Lehigh beats Fordham 34-12, improves to 6-1 entering bye week

FROM KEITH GROLLER

It was another impressive display by the Lehigh offense as the Mountain Hawks posted a 34-12 win over Fordham here in the Bronx on Saturday afternoon.

Senior quarterback Chris Lum was 32-for-47 for a career-high 413 yards passing and three touchdowns. Ryan Spadola caught 13 passes for a career-high 216 yards and a 62-yard TD and Zach Barket rushed for a career-high 111 yads on 18 carries.

Defensively, Mike Groome was the standout with two interceptions and Lehigh's defense had four takeaways overall.

Lehigh is now 6-1, Fordham fell to 1-5.

Lehigh’s 598 yards of total offense was its most since racking up 604 yards in a 69-0 win over Georgetown in 2002 and its 32 first downs was also its most since 1999.

The Mountain Hawks are now off until a Oct. 29 game at Colgate. That will be Lehigh's final road game, at least of the regular season.

3:49 p.m.

It'a final here in the Bronx.

3:45 p.m.

No change in the score here at Fordham. Lehigh still leads 34-12 with 2:08. The No. 8 ranked Mountain Hawks are going to go into their bye week with a 6-1 record. Next game: Colgate on Oct. 29. The air show returns to New York state, but expect a much different game from this one.

3:27 p.m.

Lum has set a career-high with 409 yards passing, and now has eight straight 300-yard passing performances, but just threw his second INT of the day, and 11th of the season. The tunrovers won't hurt him today, but could against Colgate and Holy Cross in the weeks ahead.

3:22 p.m.

Groome just picked off his second pass of the half and Lehigh gained its fourth takeaway, and Lehigh has the ball back and leads 34-12. This could be final possession for Lum and the rest of the offensive starters.

3:18 p.m.

This Chris Lum/Ryan Spadola show has no end. Look for another Patriot League offensive player of the week award to be coming Lum's way after he just hit Ryan Spadola for a 62-yard TD pass. Spadola now has 13 catches for 216 yards in yet another spectacular day for pass-happy pair. The third quarter has just ended.

3:17 p.m.

Zach Barket just went over the 100-yard rushing mark. It's the first 100-yard rushing day of his career. He has 106 yards on 17 carries.

3:15 p.m.

Fordham just missed on a big pass play that could have made things interesting. Lehigh gets the ball back at its 3 with 1:12 left in the third quarter and the score still 27-12.

3:06 p.m.

Fordham had a drive going at the Lehigh 24, but Mike Groome came up with an interception to end the Rams threat. Lehigh ball, 5 minutes to go in the third quarter.

2:58 p.m.

Matt Fitz just scored on a 7-yard TD run, and Lehigh gets the touchdown right. PAT kick is good and Lehigh extends lead to 27-12 over Fordham with 7:19 left in the third quarter.

2:55 p.m.

Lum just hit Spadola for 50 yards and Lehigh is inside the Fordham 20. Mountain Hawks now have over 400 yards of offense and 300 yards of passing.

2:51 p.m.

What a turnaround, just three plays after Lehigh had a bad interception in the end zone, Fordham just struck for an 82-yard TD pass from Ryan Higgins to Greg Wilson. It's now 20-12 Lehigh with 10:19 left in the third quarter.

2:49 p.m.

As well as he plays at times, Chris Lum sometimes makes bad mistakes at other times. He just made one with a poorly thrown, ill-advised lob pass that was intercepted in the end zone. Fordham dodges bullet and still has life, down 20-5 with 11 minutes left in the third quarter.

2:45 p.m.

Jonathan Littlejohn made an interception for Lehigh on the first play of the second half. Lehigh inside the Fordham 30, looking to deliver what might be a knockout blow.

2:25 p.m.

Some haltime stats, Lehigh's Lum is having another big day as expected, completing 24 of 35 passes for 44 yards and two scores. Ryan Spadola has eight catches for 78 yards, Jake Drwal has five catches for 81. Zach Barket has 10 carries for 74 yards. Lehigh is outgaining Fordham 335-139.

2:22 p.m.

Divers kicked a 36-yard field goal on the final play of the first half and Lehigh leads at the break, 20-5.

2:08 p.m.

Divers just missed a 31-yard field goal try for Lehigh and the score remains 17-5 with 4:39 left in the first half.

1:58 p.m.

Chris Lum just threw his second TD pass of the game, a short toss to Zachary Hayden, to give Lehigh a 17-5 lead over Fordham here at the Bronx. 8:47 remains in the first half.

Lum earlier threw a 17-yard TD pass to Jake Drwal and Tim Divers kicked a 22-yard field goal.

Fordham has scored on a safety (a blocked punt) and a 37-yard field goal by Michael Marando.

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