Mountain Hawks head to Connecticut for first road game of 2012
Posted: 09/04/2012
BETHLEHEM, Pa. - No. 14/16 Lehigh takes to the road for the first time in 2012 as the Mountain Hawks visit Central Connecticut State Saturday afternoon at Arute Field. The Mountain Hawks rode a strong first-half performance to a season-opening 27-17 win over Monmouth last weekend. Senior quarterback Mike Colvin threw for two touchdowns and ran for another to lead the offense, while the defense came up with four turnovers to thwart a second half Hawks comeback attempt.
Central Connecticut State opened up with a 49-17 loss to No. 17 Stony Brook last week on Long Island. Blue Devil quarterback Andrew Clements ran for 103 yards and two touchdowns but a 21-0 first quarter deficit was too much to overcome. Saturday’s game marks the first meeting between these two schools in Connecticut.
Freshman Derek Knott made the most of his first game in the Brown and White, catching two passes for 15 yards and returning a pair of kickoffs for a total of 29 yards. His first college reception turned into a 19-yard catch-and-run touchdown late in the first quarter, which gave the Mountain Hawks a 14-0 lead. For his efforts, Knott was named Patriot League Rookie of the Week on Monday. Knott was Lehigh’s first Rookie of the Week since 2009 when Mike Colvin (twice), Zach Barket and Bryan Andrews all won the award. All three remain key contributors to Lehigh’s success.
The Mountain Hawks lost six quality linebackers to graduation last year but several new faces stepped up with strong play against Monmouth. Seniors Sam Loughery and Jerard Gordon started on the inside. Loughery had eight tackles and a sack, while Gordon had four stops to go along with his fumble recovery touchdown on the final play of the game. Senior Billy Boyko did not start due to injury but added seven tackles including a key fourth quarter forced fumble deep in Lehigh territory. On the outside, junior Nigel Muhammad and sophomore Isaiah Campbell both made six tackles, while junior John Mahoney, a transfer from Bryant, made two tackles and came up with a key interception late in the fourth quarter to help preserve the victory.
Lehigh and Central Connecticut State meet for just the third time on Saturday and the first time in Connecticut. The Mountain Hawks won the first meeting, 58-10, back in 2001, while the Blue Devils spoiled Lehigh’s 2009 season-opener, winning 28-21 at Goodman Stadium. CCSU went on to claim the NEC Championship that season.
Saturday’s game kicks off at noon from Arute Field. The contest will not be televised, but will be broadcast live on ESPN Radio 1230 and 1320 as well as Lehighsports.com with pregame coverage beginning at 11 a.m.
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Date:
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September 8, 2012
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Opponent:
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Central Connecticut State Blue Devils
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Kickoff:
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12:00 p.m.
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Stadium:
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Arute Field/3,000/FieldTurf
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Location:
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New Britain, Conn.
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Tickets:
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Tickets can be purchased by calling CCSU at (860) 832-2583
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Lehigh’s Record:
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1-0 overall, 0-0 Patriot League
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CCSU’s Record:
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0-1 overall, 0-0 Northeast Conference
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Series:
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Tied 1-1
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Television
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None
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Radio
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ESPN Radio 1230 and 1320 with Matt Kerr, Lance Haynes ’94 and Matt Markus beginning at 11 a.m.
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Internet Broadcast:
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Lehighsports.com
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Key Stats:
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• Lehigh’s defense was on the field for 52 plays in the second half against Monmouth. The Mountain Hawks only allowed 10 points after halftime.
•Central Connecticut State is 24-5 at home under coach Jeff McInerney, but three of the five losses came last year.
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Behind Enemy Lines:
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