Lehigh @ Villanova - September 7th

[Gangtackle11]

Saturday, September 7th 6pm @ Villanova

Lehigh (0-1)
St. Francis L 13-14

Villanova (1-0)
@Colgate W 34-14

All-time series record:
Villanova leads 10-5

Last time Villanova won: 31-9 @ Lehigh 9/8/18

Last time Lehigh won: 31-28 9/6/06


Game will be televised on FloSports


Opening Line: Villanova -24.5 (54.5 over/under)

[ngineer]

Opening line pretty close to mine as I picked VU 31-10 on PL thread, but this could be higher without surprise. Lehigh's D showed marked improvement in all phases from last year. Of course, one game and no one sure how good SFU is. Still, one sensed a significant 'attitude adjustment' on the D. Offense struggling with a banged up OL. If no holes, I don't care if we have Jim Brown in the backfield, the piggy won't move. OC needs to make some adjustments to take pressure off the QB. Team needs to show improvement against a superior opponent. Tough order. LU to have any shot needs some TO's and self-inflicted wounds by the Wildcats. Always look forward to this game...except the first quarter on a sunny evening looking into the setting sun from the visitors' stands!

[Bill]

Opening line pretty close to mine as I picked VU 31-10 on PL thread, but this could be higher without surprise. Lehigh's D showed marked improvement in all phases from last year. Of course, one game and no one sure how good SFU is. Still, one sensed a significant 'attitude adjustment' on the D. Offense struggling with a banged up OL. If no holes, I don't care if we have Jim Brown in the backfield, the piggy won't move. OC needs to make some adjustments to take pressure off the QB. Team needs to show improvement against a superior opponent. Tough order. LU to have any shot needs some TO's and self-inflicted wounds by the Wildcats. Always look forward to this game...except the first quarter on a sunny evening looking into the setting sun from the visitors' stands!

ngineer,
If we have Jim Brown in the backfield, I will definitely change my vote! xlolx

[Gangtackle11]

I’ve watched Nova teams in the past sleep walk in heavily favored games. Most recently the Pope game. Pope was in town. Game was moved to Thursday & the week before we lost John Robertson to a career ending knee injury. Penn came in not having won vs. Nova since 1911. Penn whooped our butts that night.

I also think Nova will get a lot of their freshman they plan to redshirt into this game at some point. They have 4 games & if Nova gets a large lead expect Nova to pull back on the reigns & give some freshmen some work.

I watched the 1st half of the Lehigh game. I don’t see how Lehigh will move the ball consistently against Nova. It will only be close if Nova plays sloppy & keeps Lehigh interested. That all said I’ll say 38-10 Nova with a 4th quarter of freshman playing for Nova.

Cats can clinch the Patriot with a win at Bucknell next game. xpeacex

[Gangtackle11]

From Melloware’s CAA Pick’em thread:

Lehigh (0-1) @ Villanova (1-0)
Series All-Time: NOVA 10-5
Series in Villanova: NOVA 4-1
Series in Bethlehem: NOVA 6-4
Streak: NOVA 7

First Meeting: @LEH 71, NOVA 0 (10/17/1903)
Last Meeting: NOVA 31, @LEH 9 (9/8/2018)
Last LEH Win: LEH 31, @NOVA 28 (9/9/2006)

Lehigh Last Game: L 14-13 v St. Francis
Villanova Last Game: W 34-14 @ Colgate

Lehigh v CAA: 49-72
Villanova v Patriot: 71-38-5

[CHIP72]

ngineer,
If we have Jim Brown in the backfield, I will definitely change my vote! xlolx

But preferably not the 83 year old version of Jim Brown, or the late R&B/soul performer or sportscaster for that matter.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[ngineer]

But preferably not the 83 year old version of Jim Brown, or the late R&B/soul performer or sportscaster for that matter.




Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk xlolx Greatest back of all time. I saw him run around, over, through and away from the "Iggles" back in 1962 at Franklin Field for about 200 yards. Amazing.

[kdinva]

I can't read the poll question........too dark..

[wapiti]

The poll does make sense.
There is no question and only answers are either yes or no.

[Gangtackle11]

The poll question is:

Does Villanova win by the 24.5 point spread?

[Gangtackle11]

Lehigh Game Notes:

https://s3.amazonaws.com/sidearm.sites/lehighsports.com/documents/2019/9/3/Game_two_Lehigh_at_Villanova_090719.pdf

[UNHWildcat18]

45-14 Nova

[Gangtackle11]

Villanova Game Notes:

https://villanova.com/services/download_file.ashx?file_location=https://s3.amazonaws.com/villanova.com/documents/2019/9/5/G2_Lehigh.pdf

[HensRock]

What's with Nova scheduling like a Patriot League wanna-be this year ?

[Gangtackle11]

What's with Nova scheduling like a Patriot League wanna-be this year ?

Who knew Colgate was going to fall off a Cliff? Go 5-3 in CAA (won’t be easy) & they go to the playoffs. The FCS selection committee game. xpeacex

[vutomcat]

What's with Nova scheduling like a Patriot League wanna-be this year ?

A little unusual for the Cats. Their last few years they have played BC, Syracuse and Temple early. Next year Wake Forest, and the following year they go to Happy Valley. Always wanted to visit Penn State. Hopefully they fare much better than Idaho. xeyebrowx

[Go Lehigh TU Owl]

Game about to begin. PL has shown some fight today. Lets see if Lehigh can put forth a strong effort against 'Nova...

[Go Lehigh TU Owl]

Lehigh holding their own so far. If nothing else, two of the cleanest looking uniforms on display.....

[Go Lehigh TU Owl]

Monaco looks sharp so far. Lehigh will have a 3rd an 9 from the 'Nova 15 to start 2Q....

[Go Lehigh TU Owl]

Lehigh 3 'Nova 0 14:50 2Q

[Go Lehigh TU Owl]

'Nova goes right down the field for a TD. Lehigh secondary once again beat over the top...ugh...

'Nova 7-3 12:12 2Q

[RichH2]

Hell of a 1st quarter. Lehigh has yet to score a TD on offense. FGs are preferrable to zeroes for sure but our redzone O has to get better. D doing great so far but we cant rely on them to score all our TDs.

[Go Lehigh TU Owl]

'Nova stops Lehigh on 4th down at the 'Nova 32. Lehigh OL overwhelmed.....

[Go Lehigh TU Owl]

'Nova tacks on a FG

10-3 5:03 2Q

[van]

never gonna have a red zone O if RBs avg 1.x yds per carry

[Go Lehigh TU Owl]

'Nova with a pick 6. The wheels have fallen off....

Villanova 17-3 4:39 2Q

[van]

never had wheels to fall off

[Go Lehigh TU Owl]

never had wheels to fall off

True...lol

Monaco has fallen apart. Short hopped a WR before the pick 6. Terrible throw to Allen on 3rd down. Allen would have gotten 15+ yards with an accurate throw....

[RichH2]

never gonna have a red zone O if RBs avg 1.x yds per carry

Yup. Pass only. INTs a given.smh

[Go Lehigh TU Owl]

Villanova 17 Lehigh 3 Half

Lehigh played well in the first quarter but things fell apart in round 2. Monaco really struggled, even when he had guys open. 3rd and 2 at the 'Nova 31 and then an false start can't happen either.

[RichH2]

A lot of woulda/ coulda plays for Lehigh O in that half. No run game at all. Monaco hits some misses some WRs drop a few.

[Go Lehigh TU Owl]

TD Lehigh! Monaco to Portorreal from 42 yards!

'Nova 17-10 12:46 3Q

The head official definitely does big time games. He's either a Big 10/ACC ref or a former NFL guy....

[Go Lehigh TU Owl]

A lot of woulda/ coulda plays for Lehigh O in that half. No run game at all. Monaco hits some misses some WRs drop a few.

There's been plays to be made. 'Nova not dominating by any means. Lehigh just has to execute better. They're hanging in athletically. Look better than 'Gate did...

[Go Lehigh TU Owl]

'Nova back to the run and gashes Lehigh up front...

24-10 11:28 3Q

[Go Lehigh TU Owl]

Lehigh goes for a 4th and 1 at they're own 48 and the QB/RB exchange gets fumbled. Just can't do those things....

[Go Lehigh TU Owl]

TD 'Nova following the fumble on 4th down. TE wide open in the flat...

31-10 6:46 3Q

[Go Lehigh TU Owl]

Lehigh moves the ball to the 'Nova 15 but it stopped on downs. Made a lot of nice plays but couldn't get it done inside the redzone...

[Go Lehigh TU Owl]

After the change of possession 'Nova rips of a 60+ yard run then wins two 1 on 1 pass plays, one of a first down and the other for a TD. Now it's getting ugly...

'Nova 38-10 13:13 4Q

[Go Lehigh TU Owl]

Just for reference for next week....

UD Davis 38 San Diego 35 Final

[RichH2]

Lehigh has a series of good plays...mistake. Repeat again.
Turning into a rout.

[van]

hope TG has the phone # of a good OC

[RichH2]

Well TG pulls the starters. Shoup et all on the field.
The L we expected.So many mistakes. Wow.

[Go Lehigh TU Owl]

hope TG has the phone # of a good OC

The receivers are really good. They've gotten open and made plays all night when given the opportunity. Monaco was solid. I think he's better throwing on the run, moving around a bit. His pick was a long out which telegraphed from the pocket. Not completely sold on Allen at RB. His hands are shaky out of the backfield and his blitz pick ups tonight were equally dicey. 30 showed more speed and better vision.

You can see some potential tonight but the same mistakes and failure to execute in key moment continue.

[Go Lehigh TU Owl]

Lehigh stopped on 4th and goal from the 1...microcosm of the night. They racked up a ton of yards and had little to show of it....

[ngineer]

Well, I was there and I come away with mixed feelings. I knew an upset was unlikely, but I saw a lot of fight from a bunch of kids who were outsized up front. We gave away 50 lbs./man between our DL and VU's OL and it took its toll. Some big plays VU pulls off and some bad mistakes that cost us point and handed VU points. Shoup showed some great hand fakes and mobility in the fourth quarter. That pick 6 was a killer as it made a huge swing in momentum. We are moving the ball well and had we been able to score it would have been tied at 10 at the half instead of 17-3. We do come out in the third and march down and score. Some freshmen got some good game time tonight. A couple costly mistakes in the secondary. The pick six may have been a combination of the throw, but also the WR not going "to the ball with arms out" as opposed to letting the ball come to him. As a result the DB made a nice play and took it the other way. I am encouraged by the kicking game. Henning had some nice KO's, punts and would have had some more FGs had the game been closer but TG opted to go for the TDs, which I agree. We have to learn to score down there. I agree that we looked no worse than Colgate did against 'nova and am encouraged in terms of seeing the PL open for just about anyone this year, except Bucknell. Even the 'pards showed some life today against Monmouth, who usually gives PL teams trouble. Other than what looked like some cramping issues, I didn't detect any major injuries. One thing that bothered me was 'nova getting away with playing their sound system while our offense is calling signals. I thought that was prohibited? I expect the guys to realize they played a tough opponent, tough, and if they keep working they will begin seeing results come October.

[Gangtackle11]

Just back from game. I thought Lehigh played Nova tough most of the 1st half. Nova was off offensively to me. Will be punished in the CAA if they play like they did tonight. Respect that Lehigh stayed with Nova most of game. Lehigh oddly ran the ball & clock most of 4th quarter instead of trying to get big chucks of yards. GL to Lehigh the rest of the way. xpeacex

[Southsider]

`
Well, I was there and I come away with mixed feelings. I knew an upset was unlikely, but I saw a lot of fight from a bunch of kids who were outsized up front. We gave away 50 lbs./man between our DL and VU's OL and it took its toll. Some big plays VU pulls off and some bad mistakes that cost us point and handed VU points. Shoup showed some great hand fakes and mobility in the fourth quarter. That pick 6 was a killer as it made a huge swing in momentum. We are moving the ball well and had we been able to score it would have been tied at 10 at the half instead of 17-3. We do come out in the third and march down and score. Some freshmen got some good game time tonight. A couple costly mistakes in the secondary. The pick six may have been a combination of the throw, but also the WR not going "to the ball with arms out" as opposed to letting the ball come to him. As a result the DB made a nice play and took it the other way. I am encouraged by the kicking game. Henning had some nice KO's, punts and would have had some more FGs had the game been closer but TG opted to go for the TDs, which I agree. We have to learn to score down there. I agree that we looked no worse than Colgate did against 'nova and am encouraged in terms of seeing the PL open for just about anyone this year, except Bucknell. Even the 'pards showed some life today against Monmouth, who usually gives PL teams trouble. Other than what looked like some cramping issues, I didn't detect any major injuries. One thing that bothered me was 'nova getting away with playing their sound system while our offense is calling signals. I thought that was prohibited? I expect the guys to realize they played a tough opponent, tough, and if they keep working they will begin seeing results come October.

LU did this the entire game last week. I saw the PA guy at half and mentioned it to him. He too said it was very annoying. Ngineer sums things up pretty well. LU was crushed on both sides of the line. Nice to see a few different backs. TE is very encouraging. QB doing best he can. Overall team speed much improved. But, the CAA is a whole different level of play. Under current rules PL will never get there!