QUICK RECAP: Hard Fought 156th Meeting Goes Lafayette’s Way, Prevail 20-13 over Lehigh
EASTON, PA – No matter when the game is played, when Lafayette and Lehigh get together on the gridiron, it almost always seems to be close and come down to a few plays.
That was the case in this exciting April football game in the 156th meeting of “The Rivalry” between Lafayette and Lehigh, where the Leopards held on to secure a 20-13 win over their longtime Rivals the Mountain Hawks.
Tied at 13, with 12:11 to play, QB Cole Northrup threw a perfect 30 yard pass in a tight window to TE Steven Stillanos for the go-ahead touchdown. After that, Lafayette’s defense took over after an injury to Lehigh QB Cross WIlkinson, keeping Lehigh off the scoreboard despite moving the ball 60 yards in about a minute to set up a Hail Mary pass that fell just short by QB Nigel Summerville.
Northrup would go 22 for 34 for 257 yards and 2 TDs, both to Stillanos, who was elected the Rivalry MVP. Stillanos only had two receptions for 66 yards, but that, along with his terrific blocking, kept the Leopards on the field for 34:02 of the game, controlling the clock and reducing the number of opportunities for Lehigh.
WR Quinn Revere had 10 catches for 86 yards, while LB Major Jordan had 11 tackles. LB Marco Olivas added 12 tackles and 3 tackles for loss to complete Lafayette’s strong defensive effort.
Lehigh scored their first touchdown of the spring on a 49 yard touchdown run by RB Rashawn Allen, who got loose in the Lafayette secondary and surged for the score. Later on, WR Jorge Portorreal caught a 4 yard pass from QB Cross Wilkinson (21-34, 177 yards) to tie the game at 13.
Defensively for Lehigh, LB Pete Haffner (9 tackles) and LB Nate Norris (7 tackles) paced the Mountain Hawk defense.
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:
