Live Blog: Fordham at Lehigh
by , 10-09-2010 at 11:57 AM (1384 Views)
Reporting live from Murray Goodman Stadium, it's 2-2 Lehigh taking on 1-3 Fordham.
With 6:06 to play in the first half, Lehigh QB Chris Lum threw the ball over the middle to WR Ryan Spadola, who looked like he was down - but then rolled over tthe defender and waltzed into the end zone for the 12 yard TD run. XP good: Lehigh 7, Fordham 0.
Fordham WR David Moore got the handoff, lateraled to QB Blake Wayne, who heaved the ball to WR Jason Caldwell to get into Lehigh territory.
Fordham had a 3rd down in red zone - but Wayne juggled the snal, snap, and Lehigh LB Mike Groome flew in for the sack to make it 4th and 12 from the 15 yard line.
Fordham PK Patrick Murray nailed a 32 yard FG to make it Lehigh 7, Fordham 3 with 2:32 left in the first.
A Lehigh offensive drive didn't lead to much, and Fordham is driving at the Lehigh 25 on a3rd and 19 at the end of the first quarter.
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A questionable roughing the passer call on Lehigh LB Al Pierce - who led with his shoulder pad, but making somecantact with Fordham QB Blake Wayne's helmet - gives Fordham a 1st and goal from the Lehigh 9.
3rd and goal - WR Jay Livingston tried to leap over the top of the pile to get the touchdown, but Lehigh LB Mike Groome stood him up hard to deny him the TD.
4th and goal, Fordham head coach Tom Masella elects to go for it. QB Blake Wayne rolls right in what looks like an option play, but it breaks down and Wayne then has to roll left. He looks for an open receiver, but find nobody as Lehigh LB Devin Greene stuffs him for a loss. Turnover on downs.
A solid drive by Fordham, mostly through the air, ended in a nice 39 yard pass down the right side from QB Blake Wayne to WR David Moore where he beat his 1-on-1 coverage for the big-play touchdown. Murray's XP is good. Fordham 10, Lehigh 7, 6:08 left in the first half.
Lehigh responded with a 45 yard return on the kickoff by WR Craig Zurn, and marched right down the field, aided by a personal foul at the end of a 10 yard reception by Lehigh WR Jake Drwal. Then, QB Michael Colvin used the wildcat to convert a 6 yard touchdown run to cap off the drive. PK Jake Peery's extra point made the score Lehigh 14, Fordham 10.
A picture perfect day here at Murray Goodman stadium, blue skies and just a few clouds in the skies.
Fordham made a big drive in between the 20s, with some big pass plays to WR David Moore, but once they got inside the red zone - and converted a key 4th down to WR Patrick Miller - Fordham QB Blake Wayne fumbled a snap on first down, which kicked them out of field goal range. A last-second hail mary was batted down by Lehigh, making the tally Lehigh 14, Fordham 10 at halftime.
Lehigh LB Mike Groome, who made three big third down stops, including standing up Fordham on a goal line leap, was the big difference-maker in the half.
Should be an interesting game to unfold. Both teams have shown flashes of solid offense and defense, but have also shown a tendedncy to shoot themselves in the foot in key situations.
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Fordham gets the ball on the opening kickoff, and the drive stalls at midfield. 4th and 3, and Fordham lines up to punt. It's a fake! The ball gets hiked to 300 lb NG Justin Yancey, who rumbles forward for first down yardage. But - who else - LB Mike Groome and another backer hit Yancey in the hands, causing him to drop the ball. Lehigh FS John Venerio recovers!
Lehigh wastes no time takeing advantage. QB Chris Lum, rolling out and all day to throw, finds RB Zach Barket in the right side of the end zone, who leans out and drags his foot for the TD. Peery extra point good. Lehigh 21, Fordham 10, 10 minutes to play, 3rd quarter.
After an exchange of punts - and a 4th down and inches run by Lehigh stuffed by Fordham NG Justin Yancey - the Rams undergo an impressive drive, mixing receptions to TE Stephen Sketon and ending with a 2 yard TD run by RB Darryle Whiting. Murray's extra point is good, which seems to point to an interesting end of this game. Lehigh 21, Fordham 17, :52 left, 3rd quarter.
That's the end of the 3rd quarter, with Lehigh facing a 2nd and 9 deep in their end.
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The story of this 4th quarter has been Lehigh's 4th-down stops of Fordham's offense. Twice Masella went for it on 4th down, and the last one, with 3:42 left in the game, resulted in a ball tipped up by WR Jason Moore, which fell to the ground. Lehigh has the ball, and will try to hold on and win.
Lehigh missed a 39 yard attempt into the wind by PK KJake Peery, which would have given Lehigh a 7 point lead. Lehigh offense goes 3-and-out, Fordham gets the ball back with 3 minutes to play.
Lehigh's offense does nothing, and punts it away to Fordham.
Wayne finds TE Stephen Skelton for a pair of big receptions. A facemask call allows Fordham to set up shop, with a chance to win the game, with 2 minutes to play at the Lehigh 26.
1st down - Fordham runs, stuffed up the middle.
2nd down - reception for no gain, Lehigh's linebackers make sure to tackle him in bounds.
3rd down - Wayne can't find anybody, he throws it out-of-bounds.
4th down - the Lehigh crowd of about 5,000 all on their feet - and Wayne throws it left to Moore. But he trapped it! Incomplete!
Lehigh survives three drives in their territory to win the game. The stat of the game: Fordham went 0-for-6 on 4th down conversions, including three times in the 4th quarter that could have resulted in scores.








