LEHIGH BEATS HOLY CROSS!!!

FROM KEITH GROLLER

3:24 p.m.

Holy Cross shows some spunk and gets a touchdown with six seconds left. It changes the score, but not the outcome. Lehigh 34-17. Mountain Hawks improve to 7-2, 3-0 Patriot League with Georgetown and Lafayette to play on the road in the next two weeks.

3:13 p.m.

Randazza boots through another field goal and it's now 34-10 with 1:55 left. Lehigh hasn't played terrific football all day, but even with some flaws they are going to win comfortably and could clinch the outright title and playoff berth next Saturday with a win at Georgetown.

3:11 p.m.

Lehigh just had a touchdown called back by a holding penalty. It's not going to matter. Mountain Hawks are going to win this one without late drama and clinch a share of the Patriot League title.

3:01 p.m.

A big pass play to Spadola gets Lehigh to the Holy Cross 4, but the Mountain Hawks settle for a Randazza 21-yard field goal. It's 21-10 with 7 minutes left in the game.

2:56 p.m.

Holy Cross fumbles the kickoff return. Bryan Andrews recovers the ball after Mike Groome caused the loose ball. Lehigh ball at the Holy Cross 36 ready to deliver knockout blow.

2:54 p.m.

Zach Barket may have put this one away with a 18-yard TD run to cap a very efficient Lehigh drive that chewed up time as well as yard. It's now Lehigh 28-10 with 10:06 left in the third quarter.

2:41 p.m.

Holy Cross is back in it, getting a 3-yard TD by Gerald Mistretta on an end around. Crusaders were stopped, but got a first down on a defensive holding call. It's now 21-10 with 12 seconds left in the third quarter.

2:37 p.m.

Lehigh offense has become stagnant and Holy Cross is threatening with a first down at the Mountain Hawks 20, inside the final minute of the third quarter.

2:24 p.m.

Lehigh seems content to sit on its 21-3 lead, which may be a mistake. Two possessions after taking the 21-3 lead and no first downs for the guys in brown and white.

2:11 p.m.

Lehigh opens up a 21-3 lead on a 30-yard pass from Lum to Jake Drwal. Nice catch by Drwal. Nice going by Lehigh to come right back after the previous turnover.

2:07 p.m.

John Kennedy had a 64-yard kickoff return to start the second half, setting up Lehigh at Holy Cross 27. But a Jay Campbell fumble negated the scoring threat. Holy Cross ball at own 31.

1:43 p.m.

Lehigh closed the first half with a tremendous drive, going 70 yards, killing the last six minutes of the half and scoring on a 5-yard TD pass from Lum to tight end Alex Wojdowski, who made a nice move to avoid a tackler and get into the end. It came on the last play of the first half. Lehigh 14-3 at the break.

1:31 p.m.

Lehigh defense stiffens and holds Holy Cross to a 29-yard field goal. It's 7-3 with 6:09 left in the first half. Mountain Hawks fortunate to still be up considering the numerous miscues.

1:29 p.m.

Offsides penalty by Lehigh allows Holy Cross to convert a third down. Crusaders ball at Lehigh 14. Lots of mistakes could prove to be costly for Mountain Hawks who are fighting themselves as much as Holy Cross.

1:25 p.m.

Lehigh offense continues to scuffle. Three straight plays out of wildcat formation fails to produce a first down. Now a dumb unsportsmanlike penalty on a punt gives Holy Cross the ball at Lehigh 40. 9:10 left in first half and Lehigh clings to 7-0 lead.

1:12 p.m.

Koch walked off the field with assistance. Thank goodness. Looks like he's all right. And now the first quarter is over, Lehigh 7-0.

1:10 p.m.

Injury timeout here at Holy Cross and a Crusader player, DB Cav Koch, seems really hurt. Scary situation. The young man is not moving. Game situation secondary at this point. Hope he's ok.

1:02 p.m.

Lehigh cashes in on the good field position this time, scoring on a 22-yard TD pass from Lum to a wide-open and I mean wide-open Craig Zurn from Jim Thorpe. PAT kick is good, and it's 7-0 Lehigh with 2:10 left in the first quarter.

12:57 p.m.

Lehigh defense looking good. Gets a big third down sack. If the Mountain Hawks are going to win today, it's going to be the defense carrying the way. After a bad punt, Lehigh takes over at Holy Cross 49.

12:55 p.m.

Lehigh recovered a fumble at the Holy Cross 25, and moved to the Crusaders 6. But on third down, Chris Lum was intercepted to end the threat. Lum has struggled in the early going, off the mark on six of nine passes.

12:48 p.m.

Each team has had the ball once without scoring. Holy Cross has it back now at its own 18. 8:44 left in the first quarter and we're scoreless. Sun starting to fight through the clouds. Still, a typical New England November day -- hot chocolate is the beverage of choice; at least for those who want to remember the game.

12:36 p.m.

We're here at Fitton Field in Worcester, Mass., for Lehigh-Holy Cross. Big game for the Mountain Hawks. Patriot League executive director Carolyn Schlie Femovich is here and gives her regards to my esteemed colleague Paul Reinhard, wondering why he's in Hamilton today and not with me here at Holy Cross.

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