It doesn't get much more frustrating than this.
When a game is tied 7-7 going into the final three minutes of the game and you have a 2nd and 4 on the opposition's 36 yard line, you've got to feel like you have a good chance to win the game. Never mind that senior RB Matt McGowan has struggled to get the running game going. Never mind that sophomore QB J.B. Clark hadn't found consistency yet on the evening. Never mind that we had a grand total of 234 total yards of offense up until that point in the game.
You throw all that out. You find a way to make a play, to get that first down, to give your kicker a chance to make that field goal and win the game. Never mind what folks will say about you or write about you on Sunday. Make plays, win the game.
On three plays on offense, Lehigh simply didn't make the plays they needed to make. Three rushes; one by McGowan through the line for two yards, another by McGowan for a yard and a half, and one by senior FB Adam Watson that looked - from the press box - to be enough for the first down.
The chains came out... and it was half a football short.
Four plays later -only two and a half hours after kickoff, one of the shortest games I've ever witnessed - Princeton kicker Connor Louden was booting the game-winning field goal for the Tigers. The Lehigh defense, who had made a heroic effort all night yet still gave up big chunks of yardage to the Tigers in too many spots this evening, gave up a 46 yard reception to Princeton WR Wil Thanheiser to put them easily into Louden's range - where he is almost always automatic.
Last year against Princeton, the Tigers gift-wrapped five turnovers which the Mountain Hawks gladly turned into points. This year, the Tiger offense was brutally efficient between the twenties and gave Lehigh only one gift - a missed block on a field-goal try. Junior LB Heath Brickner blocked the field-goal attempt and junior LB Al Pierce picked it up and rumbled all the way to the Princeton 8 yard before Brian Anderson, Princeton's QB, caught him from behind.
Princeton looked like an excellent team today that could definitely challenge for the Ivy League title. They looked a lot like the 2006 team with their precision - especially on offense, at times - and their sound play overall in doing the little things, like receivers blocking downfield, hitting gaps, that sort of thing. They're still a work in progress on offense, no question, but they showed signs that they could reach the level of execution of the great Jeff Terrell-led team that beat Lehigh 14-10 a few years ago.
Their front seven, far from being a weakness to be exploited, were a potent disruptive force. Lehigh has now faced two defensive lines that could be among the best in the FCS, and they clearly won that battle in the trenches, something that coach Coen wasn't too pleased with. "We struggled against their 'D' line, and their line did a good job,"Coen said. "[But] they didn't do anything we weren't prepared for."
But as well as they played, all of that didn't matter with three minutes to play. Lehigh had a golden opportunity to make some plays and win the game. They didn't. And the frustration and disappointment continues.
Coach Coen was upset about the game - and he used stronger words than 'upset' after the game.
When a game is tied 7-7 going into the final three minutes of the game and you have a 2nd and 4 on the opposition's 36 yard line, you've got to feel like you have a good chance to win the game. Never mind that senior RB Matt McGowan has struggled to get the running game going. Never mind that sophomore QB J.B. Clark hadn't found consistency yet on the evening. Never mind that we had a grand total of 234 total yards of offense up until that point in the game.
You throw all that out. You find a way to make a play, to get that first down, to give your kicker a chance to make that field goal and win the game. Never mind what folks will say about you or write about you on Sunday. Make plays, win the game.
On three plays on offense, Lehigh simply didn't make the plays they needed to make. Three rushes; one by McGowan through the line for two yards, another by McGowan for a yard and a half, and one by senior FB Adam Watson that looked - from the press box - to be enough for the first down.
The chains came out... and it was half a football short.
Four plays later -only two and a half hours after kickoff, one of the shortest games I've ever witnessed - Princeton kicker Connor Louden was booting the game-winning field goal for the Tigers. The Lehigh defense, who had made a heroic effort all night yet still gave up big chunks of yardage to the Tigers in too many spots this evening, gave up a 46 yard reception to Princeton WR Wil Thanheiser to put them easily into Louden's range - where he is almost always automatic.
Last year against Princeton, the Tigers gift-wrapped five turnovers which the Mountain Hawks gladly turned into points. This year, the Tiger offense was brutally efficient between the twenties and gave Lehigh only one gift - a missed block on a field-goal try. Junior LB Heath Brickner blocked the field-goal attempt and junior LB Al Pierce picked it up and rumbled all the way to the Princeton 8 yard before Brian Anderson, Princeton's QB, caught him from behind.
Princeton looked like an excellent team today that could definitely challenge for the Ivy League title. They looked a lot like the 2006 team with their precision - especially on offense, at times - and their sound play overall in doing the little things, like receivers blocking downfield, hitting gaps, that sort of thing. They're still a work in progress on offense, no question, but they showed signs that they could reach the level of execution of the great Jeff Terrell-led team that beat Lehigh 14-10 a few years ago.
Their front seven, far from being a weakness to be exploited, were a potent disruptive force. Lehigh has now faced two defensive lines that could be among the best in the FCS, and they clearly won that battle in the trenches, something that coach Coen wasn't too pleased with. "We struggled against their 'D' line, and their line did a good job,"Coen said. "[But] they didn't do anything we weren't prepared for."
But as well as they played, all of that didn't matter with three minutes to play. Lehigh had a golden opportunity to make some plays and win the game. They didn't. And the frustration and disappointment continues.
Coach Coen was upset about the game - and he used stronger words than 'upset' after the game.
Comments
By the way, Cecchini's offense at The Citadel scored 37 last week vs the same D-Line and Princeton defense. Joe passed him over twice for the HC job.
What hasn't been mentioned was the wrong message sent by the coaches before the half--we get the ball back on our 35 with about 30 secs and 2 timeouts--and we take a knee. Come on--howabout trying to win as opposed to trying not to lose!!!! There is a big difference and this decision showed that coaches did not have the confidence in the offense, the QB or themselves to try an move 35 yards or so to try at least a FG.
Despite Princeton moving the ball on us, we were in position to win this game and blinked. Cornell game will be huge going into League play to see what kind of character is there.
I don't think the current Lehigh President has the guts to can Joe.. He has the Lehigh heritage on his side but frankly all of our major sports have gone downhill in recent years especially football... I agree with all the posters that Lehigh football used to be fun even when we lost... I remember years ago during our playoff years, I would have to go to sports bars to watch games and even got Florida football fans interested in watching our games.... Maybe the rise in costs and academics has make it tougher to compete but in a way that is bogus.... All the teams in their leageue have the same issues and many manage to field decent or at least interesting teams... What is turning off the crowds in Bethlehem is boring football... I hope it turns around soon..