The Lehigh football team defeated Richmond on the road in a gritty 20-16 game in the opening round of the FCS Playoffs.
Lehigh (8-3, 5-1 Patriot League) entered the game carrying the momentum from their dominant 38-14 Rivalry victory against Lafayette. Against the Leopards, Lehigh outgained their arch-rivals 344-283.
But facing Richmond’s (10-2, 8-0 CAA) top-ranked conference scoring defense, it was a different story.
Lehigh’s offense was stymied for most of the opening half with turnovers and punts.
The opening drive of the Mountain Hawks stalled after quarterback Matt Machalik threw an interception to Spiders defensive back Jabril Hayes, mitigating a scoring opportunity. On their ensuing drive, the team posted a three-and-out, giving the ball back to Richmond.
Despite the offensive shortcomings in the first half, Lehigh’s defense kept the game within reach.
The Spiders outgained Lehigh 459-376 but were spurned by poor efficiency in the red zone.
On their opening drive, the Spiders drove to Lehigh’s one-yard line. Two false start penalties backed the team up to the eleven, where they failed to punch the ball into the end zone. Richmond kicker Sean O’Haire drilled a 25-yard field goal to open the scoring and give the team a 3-0 lead.
In the second quarter, the Spiders again were set up inside Lehigh’s 10-yard line. However, strong tackling by the Mountain Hawks kept the Spiders out of the end zone, forcing another O’Haire field goal.
Facing a 6-0 deficit, Lehigh found a spark through the passing game. Quarterback Hayden Johnson, the MVP of the team’s Rivalry win against Lafayette, stepped up and fired a deep shot.
First-year wide receiver Matt D’Avino high-pointed the ball and secured a 41-yard catch. D’Avino’s reception set up the Mountain Hawks with their best field position of the half, which they capitalized on.
On third down at the Richmond seven-yard line, Johnson stepped up in the pocket and found first-year receiver Logan Galletta for a 7-yard touchdown. Galletta’s score gave the Mountain Hawks a short-lived 7-6 lead.
With less than two minutes in the half, the Spiders ran a two-minute drill to perfection, entering the red zone with 15 seconds on the clock. However, poor clock management forced the Spiders to settle for a field goal. O’Haire hit his third of the first half, giving Richmond a 9-7 halftime lead.
Lehigh’s offensive woes continued into the second half.
Junior wide receiver Geoffrey Jamiel carries the ball during the Nov. 30 game against Richmond. Jamiel’s 54-yard touchdown set up the team’s 20-16 win against Richmond in the first round of the FCS Playoffs. (Courtesy of Hannah Ally)
A sack on third down stalled Lehigh’s opening drive, forcing a punt. On the ensuing drive, coach Kevin Cahill rolled the dice, opting to fake a field goal inside the six-yard line.
Quarterback Dante Perri rolled out to his left and completed a pass to Aiden Schomp. However, the Spiders were all over the fake—stopping Schomp way before the goal line, leaving Lehigh empty-handed.
The failed fake field goal reflected a third-quarter stalemate for both sides.
However, in the fourth quarter, both offenses came alive.
After Johnson threw his second interception, Richmond went down the field. Facing a fourth down, Coleman ran a play-action fake and floated a pass to tight end Sean Clarke in the end zone. Clarke’s score gave Richmond a two-possession 16-7 lead.
That would be the last points the Spiders scored. The Mountain Hawks responded with 13 unanswered points.
On the ensuing drive, running back Jaden Green took a handoff, bounced right, and saw nothing but green grass. Green outran Richmond defenders for a 65-yard touchdown, cutting the deficit to two.
After a Richmond three-and-out, Lehigh got the ball with a chance to take the lead, but it wasn’t easy.
Johnson opened the drive by taking a nine-yard sack. On third and 17, Johnson rolled out right, sprinted for the marker, and dove for a first down to keep the drive alive.
Two plays later, Johnson rolled out to his right, surveyed the field and threw a risky pass across his body.
Wide receiver Geoffrey Jamiel caught the ball, reversed field, and outran Richmond defenders for the go-ahead 54-yard score. Jamiel finished the game as the leading receiver with 137 yards.
With a 20-16 lead, the Lehigh defense held Richmond in check, forcing a turnover on downs. As the Mountain Hawks tried to run out the clock, the defense forced a punt, giving Richmond one last chance for victory.
Lehigh punter Connor Poole booted a punt with under a minute to go. Richmond’s return man settled under it but muffed the punt. Despite being double-digit underdogs, the Mountain Hawks recovered the fumble to set up victory formation.
As Johnson took a knee to signal a Lehigh victory, the goalposts remained intact this time.
Lehigh’s victory marked the team’s first playoff victory since 2011 when they defeated Towson in a 40-38 shootout.
The Mountain Hawks now face Idaho on the road in the second round on Dec. 7.
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