Stephen Skelton had just two receptions in Fordham's loss to Lehigh. (Photo courtesy of Joe DiBari, Fordham University's Sports Information Director)
BY CHARLES COSTELLO
Fordham and Lehigh. Always a battle.
On Senior Day at Jack Coffey Field, where 19 Fordham players were recognized for their contributions to the program, Fordham (4-6, 1-4) came up just short, falling to Lehigh 35-28, in a game that played out in similar fashion to other tough losses suffered by the Rams this year.
“In the games that we’ve lost we’ve kind of shot ourselves in the foot, and today was no different,” Fordham head coach Tom Masella said. “You can’t have penalties, you can’t turn the ball over, and you have to make plays. We just didn’t make plays.”
Lehigh (3-7, 3-2) got going right from the start with an 11-play, 66-yard drive that culminated in an eight-yard touchdown pass from JB Clark to Jake Drwal. On that drive, the Mountain Hawks converted once on third down, on a Clark quarterback-keeper, and also on a short fourth-down pass.
But then, the momentum shifted to the Rams.
Off a Fordham punt, Isaiah Leake recovered a fumble in the back of the endzone to tie the game at 7-7. Then, a forced fumble by Thomas Lloyd and a recovery by James Crockett set the Rams up at the Lehigh 35. On second down from the 19, Skelton found David Moore in the back corner of the end zone for a touchdown. Just four minutes after it looked like it might be a long afternoon, the Rams were ahead 14-7.
But then Fordham allowed Lehigh to get right back in the game when Asa Lucas fumbled giving the Mountain Hawks the ball at the Rams’ 35. That set up a seven-yard touchdown pass from Clark to De’Vaughn Gordon. With 1:15 left in the first quarter, it was a game again.
But with Lehigh driving in the second quarter, Fordham’s Michael Martin intercepted a pass that Clark essentially handed to him. On the next play, Skelton found Moore for a 30-yard touchdown reception to put the Rams ahead 21-14.
The Mountain Hawks would tie the score at 21-21 on a 39-yard touchdown pass from Clark to Gordon, made possible by a 36-yard punt return by Jarard Cribbs that gave Lehigh the ball at the Fordham 33.
It become apparent that Fordham’s special teams play was anything but special. Later, a 60-yard punt return by Cribbs once again gave the Mountain Hawks excellent field position. A 15-yard touchdown run by Clark would give Lehigh its lead back at 28-21. Then, Skelton was intercepted. But Kelvin Colbert would intercept Clark to give Fordham the ball back with 1:54 to play in the half. A 46-yard completion to Jason Caldwell, then a 12-yard pass to Caldwell, an eight-yard pass to Moore, and then an 18-yard touchdown pass to Moore tied the score at 28-28 with 50 seconds left in the half. Still, even with the game tied at the half, special teams was a concern for the Rams.
“We didn’t play well on special teams,” Masella said. “That’s why you lose football games. I wish I had an answer as to why all those things happened. Our special teams has been pretty solid for the most part all year, but today they weren’t.”
There was more bad news to come.
Lehigh’s second drive of the third quarter would start at the Fordham 32. Again, good field position as a result of Cribbs’ 20-yard punt return. That short drive would end with a missed field goal. But on its next possession, which would start at the Fordham 40, Clark would find Gordon once again for a 22-yard touchdown pass to give Lehigh a 35-28 lead.
Then, the ball was in Skelton’s hands for two final drives.
With 3:08 left in the game, Fordham began a possession at its own 28. On first down, an incomplete pass down the right sideline intended for Asa Lucas. On second down, an interception by Cribbs. Now, just 2:58 left. Then, without any timeouts left, the Rams would get the ball back at their own five-yard line, with 1:50 to play. On first down, a 42-yard completion to Lucas. On the next play, a 13-yard completion to Stephen Skelton. Then, an 11-yard completion to Lucas. Next, a 12-yard pass to Moore. With 1:00 remaining, Skelton was sacked. Then, with the clock running, Skelton threw an incomplete pass intended for Lucas. On third down, with plenty of time to throw, an incomplete pass to the back of the end zone, again intended for Lucas. On fourth-and-14 from the 21, Skelton’s pass to the back corner of the end zone, intended for Caldwell, was incomplete. Lehigh took a knee, and that was it.
“Any time John has a chance late in the game you like your chances,” Masella said. “But you have to execute, and we’re banged up up front and it limits some of the things we can do.”
That was also it for the seniors at Jack Coffey Field, who were joined by family and friends on the field in a pregame ceremony. Masella praised the contributions they made to the program.
“I feel bad that we couldn’t ring that victory bell today,” Masella said. “They’ve been great leaders. Our football program is better today than when I took over because of them. I always tell our upperclassmen and our seniors, ‘It’s what you leave behind.’ The one thing they’ve left behind is character and work ethic.”
Final Stats
