Lehigh WR Ryan Spadola

The #13 Lehigh Mountain Hawks (3-0) invade Williams Stadium Saturday night at 7pm. This will be Liberty’s (0-3) 3rd straight game against a ranked opponent.

The biggest question mark facing Lehigh will continue to be the play of their starting quarterback Mike Colvin. Colvin came into the season with not much experience after backing up recent graduate Chris Lum for 3 seasons. Thus far he has completed his passes at a 59% clip for 746 yards, 3 touchdowns and 4 interceptions.

 Lehigh’s schedule/results:
9/1 vs Monmouth W, 27-17
9/8 @ Cent Con St W, 35-14
9/15 vs Princeton  W, 17-14
9/22 @ Liberty
9/29 vs Fordham
10/6 vs Columbia
10/13 @ Georgetown
10/20 vs Bucknell
11/3 @ Holy Cross
11/10 vs Colgate
11/17 @ Lafayette

Liberty’s offense comes in to this game struggling to find consistency and put up lots of points. Through 3 games the Flames are averaging just 18 points a game. Also, who will start at Quarterback? Brian Hudson or Josh Woodrum? Both have played well when given the opportunity, and both have also lodged crucial interceptions. Liberty’s running game was non-existant at Montana. This must change if Liberty wants to knock off Lehigh or make it to the playoffs for the first time in school history.

Lehigh comes in to Lynchburg having only given up 15 points a game through its first 3 games. Granted these games were against Monmouth, Central Connecticut State & Princeton; not your household names even for FCS competition. This will be Lehigh’s first real test as their coach as even stated Liberty will be the most talented team they face all season. Will Lehigh be prepared for the rowdy student section at Liberty? I don’t think they will be fazed one bit as they have played at North Dakota State’s Fargodome in the playoffs in recent years.

Prediction:
While this game pits a 3-0 team and a team 0-3, it doesn’t necessarily mean it will be a one-sided matchup. Both teams have faced completely different schedules, and Liberty’s early season meat-grinder gives them the edge in this one in front of a packed Williams Stadium.

Liberty 24
Lehigh 17

Go Flames!