Lehigh football saw its hopes of a Patriot League title slip away as it could not find the end zone for a game-tying touchdown at the end of a high scoring 49-42 affair against Colgate University on Saturday.
The Raiders (6-4, 5-0 Patriot), clinching the league title on their home field, gave their coach Dan Hunt a Gatorade shower as time expired to celebrate their win and a guaranteed appearance in the FCS playoffs. The loss eliminates the Mountain Hawks from contention in the Patriot League.
The teams traded touchdowns all afternoon as Lehigh (5-5, 3-2 Patriot) tied the game six separate times before failing to do so on its seventh attempt. Neither offense had trouble moving the ball, largely because both backfields were able to run effectively.
Though both offenses were operating efficiently, the game came down to the execution of a few plays close to the goal line.
Given chances to stop the Raiders on two different fourth and 1 scenarios, Lehigh was overpowered by a read option play that forced it to account for two talented runners. Melville held the first for himself, and the second was run by Russell, both for touchdowns.
With a chance of its own as the game entered its dying moments, Lehigh had 0:51 to manufacture a touchdown from Colgate’s 5-yard line down by seven points. After three incomplete passes, the Mountain Hawks were faced with fourth down.
On the pivotal play, Lehigh turned the ball over on downs after junior fullback Mackenzie Crawford caught a short pass, but was ultimately tackled for a loss.
For Lehigh, the ground game was led by its workhorse freshman running back Dom Bragalone, who rushed 25 times for 164 yards and three touchdowns.
Colgate used a committee of rushers including senior running back Demetrius Russell (20 attempts, 141 yards), sophomore running back James Holland (eight attempts, 27 yards), and dual threat junior quarterback Jake Melville (12 attempts, 132 yards). Each tallied two touchdowns on the afternoon.
Lehigh will have its final game in the annual rivalry matchup against Lafayette College next Saturday with a chance to end the season on a winning note.
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