Lehigh University Athletics
Saturday, October 24
Villanova, Pa.
3:30 PM
Lehigh University
6-2 , 4-1
18
at
24
Villanova
4-4 , 3-2
| Team | 1st | 2nd | 3rd | 4th | Final F |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lehigh | 0 | 0 | 10 | 8 | 18 |
| Villanova | 7 | 14 | 0 | 3 | 24 |
Photo by: Hannah Ally
10/24/2026 7:38:00 PM | Football
VILLANOVA, Pa. – No. 11/12 Lehigh battled back from a 21-0 halftime deficit with its valiant comeback attempt falling just short in a 24-18 loss to Villanova Saturday at Villanova Stadium.
Down six in the final minutes, Lehigh drove all the way down to the Villanova two-yard line, but after two incomplete passes, sophomore quarterback Derek Morgan was sacked on 3rd-and-goal, with the sack allowing the final seconds to tick off the clock.
The Mountain Hawks saw their 16-game Patriot League winning streak come to an end and fall to 6-2 overall and 4-1 in Patriot League play. Villanova evens its record at 4-4 and moves to 3-2 in league play.
Senior Luke Yoder and Morgan both rushed for touchdowns. Yoder carried 20 times for 132 yards and a touchdown. A 28-yard rush in the third quarter put him over 1,000 for the season, making Yoder the second Lehigh player in history with three 1,000-yard rushing seasons.
Morgan carried 17 times for 94 yards, with the late sack costing him the first 100-yard rushing day by a Lehigh quarterback in 10 years. He completed 17-of-33 for 134 yards, but was sacked three times.
Villanova took the opening kickoff and drove 75 yards in 16 plays, capped by a seven-yard touchdown run by quarterback Pat McQuaide.
Isaiah Ragland scored on a 14-yard run in the second quarter and after Lehigh failed on 4th-and-1 near midfield, the Wildcats tacked on a third touchdown, a one-yard rush by Ja'briel Mace, to take a 21-0 lead into halftime.
Lehigh opened the second half with an 11-play, 75-yard drive, highlighted by runs of 28 and 16 yards from Yoder. A five-yard touchdown run by Yoder put Lehigh on the board.
Junior Connor Poole kicked a 34-yard field goal to bring Lehigh within 21-10 with 2:53 to play in the third quarter.
The Mountain Hawks opened the fourth quarter with an 80-yard drive, capped by a Morgan six-yard rush. A reverse pitch to sophomore Anthony Feaster for two points was successful, bringing Lehigh within 21-18.
Villanova answered with an 11-play drive that knocked nearly five minutes off the clock and was capped by a field goal to go up by six with 3:33 to play.
Lehigh started its final drive from its five yard line. The Mountain Hawks moved the ball 85 yards in 20 plays. Morgan scrambled for seven yards to prolong the drive on 4th-and-6. He later completed an eight-yard pass to first-year Bryce Werner to convert 4th-and-4. A pass interference penalty on the Wildcats on a pass to Werner put the ball on the two-yard line with under 30 seconds to play. Two passes fell incomplete and on third down Garrett Rogan was able to break through and sack Morgan with time expiring shortly thereafter.
The Mountain Hawks out-gained the Wildcats 372-337, with Lehigh rushing for 238.
Villanova rushed for 136 yards, led by Mace with 91 yards on 17 carries.
Werner led Lehigh with five catches for 45 yards.
Senior William Parton led the defense with seven tackles.
There were no turnovers in the ballgame, with Villanova holding a 3-0 edge in quarterback sacks.
The Mountain Hawks are back home next Saturday to host Bucknell on Hawk-O-Ween: A Spooky Saturday at Goodman Stadium, with game time set for noon. Tickets can be purchased at LehighTickets.com or by calling 610-758-4263.
EXTRA POINTS… Villanova has now won 13 consecutive meetings to take a 16-5 edge in the series… Lehigh had won its last four games against Patriot League newcomers in their first meeting as league rivals… the Mountain Hawks had 24 first downs to Villanova's 19 and held the ball for more than 33 minutes… Yoder joined Dom Bragalone '19 as the only Mountain Hawks with three 1,000-yard rushing seasons… he is now 169 yards behind Bragalone's career rushing record (4,324)… Lehigh scored a two-point conversion for the first time since doing so against Colgate in 2022.
Follow Lehigh Football on X/Twitter and Instagram and like on Facebook for exclusive updates throughout the season.
Down six in the final minutes, Lehigh drove all the way down to the Villanova two-yard line, but after two incomplete passes, sophomore quarterback Derek Morgan was sacked on 3rd-and-goal, with the sack allowing the final seconds to tick off the clock.
The Mountain Hawks saw their 16-game Patriot League winning streak come to an end and fall to 6-2 overall and 4-1 in Patriot League play. Villanova evens its record at 4-4 and moves to 3-2 in league play.
Villanova postgame with coach Rich Nagy ⬇️ https://t.co/fSO0VPQOg6
— Lehigh Football (@LehighFootball) October 24, 2026
Senior Luke Yoder and Morgan both rushed for touchdowns. Yoder carried 20 times for 132 yards and a touchdown. A 28-yard rush in the third quarter put him over 1,000 for the season, making Yoder the second Lehigh player in history with three 1,000-yard rushing seasons.
Morgan carried 17 times for 94 yards, with the late sack costing him the first 100-yard rushing day by a Lehigh quarterback in 10 years. He completed 17-of-33 for 134 yards, but was sacked three times.
Villanova took the opening kickoff and drove 75 yards in 16 plays, capped by a seven-yard touchdown run by quarterback Pat McQuaide.
Isaiah Ragland scored on a 14-yard run in the second quarter and after Lehigh failed on 4th-and-1 near midfield, the Wildcats tacked on a third touchdown, a one-yard rush by Ja'briel Mace, to take a 21-0 lead into halftime.
Lehigh opened the second half with an 11-play, 75-yard drive, highlighted by runs of 28 and 16 yards from Yoder. A five-yard touchdown run by Yoder put Lehigh on the board.
Junior Connor Poole kicked a 34-yard field goal to bring Lehigh within 21-10 with 2:53 to play in the third quarter.
The Mountain Hawks opened the fourth quarter with an 80-yard drive, capped by a Morgan six-yard rush. A reverse pitch to sophomore Anthony Feaster for two points was successful, bringing Lehigh within 21-18.
Derek does it himself. Watch: https://t.co/PuGzbptUZC @PatriotLeague @espn #TheNest https://t.co/mjfpXZBsUN
— Lehigh Football (@LehighFootball) October 24, 2026
Villanova answered with an 11-play drive that knocked nearly five minutes off the clock and was capped by a field goal to go up by six with 3:33 to play.
Lehigh started its final drive from its five yard line. The Mountain Hawks moved the ball 85 yards in 20 plays. Morgan scrambled for seven yards to prolong the drive on 4th-and-6. He later completed an eight-yard pass to first-year Bryce Werner to convert 4th-and-4. A pass interference penalty on the Wildcats on a pass to Werner put the ball on the two-yard line with under 30 seconds to play. Two passes fell incomplete and on third down Garrett Rogan was able to break through and sack Morgan with time expiring shortly thereafter.
The Mountain Hawks out-gained the Wildcats 372-337, with Lehigh rushing for 238.
Villanova rushed for 136 yards, led by Mace with 91 yards on 17 carries.
Werner led Lehigh with five catches for 45 yards.
Senior William Parton led the defense with seven tackles.
There were no turnovers in the ballgame, with Villanova holding a 3-0 edge in quarterback sacks.
The Mountain Hawks are back home next Saturday to host Bucknell on Hawk-O-Ween: A Spooky Saturday at Goodman Stadium, with game time set for noon. Tickets can be purchased at LehighTickets.com or by calling 610-758-4263.
EXTRA POINTS… Villanova has now won 13 consecutive meetings to take a 16-5 edge in the series… Lehigh had won its last four games against Patriot League newcomers in their first meeting as league rivals… the Mountain Hawks had 24 first downs to Villanova's 19 and held the ball for more than 33 minutes… Yoder joined Dom Bragalone '19 as the only Mountain Hawks with three 1,000-yard rushing seasons… he is now 169 yards behind Bragalone's career rushing record (4,324)… Lehigh scored a two-point conversion for the first time since doing so against Colgate in 2022.
Follow Lehigh Football on X/Twitter and Instagram and like on Facebook for exclusive updates throughout the season.
Players Mentioned
WR
/ Football
QB
/ Football
LB
/ Football
K/P
/ Football
WR
/ Football
RB
/ FootballTeam Stats
LEH
VIL
Total Yards
372
337
Pass Yards
134
201
Rushing Yards
238
136
Penalty Yards
70
58
1st Downs
24
19
3rd Downs
7
4
4th Downs
2
1
TOP
33:18
26:42
1st Quarter
LEH 0, VIL 7
VIL - McQuaide,Pat 7 yd run (LeBlanc,Dominic kick), 16 plays, 75 yards, TOP 08:01
2nd Quarter
LEH 0, VIL 14
VIL - Ragland,Isaiah 14 yd run (LeBlanc,Dominic kick), 5 plays, 93 yards, TOP 02:03
LEH 0, VIL 21
VIL - Mace,Ja'briel 1 yd run (LeBlanc,Dominic kick), 6 plays, 33 yards, TOP 03:09
3rd Quarter
LEH 7, VIL 21
LEH - Yoder,Luke 5 yd run (Poole,Connor kick), 11 plays, 75 yards, TOP 05:11
LEH 10, VIL 21
LEH - Poole,Connor 34 yd field goal 11 plays, 49 yards, TOP 05:28
4th Quarter
LEH 18, VIL 21
LEH - Morgan,Derek 6 yd run (Feaster,Anthony rush), 10 plays, 80 yards, TOP 05:36
LEH 18, VIL 24
VIL - LeBlanc,Dominic 27 yd field goal 11 plays, 65 yards, TOP 04:55
Game Leaders
CMP
17
TD
0
YDS
134
INT
0
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