Lehigh University Athletics
Photo by: Hannah Ally
Lehigh Celebrates Memorable 2025 Season at Annual Football Banquet
2/3/2026 4:47:00 PM | Football
BETHLEHEM, Pa. – Celebrating one of the finest seasons in program history, the Lehigh football team held its end-of-season banquet Sunday Feb. 1 in Wood Dining Room at Iacocca Hall. The Mountain Hawks celebrated the accomplishments of a season that saw Lehigh post an undefeated regular season, finishing 12-1 overall and tying the school record for single-season victories. The Mountain Hawks hosted a playoff game at Goodman Stadium for the first time in 21 years.
More than 250 people, including student-athletes, coaches, alumni, family and friends, were on hand to celebrate the accomplishments of the season, The program featured lunch, video highlights, comments from head coach Kevin Cahill and the team's 2025 captains, who were formally introduced after the season at the banquet.
New this year, many of the program's signature awards had an offensive and defensive recipient.
The Archibald Johnston Cup is given to the program's outstanding players and doubles as the department's Outstanding Athlete Award. This year's winners are junior running back Luke Yoder and senior linebacker Tyler Ochojski. Yoder also won the outstanding offensive back positional award. The Patriot League's Offensive and Defensive Players of the Year, respectively, Yoder and Ochojski were also finalists for the major FCS national player of the year awards. Yoder rushed for 1,409 yards and 15 touchdowns and was the MVP of the Lehigh-Lafayette game after rushing for 234 yards and four touchdowns. Ochojski garnered four All-America honors and led the Mountain Hawks with 11 sacks in 2025. He added 60 tackles, ranking third on the team, and 13 tackles for loss.
The John C. Whitehead (Big LU) Award, which is given to the players who show the most leadership with performance, went to senior offensive lineman Aidan Palmer and senior linebacker Brycen Edwards. Palmer, an honorable mention Associated Press All-American, started all 13 games at left guard for one of the nation's top offensive line units. Edwards led the Mountain Hawks with 83 tackles in 2025 and contributed nine tackles for loss and 5.5 sacks from his inside linebacker position. He also won the outstanding linebacker positional award.
Sophomore quarterback Hayden Johnson and junior defensive lineman Jadin Nelson won James P. McConologue Award, given to the player that is "all football," and also represents the department's Coaches Award. Johnson was the first team All-Patriot League quarterback, starting all 13 games and throwing for 2,510 yards with 18 touchdowns and rushed for four more scores. Nelson started all 13 games on the defensive line, finishing with 31 tackles, 6.5 tackles for loss and 1.5 sacks.
Senior offensive lineman Langston Jones and senior nose guard TJ Burke received the Alexander G. Hahalis Award, given to the most outstanding lineman. Jones started all 13 games at right guard on an offensive line that ranked fifth nationally rushing the football. He also garnered four All-America honors. Burke was an honorable mention All-American and starred in the middle of the top rush defense in the FCS. He finished with 37 tackles, seven tackles for loss and four sacks.
The Barry Fetterman Award is given to the player that exemplifies loyalty, unselfishness and dedication to Lehigh football. This year's recipients are senior wide receiver Geoffrey Jamiel and senior rover Jackson Dowd. Jamiel was a first team All-Patriot League honoree and was one of the league's top receiving threats, hauling in 73 passes for 1,067 yards and eight touchdowns. He also received the outstanding receiver award. Dowd battled back after missing six games to injury in the middle of the season. He finished with 30 tackles, and registered his first career sack and interception.
The Scholar-Athlete Award, given to the player that shows proficiency both on the field and in the classroom, was given to senior placekicker Nick Garrido. An economics major with a 3.23 cumulative GPA, Garrido converted 9-of-10 field goals and 35-of-36 extra point attempts
The Coach B Award, given by football secretary Eileen Biro went to sophomore tight end Aiden Schomp. The award is given to a player who made a significant impact on the program beyond on-field performance. Schomp suffered a season-ending injury during preseason camp but still made contributions to the team's success at practices and on game days.
Other positional awards went to sophomore center Colby Reph (offensive line), junior cornerback Aidan Singleton (defensive back), senior defensive lineman Matt Spatny (defensive line) and sophomore punter/kicker Connor Poole (special teams).
Reph moved to center in his sophomore season and was a key contributor on Lehigh's outstanding offensive line. Singleton, Spatny and Poole were all first team All-Patriot League honorees in 2025.
The Nick Timko Award (Engineer Effort Award), awarded by the Lehigh Southside Boosters to the best scout team players on offense and defense: junior running back Connor Hilling and junior defensive lineman Daniel Gredell.
After handing out team awards, Cahill announced the Mountain Hawks' captains from the 2025 season. Lehigh had a single captain, selected weekly by the team's leadership council, for every game last season. The captains announced at the banquet will go into the record books as Lehigh's captains for 2024. They are TJ Burke, Geoffrey Jamiel, Tyler Ochojski and Matt Spatny.
Follow Lehigh Football on X/Twitter and Instagram and like on Facebook for exclusive updates throughout the season.
More than 250 people, including student-athletes, coaches, alumni, family and friends, were on hand to celebrate the accomplishments of the season, The program featured lunch, video highlights, comments from head coach Kevin Cahill and the team's 2025 captains, who were formally introduced after the season at the banquet.
New this year, many of the program's signature awards had an offensive and defensive recipient.
The Archibald Johnston Cup is given to the program's outstanding players and doubles as the department's Outstanding Athlete Award. This year's winners are junior running back Luke Yoder and senior linebacker Tyler Ochojski. Yoder also won the outstanding offensive back positional award. The Patriot League's Offensive and Defensive Players of the Year, respectively, Yoder and Ochojski were also finalists for the major FCS national player of the year awards. Yoder rushed for 1,409 yards and 15 touchdowns and was the MVP of the Lehigh-Lafayette game after rushing for 234 yards and four touchdowns. Ochojski garnered four All-America honors and led the Mountain Hawks with 11 sacks in 2025. He added 60 tackles, ranking third on the team, and 13 tackles for loss.
The John C. Whitehead (Big LU) Award, which is given to the players who show the most leadership with performance, went to senior offensive lineman Aidan Palmer and senior linebacker Brycen Edwards. Palmer, an honorable mention Associated Press All-American, started all 13 games at left guard for one of the nation's top offensive line units. Edwards led the Mountain Hawks with 83 tackles in 2025 and contributed nine tackles for loss and 5.5 sacks from his inside linebacker position. He also won the outstanding linebacker positional award.
Sophomore quarterback Hayden Johnson and junior defensive lineman Jadin Nelson won James P. McConologue Award, given to the player that is "all football," and also represents the department's Coaches Award. Johnson was the first team All-Patriot League quarterback, starting all 13 games and throwing for 2,510 yards with 18 touchdowns and rushed for four more scores. Nelson started all 13 games on the defensive line, finishing with 31 tackles, 6.5 tackles for loss and 1.5 sacks.
Senior offensive lineman Langston Jones and senior nose guard TJ Burke received the Alexander G. Hahalis Award, given to the most outstanding lineman. Jones started all 13 games at right guard on an offensive line that ranked fifth nationally rushing the football. He also garnered four All-America honors. Burke was an honorable mention All-American and starred in the middle of the top rush defense in the FCS. He finished with 37 tackles, seven tackles for loss and four sacks.
The Barry Fetterman Award is given to the player that exemplifies loyalty, unselfishness and dedication to Lehigh football. This year's recipients are senior wide receiver Geoffrey Jamiel and senior rover Jackson Dowd. Jamiel was a first team All-Patriot League honoree and was one of the league's top receiving threats, hauling in 73 passes for 1,067 yards and eight touchdowns. He also received the outstanding receiver award. Dowd battled back after missing six games to injury in the middle of the season. He finished with 30 tackles, and registered his first career sack and interception.
The Scholar-Athlete Award, given to the player that shows proficiency both on the field and in the classroom, was given to senior placekicker Nick Garrido. An economics major with a 3.23 cumulative GPA, Garrido converted 9-of-10 field goals and 35-of-36 extra point attempts
The Coach B Award, given by football secretary Eileen Biro went to sophomore tight end Aiden Schomp. The award is given to a player who made a significant impact on the program beyond on-field performance. Schomp suffered a season-ending injury during preseason camp but still made contributions to the team's success at practices and on game days.
Other positional awards went to sophomore center Colby Reph (offensive line), junior cornerback Aidan Singleton (defensive back), senior defensive lineman Matt Spatny (defensive line) and sophomore punter/kicker Connor Poole (special teams).
Reph moved to center in his sophomore season and was a key contributor on Lehigh's outstanding offensive line. Singleton, Spatny and Poole were all first team All-Patriot League honorees in 2025.
The Nick Timko Award (Engineer Effort Award), awarded by the Lehigh Southside Boosters to the best scout team players on offense and defense: junior running back Connor Hilling and junior defensive lineman Daniel Gredell.
After handing out team awards, Cahill announced the Mountain Hawks' captains from the 2025 season. Lehigh had a single captain, selected weekly by the team's leadership council, for every game last season. The captains announced at the banquet will go into the record books as Lehigh's captains for 2024. They are TJ Burke, Geoffrey Jamiel, Tyler Ochojski and Matt Spatny.
Follow Lehigh Football on X/Twitter and Instagram and like on Facebook for exclusive updates throughout the season.
Players Mentioned
LB
/ Football
LB
/ Football
K/P
/ Football
DL
/ Football
RB
/ Football
WR
/ Football
QB
/ Football
OL
/ Football
DL
/ Football
LB
/ Football
OL
/ Football
K/P
/ Football
OL
/ Football
TE
/ Football
DB
/ Football
DL
/ Football
RB
/ FootballLehigh Sports Central: Football
Tuesday, December 02
MHT EP6 - Football
Thursday, November 20
Brown & Flight - Episode 4
Friday, November 14
Football Blitz
Friday, October 31
