Lehigh Football Program Momentum Stalled In 35-23 Loss to Yale
NEW HAVEN, CT – In many ways football is a game of momentum. It is a game of forward motion, physical motion and gameplay motion.
Going into Saturday, Yale coming off a heartbreaking loss last week, and Lehigh coming off a heartbreaking loss three weeks ago, both teams were looking to regain positive momentum and put the sting of losing behind them.
This Saturday, coming off of a rare double bye week, the Lehigh Mountain Hawks didn’t start with enough momentum, further lost that momentum through turnovers and penalties, and never really were in the game as Lehigh (3-3, 0-1 Patriot League) fell to Yale (3-2, 0-2 Ivy) this past Saturday in the Yale Bowl 38-23.
“We have some things to focus on as a program,” head coach Kevin Cahill said after the game. “The first thing is to take care of the football. We’re not talented enough to win a game with four turnovers right now. Give credit to Yale, taking them away – they play hard, I know what type of team we’re going to see when we play them. I give them a lot of credit to them getting back on track.”
The Mountain Hawks got the ball first, drove the length of the field and ultimately had to settle for a 36 yard FG by PK Nick Garrido to take an early 3-0 lead on the Bulldogs. Then on Yale’s first offensive play, Lehigh CB Aidan Singleton intercepted Yale QB Grant Jordan with the potential to drive and possibly take a two-score lead.
But Lehigh mistakes and negative plays – including an illegal motion penalty that negated a first-down run – would help stall the Mountain Hawks’ drive and cause a punt.
Soon after, Yale would get the lead with their powerful, and through the sheer power of momentum – and capitalizing on Lehigh mistakes – would run away with the game.
A 12 play, 87 yard drive by Yale, ending with a 20 yard pass from Jordan to WR Joey Felton would give Yale the lead – and on Lehigh’s next drive, a pick six by DB Da’Quan Gonzales jumping the route would give the Bulldogs a 14-3 lead – and all the momentum they would ultimately need.
“As we all know, growth happens over the course of a season,” Yale head coach Tony Reno said after the game. “We probably grew more from Tuesday to 3:38 p.m. today than we had all season. We made good decisions and really improved in a lot of different areas that related to our standards at Yale football.”
The Mountain Hawks would respond with a 38 yard touchdown surge by RB Luke Yoder, busting loose through a massive hole in the offensive lie, making the score 14-10.
Lehigh and Yale then traded punts before Yale would go up two scores after a 9 play, 53 yard drive would end with a 10 yard touchdown run by Jordan to make the score 21-10 with 3:07 remaining in the half. The Bulldogs then capitalized on a second interception as DB Joshua Tarver’s pick led to Yale RB Josh Pitzenberger converting a 4th-and-goal to give Yale an insurmountable 28-10 lead going into halftime.
17 of Yale’s 35 points came directly or as a result of Lehigh turnovers. Three of the Bulldogs’ 4 scoring drives came off of extended offensive drives of 8 plays or more.
Lehigh out-gained Yale 372-265 and had a time of possession advantage – just like they had versus Bucknell three weeks ago – but the Mountain Hawks didn’t have the statistical advantage where it counted, which was the scoreboard. Yoder led all rushers with 143 yards.
The Mountain Hawks return home to Bethlehem to face off against Fordham Saturday at noon, while Yale will head to Penn for a Friday night game on ESPNU at 7:00PM.
| Team | 1st | 2nd | 3rd | 4th | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lehigh | 3 | 7 | 7 | 6 | 23 |
| Yale | 14 | 14 | 10 | 0 | 38 |
LEH: Johnson,Hayden (74), Yoder,Luke (143), Jamiel,Geoffrey (54)
YAL: Jordan,Grant (107), Peterson,Tre (98), Shipp,Mason (55)
Attendance: 4107
| Qtr | Time | Scoring Play | LEH | YAL |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1st | 11:27 | LEH – Garrido,Nick 36 yd field goal 7 plays, 43 yards, TOP 03:24 | 3 | 0 |
| 1st | 03:46 | YAL – Felton,Joey 20 yd pass from Jordan,Grant (Conforti,Nick kick) 12 plays, 87 yards, TOP 05:23 | 3 | 7 |
| 1st | 00:41 | YAL – Gonzales,Da’ Quan 53 yd interception (Conforti,Nick kick) | 3 | 14 |
| 2nd | 14:13 | LEH – Yoder,Luke 38 yd run (Garrido,Nick kick), 4 plays, 52 yards, TOP 01:15 | 10 | 14 |
| 2nd | 03:07 | YAL – Jordan,Grant 10 yd run (Conforti,Nick kick), 9 plays, 53 yards, TOP 04:10 | 10 | 21 |
| 2nd | 00:05 | YAL – Pitsenberger,Josh 1 yd run (Conforti,Nick kick), 10 plays, 66 yards, TOP 02:08 | 10 | 28 |
| 3rd | 08:19 | YAL – Conforti,Nick 40 yd field goal 8 plays, 31 yards, TOP 02:39 | 10 | 31 |
| 3rd | 02:56 | LEH – Green,Jaden 9 yd run (Garrido,Nick kick), 10 plays, 67 yards, TOP 05:20 | 17 | 31 |
| 3rd | 00:57 | YAL – Peterson,Tre 57 yd run (Conforti,Nick kick), 4 plays, 75 yards, TOP 01:59 | 17 | 38 |
| 4th | 01:52 | LEH – Johnson,Hayden 6 yd run ( ), 10 plays, 60 yards, TOP 04:20 | 23 | 38 |
Chuck has been writing about Lehigh football since the dawn of the internet, or perhaps it only seems like it. He’s executive editor of the College Sports Journal and has also written a book, The Rivalry: How Two Schools Started the Most Played College Football Series.
Reach him at: this email or click below:
