Lehigh beats Princeton 34-22 despite big debut by Nazareth grad Chuck Dibilio

FROM KEITH GROLLER

Princeton's last possession ends on a drop that could have gone for a touchdown. Lehigh is going to get out of here with a hard-fought 34-22 win.

Princeton freshman Chuck Dibilio finished 86 yards on 14 carries, plus a 26-yard touchdown reception. Not bad for his first college game. The Nazareth grad is on his way to a huge career here.

8:55 p.m.

Keith Sherman scores on a 2-yard touchdown run and finally, maybe, Lehigh can breathe a sigh of relief. Mountain Hawks lead 34-22 with 1:54 remaining. That was a clutch 10-play, 61-yard drive to put this thing away.

8:50 p.m.

Zach Barket goes off left tackle for a nice chunk of yardage on fourth-and-inches. Lehigh with a first down at Princeton 21, 2:55 left. Then Lum keeps for nine.

8:43 p.m.

For the second straight week, a Lehigh Valley product has burned Lehigh. This time it was Chuck Dibilio with a 26-yard TD catch on a shovel pass. Lehigh stops two-point conversion, but it's way more tense than it should be. Lehigh up 27-2 with 6:41 left.

8:34 p.m.

Princeton gets the ball back, recovering an onside kick and the Tigers just got a first down.

8:29 p.m.

This is not over yet. Princeton returns the kickoff 92 yards for a touchdown. Tigers back within 27-16 with 10:57 remaining. Lehigh special teams are not special!

8:27 p.m.

Lum throws his 4th touchdown of the game and 14th of the season -- this one a short toss to FB Sean Farrell and it's now 27-9 with 11 minutes left here at Princeton.

8:16 p.m.

Lehigh running game now milking the clock. We're thru three quarters and it's still 20-9 Mountain Hawks.

8:08 p.m.

Great job by the Lehigh defense. Princeton had a first-and-goal at the Lehigh 2 and got nothing but a field goal. It's now 20-9 Mountain hawks with 2:41 left in the third.

7:56 p.m.

Lehigh still using bend-but-don't-break approach on defense and gets another stop in its own territory. Still 20-6 with 7:09 left in the third quarter.

Princeton 003 7:43 p.m.

Looks like Chris Lum is in line for a third straight Patriot League Offensive Player of the Week award. Unless it goes to Ryan Spadola instead. The two just hooked up for a third touchown pass. This one covered 46 yards. And, yikes, Lehigh made the PAT kick. It's now 20-6 early in the third quarter and it looks like the Mountain Hawks are playing with more energy and looking to take command.

7:25 p.m.

Key halftime stats: Lehigh outgained Princeton 232-196; Lum is 16-for-23 for 197 yards and two TDs to Spadola; Spadola has five catches for 124 yards; Zach Barket has 35 yards on nine carries.

7:17 p.m.

We're now at halftime, Lehigh 13, Princeton 6 and we're getting the competitive game we expected. Lehigh never has an easy time down here.

7:14 p.m.

The Lum-to-Spadola connection has struck again on a 12-yard TD pass with 23 seconds left in the half, however the PAT was botched (surprise) and Lehigh has to settle for a 13-6 lead. You wonder, once again, if the PATs will play a role in this one. They usually do.

7:05 p.m.

Lehigh's lead cut to 7-6 as Princeton gets another field goal. Could have been much worse since the Tigers had a first-and-goal at the Lehigh 5.

6:57 p.m.Princeton 004

Lehigh went for it on 4th and 10 at the Princeton 30, and was stopped. Princeton QB Wornham just completed a behind-the-back pass (yes a behind-the-back pass like ala Pistol Pete Maravich) that went for a big gain. Tigers inside the Lehigh 10.

6:48 p.m.

Princeton had moved into Lehigh territory, but the Mountain Hawks' Gabe Johnson came away with an interception on a ball that went through a Princeton receiver's hands. Lehigh now with good field possession. 11:34 left in the first half.

6:42 p.m.

And just like that, Lehigh is on the board. A perfectly thrown 49-yard TD pass from Chris Lum to Ryan Spadola gets Lehigh on the board and it's now 7-3 Mountain Hawks with 13:27 left in the half. That's a 6-play, 83-yard drive, 2:02 time consumed.

6:39 p.m.

Princeton 3, Lehigh 0 after a lackluster first quarter by the Mountain Hawks.

6:27 p.m.

Slow start for the high-powered Lehigh offense. Two series, two three-and-outs. Princeton got a field goal on its first possession and got to Lehigh 34 on its second, but Tigers were forced to punt. Lehigh takes over, but at its own 7. Princeton leads 3-0, 4:40 left in the first quarter.


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