I'm sitting here looking at this Morning Call photo and wondering: Was this shot against a green screen? Seriously, it's a nice action shot of Sedale, and I just wish I had the same photo editing program that they did.Today or tomorrow my I-AA.org piece should be released, complete with pictures and the full deal on the game. But I will do my press roundup and give out my game balls before I do that.
On offense, the game ball is going to the guy in the picture, junior QB Sedale Threatt. He may give himself a tough time for a few missed passes, but I sure won't with a 10-for-17 day with 185 yards passing, 75 yards rushing and 2 TDs. Like last year versus Colgate, Threatt got the job done and gave their defense fits. Sedale, you got a well-deserved game ball.
You look at the defensive statistics and see senior NT Erik Rakus, who is this week's defensive game ball winner for the second straight week. Four tackles? Granted, he had two tackles for loss and an interception that bounced off the lineman. But the statistician ought to take a look at the game films again. "Big Daddy" Rakus hurried both Colgate QBs incessantly all game, had his body flying into the Colgate backfield all day, and even caused Colgate's coach Dick Biddle to rotate his line in the middle of the game in order to contain him. If you had a statistic called "Play Disruptions", Erik "Big Daddy" Rakus would top the list this week, and he also gets another well-deserved game ball.
Special teams sees two game balls this week. Sophomore PK Jason Leo is the obvious choice with 2 punts averaging 40 yards, and 3-for-4 on FGs, including a 41 yarder that was vital in keeping the game out of reach. But senior FB Greg "Grandpa" Fay is also getting the game ball for making that heads-up play on Colgate's onsides kick. Seeing the onsides kick sail in the air 15 yards, he alertly called for a fair catch while Colgate barrelled into him and recovered the ball. His heads-up play kept possession in Lehigh's hands while we drove to get a crucial FG to keep the game out of reach. Sometimes, it's one play that gets you the game ball, and that momentum-changing heads-up play can be the difference between winning and losing.
Congratulations to all!
Press Roundup:
Allentown Morning Call:
Threatt's Game Is Back On Track
Upshot: ''[Jason] Leo kicked too many field goals for me,'' Threatt said, referring to the three field goals from the Lehigh placekicker that accounted for all of the team's scoring in the second half. ''I was a little upset about that. I only want him out there for extra points and kickoffs. I blame myself for [us not scoring more touchdowns]. I had Frank [Trovato] open one time and I had Marques [Thompson] and other guys open and I have to step up and make the throw.''
Groller: Lehigh's Turnaround Couldn't have Been Timed Any Better
Upshot: ''The only people who didn't have confidence were you guys,'' said smiling nose tackle Eric Rakus, referring to the media. ''Everybody on the team had confidence in coach Coen. They would run through a wall for him.''Confidence is such a big thing. A lot of the game is upstairs mentally. You need anything to get an edge. We were not a team that was lacking in confidence. We just weren't a team that was making the big plays when we needed to. We needed to find a way to get it done. Now, we're finding those ways.''
Brown & White:
Football Team Remains Perfect In Patriot League
Upshot: Biddle admitted that Rakus gave the Raiders problems. “We moved our starting center to guard and our freshman to the center,” Biddle said. “Then he was having problems sometimes with their nose [guard Rakus], so we put our most experienced guy in.”
Utica Observer-Dispatch:
Raiders Fall 23-15 to Lehigh
Upshot: With the loss, Colgate falls to 3-6 — which means the Raiders will finish with a losing record for the first time in head coach Dick Biddle's 11-year career in Hamilton.
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