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Mountain Hawks Knock Rams off Mountain, 23-16

Bethlehem, PA- In a key early season conference match-up, the Lehigh Mountain Hawks (Engineers?) knocked off defending Patriot League champ Fordham from their pedestal to go 2-0 overall and in conference play.  The Rams came in 2-0 outscoring their opposition 106-35.  Lehigh’s 5’4” TB Jermaine Pugh carried for 238 yards, caught 5 passes for 35 and scored 2 TDs over a muddy terrain to outgain the befuddled Rams.  The stingy Lehigh defense bended but didn’t break allowing Fordham only six points after two turnovers close to their own goal line. 

     Fordham LB NaQuinton Gainous set the Rams up for their first score of the game picking off a tipped Chad Schwenk pass and returning it to the Hawk 6.   Two subsequent Ram penalties nullified the advantage and the Bronx team settled for FR Micah Clukey’s FG from 33 to go up, 3-0.  LU countered on its ensuing drive starting from the 46 and culminating in a 28 yard FG by PK Matt Douglas from 28 to finish the first stanza at 3-3.  The early Ram kick-offs were indicators that they miss last year’s All-League PK Mike Fordyce whom CFF saw star in last year’s play-off victory over Northeastern.

     In Q2, an interference call put Lehigh on the Fordham eight.  Hawk WR George Evans dove and mishandled a Schwenk pass in the end zone which prompted Guest Game Analyst Charlie Roberts (Lehigh) to blurt, “Steve Kreider would have had it, “ referring to the former Lehigh All-America wideout whom he’d seen play for his alma mater in the late ‘70’s.  Kreider would go on to play in the NFL for the Cincinnati Bengals.  Two plays later, Schwenk connected with the diminutive Pugh on a well-executed screen pass on the right side to score form 10 yards out to take a 10-3 lead.  On Lehigh’s next offensive series, Fordham SS Dan McGrath intercepted another Scwhenk pass and returned to Lehigh’s 21.  The Hawks yielded only six yards and again the Rams came away with only three after a turnover deep in Lehigh territory.  Clukey converted from 32 to trim the Hawk lead to 10-6 with 4:17 remaining in the half.  On the ensuing series, RB Pugh broke two tackles and sped down the right sideline for a 62-yard TD jaunt.  Douglas’ PAT extended the lead 17-6.  Pugh’s run must have made the Ram offense realize that the muddy field was not as slippery as it was earlier in the game.  Starting from their own 34, the Rams drove the length of the field finishing with a 16-yard TD pass from QB Kevin Eakin who double-pumped and hit WR Steve Modelski on a crossing pattern to finish the first half scoring.  Lehigh led 17-13.  Guest Game Analyst Alex Koreivo, fifth grade, enjoyed the halftime show, but counted only 57 members among Lehigh’s Marching 97!  The count seemed pretty far off for a school well known for it Engineering prowess.  Speaking of which, there seems to be some rumbling among the Alums to change the team name back to Engineers.  Alex recognized the LU alma mater tune as being the same as that of school song played on a cartoon show she watches, “Hey, Arnold!”  She sang along with the words to “Dear old PS 118.”

     Fordham QB Kevin Eakin (20-39, 183 yards) revved up the passing game again to start the second half, connecting for long gains with WR Steve Porco and TE Travis Johnson.  The Hawk defense stiffened once again closer to its own goal line, and Clukey scored again for 3 points from 19 yards out.  The Rams trailed 17-16, and the “O” seemed to be gaining momentum.  The Rams seemed primed to take advantage again after Lehigh missed a 34-yard FG, but the Hawk defense held tight pushing back the Rams eight yard on its next series and negating any yardage on its subsequent possession.

     Lehigh’s offense got going again on the legs of Pugh and RB David Wilson to get to the FU 3.  However, Lehigh was held to only three this time and FU remained within striking distance, 20-16.  Lehigh only allowed the Rams five yards on its next possession, and GGA Charlie Roberts claimed that it was time for his school to “eat some clock.”  They did.  A 20-yard TD run by Pugh was nullified though and again the Rams settled for 3 to lead 23-16 with 8:19 left.  Twice more, Fordham controlled the ball but the LU defense would not allow them past the midfield stripe.  With 3:33 in the balance, Fordham punted, and Lehigh worked the clock starting from its own 11.  Pugh sealed the win with a 15-yard run on third and five with 1:20 remaining.  With one time-out left, the Rams couldn’t get the ball back, and LU was in control.  Lehigh is 2-0 to start its run for a seventh Patriot League championship, fifth in six years.  Key games remain for both teams, but the winner here gets a leg up on the other who is a serious league contender.  Last year, the Hawks also defeated Fordham, but it was the Rams who won the league and made the play-offs.  Watch for Colgate, Bucknell, an improving Lafayette, and possibly Towson State, in its final year of league play before going to the Atlantic Ten, to challenge for this year’s title.  CFF seems to always see good games at Lehigh’s Goodman Stadium, and this one was no exception.

Extra points:  Traffic and weather delayed the start of our tailgate Party with Rich and Laurie Williams.  This year’s turkey was ready just as Fordham kicked off, but the main course was enjoyed after the game.  It was great food along with good beer, and in old time CFF fashion, we were the last one’s to leave the parking lot!  Thanks for cooking, Rich!

 CFF watched a loyal, loud Lehigh alum with a class of ’91 hat on attempt 3 push-ups after the first score.  He almost hurt himself.  It was painful to watch.  He never tried again, and it goes to show that times do change for all of us.

 At Notre Dame last week, we sat in front of a Japanese family that didn’t speak any English.  At Lehigh, we sat in front of a family with their Boston Terrier.  He couldn’t speak English either.  We wondered where BU fans went after their school dropped football.

Fordham sings the best and most easily remembered song from their side of the stadium, “FU! FU! FU and you and you and you!”  We remembered it sitting among the Ram fans last year in Brookline.  It’s got a nice ring to it!

 Lehigh has unique stands set up for its other sports' spectating.  A pressbox/PA booth sits atop two sets of bleacher seats facing in opposite directions.  On one side is a soccer field and on the other, lacrosse/field hockey.  Visiting fans must sit on the grass on the far side of each field or on the opposite side seats where they can’t view the action. GGA Roberts attributes the plan to Lehigh Engineers who will work for the government someday.  Marching 97, right? 

 During the second half, it was the first time CFF ever heard a referee warn the band over his microphone not to play during the action.  The band had to counter somehow, so they sang loudly instead.  LU still is one of my favorite bands since they still play “Centerfold” by The J. Geils Band.  One girl did a “striptease” to stripper music.  Maybe next time she can do something to “Centerfold”!  I could choreograph something for her!

 After CFF completes the Goal, one option in the future may be a Lehigh season ticket package.  The Hawks/Engineers are always competitive.  They schedule interesting non-conference teams like Penn, Delaware, St. Mary’s (CA), and Villanova.  They vie for a legitimate 1AA play-off each year as League champs.  The Stadium is about an hour drive for CFF.  Goodman is in a beautiful setting in the Lehigh Valley.  They provide seating with backs.  Tailgating is easy.  The concessions are varied.  Tickets cost only $15 and parking is free.  Rich Williams said we probably wouldn’t have to get season tickets to enjoy all that.  However, it would guarantee us seats to the longest played all-time rivalry in college history, Lafayette-Lehigh.  That sells out just about every year, and with that in mind, it could be our post-Goal plan for the future.