Players of the Week and Press Roundup, Lehigh at Central Connecticut State

Below the flip, find my choices for Players of the Week, and a list of the recaps of the game from around the internet.



This week's LFN Players of the Week awards go to:

Offense: Junior RB Keith Sherman (9 carries, 42 yards rushing, 2 TDs)

Offense: Senior RB Zach Barket (14 , 11carries, 66 yards, 1 TD)

Defense: Senior CB Gabe Johnson (6 tackles, 1 forced fumble, 1 fumble recovery)

Defense: Junior LB Nigel Muhammad (11 tackles, 1 forced fumble, 1 near-interception, 3 big 3rd down stops)

Special Teams: Junior P Tim Divers (3 punts, 42.9 average, 0 yards in punt returns)

Underclassman: Freshman LB Matt Laub (4 tackles, 1 sack)

Congratulations to the winners!

Groller's Corner: Lehigh 2-0 for the first time since 2003
Groller's Corner: The Good and the Not-So-Good from Week 2 

What's frustrating, the downside is how we can look so good on one drive and then atrocious on the next," Lehigh coach Andy Coen said. "The degree of consistency really has to improve."

"It was great to come out and execute the game plan we worked on all week long, but we've just got to be more consistent," Colvin said. "Sometimes we look like an all-star team and sometimes we look like a JV team. It's confidence to know that we can rebound from all that and come back and put drives together and I think we had four or five good drives together and three or four pretty bad drives."

Morning Call: Coach Sawyer an unsung hero for Lehigh

"Brett does a great job for us every week," Andy Coen said. "He's a really bright guy who loves football. He works the kids, pushes them hard, but they love to play for him. He's kind of the classic O-line coach."

Will Rackley, a third-round NFL draft pick beginning his second season with Jacksonville (he suffered a high ankle sprain and is currently on Injured Reserve), worked closely with Sawyer. Lehigh had four all-league linemen last season and at least one first team, all-league selection in all six seasons with Sawyer.

Considering that Coen was an offensive lineman in his college playing days at Gettysburg and coached the position at various college stops before becoming an offensive coordinator and head coach, he greatly values Sawyer.

"You need to have a guy like Dave Cecchini and you need to have a guy like Brett," Coen said. "They kind of rely on each other. Dave will ask Brett what he thinks we should run on short yardage, for example. I am blessed to have a great staff."

Express-Times: Josh Parris steps up for Lehigh 

“It was definitely a lot of fun getting some good action in the game,” said Parris, who gained more playing time when Lee Kurfis went out with an injury. “It was great being able to contribute when the team needed me to. I have to take full advantage of the time I get on the field by helping my team win. I have to come out play consistently and play hard.”

Coen has been high on Parris since he enrolled at Lehigh after an outstanding high school career in football and basketball.

Initially, the transition was hard for Parris because he was used to just running past defenders. Collegiate players are faster and stronger.

“It was a pretty big adjustment. The game is a lot faster than high school,” Parris said. “This being my second year I’m definitely a lot more comfortable than my freshman year. Last year, it was a huge adjustment for me going against the bigger and faster guys, but having a year of strength and conditioning in this program has helped me get past those guys and run crisper routes. It’s really helped.”

Express-Times: Lehigh University inconsistent in 35-14 win over Central Connecticut State

“We knew coming in that any option team is susceptible to turnovers with the pitches and exchanges,” said LB Nigel Muhammad, who had a team-high 11 tackles. “We knew there was a good chance to do that (force turnovers), but we had to capitalize on it when the ball was on the ground.”

“We have to become more consistent and that will come with time since it’s early in the season,” said RB Keith Sherman, who had 42 yards on nine rushes. “We have to keep scoring every time we’re on the field because we all believe we can do that.

“A win is a win and we’re always happy about that.”

Brown & White: Football team defeats Central Connecticut State University, earns second win

Add another tally to the win column for the Lehigh University Mountain Hawks after their 35-14 triumph over the Central Connecticut State University Blue Devils today in New Britain, Conn.

Heavy rain and windy weather had nothing on the Hawks as they took the field for their second game of the season and their first on the road.