Here's a preview of something every Lehigh fan would not want to see this coming Saturday at Goodman - a fired-up Georgetown team, looking to finish at .500 in the Patriot League, and with a winning record - celebrating on our home field after a shock victory. As great as the Colgate victory was, seeing this on Saturday would shoot out Patriot League title hopes (and I-AA playoff hopes) squarely in the foot.Having said that, it's time to celebrate the Colgate victory, the inaugural "Engine 13" Cup win, the vital Patriot League win that puts us firmly back in control of our title destiny, by sharing Game Balls for this great game.
On offense - what can you say. It's going to look a lot like Bucknell's game balls. As a matter of fact, it's going to be identical. The whole "O" line is getting another game ball - sophomore T Jimmy Kehs, senior T Tom Toth, junior G Jim Petrucelli, junior G Adam Selmasska, and junior C John Reese. Let's look at the numbers. 385 yards and 5 TDs - including 198 rushing yards against the one of the best rushing defenses in all of Division I football. Sacks - 0. You can even add to that a key fumble recovery by T Tom Toth that preserved a drive that resulted in 7 Lehigh points. The "O" line is starting to look like one of the best in the Patriot League - and they've earned another game ball.
Yep, and the obvious guys are also going to get another game ball. Senior RB Eric Rath and senior... I mean sophomore QB Sedale Threatt get the honors again. Rath's 4 TDs and 100 big all-purpose yards give him yet another game ball - including a TD leap that cleared the pile in the 3rd quarter that surprised me immensely. As for Threatt, he's still not "The Total Package" - I'm waiting for that 300 yard passing day to bequeath that nickname - but he does get another game ball (as well as Patriot League Offensive Player of the Week) for his 187 yard passing day as well as a huge 100 yard rushing day, including 2 clutch runs that set up 10 points in the first half. Congratulations to everyone!
On defense, it's definitely going to the guy you're thinking - senior DB Drew "Porter" Nelson. Yes, that's a new nickname (a reference to this Mel Gibson movie) - and Drew, you've earned it! 5 tackles and a fumble recovery - but Drew is getting it for the play of the game, the backbreaking 31 yard screen pass that was intercepted, and rumbling into the end zone while eluding a tackle. This game ball should go well with your Patriot League Defensive Player of the Week honors. Congratulations!
Special teams is going to be junior K Justin "Sweet" Musiek. (Now there's a nickname I've been waiting a long time to use.) 4 for 5 for extra points (one was blocked), but Justin converted on 3 very huge FGs, including 2 in the first half that made it a tie game at halftime. Those three big FGs kept the pressure on Colgate, and his execution deserves player of the week honors. Congratulations!
Here's the link to all the press writeups on the game. The mash-up will come tomorrow. Be sure to browse by tomorrow!
Allentown Morning Call:
Colgate Can't Handle Lehigh's Big Threatt
Redemption Comes For Lehigh DB Nelson
Colgate Win Puts Lehigh In Good Position
Easton Express-Times:
Lehigh in Championship Mode
Nelson Cherishes Patriot League Payback
Brown & White:
Strong Second Half Propels #16 Hawks
Utica Observer-Dispatch:
Threatt Real Threat as Lehigh Downs Colgate
Comments
Still need improvement, though. 535 yards yielded on defense is way too much. Not sure why we wait until the second half to 'turn up the heat' on the opposing QB, but clearly it has worked when employed this year.
Also look for Georgetown and Fordham to pull out the stops--some freak plays and onsides kicks. To knock us off would be a huge feather in their caps. Let's not get carried away with the playoff talk.
-Ngineer
Game ball should also be given to the devoted Lehigh fans that attended the game. They, along with about 10 band members, made nearly as much noise as the Colgate stands. Being as close to the field as we were you could see the players responding to the crowd cheers (and boos) as well as to the music (clapping in time).