Lehigh at Central Connecticut State: The Game Thread

[Lehigh Football Nation]

My preview comes right... now.

http://lehighfootballnation.blogspot.com/2012/09/game-preview-lehigh-at-central.html

The breakdown and fearless prediction come... tomorrow.

[ngineer]

Good to see the injuries suffered last week are not overly serious, i.e. season ending. Bit of a patchwork line, but should still do the necessary.

[aceinthehole]

LFN - will you be there (in the press box or the stands)? About how many Lehigh fans will likely travel to this game?

I can't make it, but I'd be interested to LU fans feedback on the CCSU game day atmosphere (regardless of the final outcome of the game).

[aceinthehole]

Some pregame article:

New Britain Hearld - No. 14 Lehigh poses big challenge this week for CCSU
http://newbritainherald.com/articles/2012/09/07/sports/doc504959319ca47416714966.txt

New Britain Hearld - Central will have new look for home opener this Saturday
http://newbritainherald.com/articles/2012/09/07/sports/doc5049595ee3870671445722.txt

New Britain Hearld - CCSU defensive backs seek big plays this year
http://newbritainherald.com/articles/2012/09/05/sports/doc504803c3ec3e1255471764.txt

[Lehigh Football Nation]

LFN - will you be there (in the press box or the stands)? About how many Lehigh fans will likely travel to this game?

I can't make it, but I'd be interested to LU fans feedback on the CCSU game day atmosphere (regardless of the final outcome of the game).

Sadly, it's my anniversary that exact day (9/8), so I'm not heading up. But I will get a report from all my peeps up there, I promise.

[RichH2]

Luckily I have Guinness in the fridge so I am good to go. I expect we will have a bit more stamina this week and actually show up in the 2nd half. OL will be a problem. Dave had best not count on any long developing plays or complicated blocking scemes. D should be OK. I think we will have to rely on CCSU mistakez to win this one convincingly.

[Lehigh Football Nation]

Luckily I have Guinness in the fridge so I am good to go. I expect we will have a bit more stamina this week and actually show up in the 2nd half. OL will be a problem. Dave had best not count on any long developing plays or complicated blocking scemes. D should be OK. I think we will have to rely on CCSU mistakez to win this one convincingly.

The Guiness will help all our staminae. :)

[aceinthehole]

Welcome to New Britain, Connecticut!

http://sphotos-b.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash4/387126_10151050087591200_1635707301_n.jpg

[van]

Luckily I have Guinness in the fridge so I am good to go. I expect we will have a bit more stamina this week and actually show up in the 2nd half. OL will be a problem. Dave had best not count on any long developing plays or complicated blocking scemes. D should be OK. I think we will have to rely on CCSU mistakez to win this one convincingly.

Think the OL will be OK if they can keep all 5 together for the whole game. Big if though.

[van]

Welcome to New Britain, Connecticut!

http://sphotos-b.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash4/387126_10151050087591200_1635707301_n.jpg

Got the sign lit up, but wonder if they posted game notes yet?

[Lehigh Football Nation]

Got the sign lit up, but wonder if they posted game notes yet?

They have not. Have been checking all morning!

PS. Thanks, Ace, for my new cover photo! Love the sign, and the new scoreboard looks real sharp.

[aceinthehole]

CCSU game notes are up! http://www.ccsubluedevils.com/sports/fball/2012-13/files/Lehigh.9.8.12.pdf

[RichH2]

Thanks Ace.

[aceinthehole]

Also, the game will be streamed lived (for free) on the NEC's new webcast site NEC Front Row.

http://necfrontrow.com/

[RichH2]

Neat now I can watch and drink my Guiness.

[Pard4Life]

Sadly, it's my anniversary that exact day (9/8), so I'm not heading up. But I will get a report from all my peeps up there, I promise.

Pfft... come on LFN, someone like you should know to get married in the spring.

[Pard4Life]

C'mooooon CCSU... oh so close to making it happen, oh so close to making it happen...

http://blog.builddirect.com/greenbuilding/wp-content/uploads/2010/09/flush-the-toilet.jpg

[Lehigh Football Nation]

Pfft... come on LFN, someone like you should know to get married in the spring.

Good point. Wish I had the foresight! My son, however, had the good sense to be born on a Lehigh bye week.

[Lehigh Football Nation]

CCSU breakdown and fearless prediction:

http://lehighfootballnation.blogspot.com/2012/09/game-2-breakdown-lehigh-at-central.html

[ngineer]

A twenty-four spread on the road is a lot no matter who the opponent is. Lehigh should win, but I'm seeing something like 31-14. I would love to see Barket and Sherman get a lot of work.

[aceinthehole]

Hartford Courant - Central Hopes To Rebound Against Lehigh In Home Opener
http://articles.courant.com/2012-09-07/sports/hc-central-football-0908-20120907_1_central-connecticut-football-blue-devils-stony-brook

http://www.ccsubluedevils.com/sports/fball/2012-13/photos/Arute_release.jpg

Today's Game
The Blue Devils host #14/16 Lehigh in the home opener of their 74th season of college football. These programs have met just twice prior to today and the series stands even at 1-1. The last meeting was the opening weekend of the 2009 season. The Blue Devils went on the road that day and topped the Mountain Hawks, 28-21. The only other meeting came in 2001, that year Lehigh earned a 58-10 victory. This will be the first time that CCSU and Lehigh play at Arute Field.

Arute Field
Central Connecticut has been playing football on Arute Field since the 1950s and the field has occupied its current location since the 1960s. The current incarnation has been in use since the 2000 season and has been a kind home for the Blue Devils, especially of late, with a 24-5 record under head coach Jeff McInerney. Today, the latest renovations to the field are officially completed and the facility now boasts a capacity of 5,500 and a state-of-the-art video board. The new additions make Arute Field one of the premier facilities in the Northeast Conference and New England.

[Go Lehigh TU Owl]

Also, the game will be streamed lived (for free) on the NEC's new webcast site NEC Front Row.

http://necfrontrow.com/

This is clutch! Lehigh is only offering an audio stream! I'll be switching between this game and the TU-Maryland tilt.

Just a little over an hour until kickoff! Go Hawks!

[Go Lehigh TU Owl]

Just about 10 minutes until KO...

[Go Lehigh TU Owl]

Lehigh defense forces a 3 and out....

Suggs with a nice return to the CCSU 40...

[Go Lehigh TU Owl]

Lehigh offense looking good...first and goal at the CCSU 5

TD Lehigh!! Barket from a yard out...Xp good

7-0 Lehigh 11:42 1Q

[Go Lehigh TU Owl]

Lehigh forces a fumble...first down at the CCSU 23

[RichH2]

Go Lehigh ,OL looks good so far

[Go Lehigh TU Owl]

Go Lehigh ,OL looks good so far

CCSU looks really small on D...

[Go Lehigh TU Owl]

did the video feed already die? nm

TD Sherman from a yard away!!

Lehigh 14 CCSU 0 10:11 1Q

[RichH2]

Re boot it went off returned when I went back to it. Yeah CCSU DL Looks very small. Helps they seem to overreact and take themselves out of play

[Go Lehigh TU Owl]

Lehigh forces another fumble!

First down at their own 40 or so...

[Engineer86]

Colvin is just not good. First misses Spadola, then that force.

[aceinthehole]

CCSU's offense is horrible - embarassing.

Lehigh looks solid, well-balanced. I do like CCSU's pass D so far, but if we can't move the ball it is going to be a long day.

[Engineer86]

Fumbles are killing ccsu

[Go Lehigh TU Owl]

Lehigh forces another fumble! Returns it to the CCSU 5!

I have no idea what CCSU is doing on offense....

[Go Lehigh TU Owl]

I have no idea what happened there but CCSU has the ball....

[aceinthehole]

Lehigh forces another fumble! Returns it to the CCSU 5!

I have no idea what CCSU is doing on offense....

Neither do I. Our backfield is horrible this year, yet Mac wants to force the run.

Our best offensive players are at WR - Baker and Jones. Put the transfer from Tulane back there and let him throw the ball!

[Engineer86]

Colvin may be ccsu's best defender. I will vote Lu top 25 again when we get a QB

[Go Lehigh TU Owl]

Colvin may be ccsu's best defender. I will vote Lu top 25 again when we get a QB

Why throw it though? CCSU isn't stopping Lehigh two time from the 1!

[aceinthehole]

CCSU's strenghts are at WR and defensive backfield. LU can probably wear down CCSU and just run will.

[Bogus Megapardus]

No video?

[aceinthehole]

No video?

http://necfrontrow.com/webcast.php/CCSU-51/

[aceinthehole]

CCSU's gets another INT

[Go Lehigh TU Owl]

Lehigh might have to make a decision about Colvin. I have no idea where he was throwing that!

[Engineer86]

This game is a comedy of errors

[Go Lehigh TU Owl]

Lehigh's DL is owning the line of scrimmage.

[Engineer86]

Lehigh might have to make a decision about Colvin. I have no idea where he was throwing that!

He was trying to throw it threw his receiverxlolx

[Engineer86]

Hopefully at half time they pull the plug on him. He has had his chance.

[aceinthehole]

Lehigh's DL is owning the line of scrimmage.

Yep. CCSU has no running game whatsoever.

Our QB have no vision and aren't getting it done.

[Engineer86]

I thought Colvin was the worst QB in the brown and white game and I have seen nothing to change the view.

[Go Lehigh TU Owl]

Hopefully at half time they pull the plug on him. He has had his chance.

Why does he always fall back when he's throwing it? Is he affraid to get hit? He's bigger than most of the CCSU DL!

[Bogus Megapardus]

http://necfrontrow.com/webcast.php/CCSU-51/


Got it. Thanks!!!!

[Bogus Megapardus]

Colvin won't last the season if he keeps doing that.

[Engineer86]

Colvin won't last the season if he keeps doing that.

Whatis that throwing interceptions or missing receivers?

[Go Lehigh TU Owl]

TD Sherman!!

Lehigh 21 CCSU 0 3:24 2Q

This game could easily be 35-0 right now....

[Engineer86]

TD Sherman!!

Lehigh 21 CCSU 0 3:24 2Q

This game could easily be 35-0 right now....

... If we had a QB instead of 3 RB's in the backfield?

[Engineer86]

RB Holliman is ccsu's best weapon

[danefan]

Disappointing showing for CCSU so far.

[aceinthehole]

RB Holliman is ccsu's best weapon

CCSU's only chance is to go wide on the runs and use whatver speed advantage we may have. We aren't running between the tackles - LU is stuffing that.

I also like screens to our WR and anything to get the ball to our fastest players.

[Bogus Megapardus]

What is that throwing interceptions or missing receivers?

Pretending that he's a third down, between-the-tackles tailback. One strong hit on that throwing shoulder or a bruised triceps or whatever, and his mechanics and accuracy can be badly compromised. There's no need for Lehigh, given their personnel, ever to call designed runs for Colvin.

[Go Lehigh TU Owl]

Wow a quick kick at the 50?

[Go Lehigh TU Owl]

Lehigh physically dominated the first half. Colvin has to get better though. This team is way too talented to suffer from below average QB play.

[aceinthehole]

Ugly game from both teams, but Lehigh's offense, as mediocre as it is, is still light years ahead of Central's.

Still anything can happen, I just hope we can make it look like football.

[Bogus Megapardus]

This seems to be all about the cohesiveness and skill of Lehigh's OL. Very methodical Lehigh offense. Central Conn. is going to have to start taking some more risks (like that fourth down pass that ended in the PI call against Lehigh). Otherwise this looks like it will be Lehigh on I-84 cruise control.

[Go Lehigh TU Owl]

Well i'll get to focus on this game the rest of the way...Temple is getting crushed by pitiful Maryland 26-3 at half

[RichH2]

Mike has retrogressed back to last year. He has been abysmal. Agree score s/b 35-0. With this level of play vs an outmatched team, he will not last the season. I hope Dave gets his head on straight for next half.

[Bogus Megapardus]

Well i'll get to focus on this game the rest of the way...Temple is getting crushed by pitiful Maryland 26-3 at half

Same Maryland team that barely got past W&M in the 4th Q last week.

[Go Lehigh TU Owl]

That should have been a first down! Need a more accurate pass!

[Bogus Megapardus]

Mike has retrogressed back to last year. He has been abysmal. Agree score s/b 35-0. With this level of play vs an outmatched team, he will not last the season. I hope Dave gets his head on straight for next half.

Colvin is having some timing issues with his receivers - especially coming from motion or from the backfield. These things get worked out in practice. I don't see any real, overall deficiency in Colvin's skill. Shouldn't call any more designed runs for him, though.

[Go Lehigh TU Owl]

Same Maryland team that barely got past W&M in the 4th Q last week.

Yeah, I'm not sure what to think now...'Nova might be really, really bad...

[Go Lehigh TU Owl]

CCSU first and goal at the Lehigh 2...looks like last weeks second half...

[Go Lehigh TU Owl]

TD CCSU!!

Lehigh 21 CCSU 7 7:29 3Q

[aceinthehole]

Great drive. 15 plays, 6 minutes. CCSU scores!

LU 21, CCSU 7

[Go Lehigh TU Owl]

CCSU get another stop...ugh...

[aceinthehole]

CCSU forces 3-and-out on LU's first 2 second half drives.

[aceinthehole]

CCSU using their speed on the outside.

[Go Lehigh TU Owl]

CCSU forces 3-and-out on LU's first 2 second half drives.

Lehigh actually got a first down on their first play of that series...

[Go Lehigh TU Owl]

Well this looks very familiar...

[aceinthehole]

Big CCSU run called back because of holding

[Go Lehigh TU Owl]

Not sure about that 3rd down call...

[Go Lehigh TU Owl]

CCSU with another quick kick that goes in the EZ...the offense better come out and do something!!

[Go Lehigh TU Owl]

Finally a big play to Spadola!!

[aceinthehole]

CCSU lost all momentium with that horrible opition on 3rd down.

LU has a big pass play.

[aceinthehole]

A Lehigh score here and the game is over. :(

[Go Lehigh TU Owl]

TD Colvin!!

That was a really important response by the offense!

Lehigh 28 CCSU 7 14:12 4Q

[Go Lehigh TU Owl]

Colvin with a nice pass to Sherman after taking a big hit...

[Go Lehigh TU Owl]

TD Lehigh!!

Very solid 4th quarter for the Hawks!!

Lehigh 35 CCSU 7 7:42 4Q

LU looking like a top 20 team today....

[Go Lehigh TU Owl]

CCSU down to the Lehigh 5...mostly running the ball and bleeding the clock....

[Go Lehigh TU Owl]

CCSU TD!

Lehigh 35 CCSU 14 3:52 4Q

[aceinthehole]

CCSU scores, but it's over.

Congrats to Lehigh.

Honestly, they are not anywhere near as fast or explosive as Stony Brook, but this is still a very good team. Lehigh didn't play particually well at times, but I attribute part of that to CCSU's D. However, if Lehigh can keep it togeather they should have a great season.

[Go Lehigh TU Owl]

CCSU scores, but it's over.

Congrats to Lehigh.

Honestly, they are not anywhere near as fast or explosive as Stony Brook, but this is still a very good team. Lehigh didn't play particually well at times, but I attribute part of that to CCSU's D. However, if Lehigh can keep it togeather they should have a great season.

The offense is still a work in progress but the potential is there. Colvin played really well in second half imo.

[Go Lehigh TU Owl]

Game over!!

Lehigh 35 CCSU 14

[Go Lehigh TU Owl]

Monmouth is beating URI 24-3 at half!!

[aceinthehole]

Monmouth is beating URI 24-3 at half!!

WOW!

[superman7515]

Lehigh was the first team this season with 2 FCS wins.

[van]

Based on what I saw last week, Monmouth is better than advertised.

[van]

Lehigh was the first team this season with 2 FCS wins.

Don't tell Tenn Tech.

[van]

By the way, hats off to the NEC for the streaming video. Very well done and CCSU announcers were very good.

[aceinthehole]

By the way, hats off to the NEC for the streaming video. Very well done and CCSU announcers were very good.

Yep, great job by CCSU, NEC, and Pack Network on the video. Bruce and Marc also do the paly-by-play for CCSU basketball games - they're pretty good.

Nice crowd, despte the crazy weather. Over 5,000 in attendence at the Arute Field.

[RichH2]

Mike better in 2nd . 2 games he is too inconsistent. Today missed open wrs bad ints. And this was a bad team. D played good and all played in the 2nd an improvement over last week. Nice to see Sodeke get some PT. OL very solid. BecauseCCSU DL so weak?

[Engineer86]

The offense is still a work in progress but the potential is there. Colvin played really well in second half imo.

Sounded like it, of course I had to leave to catch a flight so I did not see it. Hopefully he can get in a groove

[Southsider]

By the way, hats off to the NEC for the streaming video. Very well done and CCSU announcers were very good.

In regards to the game coverage, the LU radio play by play guy is the worst I have ever heard. He never knows where the ball is, often after a catch he'll tell you everything except who caught it, and displays little emotion during the broadcast. He has been doing it for years so I guess there is little hope of a change.

[superman7515]

Don't tell Tenn Tech.

I said with two FCS wins. Tenn Tech beat a D2 team, so they only have 1 FCS win.

[ngineer]

Got back from New Britain a little while ago. Again, another quick strike start scoring two TDs in five minutes. Both teams with TO's early, but LU cashed them in. Colvin seemed erratic in the first half, some balls slipping out of his hand, fumbled snap. I know we had a new center in there, but doesn't explain the inconsistent mechanics. Second half, he looked much better with some beautiful strikes to Spadola and Sherman. Spread option a few problems at times, but overall D did a good job. Muhammed has to attack the QB on the option, not string it out. I don't know why so many people have problem with that. Force the pitch early! Special teams played well. Peery with a bunch of TB's and nice placement. Punt returner broke a nice long one, again. Sherman has to start lowering his shoulders; he runs straight up and down and gets stood up in tight scrums. CCSU, I'm afraid, is going to have long season. They have some speed and their D fought hard, but they appeared overmatched in the trenches. Enjoyed the new stadium. Very nice venue. Too bad our band was not allowed to march at halftime. They put on a great show after the game, though. Definitely improvement needed, but the talent is there.

[RichH2]

Had to miss 2nd half. Mike was an adventure early glad he settled. LBs seem to be picking up quite well . Big concern with front 7. Very little rotation on L , 5 played. Lbs no better. But a win is good. Now onto PU a bad.squad but better than CCSU. Monmouth clobbered URI.

[Go Lehigh TU Owl]

The CCSU folks on their board were complaining how the Lehigh fans and band took over the stadium!

[UAalum72]

The CCSU folks on their board were complaining how the Lehigh fans and band took over the stadium!
Come on. ONE guy, in a 20+ line post, said the Lehigh band 'stole the thunder of the pre-game' and 'controlled the atmosphere', and in other places said just how GOOD the Lehigh band was, compared to the smaller CCSU band. Decried lack of promotion by CCSU. Didn't mention the Lehigh fans at all.

[Lehigh Football Nation]

My recap of the game:

http://lehighfootballnation.blogspot.com/2012/09/lehigh-35-central-connecticut-state-14.html

[van]

Had to miss 2nd half. Mike was an adventure early glad he settled. LBs seem to be picking up quite well . Big concern with front 7. Very little rotation on L , 5 played. Lbs no better. But a win is good. Now onto PU a bad.squad but better than CCSU. Monmouth clobbered URI.

A few more DLs rotated in 2nd half, saw Remington, Gyles, ****z, Newton and Layton all getting some time along with the starting 3. None stood out, but that is probably the nature of the option attack from CCSU.

[RichH2]

Thanks van, that's probably ****z.

[van]

Guess ****z is a bad word on AGS, LOL.

[RichH2]

Geez I hope he stars next week so I can use his name a lot. Wow, I like that we are not vulgar like the other place but this is a tad ridiculous.

[Lehigh Football Nation]

It's spelled K-U-N-T-Z. That's hilarious that that's flagged by the R filter.

[ngineer]

A few more DLs rotated in 2nd half, saw Remington, Gyles, ****z, Newton and Layton all getting some time along with the starting 3. None stood out, but that is probably the nature of the option attack from CCSU.

Huh????

[ngineer]

Come on. ONE guy, in a 20+ line post, said the Lehigh band 'stole the thunder of the pre-game' and 'controlled the atmosphere', and in other places said just how GOOD the Lehigh band was, compared to the smaller CCSU band. Decried lack of promotion by CCSU. Didn't mention the Lehigh fans at all.

Announced attendance was 5,000--generous. If the place seats 5,500 there were at least 1,000 empty seats. As for the "take over", that's hilarious. I estimated we were about 25-33% of the total attendance. Our band was great. Deprived pregame and halftime field access, they played their heads off in the stands and then did their halftime show, in the rain, after the game! A fair number of us hung around right through the "Marching LEHIGH" and the Alma Mater, and a good number of CCSU people and their band stayed to watch and gave a nice ovation. So I'm not sure who the sour puss is.

[ngineer]

It's spelled K-U-N-T-Z. That's hilarious that that's flagged by the R filter.

So the computer is phonetic and can't spell...I guess he filled the hole when called upon.

[van]

Announced attendance was 5,000--generous. If the place seats 5,500 there were at least 1,000 empty seats. As for the "take over", that's hilarious. I estimated we were about 25-33% of the total attendance. Our band was great. Deprived pregame and halftime field access, they played their heads off in the stands and then did their halftime show, in the rain, after the game! A fair number of us hung around right through the "Marching LEHIGH" and the Alma Mater, and a good number of CCSU people and their band stayed to watch and gave a nice ovation. So I'm not sure who the sour puss is.

Could hear the band on the broadcast, was a nice touch.

[Bogus Megapardus]

Did you guys really bring the "Marching 97" to CCSU? Nice touch, actually.

[Lehigh Football Nation]

Indeed the Marching 97 came, to the great surprise of many. I'm not sure why they weren't allowed to march at halftime - maybe due to timing. I do recall seeing a CCSU dance team out there.