In A Game Befitting an FCS “Game of the Week”, Physical Lehigh Out-Slugs Richmond 21-14

BETHLEHEM, PA – Lehigh Mountain Hawks fans who have been around a while are used to seeing big matchups between Top 25 teams at Murray Goodman Stadium.

Over the years, in the “Air Leigh” era, those games usually took the form of aerial shootouts, mostly ending in Lehigh losses.

Only occasionally they would result in wins,

The nationally ranked Patriot League matchup between the 15/14 Lehigh Mountain Hawks and the 25/22 Richmond Spiders was not in any way a shootout.

It was an incredibly physical, bruising battle with both defenses not allowing any one play more than 40 yards. Additionally, befitting a battle of the top teams in FCS, no team had a lead of more than one score the whole way.

But maybe it’s totally okay for the new generation of Mountain Hawk fans to watch games other than shootouts if the results are like what transpired Saturday under a perfect, 80 degree cloudless sky.

With Lehigh’s (1-0, 1-0) a thrilling 21-14 victory at home over Richmond (0-1, 0-1), the Mountain Hawk fans in attendance were treated to Lehigh’s biggest win at home against a nationally-ranked opponent since the Mountain Hawks knocked off then-No. 7 New Hampshire back in 2013, 34-27.

This game was much different than that 2013 game, where the Mountain Hawks rallied from a 19-3 deficit and outlasted the Wildcats. While that 2013 matchup involved big plays and rallying from deficits, this game was all about defense, special teams, and execution.

Defensive Domination

“There are a lot of things we need to clean up,” an elated Kevin Cahill emphasized after the game. “We have to play better football, get better from this performance. We have to get much better as the season goes on. But right now, really happy for our players. They bought into a philosophy and a vision, and they’ve just taken it and run with it.”

All game two of the top defenses in FCS seemed to be in control.

Richmond struck first after DB C.J. Fraser deftly plucked an interception out of the air after a Lehigh receiver caught a tough ball over the middle, setting up a short field for QB Kyle Wickersham and the Richmond offense, resulting in a 15 yard run by RB Isaiah Dawson.

Lehigh’s defense would stuff the Spiders the rest of the way, allowing only 181 yards overall and stuffing Richmond’s run game, only allowing 68 yards on 31 carries, or 2.2 yards per carry, and adding two sacks and a late interception to ice the game.

“I thought overall we played well,” LB Brycen Edwards said afterwards, understated. “Sticking to our core value, ‘relentless’. That’s a big one, and we play each play with effort, energy, and execution. I thought we did that every single play throughout the whole game.”

A key turning point happened near the end of the first half, when Richmond, up 7-0, had a first and goal on the Lehigh 4, seemingly ready to go up by two scores.

On first and goal, an errant snap sent the ball back to the Lehigh 23, and three plays later, Richmond’s kicker missed a short field goal attempt.

“That rejuvenated our sideline,” Cahill said.

From there Lehigh QB Hayden Johnson and the offense rode that burst of momentum to go 6 plays and 80 yards in under a minute to tie the game at 7, ending in a 13 yard pass from Johnson to RB Jaden Green for his first touchdown.

“As an offense, I think we stayed resilient today,” Johnson said afterwards. “Just kind of hanging in there, taking what we could. I think I need to do a better job keeping the football out of harm’s way. Even when I make a mistake, all the guys have my back, including the coaches, defense guys, everyone. Every time I get off the field I rejuvenate myself.”

“Our kids were just resilient,” Cahill said, “and relentless in the way we played.”

Deja Vu All Over Again

Lehigh then took the opening kickoff on the opening drive of the second half and drove the length of the field on an 8 play, 75 yard drive ending with a touchdown pass to WR Geoffrey Jamiel,

Jamiel and Green also both scored against Richmond in Lehigh’s playoff victory against them last November, probably giving Richmond fans nightmares about losing in similar fashion.

“A tough one,” said Richmond head coach Russ Huesman. “Give a lot of credit to Lehigh. They had a good plan coming in.”

Right after Lehigh took the lead, Richmond RB Isaiah Dawson took the ensuing kickoff and showcased his speed as he returned it 98 yards, resulting in the Spiders tying the game.

“It’s hard to replicate that in practice, live kickoffs,” Cahill said, “and we just have to get better. But that kick return was impressive, he’s fast. We knew they had the running backs, and you know they’re going to be good. They’re Richmond. We’ve got to learn from that and move on.”

From there both defenses took over, bottling up both offenses while both teams battled it out for field position.

In the 4th quarter, with 13 minutes to play, on 3rd and 7, Edwards made a huge play to tip Wickersham’s pass at the line of scrimmage to force another Richmond punt, setting up Lehigh again at their own 13.

At that point, Lehigh’s offensive line, Johnson, Green and RB Luke Yoder started to take over the game.

A 12 play, 87 yard drive ground out the win, with 55 yards on the ground, ending in Green’s second touchdown of the game that would be the difference.

Green ended up with 102 all-purpose yards and the two huge scores, including the game-winner. Yoder gained 44 yards overall, most of it coming on the game-winning drive. Johnson ended with 135 yards passing, 35 yards rushing, and the two passing touchdowns.

“Coming into the week, we just needed to make fast decisions and be decisive in our runs,” Green said afterwards, “and trusting the people blocking my runs.”

“When you have so much time out there to operate,” Johnson said, “it really opens things up downfield, whether it’s just being able to scramble, guys being able to break off their routes, just getting open. Especially in the running game, there really moved the line up front today. They’re a great group of guys.”

Richmond had one last chance to tie the game, but DB Mekahi Smith‘s interception iced the game for Lehigh, putting the Mountain Hawks in an excellent position going into the 2025 football season.

Over 700 students in “Clutch’s Kettle”, Lehigh’s new student section, went wild and cheered with the team as the final seconds ticked off the clock.

“I told the team I thought we got out-physicaled on both sides of the line of scrimmage, to be honest with you,” Richmond coach Russ Huesman said afterwards. “We’ve got work to do. We’ve got young guys on both sides of the ball, but give Lehigh credit—they beat us. I’m not sure on either side of the ball we were good enough to win today.”

The Mountain Hawks are back at Goodman Stadium next Saturday to host Sacred Heart in a non-conference matchup on University Day/Hall of Fame Weekend, with game time set for noon. Richmond returns to action when it travels to Wofford in search of its first win of the season. Kickoff is scheduled for 6:00 p.m.

Full Box Score

Richmond	7	0	7	0	14
Lehigh	0	7	7	7	21

RIC: PASS – Wickersham,Kyle (113); RUSH – Foster-Powell,Aziz (32); REC – Fair,Jaiden (52)
LEH: PASS – Johnson, Hayden (135); RUSH – Green, Jaden (88); REC – Jamiel, Geoffrey (68)
Game Information

Scoring Summary

	1st	RIC	00:04	RIC – Wickersham,Kyle 1 yd run (McManus,Will kick), 5 plays, 27 yards, TOP 02:49	7	0
	2nd	LEH	00:56	LEH – Green,Jaden 13 yd pass from Johnson,Hayden (Garrido,Nick kick) 6 plays, 80 yards, TOP 01:26	7	7
	3rd	LEH	11:18	LEH – Jamiel,Geoffrey 29 yd pass from Johnson,Hayden (Garrido,Nick kick) 8 plays, 75 yards, TOP 03:42	7	14
	3rd	RIC	11:04	RIC – Dawson,Isaiah 99 yd kickoff return (Alsheskie,Jayden kick)	14	14
	4th	LEH	06:29	LEH – Green,Jaden 4 yd run (Garrido,Nick kick), 12 plays, 87 yards, TOP 07:04	14	21
					14	21