The Lehigh football team came out on top against Colgate University today, defeating the Raiders 33-7 at Goodman Stadium.
First-year quarterback Patrick Coan led the Mountain Hawks with 221 passing yards.
Senior running back Luke Yoder emerged as an offensive force once more, with 181 rushing yards.
Yoder broke Lehigh’s all-time rushing touchdown record in the first quarter after earning his 48th rushing touchdown of his career. The previous record of 46 rushing touchdowns was held by Dom Bragalone who played for Lehigh from 2015 to 2018.
“I’m just grateful to go ahead and set that record,” Yoder said. “It’s just an awesome feeling, you know, holding two records now.”
Yoder said he still credits his O-line, always blocking for him and helping secure the win today.
Mountain Hawk wide receiver Anthony Feaster recorded five receptions and 82 receiving yards.
For the Raiders senior quarterback Jake Stearney led with 105 passing yards. Throughout the game, sophomore quarterback Jackson Kilburg came into the game, ending with 48 passing yards.
Sophomore wide receiver P.J. Holmes led Colgate for receptions and reception yards, earning 55 yards with five receptions.
After Lehigh won the coin toss, junior John Zipf kicked off for 60 yards to Colgate’s five yard line. Colgate’s Tymir Wynn, a senior defensive back, returned the kick for 18 yards to Colgate’s 23 yard line to start the game.
After three possession changes, the Mountain Hawks completed an eight play drive with a 22 yard field goal by junior kicker Connor Poole.
With 2:39 left in the first quarter, Raiders quarterback, senior Jake Stearney, threw an interception to Lehigh’s DJ Brown, a senior defensive back.
Jadin Nelson, senior defensive lineman, said the Mountain Hawks defense has focused on ironing out their defensive plans, making sure they achieve what they work on in practice.
“Let’s not try to be a conservative defense, but go out there and be dominant like we were today,” Nelson said. “What you’ve seen out there, that’s who we are, and that’s how we play, and it shouldn’t be less than that.”
Yoder rushed for 19 yards, earning a record-breaking touchdown with 1:11 left to play. Poole’s extra point kick attempt was good.
The first quarter ended with Lehigh leading 10-0.
The second quarter progressed to allow Poole to kick a 36 yard field goal, giving Lehigh a further lead.
Colgate’s Stearney was sacked for a loss of five yards to Lehigh’s 26 yard line with 9:26 remaining in the second quarter — the Raiders punted 36 yards to Lehigh’s 0 yard line, after failing to convert to a point-ending drive.
Following his sack, Stearney was replaced by sophomore quarterback Jackson Kilburg for the remainder of the first half.
The Mountain Hawks completed this drive with 11 plays, moving 80 yards, earning a touchdown after Coan completed a 31 yard pass to first-year wide receiver Bryce Werner and Poole completed another extra point.
First-year defensive back Mick McKee II returned for 21 yards to Lehigh’s 49 yard line, starting Lehigh’s last drive of the first half.
Poole ended Lehigh’s last offensive drive with a 23 yard field goal. As the first half of the game concluded, Lehigh led Colgate 23-0.
The second half began with the Raiders kicking off to the Mountain Hawks, where they began a 16 play drive that ended with Poole kicking his third field goal of the day from 32 yards out, increasing their lead to 26-0.
Stearney came back onto the field for the Raiders as quarterback; however, after seven plays, Colgate’s first drive of the second half ended, still with no points on the board.
Lehigh started the fourth quarter with a rushing touchdown by Yoder for seven yards, followed by a made extra point attempt by Poole.
Lehigh’s head coach, Richard Nagy explained his decision behind havingCoan start as quarterback. He said he saw the progress Coan has made throughout the season.
“(Coan) had a great week of practice…so that decision got easier as the week went on,” Nagy said. “He stepped in and did a great job, I can’t say enough good things about him.”
The Raiders continued to make scoring attempts with two drives during the fourth quarter.
Their first drive began at their own 23 yard line. After three plays, the drive concluded due to a penalty against junior running back VJ Bullard for illegal touching.
Stearney was replaced by Kilburg once more for the remainder of the fourth quarter for the Raiders after they failed to score, once again.
Their second drive began with 4:45 left in the fourth at their own six yard line.
Following 18 plays, their final drive ended with a late touchdown by P.J. Holmes, sophomore wide receiver and a made extra point attempt by senior placekicker Luke Vogeler.
Going into the final drive of the game, Lehigh led 33-7.
Throughout the game, Colgate’s depth lessened, as several players got injured throughout the game. These injuries forced the Raiders to adjust their game plan against the Mountain Hawks on both sides of the ball.
Next, Lehigh will face Richmond University away on Nov. 14 in Richmond, Virginia.
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