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BREAKING: Brandon Bialkowski To Have Season-Ending Collarbone Surgery

Late on Monday night, senior QB Brandon Bialkowski delivered the news that Lehigh fans feared, but also suspected: that he will be gone for the rest of the year with season-ending collarbone surgery.

It appears that the collarbone was broken so badly that he'll need an iron plate and screws to reconnect it.

The guy we call "BB" got hurt in the game against Bucknell, after leading the Mountain Hawks to a 6-2 record and positioning Lehigh towards another potential Patriot League title.

Thoughts and prayers to him and his family.

Here's what he posted on Facebook:
I appreciate everyone who has been following me through my senior year of football. Unfortunately, I will be having season ending collarbone surgery on Thursday. I love all the fans and support I have received this year and will cherish it forever! Can't wait to celebrate a Patriot League title with my team in a few weeks!
I think I can speak for all Lehigh fans in thanking BB for the amazing work he's done this season - and to wish him a speedy recovery.

This season he went 216/337, with a 64% completion percentage with 18 TDs, averaging almost 331 passing yards per game.  He added 111 positive yards rushing and a rushing touchdown as well.

This also means that the starting quarterback two Saturdays from now will be either junior QB Matt McHale, junior QB A.J. Visconti or freshman QB Nick Shafnisky.

It promises to be an intense week off for the coaching staff to figure out who the starter will be.

And whomever he is, BB will be behind him.

UPDATE: Keith Groller of the Morning Call added a statement from head coach Andy Coen:
"It's absolutely disappointing for him, a kid who did all the right things and learned the system and waited for his turn," Coen said. "When he got his turn, he certainly took advantage of it. He's not only a great example for his teammates, but to kids playing football all over the place. 
"This is a world where if you're not playing as a freshman or sophomore, you're unhappy. This is a guy who waited his turn behind some good players [previous starters QB Chris Lum and QB Mike Colvin]  and took advantage of it and put his team in a position where it could win a championship."

UPDATE 2: Mike LoRe of the Express-Times also got a statement from coach Coen:
"I feel bad for the kid, I really do," Coen said. "I think he's an outstanding example of being a great teammate. In this world, kids and parents think kids should be playing as freshmen and sophomores and very rarely do you see kids hang in there, learn and try to improve themselves when they're not playing. He did that for three years. The benefit he got out of that was maybe being most prolific quarterback in Lehigh history in the eight games he played. He did a great job. I'm really proud of the kid and how he's handled everything."
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