Lehigh 31 Columbia 7
Why Lehigh Won
The Mountain Hawks were flawless and efficient on offense, and stifling on defense for almost the entire 60 minutes. The only surprise was that Lehigh somehow didn’t manage to pitch a shutout.
Why Columbia Lost
The Lions were entirely punchless on offense, and didn’t play well enough defensively to make up for it. Having to start the third string QB made things difficult enough, but CU didn’t seem interested in doing anything too exotic to mix things up either.
Key Turning Points
-Thanks to some timely penalties, Lehigh did get into two 3rd down situations on its opening drive. But the Lions failed to stop them on either one, and the Mountain Hawks took control of the game with a 77-yard TD on their first possession.
-With 50 seconds left in the 1st quarter and still leading just 7-0, Lehigh threw an incomplete pass on a 4th and seven play at the Columbia 32. But on the ensuing possession, the Lions gained zero yards and punted the ball right back to the Mountain Hawks.
Columbia Positives
-Overall, the defense was not terrible despite not being able to spark a major difference in the game. Considering the lack of support or rest it was getting from the offense, the effort was commendable.
-WR Titus Evans’ catch and run after the catch on his 74-yard TD reception from QB Xander Menapace was a thing of beauty and a lone bright spot on a literally and figuratively gloomy day.
Columbia Negatives
-It was another game where neither the OL or the DL had much control of the line of scrimmage, as the Mountain Hawks recorded six sacks and gave up none. Lehigh had 4.2 yards per rush, compared to 1.6 for the Lions. Lehigh was 10 of 17 on 3rd down conversions, and Columbia was just two of 14.
Columbia MVP
-Titus Evans had some other good grabs en route to his first-ever 100 yard receiving game.
