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Patriot League All-League Teams Include Nine Mountain Hawks

The good news keeps pouring in for Lehigh, as the Patriot League announced their all-League team for 2008, and the list included seven first-team players and two second-team players.  

Both the offensive player of the year and defensive player of the year were - for the first time ever -  repeat selections.   Both Holy Cross senior QB Dominic Randolph  and "That school in Easton"'s senior LB Andy Romans (who cheap-shotted sophomore QB J.B. Clark on the final play of the game last Saturday) were player of the year selections in 2007.

In addition, Colgate freshman RB Nate Eachus showed up on the Patriot League first-team and also won freshman of the year honors - the last time that was done was, well, when Colgate senior RB Jordan Scott did the honors in 2004.  

Both of these Raiders, of course, haven't finished their season: they're playing at Villanova in the first round of the FCS playoffs, thanks to their 28-27 victory over Holy Cross this weekend.  As for the Crusaders - their big question is going to be: will their senior QB Randolph stay with Holy Cross with a medical redshirt that is available to him to try to get a Patriot League title - or will he try to a shot in the NFL?

Lehigh Athletics gives us more detail on who was selected on the Mountain Hawks:
The Mountain Hawks had seven selections on the First-Team, including five members of its defense, which led the Patriot League in sacks, and ranked second in scoring defense and rushing defense.  The seven First-Teamers were the second most in the Patriot League, behind only league champion Colgate’s eight selections.
Even more encouraging for Lehigh fans is the fact that three of the seven first-teamers will be back next year, and one member of the second team.  One of those players, junior LB Matt Cohen, led the Patriot League in sacks (with 6 1/2), tackles for loss (an eye-popping 17), and tied for the lead interceptions (3) with a returning player on the list, junior DB/PR Jarard Cribbs (who also led the Patriot League in passes defended and punt return yardage).

Another returning Mountain Hawk, LFN fave junior DL B.J. Benning, was second in the league in sacks with 6 and showed himself to be a dominating interior lineman.  And the fourth, sophomore OL William Rackley, started 11 games last year at right tackle and promises to be a linchpin on this "O" line for the next two years.

The full list of Lehigh honorees are:

First team Offense:
Sophomore OL William Rackley

First Team Defense:
Junior DL B. J. Benning
Senior DL Brian Jackson
Junior LB Matt Cohen
Senior LB Tim Diamond
Senior DB Quadir Carter
Senior P/K Jason Leo

Second Team Offense:
Senior OL Kevin Bayani

Second Team Defense:
Sophomore DB Jarard Cribbs

Congratulations!
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Comments

Anonymous said…
It is unusual for a underclassman like Rackley to make first team in the OL. Usually, both the first and second team OLines are dominated by Seniors and Juniors.
9:17 AM
Anonymous said…
If you think it's a disagrace that Lafayette "senior LB Andy Romans (who cheap-shotted sophomore QB J.B. Clark on the final play of the game last Saturday)" was a 2008 Patriot League player of the year, you can do something about it.

Write to

Carolyn Schlie Femovich
Executive Director
Patriot League
3773 Corporate Parkway
Suite 190
Center Valley, PA 18034

and ask how someone who flagantly violated the rules knowing it was his last play and he wouldn't be punished can be named player of the year? And ask her what penalty is to be placed on Romans, Coach Frank Taverna, and Lafayette to make sure such dangerous and unsportsmanlike acts aren't repeated in her league.

The relevant rule is

2008 NCAA Football Rule 9, SECTION 1. Contact and Interference Fouls,Flagrant Fouls,
ARTICLE 1. "Before the game, during the game and between periods, all flagrant fouls require disqualification."

GCW50
1:02 PM
Anonymous said…
We have some nice talent coming back but the unknown factor will be how the sophomores and juniors to be mature. Is there help for the run game? Will there be playmakers to take over at WR? What about the front seven?

As for the Lafayette game - finally! That swagger, that sense of inevitability that the team will prevail against a good opponent. Look it up....since that debacle in November 2005 when Hurt caught the pass to steal the win, Lehigh has been in no less than nine close games (decided by less than a TD) and the results are losses to- Albany by 2, Princeton by 4, Harvard by 2, Yale by 6, Colgate by 1, Harvard by 3, Cornell by 1, Princeton by 3, Lafayette by 4.

Has this team learned how to win? That's the biggest question. The four losses by a total of 8 points (this year) show a team with talent that somehow manages to make mistakes that turn possible wins into aggravating losses. Only time will tell whether Andy can take this and turn it into positive momentum. My bet is that he can, but he needs a big recruiting year this year.
1:17 PM
Anonymous said…
There is a lot of talent in the wings from the past two years of recruiting. Question is using it. Some of the underclass WRs have excellent speed. They need to show they can catch and run good routes. RB is a little thin after Walker. I am sure recruiting will be focusing on that. I see a very good core of athletes returning for a promising 2009.
5:43 PM
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