NFL coaches probably prefer to peak a little later, but high school and college coaches always talk about having a goal of playing their best football in November because that’s when playoff berths and championships are decided.
This year’s Lehigh played well in its one game in August and continued at a high level for tour games in September and three in October.
But if the goal is to play your best in November, the Mountain Hawks are off to a good start.
The seventh-ranked team in FCS football delivered arguably its best all-around effort of the season Saturday afternoon in a 41-0 Patriot League rout of Georgetown at Goodman Stadium.
Lehigh began November improving to 9-0 overall, 4-0 in the league, with three left to play, starting with Holy Cross coming to Bethlehem on Saturday.
Luke Yoder ran for 62 yards and two touchdowns and quarterback Hayden Johnson was an efficient 14-for-18 passing for 178 yards and another score as the Mountain Hawks beat the Hoyas for the 23rd time in their last 25 meetings. They outgained the Hoyas 371-271 and notched the program’s first shutout since a 28-0 over Georgetown in 2009.
“I am excited about the way we came to play today,” said Lehigh coach Kevin Cahill. “We talk all the time about the standard and the way we play. The defense limited them offensively and our offense took advantage of some things early. Obviously, an Aidan Singleton interception for a touchdown was big. The defense just didn’t let up. We challenged them all week about the way we’re supposed to play. We wanted to ignore the scoreboard and play to our standard. I think our eyes got opened up today about how that really works for our recipe. I’m proud of these guys.”
Tyler Ochojski led the defense with three of the unit’s seven sacks.
But typical of the unselfish effort Lehigh delivered, Ochojski was most proud of the shutout that wasn’t complete until Lehigh got a stop on fourth-and-1 at the Mountain Hawks’ 1 in the final minute. A pass was broken up in the end zone.
“My favorite play of the game was that fourth-and-1 because that represents everything our program is about, and our standard doesn’t dip,” Ochojski said. “All of the numbers are great, but for us to get the first shutout since 2009 and for our so-called backups to go all out and make a stand like that shows what this program is all about. I couldn’t be more proud of that. I was told it was the first shutout since 2009, and I will tell you what, that fired me up.”
Scoring summary
Georgetown 0 – 0 – 0 – 0 — 0
Lehigh 7 – 13 – 7 – 14 — 41
FIRST QUARTER
L: Jaden Green 15 run (Nick Garrido kick), 9:33
SECOND QUARTER
L: Luke Yoder 6 run (Garrido kick), 10:46
L: Yoder 41 run (kick blocked), 7:01
THIRD QUARTER
L: Aidan Singleton 26 interception return (Connor Poole kick), 10:10
FOURTH QUARTER
L: Geoffrey Jamiel 27 pass from Hayden Johnson (Poole kick), 12:53
L: Derek Morgan 9 run (Canaan Kimball kick), 4:21
Individual stats
RUSHING
Georgetown (36 for 90): Udechukwu Enyeribe 4-40; Savion Hart 11-18; Jayden Sumpter 5-12; Dez Thomas II 14-11; Jack Johnson 2-9.
Lehigh (32 for 193): Luke Yoder 8-62, 2 TDs; Jaden Green 7-45, TD; Hayden Johnson 7-38; Aaron Crossley 3-18; Matt Machalik 3-13; Derek Morgan 2-10; Connor Hilling 2-7.
PASSING
Georgetown: Thomas II 14-25-1, 168 yards.
Lehigh: Johnson 14-21-0, 178 yards, TD.
RECEIVING
Georgetown: Jimmy Kibble 5-99; Hassan Mahasin 4-54; Coen Sutton 2-15; Isaiah Grimes 2-8; Conor O’Neil 2-5; Achilles Whitby 1-6; Titus Heimull 1-(-2); Savion Hart 1-(-4).
Lehigh: Geoffrey Jamiel 5-72, TD; Anthony Feaster 4-61; Matt D’Avino 3-17; Mason Humphey 1-17; Jason Marranca 1-11/
