. Nose tackle TJ Burke finished with seven. Both Spatny and Burke were named first team All-Patriot League. After recording two sacks in its first three games, Lehigh totaled six in the win at Bucknell. Fifth-year Dillon Sheehan had 2.5 against the Bison. Senior Tyler Ochjoski leads Lehigh with three sacks, while Spatny and Burke both have two.
Penn opened its season with a 24-21 win at Stonehill, behind a Mason Walters 45-yard field goal with 15 seconds remaining. The Quakers are coming off a 4-6 campaign in 2024. Senior Offensive lineman Netinho Olivieri earned multiple preseason All-America honors, while wide receiver Jared Richardson and offensive lineman William Bergin also earned preseason national recognition. Liam O'Brien returns as Penn's starting quarterback. Linebacker and team quad-captain John Lista led the Quakers with 11 tackles in the win at Stonehill. Penn out-gained Stonehill 375-266 in the season-opening victory.
Lehigh and Penn meet for the 63rd time with the Quakers holding a 47-15 advantage. The Mountain Hawks faced the Quakers in four straight seasons from 2015-18 after the programs had previously not met since 2003. Lehigh and Penn met regularly in the 1960s, 70s, 80s and 90s. Lehigh has won 13 of the last 20 meetings dating back to 1975. These teams first met in 1885.
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.
Another home game against an Ivy League opponent awaits Lehigh next Saturday as the Mountain Hawks will host Yale for Tackle Cancer presented by Red Robin. Kevin Cahill will coach against the school he worked at for 10 seasons with Lehigh looking to beat the Bulldogs for the first time since 2016. Game time is set for noon.
Follow Lehigh Football on X/Twitter and Instagram and like on Facebook for exclusive updates throughout the season.
Running backs Luke Yoder and Jaden Green both eclipsed the 100-yard rushing mark in the win at Bucknell as the Mountain Hawks rushed for 323 yards as a team. Yoder set a career high with 174 yards, while Green added 127. The duo totaled four touchdowns, with Green scoring two on the ground and one via a reception. It marked the first time Lehigh had two rushers gain more than 100 yards in a game since Oct. 29, 2016 when Dom Bragalone (192) and Nick Shafnisky (108) eclipsed the century mark in a win over Fordham.
Lehigh specialists have captured the last two Patriot League Special Teams Player of the Week awards, with sophomore punter Connor Poole honored on Sept. 15 after averaging 52.4 yards on five first-half punts at Duquesne, including a career-long 57 yard effort. Senior kicker Nick Garrido was recognized on Sept. 22 after scoring a career high 11 points in the win at Bucknell. Garrido kicked his first two field goals of the season and was a perfect 5-for-5 on extra points.
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. Lehigh is plus-2 through four games and is plus-3 over its last two games. Sophomore Mekhai Smith has an interception in three of Lehigh's four games, while Charles Soska and Dillon Sheehan have recovered fumbles. Lehigh has not turned the ball over in its last two games.
One of Lehigh's defensive strengths in recent years has been its ability to get to opposing quarterbacks. After finishing second in the Patriot League in sacks the previous three seasons, Lehigh led the league with 34 sacks in 2024 and ranked 19th nationally averaging 2.62 sacks per game. The Mountain Hawks had six sacks in home wins over Princeton and Fordham and totaled 20 during their six-game late-season winning streak. Defensive lineman Matt Spatny had a team-best 11.5 last season, including 3.5 in Lehigh's last two regular season games. Nose tackle TJ Burke finished with seven. Both Spatny and Burke were named first team All-Patriot League. After recording two sacks in its first three games, Lehigh totaled six in the win at Bucknell. Fifth-year Dillon Sheehan had 2.5 against the Bison. Senior Tyler Ochjoski leads Lehigh with three sacks, while Spatny and Burke both have two.
Penn opened its season with a 24-21 win at Stonehill, behind a Mason Walters 45-yard field goal with 15 seconds remaining. The Quakers are coming off a 4-6 campaign in 2024. Senior Offensive lineman Netinho Olivieri earned multiple preseason All-America honors, while wide receiver Jared Richardson and offensive lineman William Bergin also earned preseason national recognition. Liam O'Brien returns as Penn's starting quarterback. Linebacker and team quad-captain John Lista led the Quakers with 11 tackles in the win at Stonehill. Penn out-gained Stonehill 375-266 in the season-opening victory.
Lehigh and Penn meet for the 63rd time with the Quakers holding a 47-15 advantage. The Mountain Hawks faced the Quakers in four straight seasons from 2015-18 after the programs had previously not met since 2003. Lehigh and Penn met regularly in the 1960s, 70s, 80s and 90s. Lehigh has won 13 of the last 20 meetings dating back to 1975. These teams first met in 1885.
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.
Another home game against an Ivy League opponent awaits Lehigh next Saturday as the Mountain Hawks will host Yale for Tackle Cancer presented by Red Robin. Kevin Cahill will coach against the school he worked at for 10 seasons with Lehigh looking to beat the Bulldogs for the first time since 2016. Game time is set for noon.
| Date: | September 27, 2025 |
| Opponent: | Penn Quakers |
| Kickoff: | 12:02 p.m. |
| Stadium: | Goodman Stadium/16,000/Natural Grass |
| Location: | Bethlehem, Pa. |
| Lehigh's record: | 4-0 overall, 2-0 Patriot League |
| Penn's record: | 1-0 overall, 0-0 Ivy League |
| Series: | Penn leads 47-15 |
| Video: | ESPN+ with Marco Socci and Lance Haynes '94 |
| Radio: | Fox Sports Radio 94.7 FM and 1230 AM and LVFoxSports.com with Matt Kerr, Matt Markus and Connor Brown beginning at 11 a.m. |
| Key Stats: | •Lehigh ranks in the top seven in the FCS in both rushing offense (5th, 234.5 ypg.) and rushing defense (7th, 81.3 ypg.). •Junior Luke Yoder (5th) and sophomore Jaden Green (7th) both rank in the top seven in the FCS in rushing yards per carry. •Sophomore Mekhai Smith has an interception in three of Lehigh's four games in 2025. |
Follow Lehigh Football on X/Twitter and Instagram and like on Facebook for exclusive updates throughout the season.
Players Mentioned
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