LEHIGH AT YALE 10/19/2024: Mountain Hawk Fans’ Double Bye Week Agony Finally Comes to an End

On By Chuck Burton

BETHLEHEM, PA – Lehigh was never meant to have a double bye week in the middle of October. But they did.

It wasn’t ideal for the Mountain Hawks coaches players or fans. But it had to be that way.

The Mountain Hawks (3-2) originally were supposed to play Army on the 12th of October, but the Black Knights’ entrance into the American Athletic Conference meant that Army would now be playing conference games in October.

Happily, Army was able to reschedule the game on Friday, August 30th, one of only five games on the schedule that day. But that put a two-week gap in the Mountain Hawks’ schedule in October, and while Lehigh could have scheduled a local Division III school like Del Val to provide some competition, head coach Kevin Cahill ended up declining, choosing instead to have, effectively, a two-week minicamp in the middle of the season.

“We treated it like spring practice,” Cahill said on the LV Fox Sports Happy Hour Podcast. “From the last game to this game, we had twelve practices. We made it work academically [working around 4 o’clock exams], and we were able to get a lot of stuff accomplished, got a lot of the younger guys a lot of reps, developmental reps, because we might need them as the season goes on. And we needed to get Lehigh better. That’s the focus every week, but this time we had two weeks to do it.”

Coach Cahill and the coaching staff certainly knew this was coming, and seemed to make the most of it, midway through the Lehigh football season. For the most part, the Mountain Hawks’ 3-2 record seems to have exceeded many people’s expectations, and there is an excitement and even a buzz that maybe, just maybe, even with the loss to Bucknell this Lehigh football time might get a chance to make a run at the Patriot League title.

But in every way, a two week bye is not ideal for a college football team, which thrives on routine, regularity and focus. Breaking that up in the center of the season could be a great way to reset and refocus, or it might be tricky to keep in game shape and keep the focus on the week at hand. The Mountain Hawks enter this Yale game in uncharted territory in that sense.

Lehigh (3-2, 0-1 Patriot) never intended to enter a double bye week having to erase the bitter taste of a loss. But they did.

It’s never a good thing to enter a bye week off of a loss of any stripe, let alone a two week bye, but the Mountain Hawks’ excruciating overtime 38-35 loss to Bucknell was going to be rough to swallow in any context.

In the last week in September, the last time the Lehigh football team took the field to play competitively, the Mountain Hawks, in many ways, dominated. On the stat sheet, Lehigh dominated the Bison in time of possession, offensive yards, even sacks. But in the end, Bucknell forced turnovers and a kickoff return for touchdown by Bucknell helped doom Lehigh to their first league loss.

“We just put ourselves at the bottom of the hill when we should have to top the whole game,” Lehigh LB Mike DeNucci said afterwards. “We came back and made it a fight, but just looking at the numbers, and then you look at the score, it doesn’t really represent what this game should have been for us. But that’s the thing. The scoreboard is the way the scoreboard is. That’s all I can say about that. We didn’t get over the hump.”

Even if this had been a conventional single-week bye week this loss would have been difficult to process, but with two weeks it has to be even more challenging. This goes back to the uncertainty of focus level after a double bye week. A loss like this can cause laser like focus on correcting the issues and circumstances of the loss, or it can be an extra week of distraction and annoyance. We won’t know which it is until Lehigh takes the field in New Haven.

Lehigh never intended to face off against a Yale team that should be fired-up (2-2, 0-2 Ivy), a team who was the victim of the biggest second half comeback in Dartmouth history. But they did.

“That’s why they don’t have nice things,” the voice echoed on ESPN’s SportsCenter this week.

“The Dartmouth football team just wouldn’t quit,” the Big Green’s official recap noted. “Despite trailing 30-7 late in the third quarter and 37-16 midway through the fourth, the Big Green scored touchdowns with 7:30, 6:34 and 1:22 remaining in regulation before topping Yale in overtime, 44-43, on Saturday afternoon inside the Yale Bowl.”

I was watching and tracking the game, tuning out as soon as the Bulldogs took that 30-7 lead in the 3rd quarter, and knowing that Dartmouth was starting their backup quarterback, QB Grayson Saunier, and had already given up a safety on a punt on special teams. (I followed another thriller as Georgetown shut out Lafayette at Fisher Field 17-0.)

When the Patriot League games were over, I was stunned to learn that Dartmouth clawed all the way back on the effort of two Saunier rushing touchdowns and two Saunier passing touchdowns, and for good measure converting an onsides kick to preserve the comeback attempt with 6 minutes to play.

Yale had a chance to win it in regulation – barely missing a 45 yard FG with plenty of leg – and then Reno went for two in the first overtime, playing for the win, but missing the conversion.

Had Yale held on against Dartmouth – had they simply snuffed out the onsides kick – the Bulldogs might have been 3-1 and perhaps looking ahead to league play.

Instead, Yale, like Lehigh, will be looking to this game to right the ship and to attempt to establish their legitimacy in league play the rest of the season.

“We had opportunities to close the game out numerous times,” Reno said after the game. “We just didn’t do it on offense, defense and special teams. When you have unforced errors, errors that your opponents don’t create, it is really hard to win. Unfortunately, we had some unforced errors that really hurt us. They didn’t allow us to close the game out. You got to close the game out. We just didn’t do it.”

Reno was talking about Yale, but he could have been talking about Lehigh two weeks ago. And both teams, eerily, lost the game in similar ways – in overtime, losing on the final play.

This Saturday, one of these two teams will be able to rewrite this narrative, and the other will be looking for answers before league play resumes. That alone will make this a fascinating game to watch.

LEHIGH MOUNTAIN HAWKS (3-2, 0-1 Patriot) AT YALE (2-2. 0-2 Ivy)
WHERE: Yale Bowl/New Haven, CT, Saturday, October 19th, Noon
STREAMING: ESPN+
TV CREW: PxP – Justin Gallanty; Analyst – Jack Sidlecki
RADIO: BROADCAST (Fox Sports Lehigh Valley 94.7 FM/1230 AM; LVFoxSports.com):
RADIO CREW: PxP – Matt Kerr; Analysts – Steve Lomangino, Connor Brown

A Quick Note On The Lehigh/Yale Series

Did you know Lehigh/Yale is a trophy game?

“In recognition of competition between Lehigh (founded 1865) and Yale (founded 1701), the lifetime achievements of their graduates, and the generations of families that have attended both universities, the Yank Townsend Trophy is presented to the winner of the Lehigh-Yale football game,” Lehigh’s game notes mention. “Charles Frederick Townsend was the only student from Connecticut to enter the Lehigh Class of 1895, earning the nickname ‘Yank’. He graduated with a bachelor of science degree in architecture and engineering, operated his own firm, Norton & Townsend from 1911-1960, and designed a number of bank buildings and colonial residences. Yank Townsend (1873-1963) was a devotee of Lehigh and Yale athletics.”

Yank lived and worked around the New Haven area as an architect and was a mover and shaker around the city. It’s cool that there is such a connection with Yale and Lehigh in this way, but I find myself wishing I knew more about Yank aside from the fact he was an architect and, apparently, a high ranking member of the Freemasons (frankly unsurprising, as he was an architect).

The trophy was established in 2006 – I know, because I remember writing about it. – Yale won that first trophy in 2006 in overtime 26-20, and has for the most part been the keeper of the trophy as the Bulldogs have won four of the last six meetings.

Specifically, Yank has been sitting in Yale’s athletic department since 2017, for Yale has won the last two meetings, including a comprehensive 34-0 crushing in 2021. Interestingly, the game was a party for Yale WR Mason Tipton, who had 3 catches for 122 yards and a TD. Just yesterday, Tipton an undrafted free agent, started at WR for the New Orleans Saints.

Lehigh Rundown

It should come as little surprise that Lehigh emerges from the double bye rested and ready, their dings from the first half healed somewhat. Like everything in regards to the double bye, that could either be a blessing or a curse.

During the bye week I did my version of midseason grades for the football team and with the thoughtful perspective the double bye provided it was worth taking a minute to reflect how the starting offensive line of Aidan Palmer, Austin Huff, George Padezanin, Langston Jones and Christian Curatolo have not only stayed healthy but have been exceptional in pass protection and run blocking and allowed the Lehigh skill players to finally establish their identity.

Back in August, folks might have looked at this game against Yale, the defending Ivy League champions, as a real reach game. That fans are looking at this as a winnable game is a real testament to the team but in my mind a testament to the offensive line, too.

LFN’s Drink of the Week

As this game is at the Yale Bowl, naturally one thinks about football and New Haven pizza, one of the biggest delicacies of the area. It was tempting to go with a cold beer as the “Drink of the Week” again, but not only was that the “Drink of the Week” against Bucknell – more unforgivably – it was involved in a loss. Ergo, no beer this week.

Instead I will go with something that will also go with New Haven pizza, and involves fall apples – a very simple but effective Apple Cider Whiskey Smash. Personally I really like mixed drinks in the fall with fresh apple cider, whether a shandy-type situation or with whiskey.

Scouting Yale

As mentioned, last week’s game, aside from being an absolute heartbreaker for head coach Tony Reno and the Bulldogs, showcased both what was going well for Yale and what was not.

On the one hand, the Bulldogs showcased their potent offense that is talented and hard to stop. The Bulldogs average 31 points per game on offense, making them by default the highest-potency offense they’ve faced all year, and one that already beat Holy Cross 38-31 earlier this season.

QB Grant Jordan, who was hurt against Holy Cross, returned against Dartmouth and had by all accounts a monster game (32/47 passing, 412 yards, 5 TDs, 0 INTs), doing everything asked of him except converting the final 2 point conversion to win the game. Doing that against the Big Green, who have historically been a defense-first team, should set off alarm bells that this offense means business. He is mobile and gets very good pass protection in general – Yale only gave up one sack last week.

Injuries have been a factor in Yale’s start, as Jordan has only started two games and Yale’s deep backfield has been tested, with seven different players notching rushing yards. Yet despite the injuries, it hasn’t mattered – the Yale offense has piled on points.

Yale spreads the ball around different rushers and receivers, but WR David Pantelis (8 catches, 117 yards, 3 TDs) was a revelation against the Big Green, by far his best game as a member of the Yale offense. It may be a mistake to read too far into one particular offensive skill player as the Bulldogs are deep and have plenty of playmakers on their two-deep, especially at receiver.

Yale’s big Achilles heel has been the defense, which has given up an eye-popping 38 points per game on defense. (This includes giving up 22 points to Central Connecticut State). Sophomore DB Abu Kamara leads the team in tackles (39) and both Yale’s pass rush (3 sacks in 4 games) and forced turnovers (5) have left something to be desired.

Additionally, it cannot be emphasized enough how allowing that onsides kick – and a subsequent scoring play – affected the football game. PK Nick Conforti has a terrific leg, but his missed FG as time ran out last week was a tough pill to swallow, but if I’m Lehigh, I would not want this week’s game to come down to another shot for Conforti to win. I’d bet the next chance he gets to make that kick, he makes it.

LFN’s Keys to the Game

  1. No slow start. Back in September, a lot was made against Princeton that Lehigh was in full season mode while the Tigers were starting their season, so they might get to a slow start. This week, the situation is a rare reversal in a Patriot/Ivy matchup – Yale is the fresh team in the middle of a run of games, where Lehigh is essentially coming off a “minicamp” the last two weeks. The Bulldogs’ offense is dangerous and can jump on top quickly, and if they’re allowed to do to by the Mountain Hawks, it will likely result in a loss.
  2. Yale Receivers vs. Lehigh Secondary. The Mountain Hawk secondary is one of the best in FCS statistically, but they have not seen a stable of receivers like this. As good as they’ve been, they’ll have to be at their best to keep one (or more) of these players from running roughshod. If the secondary can get multiple interceptions, though, I like Lehigh’s chances.
  3. An advantage in special teams. Lehigh’s special teams have been okay, but not great. Against Bucknell, that kickoff return for touchdown was a game-changer, and Yale’s special teams also have struggled. I could see a situation where an advantage in Mountain Hawk special teams could be the difference in the game.

Fearless Prediction

What to make of this game? It’s not by any stretch a must-win for either team. What it is, though, is a really-nice-to-have-win to get a head of steam into league play and to reestablish trajectory.

Lehigh should be very concerned about Yale’s extremely powerful, talented offense. Turnovers, good special teams play and controlling time of possession would certainly help Lehigh’s goals this week and make head coach Kevin Cahill’s homecoming a happy one.

Can Lehigh win a shootout? It’s a very open question, despite two offensive explosions vs. Wagner and Princeton. In both games, defense and offense worked in tandem to build leads. They might be able to do so vs. Yale, but I wouldn’t want to test that theory if I’m the Lehigh coaching staff.

At home, needing to get back on track, I think Yale has the advantage, and I think it might come down to the wire again. I hope I’m wrong, but I think the next chance he gets, Conforti nails it.

Yale 30, Lehigh 27

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