The Yale Bulldogs travel to Bethlehem, Pennsylvania for the first road trip of the season at #8 Lehigh. Kickoff is slated for noon and the game will air on ESPN+.
The Mountain Hawks enter the contest with an unblemished 5-0 record after a 44-30 victory over Penn last week. Lehigh’s Kevin Cahill will be seeking vengeance on his former boss, Tony Reno, following the Mountain Hawks’ loss to the Bulldogs in New Haven a year ago.
Sophomore QB Hayden Johnson (6’1”, 205 lbs.) earned the starting role at the end of his freshman campaign and looks much improved from 2024. Johnson has completed 60.7% of his passes for 898 yards, 9 touchdowns and 3 interceptions. Junior RB Luke Yoder (5’11”, 205 lbs.) was a 2nd Team All-Patriot League performer in 2024 and could be the best back that Yale will face all season. Yoder is averaging 7.3 yards per carry and racked up 173 rushing yards against Penn last week. Sophomore RB Jaden Green (5’9”, 185 lbs.) was a Freshman All-American last year and leads the Mountain Hawks with 5 rushing touchdowns. The Mountain Hawks lead the Patriot League and are ranked Top 5 nationally in rushing offense. Senior WR Geoffrey Jamiel (5’8”, 185 lbs.) is a very quick and polished route runner who has caught 32 passes for 457 yards and 3 touchdowns on the season. Junior WR Mason Humphrey (6’4”, 215 lbs.) poses a matchup problem for smaller cornerbacks and leads Lehigh in yards per reception at 16.8. Junior TE Joseph Marranca (6’1”, 240 lbs.) is a very effective run blocker who is occasionally targeted in the passing game. Lehigh’s offensive line averages 295.0 lbs. across the board and is an experienced unit that is exceptional in run blocking. Seniors Langston Jones (6’3”, 325 lbs.) and Aidan Palmer (6’4”, 300 lbs.) were 1st and 2nd Team All-Patriot League offensive linemen in 2024 respectively. The Mountain Hawks have surrendered just 2 sacks through 5 games. With Egodogbare seemingly out for the season with a knee injury, the Bulldogs will need career performances from our interior defensive linemen to disrupt the line of scrimmage. Ayo-Durojaiye and Grant will need to successfully fend off blocks and show gap integrity for any hopes of slowing down Yoder and Green in the ground game. If the Bulldogs can force the Mountain Hawks into passing situations, the pressure will be on the secondary to blanket Jamiel and Humphrey.
The ground game dominance for Lehigh extends to their defense as well as the defense is ranked third nationally in run defense allowing just 69.8 rushing yards per game. Senior LB Brycen Edwards (6’0”, 225 lbs.) has been a clutch performer for the Mountain Hawks and leads the defense with 36 tackles. Junior LB William Parton (6’0”, 220 lbs.) has been starting since his freshman season and is second on the team in tackles with 24. Tied for the team lead in sacks with 3 on the season is senior LB Tyler Ochojski (6’2”, 230 lbs.). Sophomore S Mekhai Smith (6’2”, 210 lbs.) has terrorized opposing quarterbacks with 4 interceptions on the season. Senior S Mason Moore (6’1”, 195 lbs.) had 8 tackles at Yale last season and has played very well with 22 tackles and 3 pass breakups. Senior DB Nick Peltekian (6’0”, 215 lbs.) was a 1st Team All-Patriot League selection in 2024 but has been limited to just two games this season. The Mountain Hawks have a very stout defensive front led by senior DT TJ Burke (6’2”, 305 lbs.). Burke has 2.5 sacks on the season and was a 1st Team All-Patriot League selection last year. Senior DE Matt Spatny (6’2”, 250 lbs.) is tied for the team lead in sacks with 3 and looks poised to earn a second straight 1st Team All-Patriot League nod. Senior DE Dillon Sheehan (6’4”, 245 lbs.) has also been difficult for offensive lines to contain with 2.5 sacks. Yale’s offensive line will have their work cut out for them against a very talented front seven. Lehigh has not faced a back as talented as Pitsenberger but simple halfback dives up the middle will not gain yardage. Penn was able to expose weaknesses in pass coverage throwing for 316 yards and 3 touchdowns. If Yale is able to open lanes in the run game, keep Lehigh off balanced and exploit holes in pass coverage, the Bulldogs will have a chance to upset the Mountain Hawks.
Senior K Nick Garrido (5’9”, 200 lbs.) is 5 of 5 on field goal attempts with a long of 35 yards this season. Sophomore P Connor Poole (6’3”, 200 lbs.) has been stellar with a 46.3-yard punting average with 7 punts placed inside the redzone. The Bulldogs will have to play especially disciplined on special teams as Lehigh faked a field goal last week and scored a touchdown on Penn that proved to be a backbreaker for the Quakers.
Go Bulldogs! Beat the Mountain Hawks!
47 replies on “Lehigh Preview”
This will be the toughest game for Yale to date. Lehigh are licking their chops to put a hurting on Yale.
Go Blue .!!
Here we go again with the stupid penalties. 3rd and 11 pass interference on Webster.!! Come on
All the early indications are pointing to a very ugly loss this afternoon.
Yale looks simply awful
Three and out, then the defense responds by giving up a 90 yard drive, including yet another dumb 15 yard penalty.
This game is looking like it’ll be a definite ego check.
Yale gave up 400 yards to Cornell. Lehigh might do that in the first half.
I think we need to see what the senior QB’s have to offer.
Come on put in 15 at QB .!! I see The Yale OC didn’t do anything for this game.
Yale is playing like this is their first game, not their third. Embarrassing.
QB Reno hasn’t shown me much yet.
Am I missing something?
No accuracy or zip on his throws
Is he REALLY Yale’s best QB option??
Is Dante Reno REALLY Yale’s best QB option??
No. there was never a competition for the job he just got it
Please don’t use my initials, while posting
Nope. Starting asking questions.
Ostrowsky is a clown
The Yale defense is never happy unless they give up a 40+ yard pass play.
Use Piper for your extra points
Dante at quarterback is not the answer
Sooo bad…2nd week with a bad INT in end zone.
I guess we can see why Dante transferred. There’s no way he would ever have seen the field at an SEC school.
Yale has no playbook pitsenberger and a cloud of dust sad embarrassing for the team. Dartmouth up next they better find an offense or it will be another disappointing sat.
Sigh. Still no unblemished season since 1960.
Okay, let’s win the f’ing Ivies and then the f’ing national title.
Ugly. Just ugly.
Everyone is going to try to run the ball on Yale going forward. The D line better step up. I thought, except for the mistakes, Reno was decent. But I’m not sure a QB who is no threat to run can win this year at Yale. Lehigh is good, but Yale had their chances. The final score makes it look worse than it was. Like last week.
I thought Reno’s play was pretty good as well. The big mistake was the 2nd interception. You have to throw that ball to the corner pylon.
I am so glad I didn’t make the trip . #15 Brogan better get the majority of snaps this week for Dartmouth.!!
Again Chris Ostrowsky., WTH are you doing.?!! Horrendous
Not to take anything away from a great Lehigh team, but Yale really beat themselves today. Two stupid penalties on defense extended Lehigh drives leading to their first two touchdowns. How many pass interference penalties has Webster been called for this season!l? By my count it’s three. Then he used very bad judgment in trying to jump a route leading to Lehigh’s third TD. Webster needs more coaching. Plus it’s tough to win with three turnovers.
Cahill has done a really fine job building his team to one of the best in the FCS. His offensive stars today were the same ones we beat last year 38-23 . We had 267 yards rushing in that game which really stands out in comparison to today’s game. Peterson, Pitsenberger, Jordan and Denny had an average yds per carry of 8.2, 5.7, 9,2, 5.8 respectively. That was Jordan’s first full game as a starter and he provided a preview of the kind of outstanding passing and running talent that was so impressive the rest of the season.
Still too soon to pull the plug on Dante even though he doesn’t seem to be the kind of dual threat qb we had in Grooms and Jordan. The Dartmouth game will be important for him to show he deserves to remain the starter,
Reno is Terrible! Put #15 in immediately.
I’d be asking lots of questions right now.
We lost to the better team, let’s face It. The good thing is that Reno’s teams tend to get better as the season progresses.
Try something different next week.
Reno? Terrible?
This is his third start.
Start winning the game at the line of scrimmage and he’ll look a lot better.
Yeah Reno is terrible! Brogan is a WAY better QB and should never have been taken out of #1 spot from last year.
Gentlemen; simply our blue was outplayed and outcoached. The offensive line simply is not doing the job. Offensive coordinator is not designing schemes to accommodate current personnel, especially our signal caller. To say number seven needs to be coached is the understatement of the year number 11 can’t catch a ball and looks like a deer in the headlights running patterns. Tackling is abominable and very inconsistent time for the coaches to get their act together. Today’s game reminded me of the thrashing up at Ithaca last year. By the way number 15 is not an option today since it appeared, he was injured and not fully outfitted in a uniform.
#15 is not injured. Coach Reno moved
him to #4 on the depth chart at the end of camp to ensure his son didn’t have any competition. #2 coasted into to the QB1 spot, it was not earned. Shameful.
100% correct. Division 1 daddy ball. Saw it coming a mile away.
Old Blue?
What say you?
Gentlemen; in response to Mr. Yale 72, please refer to my above comment. Additionally, our squad needs more pep in their step. I cannot comment on the signal caller competition, not being there and no credible information from competent sources. However, I do see potential in our current signal caller, who needs a running game to make him more efficient along with the offensive coordinator who needs to design the correct plays for him.
Gentlemen; in response to Mr. Yale 72, please refer to my above comment. Additionally, I was not personally present during camp and do not have any credible information regarding the quarterback competition. Accordingly, I cannot respond to any accusation of nepotism at the signal collar position. I do see potential which would develop more quickly. If the offensive line did their job to provide a running game and the offensive coordinator develops passing schemes to accommodate Mr. Reno. I do agree with other esteemed members of this board, Mr. Reno has only had three starts under his belt and deserves more time to develop. Finally, I do see potential in our split ends, unfortunately not number 11 and tight on especially number 22 as potential targets.
I have one worry about Dante at QB and it has nothing to do with his ability. It has to do with recruiting. Will Yale have trouble recruiting top line quarterbacks the next couple of years if the possible recruits know that a freshman, who also happens to be the head coaches son, will be the probable starter through the 1928 season. It could definitely have a negative affect.
Dante is his own person , he’s not Grooms he’s not Grant. . They worked well within that system. That Ostrowsky implemented . But he needs a better game plan and play calling to establish his strengths.
Which have NOT BEEN PUT IN PLACE FOR THIS KID TO SUCCEED.!! Personally I would like to see Brogan in place. That’s seeing him last year during the Holy Cross game . When he came in relief for Grant. Then yah he hurt his hand during the Cornell game the next week. Thank goodness Grant came back for the rest of the year. Yes 11 needs to sit on the bench on offense and #7 on the defense he’s to undisciplined.
Give Dante time , let’s see what 15 can do.
OL and DL got absolutely handled especially and the defensive tackle position, also doesn’t help we were starting a freshman at left tackle yesterday
Gentlemen; I agree with Mr. JH who raises a good point Mr. Reno is his own man who possesses his own particular skill set which, if the offensive coordinator somehow reaches the level of distinction of understanding that maybe he can prepare a game plan which encompasses his skills. Maybe that’s too much to ask, time will tell. our offensive line, especially the seniors should be excelling more than they have.
How does Brogan McCaughey go from QB1 energy to QB4 exile? HOW? The guy wins the Anderson Award after Holy Cross in ’24 — looked like the next face of Yale Football — and now he’s collecting dust behind three other QBs. Somebody explain the math.
Meanwhile, Dante Reno finally breaks 200 passing yards, and we’re supposed to throw a parade? Cool story, except it came with zero swagger, no command, and leadership that looks like it’s still waiting for permission to lead. The offense moves like it’s running in mud — nervous, shaky, and allergic to rhythm.
Brogan had fire. Reno’s got… vibes? The “coach’s-kid security blanket” era is doing no favors to a team that used to play with an edge. The Elis deserve more than safe throws and sideline shrugs. They deserve a quarterback who owns the huddle.
Until then, it’s tough to watch a program with this much talent feel so… beige.
YES!!!!! Finally someone spoke up and told the truth. I couldn’t agree more Dippy! Thank you!!!