Lehigh Spoils Lafayette Play-off bid in 145th meeting, 27-21;

Pierce's INT thwarts Leopards in first OT

Bethlehem, PA - With not much more left to play for other than pride, the Lehigh Mountain Hawks (4-7,4-2) knocked off archrival and FCS No. 21 Lafayette (8-3, 4-2) in overtime in the 145th meeting between the two teams, most in the NCAA history.  Lehigh scored six points on its first possession in OT on their second play as JB Clark connected with TE Alex Wojdowski for an eight-yard TD pass.  Jake Peery's PAT went wide right putting Lehigh at risk against a usually potent Lafayette offense.  However, it wasn't as potent today, and the game ended when Rob Curley's pass attempt on his team's first play in OT was picked off by LB Al Pierce to seal the win for Lehigh.  The win put the Hawks in a three-way tie for second in the Patriot League with Lafayette and Colgate who both started the day in the FCS Top 25. It was the second year in a row the Mountain Hawks defeated their rivals who sported a much better record, and they eliminated any chance for the Leopards to make the play-offs as an at-large entry.  GGA and Lehigh grad Charles Roberts enjoyed the day and the victory for his alma mater.  We plan to try to get to next year's 146th edition to see the ancient rivalry played at Lafayette's Fisher Field.  Seeing two long-time, "small school" rivals play before a packed house for pride, a playoff bid, or for a championship in the confines of their small stadiums and without the hindrance of TV time-outs, truly adds to the passion we have for college football.

     Neither offense capitalized on their initial drives thanks to turnovers.  Lehigh started the game with a no huddle offense but Clark's  fumble set the Leopards up on their own 26.  They drove until WR Kyle Hayes, former QB at Kittatinny HS (NJ) threw an option pass toward the end zone where it was picked off by Lehigh's John Veniero at the one.  His momentum carried him out of the end zone, but not to his team's benefit as the refs spotted the Hawks with their backs at the one.  The Hawks moved the ball and returned the favor to the Leopards by spotting them back at their own two on their subsequent punt.  This didn't hinder the visitors though as they drove the length of the field where Rob Curley (21 of 28, 300 yards, 2 INTs, and 3 TDs) connected with Mitchell Bennett on a corner route from seven yards away to take a 7-0 lead early in the second period.  The Leopards could not however take advantage of a muffed fair catch by Jarard Cribbs to take over on the Lehigh 41.  On a fourth and three, Lehigh knocked down a Curley pass and took over on their own 34. The Mountain Hawks did not capitalize from there however.  Lafayette drove again later in the period down to the Lehigh 20.  Mitchell dropped a pass there, but worse for the Leopards, Curley followed up with a pass into the end zone directly to the Hawks' Bryan Andrews for another turnover.  No Leopard receiver was anywhere near the ball.  Lehigh capitalized on this turnover driving 80 yards finishing off with Clark's 2-yard TD pass in the right flat to Jim Flynn to tie the score, 7-7, with 28 seconds left in the half.

     We were entertained by both bands at the half, and Lehigh's Marching 97 seemed to actually have about that many musicians in it this year. One year, we counted about 50.   They finished off their performance with the "1812 Overture".  Unlike our trip to the 135th edition of this classic 10 years ago, we left early and hit no major traffic congestion on the way to Goodman Stadium.  We parked close to the stadium in the grassy lot to the north and enjoyed "Bloodys and beers" for a liquid breakfast.  We parked among mostly Lehigh fans.  One woman had a split allegiance as she wore a sweatshirt of Lafayette and of Lehigh sewn together right down the middle.  Charlie and I ventured into the stadium about an hour before kickoff.  Though we whisked into the parking lot ( no charge for parking despite the biggest game of the season at Lehigh every other year)  without hitting any traffic, the same could not be said for the line leading into the ladies' room outside the main gate.  Five young co-eds joined the men's room line saying that they could no longer wait in the much slower ladies' room line.  They waited in line to use the toilets along with the guys.  This was a CFF.com first!  Charlie and I enjoyed beef brisket sandwiches and hot apple cider once inside Goodman.  The brisket was highly recommended on the onion buns by the concession workers.  They hit the spot.  We had great seats several rows down from the pressbox in section WP on the 45-yard line.  The only slight inconvenience was sitting in the cooler shade than out in the sun.  Charlie's encouraged to re-up for his mini package at Goodman next season.  Home games include Villanova, Princeton, Harvard, and Colgate.  For various reasons, we may plan next season's Big Tailgate at the Fordham game on Oct. 2.

     Lafayette got off to a fast start in the third period driving 82 yards for a TD when Curley connected with Michael Bolton for a 3-yard scoring pass to take a 14-7 lead.  I thought this might be a repeat performance of the Bucknell game I attended when the Bison scored late in the second period to knot the score at seven-all, and then the Leopards scored on their first four possession of the second half for their 35-14 win.  That didn't happen against the Mountain Hawks.  Lehigh punted from the 40 after its first second half possession.  Nathan Padia fielded it at about the 18 on the near sideline.  He cut back across the field but deep near the end zone to avoid tacklers before the ball just slipped out of his hand and into the end zone.  John Veniero recovered in the end zone for the Lehigh TD to tie it up again, 14-14, but only after Peery's extra point hit the upright and fell through for the extra point!

     With the score tied starting the final period, Lafayette drove to the Lehigh four.  On third and goal, Soph LB Mike Groome out of Lenape Valley HS (NJ) assisted on the stop near the sideline.  Instead of kicking a FG, Lafayette HC Frank Tavani decided to go for it, but Lehigh's defense came up with another big stop to take over on downs. Why the Leopards didn't go for three, we don't understand, especially after being intercepted in the end zone on two previous drives.   From the three, Lehigh got out to the thirty from where Clark came up with his biggest pass play of the game connecting with De'Vaughn Gordon for a 63 yard completion.  Anthony Fossati powered it in from the one to give Lehigh its first lead of the day.  Peery's kick was true for a 21-14 lead.  The teams traded punts after consecutive three and outs.  Lafayette started on its own 25.  Curley's 21-yard run on a first and 20 got them to the Lehigh 36.  Two plays later, he connected with Kyle Hayes who made a diving catch for a 34-yard touchdown play.  With 1:43, the long-time rivals were tied at 21-21in front of 15,714 avid fans.  The Mountain Hawks used up much of the time before punting away to Lafayette who let the time expire on their own 16. 

   Two plays into OT, Lehigh scored, but missed the extra point.  Charlie admitted that could cost his alma mater - known as the Engineers and not Mountain Hawks when he attended - the game.  Curley dropped back from the 25 looked right, but turned and threw left right to Pierce. Game over! The Lehigh faithful stormed the field to celebrate the big upset.  They finished the season tied for second in the Patriot League with their archrival at 4-2, but more than that, they killed their prospect on going on to the FCS playoffs starting next week.  Great game, great time, great college football.  It was definitely worthwhile, and we hope to do this oldest of all college football rivalries in more years to come.

Extra points: Lafayette now holds a 76-64 lead over Lehigh in the series.  There have been 5 ties.  This was only the second meeting that went into overtime.  The first and only other was played in 1995 as Brian Klingerman's one-handed catch gave Lehigh a 37-30 win to overcome a 30-14 deficit in the second half.  The first game was played in 1884.  The two teams met more than once a season on several occasions.  After Lafayette-Lehigh, the most oft played rivalries are Yale-Princeton (132), Yale - Harvard (125), Texas-Texas A&M (115), Stanford- Cal (111), and Army-Navy (110).  We've seen four of these rivalries played.  We'll have to travel to Texas and California to see the other two.

The 1979 Lehigh football team was introduced between quarters.  They were runner-ups in that season's national championship.

Next season, Lehigh plays road games at Drake and at New Hampshire. 

WR Kyle Hayes of Lafayette and LB Mike Groome of Lehigh have played against one another since pee-wee football days and high school as their respective schools, Kittatinny and Lenape Valley were both members of the Sussex County (NJ ) Interscholastic League. As sophomores, they get to play one another two more times.

Charlie reminisced about his Lehigh days.  An admin held a freshman class meeting for the entire class and requested they come up with a class slogan.  One girl blurted out, " We're the class of '81 - drinking beer and having fun!"   It met applause from her classmates.  Charlie wanted to meet her, but didn't get the chance.  The slogan was turned down.  I'm sure it remained as an unofficial slogan.   He also remembers presenting a cashier with his Lehigh credit card.  The woman handed it back saying, "I'm sorry, Sir.  We don't accept these here."  Totally befuddled, Charlie didn't know what to do until the woman smiled and informed him that she went to Lafayette.  He had a good laugh.  I assume the woman was the owner of the establishment.  I can't imagine paying for a Lafayette education to work a cash register.

Noticed a few other Lehigh grads sporting "Engineers" sweatshirts.  We wondered why they changed.  Wonder if it's politically incorrect to be an Engineer?

Rob Curley's 300 passing yards gave him 3,044 for the season, a new Lafayette record.  He entered the game third in the nation in FCS passing efficiency.  JB Clark was named the game's MVP for the second year in a row.  Curley was MVP in 2007.  Clark, a junior, will return next year to try to win the award for a third time - a first in Lafayette-Lehigh history.  He was 22 of 38 for 292 yards and 2 TDs with no INTs.  Lehigh came into this game leading the nation with 37 sacks.  They came away with two.  Lafayette sacked Clark six times.  Two INTs in the end zone and the failure to put up a FG in the fourth had as much to do with Lafayette's loss as did Pierce's INT in the OT.