Lehigh locals update: Shafnisky "was nervous without a doubt ... but settled in"

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

FROM KEITH GROLLER

The Lehigh football team is now one win away from its goal of a championship and a playoff berth.

That win won't come easily, of course, since Lafayette is Saturday's opponent at Goodman Stadium and after losing five straight in this series, you can bet the Leopards are breathing fire and desperately want the title and postseason slot for themselves.

If Lehigh is going to win the game, it will need contributions across the board like it received on Saturday in a most impressive 31-14 win over Colgate in Hamilton, N.Y.

And many of those contributions came from Lehigh Valley products starting with Whitehal graduate Nick Shafnisky, a freshman who made his first collegiate start.

Shafnisky was 11-for-21 for 134 yards and two touchdown passes, both to Lee Kurfis. He had one interception in the first half when he was hit while releasing the ball.

Shafnisky also ran nine times for 26 yards, including a 17-yarder.

"He was nervous, without a doubt," Lehigh coach Andy Coen said. "Dave [Cecchini, Lehigh's offensive coordinator] did a great job of settling him down at halftime. We talked about things as a staff about what what we needed to do and luckily, the running game was working and we emphasized that more.

"We gave him some good throws and helped him out more with his protections. He settled in and did a nice job. He did a really nice job on the long drive of using the clock, managing the game. Other than getting hit on the interception, he did a good job of protecting the football."

Shafnisky is now 22 of 35 passing for 270 yards with four touchowns and two interceptions. He has also run 25 times for 109 yards (4.4 yards per carry) and one score.

Also among the locals:

Junior Josh Parris (Palisades) only had one catch for four yards at Colgate, but he made his presence felt with an option pass to Lee Kurfis that went for 38 yards. Remember, Parris played quarterback with the Pirates and could be the emergency QB if more injuries occur at the position.

Parris, who also had three kick returns for 19 yards, has 39 catches for 439 yards and two TDs this season.

Senior center Matt Lippincott (Wilson) was a key man up front on an offensive line that allowed just one sack and paved the way for 227 yards rushing and 399 yards of total offense.

Sophomore linebacker Noah Robb (Central Catholic) had seven tackles, including a sack, and made one of the biggest plays of the game when he knocked the ball out of the hands of Colgate quarterback Gavin McCarney near the end zone. Tim Newton grabbed the ball and fell in the end zone for a touchdown that tied it up at 7 late in the first quarter.

Robb now 53 tackles on the season, with two sacks and four stops for losses.

Sophomore linebacker Matt Laub (Parkland) had five tackles at Colgate and now has 20 on the season, including 2.5 sacks.