With a balanced offensive attack to go along with stifling defense, the Lehigh football team cruised to its fifth straight victory in a 35-3 rout over Georgetown University on Saturday afternoon.
The three points scored by the Hoyas are the fewest points the Mountain Hawks (5-2, 2-0 Patriot) have given up this season. The Lehigh defense held Georgetown to 177 total yards of offense and forced Georgetown to punt seven times.
After totaling four touchdowns last week against Colgate University, junior wide receiver Gatlin Casey continued his breakout season with two more touchdowns to go along with 169 receiving yards. Casey entered the game ranked third in receiving yards in the FCS while fellow junior wideout Troy Pelletier ranked first. Pelletier added 68 receiving yards himself including a 11-yard touchdown reception in the second quarter.
Senior quarterback Nick Shafnisky left the game in the second quarter with an injury, but sophomore backup Brad Mayes came in and threw for 247 yards and two touchdowns in his absence. Mayes, when he has had to fill in for Shafnisky this season, has completed 53 of his 73 attempts, eight of which have been touchdowns.
Lehigh’s rushing attack was productive as well as sophomore Dom Bragalone ran for two touchdowns and five different Mountain Hawk ball carriers combined for 127 rushing yards.
The Hawk defense, assisted by 11 Georgetown penalties, refused to let the Hoyas gain any momentum during the game. After allowing Georgetown to get within Lehigh’s 10-yard line with less than two minutes remaining in the first half, Lehigh clamped down defensively with a goal-line stand, allowing just a field goal. That field goal was the only way the Hoyas managed to put points on the scoreboard.
Senior linebackers Evan Harvey and Colton Caslow anchored the defense with six tackles each.
Lehigh’s win marked its fifth in the last six Patriot League contests dating back to last year. The Hawks will return to action next Saturday against Holy Cross. The game is slated for a 12 p.m. start in Worcester, Massachusetts.
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