Lehigh Returns to Goodman Stadium Saturday to Host Bucknell on Hawk-O-Ween

Saturday, October 31

Bethlehem, Pa.

12:00 PM

Lehigh University

Bucknell

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Photo by: Hannah Ally

10/27/2026 2:00:00 PM | Football

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BETHLEHEM, Pa. – Trick or treat! No. 19/20 Lehigh returns to Goodman Stadium for the first time in four weeks to host the Bucknell Bison on Hawk-O-Ween, with game time set for noon. The Mountain Hawks are looking to get back on track after back-to-back losses, including their first Patriot League setback in more than two years.

Last week, Lehigh was unable to overcome a 21-0 halftime deficit at Villanova, ultimately coming up a few yards short in the final seconds. The Mountain Hawks still sit at the top of the Patriot League standings at 4-1. Lehigh rushed for 238 yards at Villanova, with senior Luke Yoder gaining 132 to go over 1,000 on the season and sophomore quarterback Derek Morgan adding 94. Both Mountain Hawks rushed for a touchdown. Bucknell comes in at 1-7 overall, with the Bison looking for their first league win while trying to stop a five-game slide.

After going over 1,000 rushing yards on the season and securing his seventh 100-yard rushing game of the campaign at Villanova, Luke Yoder faces a Bucknell team that he has enjoyed rushing success against in his career. Yoder is averaging nearly 150 yards and two touchdowns per game in three previous meetings with the Bison. He enters this year's game with Lehigh's career rushing yards and touchdown records in sight. Yoder had a career high 38 carries as a first-year in 2023 and his 174 yards last year were a career-high prior to his 234 in the 2025 Lafayette game.

Sophomore quarterback Derek Morgan saw the first significant action of his career in the win over William & Mary. Morgan entered the game in the second quarter and his first career pass attempt was a 22-yard touchdown to junior Nick Palumbo. He only needed to attempt four passes with the Mountain Hawks up big, and completed three of them for 36 yards. Morgan also rushed for an eight-yard touchdown in the final seconds of the first half, giving the Mountain Hawks a 37-7 halftime lead. The Kansas native made his first career start against Dartmouth, completing 10-of-13 for 74 yards and a touchdown, while adding 35 rushing yards on seven carries. Morgan threw three touchdown passes against both Fordham and Cornell, and helped will Lehigh back into the game at Villanova, rushing for 94 yards and a touchdown while completing a career-high 17 passes for 134 yards.

With the loss of Lehigh's top two receivers from a season ago, including Geoffrey Jamiel, who ranks in the top five in program history for career receptions and receiving yards, the Mountain Hawks have relied on a number of younger receivers to contribute so far this season. Lehigh quarterbacks have completed passes to 12 different receivers through eight games. Junior Nick Palumbo leads Lehigh with 20 receptions, while gaining 238 yards. Sophomore Anthony Feaster leads with 281 yards and scored his first two career touchdowns against Fordham. Jamaire Harden, Luke Yoder, Joseph Marranca, Aiden Schomp and Bryce Werner also have touchdown catches this season. Werner has come on as of late with eight catches including a touchdown in his last two games.

Lehigh turned five Fordham turnovers into 20 points in its 34-0 win over the Rams. Three of those turnovers came in the second quarter as the Mountain Hawks turned a 14-0 lead into a 31-0 halftime advantage in less than three minutes. First-year Silas Day recovered a muffed kickoff and junior Ignatious Williams and fifth-year Nick Peltekian added interceptions in the second quarter. Senior Will Parton picked off a pass in the third quarter, while junior Luke Reilly contributed a strip-sack that was recovered by sophomore Lucas Manderbach. The five takeaways were the most for Lehigh since the Mountain Hawks had five in a 46-14 win at Holy Cross in 2016. Lehigh ranks 10th in the FCS with 10 interceptions. Peltekian and junior Luke Denny are tied for the team lead with two. The Villanova game marked the first time this season that Lehigh failed to secure a takeaway.

Bucknell comes to Goodman Stadium searching for its first Patriot League win and looking to stop a five-game slide. The Bison picked up their lone victory at VMI on Sept. 12 and have dropped five straight, including a 34-3 setback at Holy Cross last weekend. Bucknell has struggled offensively under first-year head coach Jeff Behrman, with the Bison averaging 9.4 points and 231.1 yards per game. Christopher Dietrich has taken over as Bucknell's quarterback and is completing 64 percent of his passes with five touchdowns and five interceptions. Veterans Sam Milligan and TJ Cadden anchor the Bison receiving corps. Brandon Biagiarelli paces the defense with 62 tackles and 2.5 sacks.

Lehigh has played Bucknell more times than any opponent other than rival Lafayette. The Mountain Hawks and Bison meet for the 90th time with Lehigh holding a 51-35-3 advantage. Lehigh has won 22 of the last 28 games, winning 15 straight before back-to-back Bucknell wins in 2013 and 2014. The road team has won the last six games in the series and eight of the last 11 overall. Lehigh is looking for its first home win over Bucknell since 2018.

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.

Lehigh will close out its regular season home schedule Nov. 7 when the Mountain Hawks host Colgate on Community Heroes Day with game time set for noon.

Date:	October 31, 2026
Opponent:	Bucknell Bison
Kickoff:	12:02 p.m.
Stadium:	Goodman Stadium/16,000/Natural Grass
Location:	Bethlehem, Pa.
Lehigh's record:	6-2 overall, 4-1 Patriot League
Bucknell's record:	1-7 overall, 0-5 Patriot League
Series:	Lehigh leads 51-35-3
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, Mike Yadush '93 and Connor Brown beginning at 11 a.m.
Key Stats:	•Lehigh leads the Patriot League in both scoring offense and total offense, while Bucknell ranks 10th in both categories. •In three previous games against Bucknell, running back Luke Yoder has rushed for 449 yards and six touchdowns, while averaging 5.8 yards per carry. •Yoder needs 170 rushing yards to become Lehigh's all-time leading rusher. He also needs three rushing touchdowns to break that career program record.