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With all the momentum on Penn’s side, Lehigh got the kickoff after Penn took the lead and saw another drive stall at the Penn 20. As they had done three times before, Lehigh lined up for a fourth field goal try. It was poised to be Garrido’s only four field goal game in his Lehigh career, and would have built up on his career scoring high. It was then that the Lehigh coaching staff got together and made a bold call.
This weekend, in front of a potentially large Parents’ Weekend crowd and Clutch’s Kettle student section, another promise of a consequential matchup between these two nearby, historic schools loom.
Nationally, Lehigh/Bucknell might be considered a forgotten rivalry. The national pundits might not make it their Game of the Week, or even think of it as a Rivalry, or even think of it as a competitive game. But don’t tell that to the football players at Bucknell or Lehigh. To them, it most definitely not a lost Rivalry. And both sides know exactly how competitive this weekend’s game is going to be.
Lehigh football’s first trip to Pittsburgh in over 70 years was a business-like 35-21 win over Duquesne, a game where the Mountain Hawks never trailed but had to battle hard for four quarters to secure Lehigh’s first 3-0 start since 2013.
This weekend Lehigh (2-0, 1-0 Patriot) will go on the team’s first road trip of the season. They are heading across the state to Pittsburgh, PA to face off against Duquesne (1-1, 0-0 NEC) in an out-of-conference clash.
There was an air of excitement, mixed with anticipation and slight nervousness as a crowd of 34,921 spectators made their way into Kidd Brewer Stadium for last Saturday’s home-opening football game. Little did these supporters know that Appalachian State would be fighting for its life in the final minute against the fledgling Lindenwood Lions before securing its heart-pounding 20-13 win against the first-year Football Championship Subdivision program.
The reason that Cahill and the Lehigh football players came into the press conference with mostly serious faces wasn’t due to the stat sheet showing a resounding statistical victory for the Mountain Hawks. It’s because if you were there, playing or watching the game, you saw a different story.
While Mother Nature delayed the victor, Navy’s defense rose to the challenge as the Midshipmen held UAB scoreless in the second half to come away with a 38-24 triumph.
The’ Pios’ are a program on the rise – one that are trying to elevate their profile and make a name for themselves the year before their entrance to one of the top leagues in FCS football.
While Richmond will be looking for revenge, Lehigh will be looking for respectability – respectability in the sense of proving that last season was not a fluke.
