Lehigh won't name a starter at QB on Saturday, but Coen said Shafnisky will play

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

FROM KEITH GROLLER

Lehigh coach Andy Coen said he's hopeful of having two quarterbacks ready to go on Saturday in the team's big game at Colgate. Lehigh (7-2) needs to win to maintain a shot at the league title and FCS playoff berth.

Junior Matt McHale was injured in the first half last Saturday in the 34-20 win over  Holy Cross.

Freshman Nick Shafnisky, the Whitehall graduate, had already played three series before McHale's injury and handled the quarterback position the rest of the way with a performance that earned him Patriot League rookie of the week honors.

Shafnisky was 11-of-12 passing for 136 yards and two touchdowns and also rushed 13 times for 55 yards and another score.

"I really don't want to name a starter yet," Coen said Wednesday at the school's weekly media gathering. "I am really hoping that both will be able to play. Matt is coming off the injury and we'll really know a lot more about him after tonight's practice, evaluate it and see where we're at.

"Whether it's Matt or Nick, I will feel confident in both of those guys because both did a really nice job on Saturday."

Coen said he would like to use both guys interchangeably, a scheme that worked effectively in the first half against Holy Cross.

"I would think it would make sense to do that," Coen said.

But he added, "Matt got banged up pretty good."

Before his injury McHale was 5-for-12 passing for 52 yards and he ran five times for 31 yards and a touchdown.