Box Score
CAMBRIDGE, Mass. – Lehigh came back from
a 17-0 deficit to defeat Harvard by a score of 21-19 Saturday
afternoon at Harvard Stadium.
With unbearable winds between 35 and 45 miles per hour and a
tenacious Harvard defense stuffing any semblance of a running game,
Lehigh abandoned its ground efforts in the third quarter in favor
of the passing attack. With the wind at its back, it was the right
move as a depleted Harvard secondary tried in vain to hold onto the
lead.
Postgame Press Conferences:
Lehigh scored all 21 of its points in the quarter as Chris Lum
completed 12 of 16 passes for 191 yards and two touchdowns while
Michael Colvin added a four-yard touchdown pass on a trick
play.
Still, Harvard appeared to have sealed victory when Michael Cook
hauled in a 28-yard touchdown pass with 1:14 left in the game.
Replays showed Cook to have two feet in bounds with possession but
it was ruled incomplete and an eventual fourth down pass was later
intercepted in the end zone with Lehigh taking a safety.
In the first half, Harvard dominated as the Crimson took a 17-0
lead into halftime behind 142 rushing yards. Gino Gordon had 75
of them, including an 18-yard touchdown run. Colton Chapple
found Kyle
Juszczyk for a 17-yard strike and David Mothander
connected on a 38-yard field goal.
Gordon finished with 118 yards on 22 carries (5.4 ypc) for his
third-straight 100-yard rushing game.
Lehigh started its comeback with a four-yard pass from Colvin to
Ryan Spadola when Colvin faked a QB sneak and then peeled back to
throw the ball for a score. Seven minutes later, Lum found
Mark Wickware on a play-action pass one play after a Harvard
interception was negated by a controversial interference
penalty.
The big blow came at the end of the third quarter when Lum found
Spadola on a short slant pattern with Spadola slipping two tackles
and taking it 51 yards for a score. Spadola finished with 14
receptions for 206 yards on the day. All of them were needed as the
Crimson defense limited Lehigh to 25 rushing yards on 34
carries.
Chuks Obi
led the defense with 11 tackles, including nine in the first half
and two forced fumbles. Collin Zych added 10
tackles and a breakup.
Harvard (3-2) is back in action next weekend in Ivy League play
when it travels to Princeton. Lehigh improves to 4-2 on the season
with the win.
