BOX SCORE
BETHLEHEM, PA. - No. 10/11 Lehigh rushed for 119 yards and passed for 296 en
route to a 35-14 win over Columbia at Murray Goodman Stadium.
Lehigh scored on their first drive of the game, on a 17-yard
pass from Michael Colvin to Ryan Spadola with 9:35 remaining in the first
quarter. Trailing 7-0, Columbia
started its ensuing drive on the 16-yard line and drove down to the Lehigh
26. On first and 10 from the 26,
Columbia quarterback Sean Brackett had a pass intercepted by Bryan Andrews, who
returned it 51 yards to the Columbia 15.
Two plays later, Lehigh took a 14-0 lead.
On Lehigh's first possession of the second quarter, Zach
Olinger picked off Colvin and returned the ball 14 yards for a touchdown. It was Olinger's first career
touchdown.
Lehigh closed the second quarter with a 14-play, 80-yard
drive for a touchdown on a five-yard run by Colvin. Lehigh led 21-7 at the break.
With Lehigh leading 28-7, Columbia punted after a stalled
drive, but the ball hit a Lehigh player and Brian East recovered the ball,
giving the Lions first and 10 at the Lehigh 26. One play later, Marcorus
Garrett scored on a 26-yard run to make it 28-14 at the end of the third
period.
Down two scores in the fourth period, Columbia threatened,
but could not overcome the early lead.
Lehigh added a touchdown with just 4:25 left, on 24-yard
pass from Colvin to Fernadez-Soto for the final 35-14 margin.
Olinger led all players with 12 tackles including 10 solo, and a
pick-six. Garrett finished with 81
yards rushing, and Hamilton Garner totaled 71 yards receiving.
Brackett was 16-36-2 for 163 yards, while Colvin was 29-38-1
for 296 yards.
Columbia returns to action next Saturday, when they travel
to Penn for a 12:30 p.m. game.
