Lafayette outlasts Lehigh in college football’s oldest rivalry

Lafayette outlasts Lehigh in college football’s oldest rivalry

The Lafayette Leopards and the Lehigh Mountain Hawks faced off on Saturday at Goodman Stadium for the 155th time. This year’s edition of the rivalry carried more importance than usual, as the teams were playing for a chance to share the Patriot League title with Holy Cross if they were to lose to Georgetown.

Lafayette suffered a rocky start to their 2019 season, losing their first seven games. They found their stride just in time for conference action as they have won three in a row and entered Saturday’s game with a 3-2 conference record.

Lehigh, meanwhile, found themselves in the midst of a three-game losing streak heading into the rivalry clash. They were looking to get back on track against a Lafayette team that they have enjoyed recent success against, winning the previous four matchups.

The game was expected to be a low-scoring, defensive affair, and that is how Saturday’s game played out. Defenses dominated the first quarter, and it wasn’t until less than a minute remained in the period that Lafayette’s Selwyn Simpson broke the scoreless tie on a 15-yard touchdown run. Both teams would find success scoring on the ground, and Lehigh answered with 10:40 to play in the second quarter on a four-yard touchdown run by Zathan Hill. Simpson would answer back with a two-yard run to give Lafayette a 14-7 lead early into the second half.

The rest of the game was a battle of field position and kicking. The Mountain Hawks would take a 16-14 lead following three straight field goals from kicker Austin Henning. With 48 seconds left in regulation, Jeffrey Kordenbrock capped off a nine-play, 50-yard drive with a 28-yard go-ahead field goal to put Lafayette up by one. The 17-16 lead would last, and Lafayette secured their first win in the series since the 150th meeting where the teams faced off in Yankee Stadium.

Selwyn Simpson leads the way for Lafayette on the ground finishing with two touchdowns and 41 yards on 14 carries. Keegan Shoemaker completed 16 of his 24 throws for 124 yards and one interception.

Lehigh was more effective through the air, with Alec Beesmer completing 14 of his 24 passes for 246 yards, although he threw two interceptions. Devon Bibbens caught four passes for 90 yards, and Austin Dambach reeled in five receptions for 74 yards. Running back Zathan Hill finished with 54 yards on nine carries and the only Lehigh touchdown of the day.

Lafayette’s victory increases their lead in the all-time series to 79-71-5. Lafayette’s season record improves to 4-8, while Lehigh falls to 4-7. The Leopards did not get to celebrate a shared conference championship as Holy Cross defeated Georgetown 24-0 to claim sole ownership of the Patriot League title.

-By: Jonny Hart

Writer/Interviewer