Saturday, September 3
12:30 PM
Lehigh University
vs
Monmouth
Lehigh football hosts Monmouth in season opener Saturday
8/30/2016 11:04:00 AM | Football
Game Notes | Video | Audio | Tickets | Live Stats
BETHLEHEM, Pa. – The 133rd season of Lehigh football officially begins today as the Mountain Hawks welcome Monmouth to Goodman Stadium for the 2016 opener. The Mountain Hawks are coming off a 6-5 campaign that culminated with a 49-35 win over Lafayette in the 151st meeting of college football's most-played rivalry. Lehigh returns a wealth of weapons from the Patriot League's top rated offense in terms of yardage, led by the trio of quarterback Nick Shafnisky, running back and Patriot League Rookie of the Year Dominick Bragalone and wide receiver Troy Pelletier.
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Near the end of preseason camp, coach Andy Coen named four seniors as captains for the 2016 season. Quarterback Nick Shafnisky (Whitehall, Pa.), offensive linemen Zach Duffy (Reading, Pa.) and Brandon Short (Mentor, Ohio), and linebacker Colton Caslow (Altamonte Springs, Fla.) will lead this year's squad.
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Monmouth was picked fourth in the Big South preseason poll on the heels of a 5-6 campaign that saw the Hawks go 3-3 in their second year as a football member in the Big South. The Hawks finished the 2015 season with back-to-back victories and were 2-4 in road games last season.
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 Six Hawks garnered preseason All-Big South honors: seniors Darren Ambush, Payton Minnich and Darnell Leslie, and juniors Mike Basile, Alex Thompson and Matt White. Like Lehigh, Monmouth returns most of its top skill players from a year ago, including quarterback Cody Williams, leading rusher Lavon Chaney and its top two receivers in Ambush and Reggie White, Jr. Basile, a preseason All-American, led the Hawks defense last year with 119 tackles and added two interceptions. Minnich was second with 74 tackles. Monmouth averaged 20.5 points and 332.4 yards per game offensively, while yielding 25.2 points and 364.1 yards per game on defense.
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Senior Nick Shafnisky enters his third full season as Lehigh's starting quarterback. Shafnisky came into his own last season, completing nearly 67 percent of his passes for 2,279 yards and 15 touchdowns compared to just 10 interceptions in 11 games last year. He was also a key cog to Lehigh's ground attack, rushing for 674 yards and a team-best 12 touchdowns. The Whitehall, Pa. product saved his best for last in 2015, going 21-for-27 for 283 yards and four touchdowns, while rushing for 109 yards and a touchdown in Lehigh's 49-35 win over Lafayette last November. Shafnisky was named the Rivalry game's Most Valuable Player. He owns four career 300-yard passing games and a pair of 100-yard rushing games.
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The Mountain Hawks enter the 2015 campaign looking for a bounce-back season on the defensive side of the ball. Lehigh allowed 33.2 points and more than 475 yards per game ranking at the bottom of the Patriot League and the bottom 20 nationally in a number of defensive categories. The Mountain Hawks have changed their scheme and return eight starters plus a number of players who saw significant action in 2014.
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Last year, tailback Dominick Bragalone became the first Lehigh freshman to eclipse the 1,000 yard rushing mark on the way to becoming Lehigh's first Patriot League Rookie of the Year for football since 1986. Bragalone's 179th and final carry of 2016 was a 44-yard touchdown run, which put him over the 1,000 yard mark. His 1,008 yards mark the 10th highest single-season total in school history. The South Williamsport, Pa., native had six 100-yard rushing games, highlighted by a 169-yard effort against Georgetown. He rushed for seven touchdowns with five of the seven coming in his last three games.
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For the Mountain Hawks to meet their 2016 goals they will need a bounce-back effort from a defensive unit that has struggled in each of the last two seasons. Last year, Lehigh allowed more than 35 points and 451 yards per game. In six wins in 2015, Lehigh yielded just over 24 points and 384 total yards while allowing opponents to convert just 44 percent of third downs. In its five losses, Lehigh gave up more than 48 points and 532 yards per game while opponents converted 54 percent of third downs. Lehigh returns six starters on defense.
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Lehigh's roster features two student-athletes who earned fifth years of eligibility due to medical hardships. Wide receiver Derek Knott missed the final nine games of 2014 but came back to catch 32 passes for 395 yards and two touchdowns in his first fully-healthy season last year. LaQuan Lambert was penciled in for Lehigh's new rover position last season, but suffered a season-ending injury in Lehigh's opening-day win at CCSU.
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Lehigh has added 21 first-year student-athletes to its 2016 roster, including several who could contribute right away. Five freshmen appear on Lehigh's depth chart, including New Jersey native Riley O'Neil, who is projected to start at free safety. Alex Motley is listed as the backup right tackle, Colin Nace is a backup defensive end and Marquis Wilson is a backup cornerback. Oliver Clowes is listed as both the backup kicker and punter. Twelve of Lehigh's 31 sophomores appeared in at least six games last year.
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Lehigh has an 83-43-6 all-time record in its season-opening contests. The Mountain Hawks are 6-4 in season openers under Andy Coen and have won five of their last six openers. Lehigh is just 4-6 in home openers under Andy Coen but the Mountain Hawks have won three of their last four home openers. This is the fourth time Lehigh has opened its season against Monmouth. The Mountain Hawks claimed season-opening wins against the Hawks in 2005, 2011 and 2012.
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Lehigh and Monmouth are meeting for the seventh time. The Mountain Hawks won the first five meetings before the Hawks claimed the most recent meeting 28-21 in 2014. Lehigh's last win was a 28-25 triumph in New Jersey in 2013. These teams first met in 1999, a 56-10 Lehigh victory.
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Saturday's game kicks off just after 12:30 from Goodman Stadium. Tickets for the game are still available, and may be purchased in one of three ways: by visiting the Lehigh ticket office located in Stabler Arena, by calling (610) 7LU-GAME, or on-line anytime at LehighTickets.com.
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The Mountain Hawks will take to the road next weekend to face No. 22/23 Villanova on Saturday September 10 at Villanova Stadium. Game time is set for 6 p.m.
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Like Lehigh Football on Facebook and follow on Twitter for exclusive updates throughout the season.
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BETHLEHEM, Pa. – The 133rd season of Lehigh football officially begins today as the Mountain Hawks welcome Monmouth to Goodman Stadium for the 2016 opener. The Mountain Hawks are coming off a 6-5 campaign that culminated with a 49-35 win over Lafayette in the 151st meeting of college football's most-played rivalry. Lehigh returns a wealth of weapons from the Patriot League's top rated offense in terms of yardage, led by the trio of quarterback Nick Shafnisky, running back and Patriot League Rookie of the Year Dominick Bragalone and wide receiver Troy Pelletier.
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Near the end of preseason camp, coach Andy Coen named four seniors as captains for the 2016 season. Quarterback Nick Shafnisky (Whitehall, Pa.), offensive linemen Zach Duffy (Reading, Pa.) and Brandon Short (Mentor, Ohio), and linebacker Colton Caslow (Altamonte Springs, Fla.) will lead this year's squad.
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Monmouth was picked fourth in the Big South preseason poll on the heels of a 5-6 campaign that saw the Hawks go 3-3 in their second year as a football member in the Big South. The Hawks finished the 2015 season with back-to-back victories and were 2-4 in road games last season.Â
 Six Hawks garnered preseason All-Big South honors: seniors Darren Ambush, Payton Minnich and Darnell Leslie, and juniors Mike Basile, Alex Thompson and Matt White. Like Lehigh, Monmouth returns most of its top skill players from a year ago, including quarterback Cody Williams, leading rusher Lavon Chaney and its top two receivers in Ambush and Reggie White, Jr. Basile, a preseason All-American, led the Hawks defense last year with 119 tackles and added two interceptions. Minnich was second with 74 tackles. Monmouth averaged 20.5 points and 332.4 yards per game offensively, while yielding 25.2 points and 364.1 yards per game on defense.
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Senior Nick Shafnisky enters his third full season as Lehigh's starting quarterback. Shafnisky came into his own last season, completing nearly 67 percent of his passes for 2,279 yards and 15 touchdowns compared to just 10 interceptions in 11 games last year. He was also a key cog to Lehigh's ground attack, rushing for 674 yards and a team-best 12 touchdowns. The Whitehall, Pa. product saved his best for last in 2015, going 21-for-27 for 283 yards and four touchdowns, while rushing for 109 yards and a touchdown in Lehigh's 49-35 win over Lafayette last November. Shafnisky was named the Rivalry game's Most Valuable Player. He owns four career 300-yard passing games and a pair of 100-yard rushing games.
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The Mountain Hawks enter the 2015 campaign looking for a bounce-back season on the defensive side of the ball. Lehigh allowed 33.2 points and more than 475 yards per game ranking at the bottom of the Patriot League and the bottom 20 nationally in a number of defensive categories. The Mountain Hawks have changed their scheme and return eight starters plus a number of players who saw significant action in 2014.
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Last year, tailback Dominick Bragalone became the first Lehigh freshman to eclipse the 1,000 yard rushing mark on the way to becoming Lehigh's first Patriot League Rookie of the Year for football since 1986. Bragalone's 179th and final carry of 2016 was a 44-yard touchdown run, which put him over the 1,000 yard mark. His 1,008 yards mark the 10th highest single-season total in school history. The South Williamsport, Pa., native had six 100-yard rushing games, highlighted by a 169-yard effort against Georgetown. He rushed for seven touchdowns with five of the seven coming in his last three games.
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For the Mountain Hawks to meet their 2016 goals they will need a bounce-back effort from a defensive unit that has struggled in each of the last two seasons. Last year, Lehigh allowed more than 35 points and 451 yards per game. In six wins in 2015, Lehigh yielded just over 24 points and 384 total yards while allowing opponents to convert just 44 percent of third downs. In its five losses, Lehigh gave up more than 48 points and 532 yards per game while opponents converted 54 percent of third downs. Lehigh returns six starters on defense.
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Lehigh's roster features two student-athletes who earned fifth years of eligibility due to medical hardships. Wide receiver Derek Knott missed the final nine games of 2014 but came back to catch 32 passes for 395 yards and two touchdowns in his first fully-healthy season last year. LaQuan Lambert was penciled in for Lehigh's new rover position last season, but suffered a season-ending injury in Lehigh's opening-day win at CCSU.
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Lehigh has added 21 first-year student-athletes to its 2016 roster, including several who could contribute right away. Five freshmen appear on Lehigh's depth chart, including New Jersey native Riley O'Neil, who is projected to start at free safety. Alex Motley is listed as the backup right tackle, Colin Nace is a backup defensive end and Marquis Wilson is a backup cornerback. Oliver Clowes is listed as both the backup kicker and punter. Twelve of Lehigh's 31 sophomores appeared in at least six games last year.
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Lehigh has an 83-43-6 all-time record in its season-opening contests. The Mountain Hawks are 6-4 in season openers under Andy Coen and have won five of their last six openers. Lehigh is just 4-6 in home openers under Andy Coen but the Mountain Hawks have won three of their last four home openers. This is the fourth time Lehigh has opened its season against Monmouth. The Mountain Hawks claimed season-opening wins against the Hawks in 2005, 2011 and 2012.
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Lehigh and Monmouth are meeting for the seventh time. The Mountain Hawks won the first five meetings before the Hawks claimed the most recent meeting 28-21 in 2014. Lehigh's last win was a 28-25 triumph in New Jersey in 2013. These teams first met in 1999, a 56-10 Lehigh victory.
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Saturday's game kicks off just after 12:30 from Goodman Stadium. Tickets for the game are still available, and may be purchased in one of three ways: by visiting the Lehigh ticket office located in Stabler Arena, by calling (610) 7LU-GAME, or on-line anytime at LehighTickets.com.
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The Mountain Hawks will take to the road next weekend to face No. 22/23 Villanova on Saturday September 10 at Villanova Stadium. Game time is set for 6 p.m.
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| Date: | September 3, 2016 |
| Opponent: | Monmouth Hawks |
| Kickoff: | 12:37 p.m. |
| Stadium: | Goodman Stadium/16,000/Natural Grass |
| Location: | Bethlehem, Pa. |
| Tickets: | Tickets can be purchased by calling 610-7LU-GAME or online at LehighTickets.com |
| Lehigh's '15 Record: | 6-5 overall, 4-2 Patriot League |
| Monmouth's '15 Record: | 5-6 overall, 3-3 Big South |
| Series: | Lehigh leads 5-1 |
| Television | Service Electric 2 Sports live with Steve Degler, Mike Yadush '93 and Al Di Carlo |
| Radio | ESPN Radio of the Lehigh Valley (1160, 1230 and 1320-AM) with Matt Kerr and Lance Haynes '94 plus ESPN Radio's Matt Markus and Tom Fallon |
| Internet Broadcast: | Video on the Patriot League Network (PatriotLeague.TV) Audio at ESPNLV.com |
| Key Stats: | •Lehigh boasted the Patriot League's top offense in 2015, averaging 462.5 yards/game. •The Mountain Hawks rushed for more than 200 yards in each of their last four games last season. •Lehigh has averaged over 39 points in its six previous meetings with Monmouth. •Lehigh's roster features 21 freshmen, 31 sophomores, 16 juniors and 17 seniors. |
| Behind Enemy Lines: | http://www.monmouthhawks.com   |
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Players Mentioned
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LB
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P/K
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OL
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WR
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DB
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OL
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DL
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DB
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WR
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QB
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OL
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DB
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