Date & Time: Saturday, October 2, 2021 – Noon ET
Location: Bethlehem, Pa.
Stadium: Goodman Stadium
Tickets: Buy Now
Series: Yale leads, 18-7
Last Meeting: Yale 56, Lehigh 28 – 9/16/17
Video: ESPN+, Steve Degler, Mike Yadush & Kristi Fulkerson
Live Stats: Click here
Game Notes (PDF)

NEW HAVEN, Conn. - The Bulldogs begin a three-game road trip this Saturday at Goodman Stadium in Bethlehem, Pa., as the Elis (1-1, 1-0 Ivy League) face the Lehigh Mountain Hawks (0-4, 0-1 Patriot League) for the first time in four years. Yale got back on track with a 23-17 Ivy League win last week vs. Cornell while Lehigh is in search of its first victory of the season.

Yank Townsend Trophy on the Line
In recognition of competition between Lehigh (founded 1865) and Yale (founded 1701), the lifetime achievements of their graduates, and the generations of families that have attended both universities, the Yank Townsend Trophy is presented to the winner of the Lehigh - Yale football game. 

Charles Frederick Townsend was the only student from Connecticut to enter the Lehigh Class of 1895, earning the nickname "Yank." He graduated with a bachelor of science degree in architecture and engineering, operated his own firm, Norton & Townsend from 1911-1960, and designed a number of bank buildings and colonial residences. Yank Townsend (1873-1963) was a devotee of Lehigh and Yale athletics, and today a trophy bearing his name is presented to the winner for the eighth time. 

Yale initially won the trophy in 2006 and successfully retained it twice, before Lehigh captured the trophy for the first time in 2011 and reclaimed it in 2016. The Bulldogs won the most recent meeting in 2017.

The Series
Saturday's matchup is the 26th all-time meeting between the Bulldogs and Mountain Hawks. Yale leads the series 18-7. The Elis were victorious in the last meeting in 2017, 56-28, also on the road. The Bulldogs have won three of the past four meetings and six of the last eight dating back to 2006. The Elis have also won three of the past four games at Goodman Stadium.

Bulldog Breakdown
Yale earned its first victory since winning the Ivy League Championship title on the final game of the 2019 season with an Ivy win against Cornell last Saturday at the Yale Bowl. The Bulldogs even their 2021 record and now look to move above .500 with a win at Lehigh. 

Senior safety Rodney Thomas II earned the game ball against the Big Red, as well as honorable mention honors by STATS Perform for their FCS National Defensive Player of the Week. Thomas picked off two passes vs. Cornell (one he returned for a touchdown which was called back on a penalty) and recovered an onside kick attempt and ran it back 48 yards for a touchdown with just 70 seconds left. It is the second straight meeting against Cornell that Thomas picked off two passes. He now has six INT's in his career.

Thomas and the Yale defense has allowed 17 points in each game this season and brought the intensity against Cornell with three interceptions, two sacks (both by sophomore tackle Clay Patterson), six tackles for loss and six pass breakups.

On the year, senior captain John Dean leads the way with 16 tackles and is one of six Bulldogs with at least 10 tackles. The Elis have racked up five sacks and 12 pass breakups in just two games.

On offense, junior quarterback Griffin O'Connor leads the way with four touchdown passes, 551 yards through the air and a 142.51 QB rating. O'Connor completed passes to 10 different receivers last Saturday vs. Cornell.

The Yale quarterback has benefited from strong line play upfront which has also opened holes for senior running back Zane Dudek. Dudek moved up to seventh all-time on the Yale rushing list with 2,488 career yards; surpassing John Pagliaro '78 (2,476).

With four rushing attempts on Saturday at Lehigh, Dudek would reach the 400 rush plateau. His current 6.3 yard per rush average would then rank first all-time at Yale (minimum 400 rush attempts) as he would move past all-time great, Dick Jauron '73 (5.7 yards per carry).

Scouting Lehigh
The Mountain Hawks are in search of their first win of the season after a grueling start. Lehigh has already taken on then -No. 15/16 Villanova, played at then-No. 22/25 Richmond, faced Ivy League preseason No. 1 Princeton and took to the road to face a tough Colgate team which has also played Boston College, Stony Brook and William & Mary.

Lehigh is currently on an 11-game losing streak dating back to the 2019 season; its longest since the 1934-44 seasons. A twelfth loss would tie the programs longest losing streak from the 1925-26 seasons.

Cross Wilkinson is Lehigh's leading passer with 227 yards on 29 completions but has through four interceptions. Seven different Mountain Hawks have rushed this year but non have crossed 73 yards through four games. Lehigh is still in search of its first touchdown in 2021. 

On defense, TyGee Leach leads the team with 24 tackles. Lehigh has nine sacks but has allowed 30 points in each game.

Saturday's matchup will also be Tackle Cancer Day at Goodman Stadium, presented in partnership with the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society.