The home games are far and few in between for Lehigh this season. They haven't been home since Sept. 7 and after today's game they are not home again until an Oct. 19 date with Georgetown.
This is one of the most anticipated games of the season, a battle of nationally-ranked teams.
What to look for:
1. Can the Lehigh defense, which has been gashed at times by all three opponents, tighten things up and keep this one competitive? Having Nigel Muhammad back at linebacker will help, but the overall defense has to play better, especially on third down.
2. Can the Brandon Bialkowski magic continue at quarterback? The senior, who had never thrown a pass before this season, has been absolutely phenomenal through the first three games. I don't think anyone, even the Lehigh coaching staff, saw this coming -- 1,171 yards, 9 TDs in three games. He will need his offensive line to protect as well as they did in the second half of the Princeton game last week.
3. Someone, somewhere is going to get the memo that Lee Kurfis is pretty good. Again, no one expected him to replace Ryan Spadola. Right now, he has not only replaced Spadola but has given the offense even more production than the current New York Jet did last season with 30 catches for 585 yards so far. Princeton tried to play Kurfis one-on-one and that didn't really work. UNH will double and triple-team Kurfis and that means Bialkowski can't lock in on him and must continue to spread the ball around to capable receivers such as Josh Parris (Palisades) and Sergio Fernandez-Soto.
4. It'll be fun to see how the local kids on the UNH roster are doing, especially Central Catholic graduate Shane McNeely on defense and Freedom graduate Mike Coccia on offense. For the local kids, this is like their Super Bowl. They couldn't wait for this game and the chance to come home and play in front of family and friends. Sometimes opponents come into Goodman and can't wait to get out of there. That won't be the case with many UNH players.
5. Lehigh is going to need to play a near-perfect game to have a chance to compete. This amazing stretch of come-from-behind wins shouldn't sugarcoat the fact that this is still a young, inexperienced team that makes a lot of mistakes and needs to be more consistent. If Lehigh can make some plays early and build some confidence, the Mountain Hawks may be able to hang around. But if they are down by 19 or 20 at halftime again, don't expect another miracle because the Wildcats won't let up.
Here's the preview capsule that ran in the print editions of today's Morning Call:
No. 7/10 NEW HAMPSHIRE (1-1) AT No. 18/21 LEHIGH (3-0)
When/where: 12:30 p.m. today at Goodman Stadium, Bethlehem, PA
TV: Service Electric TV2.
Radio:ESPN of LV, AM 1230 and 1320.
Series:New Hampshire leads 11-2. Last meeting: UNH 48-41 in OT in Bethlehem on Sept. 10, 2011.
New Hampshire stat leaders:Andy Vailas 34-53, 364 yds, 3 TDs, 1 INT; Nico Steriti 27 car., 144 yds, 5.3 ypc, 3 TDs; Justin Mello 10 rec., 218 yds, 1 TD; Shane McNeely 18 TT, 1.5 TFL, 0.5 sacks, 1 INT.
Lehigh stat leaders:Brandon Bialkowski 84-125, 1,171 yds., 9 TDs, 4 INTs; Keith Sherman 43 car., 231 yds, 5.4 ypc, 2 TDs; Lee Kurfis 30 rec., 585 yds, 4 TDs; Sergio Fernandez-Soto 15 rec., 173 yds, TD; Tyler Ward 33 TT, 1 TFL; 2 INT; Noah Robb 19 TT, 1 TFL, 1 INT.
The skinny:New Hampshire brings several area high school products back to the Lehigh Valley, including starting offensive linemen Mike Coccia (Freedom) and Tad McNeely (CCHS). Shane McNeely, a starting MLB and another form Central Catholic player, is the team’s leading tackler. This is a big challenge for the Mountain Hawks, who know that the only way to gain national stature is by playing CAA teams, especially one that is nationally-ranked like UNH. Lehigh is 3-0, but has had to make memorable comebacks to win all three. They can’t dig themselves a huge hole against the Wildcats and expect to rally again. Lehigh’s defense, which has been overmatched at times, will have to play its best game to keep this competitive.
Keith Groller's pick:UNH 37-20.
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