After struggling in a 23-21 loss against the Monmouth Hawks in its season opener Sept. 3, the Lehigh football team is now preparing to play in an even tougher matchup at No. 22/19 Villanova on Saturday.
“(Villanova) is probably going to be the most talented team we will play all season, especially on the defensive side,” coach Andy Coen said. “Last year they only gave up 11 defensive touchdowns, which is not a lot. They’re a very strong, very powerful team with a lot of veterans so we really have our work cut out for us this week.”
Specifically, the team is preparing to face Villanova’s senior defensive lineman Tanoh Kpassagnon, a first-team All-CAA selection and a projected NFL second-round draft pick. Because the team knows Kpassagnon is a good pass rusher, among other things, Coen and his players will have to set up a specific game plan to counter him.
Part of that plan will include setting up some short throws early in the game to quickly get the ball out of quarterback Nick Shafnisky’s hands. The faster Shafnisky is able to get rid of the ball, the less time Kpassagnon will have to get close to him, Coen said.
Another aspect of the plan to combat Villanova’s defense will be simulating its play style in practice so the offense will feel more comfortable during the game. Because Coen’s attempt to do so last week was unsuccessful against Monmouth, it will be a point of emphasis in practice this week.
But while the Mountain Hawks are largely preparing for their second game based on their opponents, they’re also looking inward to improve on last week’s mistakes.
In the home opener against Monmouth, Coen attributed many of the team’s downfalls to the offense and defense not connecting on the field.
“We started slow, and it was hard to compensate in the second half after they hit us with a lot of plays we weren’t anticipating,” junior quarterback Brendan Craven said. “We’re ready to make these changes and be more flexible for the game on Saturday.”
In terms of readiness, the problems experienced last week should not be as prominent in this game. Unlike Monmouth, Villanova will not be able to surprise Lehigh much because its coaches are known to run similar plays every year.
On defense, Lehigh will get a boost from the return of senior linebacker Colton Caslow, who was out due to a broken hand he suffered during camp. He led the Mountain Hawks in tackles last season, so the team is excited to see what he will bring to the game Saturday. As a first-team All-Patriot league selection, Caslow is expected to have a major impact on the team his senior year.
Another area Lehigh will look to use to its advantage against Villanova is special teams.
“The freshmen are contributing really well on special teams and a couple have stepped up on defense,” junior tight end Drew Paulsen said. “Riley O’Neil, one of the freshman defensive backs, started last game and we expect him to do big things this weekend.”
In the two teams’ history, the Wildcats lead Lehigh 7-5 in the series. Lehigh’s last win against Villanova was Coen’s first win as coach for Lehigh.
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