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Lehigh 40, Bucknell 17

If Bucknell didn't score a meaningless TD at the end of the game, my original prediction - Lehigh 41, Bucknell 9 - would have been almost exactly on the mark.

Borda had a fabulous day - again. 5 TD passes, nearly 400 yards passing. Looks like Borda will be getting another game ball from me, and he might again be Patriot League offensive player of the week for the third straight week! Gerran Walker, more than 100 yards receiving, 1 TD, and Adam Kovacs also had more than 100 yards receiving and 2 TDs. Game balls for them as well!

The defense was unbelievable. Sack after sack. 2 big turnovers. I'll comb over the stats to see who the players of the week, but Nelson and Lawrence will be getting balls I'm sure.

Two key injuries during the course of this game that we'll have to see about this week. FS Kaloma Cardwell was carted off the field (as a precaution) and his ankle put in an air cast, but it's not clear how bad the injury is. OL Jim Petrucelli is another problem - if he's out, Lehigh will be starting with their sixth different OL configuration next week in the "Patriot League Title Game" against Colgate.

The turnover problem seemed to not be a factor in the second half for Lehigh. Instead, we got 2 huge turnovers that set up 14 points for us that in effect put the hammer down on the Bison. Still, taking care of the ball will be emphasized this week in practice. Penalties were also a big problem - I don't have the stats, but the game seemed sloppy with lots of flags.

The kicking game needs to be addressed in the worst way. 1 missed FG, 2 missed extra points, and another kickoff out of bounds is simply unacceptable.

Lembo took the team into the locker room directly after the game - only one interview in the postgame show. Lembo seems to want to get the team focused on the Colgate game next week. And I agree with that 100%. Lehigh/Colgate is the de facto Patriot League championship game, and the troops need to be focused on Colgate right here, right now. If we kick like that, have penalties like that, and turn over the ball like that, against Colgate, we will lose, period. Just look at how they manhandled Holy Cross this weekend 41-7 - they'll be coming into Bethlehem high and confident.

Overall, however, a good day versus Bucknell. This could have been a trap game, and Lehigh got the job done despite the sporadic sloppy play. Tune in tomorrow for game balls.

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