Whitehall grad Shafnisky has big day at QB as Lehigh beats Holy Cross 34-20

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

FROM KEITH GROLLER

Perhaps, just pehaps, the Nick Shafnisky era has begun at Lehigh.
The coveted freshman from Whitehall got his first full opportunity to play on Saturday in the Mountain Hawks' must-win game against visiting Holy Cross and the former Zephyrs star delivered. Big time.
He threw for two touchdowns and ran for another as Lehigh (7-2, 2-1) got a most-needed victory.
The Mountain Hawks stayed alive for a share of the Patriot League title and the automatic NCAA FCS playoff berth with two games to play.
Junior Matt McHale started at quarterback for Lehigh in place of injured Brandon Bialkowski and delivered a touchdown on his first drive, but the offense sputtered from there and Shafnisky entered the game with just under 13 minutes left in the first half.
On his first play, he handed off to Keith Sherman who ran 60 yards for a TD.
Shafnisky would help Lehigh cash in for touchdowns on its next three possessions. He ran for a 5-yard TD and connected twice for Sherman on TD tosses.
The rest of the day belonged to a Lehigh defense, which got two turnovers. Those were the first two turnovers earned by the defense since the Princeon on Sept. 21.
Shafnisky finished with 13 carries for 55 yards and was 11-of-12 passing for 136 yards.
Sherman also had one of his best days, running for 166 yards on 20 carries.
Lehigh is back in action at Colgate next Saturday and returns home for the 149th meeting with Lafayette on Nov. 23.
Holy Cross -- 7 -- 6 -- 7 -- 0 -- 20
Lehigh -- 7 -- 20 -- 7 -- 0 -- 34
SCORING SUMMARY
FIRST QUARTER
L-Matt McHale 2 run (Ryan Pandy kick) 10:50 (Drive: 5 plays, 48 yds, 2:11)
H-Gabe Guild 48 run (Connor Fitzgerald kick) 3:07 (Drive: 4 plays, 66 yds, 1:34)
SECOND QUARTER
L-Keith Sherman 60 run (kick failed) 12:37 (Drive: 1 play, 60 yds, 0:10)
H-Guild 2 run (kick failed) 7:07 (Drive: 12 plays, 77 yds, 5:25)
L-Shafnisky 5 run (Pandy kick) 2:26 (Drive: 10 plays, 67 yds, 4:35)
L-Sherman 19 pass from Shafnisky (Pandy kick) 0:13 (Drive: 6 plays, 68 yds, 1:00)
THIRD QUARTER
L-Sherman 11 pass from Shafnisky (Pandy kick) 5:21 (Drive: 1 play, 11 yds, 0:04)
H-Mike Fess 24 pass from Pete Pujals (Macomber kick) 3:25 (Drive; 5 plays, 50 yds, 1:47)