Lehigh football: No need to hate the 'Gate; just match its intensity

FROM KEITH GROLLER

A lot of high schools have big games this weekend, and so does No. 6/7 ranked Lehigh.

The Mountain Hawks -- and I know there are still a lot of people who refuse to call them that, but it is what it is -- have their final road game of the regular season and it's a big one as they travel to Colgate in a renewal of what has become one of the Patriot League's best rivalries.

It's not Lehigh-Lafayette. No, it won't be a sellout on Saturday at Andy Kerr Stadium in Hamilton, N.Y.

But these two programs have probably been -- at least in terms of consistency over a long period of time-- the two best programs in the history of the Patriot League. And now that Lehigh is back in a place of prominence after that three-year rough patch, this game is once again one of the marquee matchups of the season.

Lehigh's 44-14 win over Colgate at Goodman Stadium last year was considered the key to the team's Patriot League championship and NCAA FCS playoff berth.

And this game has to be considered the key to a potential second straight league title and playoff appearance.

Lehigh, led by quarterback Chris Lum at right, returns home for its final three games -- Holy Cross, Georgetown, and of course, Lafayette.

All three of those teams are much better than they were last year and figure to pose huge challenges.

But before any of those games can be considered "big" games -- the Lafayette game always is even if the two teams are 0-10 coming in -- Lehigh must get through this "big" game.

Lehigh is refreshed after the bye week and as healthy as it has been all season. The lone injury losses are to backup running back Marcus Dormevil and backup linebacker Sam Loughery. Both are nice players that add depth, and they will be missed, but otherwise Lehigh is in pretty good shape.

Time to prepare and getting healthy were the big pluses of having the bye week come before this one.

And now here are five keys to victory at a place where Lehigh has struggled over the years and has come to "Hate the 'Gate."

1. Get ahead early. This was a key in last year's blowout. Lehigh needs to score right away and get up by two scores if possible to take Colgate out of its game plan to run the ball and control the clock.

2. Lehigh's run defense. It has been pretty good and allowed just 99.1 yards per game, but it will have to come up real big to shut down Nate Eachus and quarterback Gavin McCarney. You want to shut down the run and force the Raiders (No. 103 in the country in passing offense) to the air. Lehigh has held three straight opponents to less than 100 yards on the ground. If that happens here, Lehigh will win -- there's no doubt.

3. Lehigh's run offense. Colgate is not dumb. The Raiders, like everyone else, are scheming to slow down the passing attack. They may rush the minimum to put extra bodies in coverage. So, Lehigh might have to stay patient and run the ball until the passing attack can get clearer lanes. Colgate's pass defense is not bad, allong just 201. 5 yards per game and coming away with eight interceptions.

4. Kicking game and field position will be huge. It always is at Colgate where those upstate New York winds can wreak havoc. Lehigh kicker/punter Tim Divers has been reliable with the exception of the bad break that led to a safety at Fordham. He will have to make some big kicks again on Saturday and avoid mistakes.

5. Match the emotion. Let's face it. This is Colgate's championship game. The Raiders will not likely win the league, so the next best thing for them is to make sure that Lehigh doesn't win it either. They were embarrassed in Bethlehem last year and will want to make amends and a statement. It has been a frustrating and surprisingly disappointing season so far for Colgate. There is no love lost between the coaching staffs. This is going to be an emotional game. Colgate will come out fired up. Lehigh must weather the early storm and execute.

http://blogs.mcall.com/groller/