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Showing posts from November 9, 2008

Lehigh 31, Bucknell 15, final

It's a win. Was it always pretty? Hardly. But it's a win, and I'll gladly take the feeling of a win this week over a loss. Fortunately for Lehigh, the offense scored right out of the blocks, with a 16 yard scamper by sophomore RB Jay Campbell. On Bucknell's first offensive drive, junior LB Matt Cohen , scoop-and-scored a Bison fumble to allow Lehigh shoot out to a 14-0 lead. Bucknell really didn't recover after that, but the final outcome was far from assured by the end of the first half. After a block of senior P/K Jason Leo' s punt, the senior actually made a heady play to boot to ball out of the end zone, denying the Bison a touchdown. Then when Lehigh got the ball back after a Bucknell drive went nowhere (helped hugely by some big Bucknell penalties), Lehigh stepped forward into Bucknell territory... then made three huge steps backward with a fumble, a huge sack for a loss, and then an interception (the "trifecta of terror" for Lehigh fans, al...

Preview of Bucknell at Lehigh: Senior Day

(Photo Credit: Bucknell Athletics) For the second year in a row, Lehigh plays this game against Bucknell out of the playoff hunt. Yet this year on "Senior Day" the Bucknell game takes on more significance than last year: it's Lehigh's "Senior Day", and the seniors will be looking to play at Murray Goodman stadium one last time and leave the stadium as winners. There are twenty members of the senior class that will be honored this weekend, fourteen of which are starters. While this weekend has been deemed " Military Appreciation Weekend " (and two of our nation's bravest, U.S. Army Specialist Angel (Manny) Pina of Mifflinburg and U.S. Army Staff Sergeant Jonathan Berceli of Pittsburgh, will be honorary Lehigh captains this weekend), it's also a good time to list the seniors who have given four years (or more) of their lives to the Lehigh football program. They deserve to go out as winners. I'm not going to mention numbers; they've...

Drink of the Week for "The Rivalry"?

Thought I'd try something interesting here. I'd like to hear your nominations for "LFN's Drink of the Week" for " The Rivalry " (or Lehigh/Lafayette, for you newcomers here). What drink sums up this year's game in Easton? Yuengling ? Any variety of wine? Perhaps a drink including Jagermeister ? After the Bucknell game, I'll put up a poll with everyone's favorites, and you, the readers, will decide what the drink will be! And the winning drink will be posted in my preview of the game next Thursday, Leave a comment on this post with your nomination below!

J.B. Clark Is Player of the Week Again

Despite the disappointing performance this Saturday, sophomore QB J.B. Clark once again gets LFN Player of the Week honors this week. Clark had his best day statistically in a Mountain Hawk uniform, going 24-for-39 with 338 yards passing and 4 TDs (and no interceptions). He also showed a ton of grit, rallying from a 21-6 deficit for 27 unanswered points. He could have very easily had five TDs: he hooked up on a 58 yard strike to senior WR Sekou Yansane that was set up a 6 yard TD run by senior RB Adam Watson , too. His gutty performance makes him the Player of the Week this week. Game balls will be going to: Reader's Choice: Sophomore QB J.B. Clark Offense: (tie) Senior WR Sekou Yansane and senior WR Mike Fitzgerald (Yansane: 6 receptions, 113 yards, 1 TD, Fitzgerald, 7 catches, 111 yards, 2 TDs) Defense: Senior DT Brian Jackson (7 tackles, 2 tackles for loss) Special teams: Sophomore DB/KR John "Fear Itself" Kennedy (5 kickoff returns for 89 yards, plus a 15 y...

Lambert Power Rankings, 11/11/2008

For those that have been following my Lambert Power Rankings this year, James Madison has pulled so far away from everyone. The regular-season LPR title could still be poached by a team (or two), but it's looking pretty likely that it will be going to them: 1. (1) James Madison (CAA, 8-1, 98.5 points) 2. (3) Richmond (CAA, 7-3, 92 points) 3. (2) New Hampshire (CAA, 7-2, 83.5 points) 4. (7) Villanova (CAA, 7-2, 80.5 points) 5T. (5T) William & Mary (CAA, 7-2, 77.5 points) 5T. (8T) Maine (CAA, 7-3, 77.5 points) 7. (4) Colgate (Patriot, 7-2, 74.5 points) 8. (8T) Albany (NEC, 7-3, 73 points) 9. (10) Lafayette (Patriot, 7-2, 71 points) 10. (5T) UMass (CAA, 6-4, 68.5 points) Let's just say if the Dukes beat William & Mary this weekend, they will clinch the LPR regular-season title. Interesting as well that there has been no movement in and out of the Top 10 this week, only a shuffling of teams. The official ECAC Lambert poll this week shows: 1. James Madison ...

Official Release: Colgate 34, Lehigh 33

The official release for the game from Lehighsports.com was released yesterday . Too bad the outcome wasn't as great as the picture leading into the article. BETHLEHEM, Pa. – Colgate quarterback Greg Sullivan hit Pat Simonds on a seven yard touchdown pass with 2:28 to play to lift the 24th-ranked Raiders to a come-from-behind 34-33 win over Lehigh Saturday in front of 10,841 on Family Weekend at Goodman Stadium. Sophomore J.B. Clark threw for a career-high 338 yards and four touchdowns, to lead the Mountain Hawks, who trailed 21-6 midway through the second quarter, but rallied to take a 12 point lead halfway through the third quarter. The loss drops Lehigh to 3-6 overall and 2-2 in the Patriot League, while Colgate remains tied atop the league standings at 8-2, 4-0 in league games. "We probably deseve a better fate than we've gotten," Lehigh head coach Andy Coen said afterwards. "But it is what it is. I certainly don't feel like we're a 3-6 football te...

Sunday's Word: Shots

Originally I was going to go with the word "momentum" here, but after reading the fan reaction to the loss over the past 24 hours, I'm going with a different word. Folks out there are mad. Exasperated at a 3-6 team that looks like they should be better than their record. Frustrated at seeing so many "shots" at close wins not pan out - not only this season, but stretching into last season as well. Remember the fourth-quarter interception at Fordham, down 21-18? Remember "that school in Easton" converting a 4th-and goal late in the 4th quarter to win "The Rivalry" last year? All this frustration seems to be concentrated on the latest set of play calls at midfield. Fans are taking "shots" at the last offensive play call be Lehigh on Saturday - a fade pattern on 4th down and 2 to senior WR Sekou Yansane which ended up being an incomplete pass. Colgate gets the ball on downs; they run out the clock, and escape Lehigh with a "...