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Lehigh 38, Bucknell 7, Final

Now this is the way you want to go into a huge game next week. We survive, and move on to another huge game at Worcester, Mass.

Tomorrow I'll be looking at the tape of the game, but I heard the recap on the radio today after I witnessed Princeton win a thrilling 31-28 win over Harvard. Things look like they may just be starting to come together on offense at the right time. What I liked best was the team stats: 0 turnovers, +3 on turnovers overall, 5-for-5 in the Red Zone, and (my favorite) 8 for 13 on 3rd-down conversions. Fewer mistakes and giveaways. All music to my ears.

Marques Thompson's nice game was great to see, as was Sedale Threatt's solid game, but I really was glad to see sophomore WR Sekou Yansane get involved in the game with 5 receptions and a TD. All short plays, and a heady grab on his TD. If he emerges as a consistent threat next to Trovato, we could make a run at this thing.

On defense, some surprising new names appear in the box score - sophomore LBs Tim Diamond and Brad Thomas. Not sure if senior LBs Rusty Campion and Micah Greene were hurt during the game, but the super sophomores seemed to both have really good days. That's something I will be watching in the game film. Senior CB Brannan Thomas also picked up a key interception, helping our secondary pull things together at the exact right time.

It wasn't a perfect game. Lehigh did stumble on defense at the end of the first half, letting up a TD that made some fans squirm, wondering if another dogfight would be on our hands. But overall, it was mostly joy today, and the kids should revel in this for today - then, go back to work for Holy Cross.

Lehigh survives, and move on. Next week, they face the 6-2 (3-0) Crusaders who beat 2-5 (1-1) Lafayette 38-28 this week. The Leopards have dropped 5 straight and you've got to think they are in serious trouble now, especially since next week they face 3-4 (2-0) Colgate, who walloped 2-5 (0-2) Fordham 46-3. With these wins, Colgate and Holy Cross have put the league on notice - they ARE title contenders. Fortunately, so did Lehigh.

We survive, and move on to Worcester. You'll be hearing a lot from me this week about Holy Cross. Next week's game could be the most important Lehigh/Holy Cross game since 1991.

Comments

Anonymous said…
21 comments last week after a loss and only 1 this week after a win? What's the problem? Is everyone upset they have nothing to bitch and complain about?
Anonymous said…
Very nice win and one the team should savor. I think the most positive stat was the penalty count. Did our alumni check for the refs finally arrive? This is the first time in years I don't recall seeing a holding penalty on Lehigh. I was almost as impressed by McGowan and Pastore as I was by Marcus' great effort. I hope Coean continues to change things up by bringing these guys in from time to time. I also didn't see Thomas on offense at all. Hopefully he'll be utilized for a couple trick plays next week.

The secondary and LB's still scare the hell out of me. Thank God Bucknell refused to throw the ball, even when they were 20 pts behind. I'd like to see Lehigh throw in a lot more blitzes than usual or Randolph will eat them alive.

Maybe the reason there are only a couple comments so far is because this recap just came up on the blog. Apparently Chuck actually has a life.
Anonymous said…
first of all THANK GOD FOR A WIN. This was a great game all around for lehigh. A few positive things stand out. 1. the decesion making by sedale threatt. when he got pressured or when he was flushed out of the pocket he made "the smart play" even if it was for little or no gain. 2. No turnover or big penalties. Lehigh has killed themselves recently with big penalties. 3. The use of #9 Yansane (sp?). he is so amazing, he just looks like a great wr. Built to play the game, i want to see him in there more often, he is a playmaker. Last note would be the use of branndon thomas. He was great last year and i guess hurt eariler in the year. But he came through with a nice INT, he will need to do more of the same next week if they want to stop randolph. I think lehigh needs to try to get pressure on Randolph he is only a soph so some pressure make cause him to make mistakes. Buti think it will come down to Sedale, plain and simple he needs to out score Randolph.
Anonymous said…
I don't mean to rain on the parade, but....

Bucknell against Lafayette a few weeks ago was just awful. They haven't improved much. On a challenging scheule such as lehigh's this season, they really are one of the easier tests.

The real challenge is coming up -- HC and Colgate. Ouch!!!

If Lehi takes them both, we're in good shape for the League title adn playoffs. The boys will deserve it after the challenging schedule they've had to confront this year.

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