Lehigh Defeats Lafayette
- © Keystone Sports Extra
- 6 minutes ago
- 4 min read
Easton, PA - November 22, 2025: The 161st meeting of “The Rivalry” between Lehigh University and Lafayette College took place Saturday afternoon before a sold out crowd at Fisher Stadium. The game was a high scoring contest that wasn’t decided until late in the fourth quarter.
The 4th ranked Lehigh Mountain Hawks racked up 479 total yards on offense, 320 on the ground and 159 in passing, on their way to defeating the 24th ranked Lafayette Leopards 42-32. The win gave Lehigh their 14th Patriot League title and an automatic birth to the Football Championship Subdivision (FCS). It was Lehigh’s 17th win in a row, the longest in FCS history.
It was the first time in the Patriot League era that both teams entered the Rivalry while being nationally ranked. It was the 8th time the teams entered the Rivalry with the Patriot League Championship on the line. The all-time series record now stands at 82-74-5, still in favor of Lafayette. College football’s most-played rivalry dates back to 1884.
Today’s game was a battle between two bruising running games. Lehigh’s Luke Yoder and Lafayette’s Dante Edwards were the work horses this afternoon. The two offenses and running backs did what they have been doing all year long in carrying their team to the best in the Patriot League. When one team scored today, the other team would answer. It was going to take one of the defenses to come up big with a stop or stops at the right time.
Lafayette took the opening kickoff and went right down the field to score. Lehigh quickly answered on their first drive and that is how it went for most of the game. Lehigh was down 17-14 at the half but when Yoder broke an 80-yard run on the first play of the second half, Lehigh went up (21-17) for good. Lehigh would go on to score 28 points in the second half to Lafayette’s 15.
“We were a little out of sorts the first half but I give our kids all the credit,” said Lehigh Head Coach Kevin Cahill. “We just had to calm down a little bit and play within ourselves.” “I am really happy with how we executed in the second half, joy and gratitude to all the players.” “It’s been fun.”
Powering Lehigh’s league-leading rushing offense were Hayden Johnson (QB) and Yoder (RB). Yoder, the game’s MVP, ran for 234 yards on 19 carries and had four touchdowns. His longest run was the 80-yarder. Johnson ran for 64 yards on 7 carries and had a touchdown. He also threw for 159 yards, 11 for 16, and had one touchdown pass. Johnson’s main target was Geoffrey Jamiel who had 5 receptions for 26 yards. Mason Humphrey caught 2 passes for 83 yards, including a 77-yard touchdown reception.
Lehigh’s league-leading rushing defense had their hands full in trying to stop Lafayette’s tandem running backs Edwards and Ethan Weber, who came into the game with a combined 1,895 yards on the ground. Lehigh’s defense stiffened and came up with a few big stops at just the right time in the game. Edwards ran wild however, carrying the ball a whopping 41 times for 157 yards, while taking it to the house three times.
Leading the Lehigh defense were William Parton with 4 solo tackles and 7 assists (11), Aidan Singleton 7 solo tackles and 2 assists (9), and DJ Brown with 7 solo tackles and 1 assist (8). Nick Peltekian added 4 total tackles and had a key interception midway through the 2nd quarter to thwart a Lafayette drive.
Leading the Lafayette defense were Ryan Gadson with 7 solo tackles and Dhonte Jackson with 5 solo tackles and 1 assist (6). Avery Jones had an interception for the Pards late in the 2nd quarter to thwart a Lehigh drive. There were no fumbles in the game and Lafayette was not penalized.
The scoring:
Lafayette’s Edwards scored on a 1-yard run in the 1st quarter, 14 plays/75 yards.
Lehigh’s Yoder scored on a 29-yard run in the 1st quarter, 7 plays/65 yards.
Lafayette’s Dean DeNobile scored on a 2-yard run in the 2nd quarter, 14 plays/80 yards.
Lehigh’s Mason Humphrey scored on a 77-yard reception in the 2nd quarter, 2 plays/89 yards.
Lafayette’s Jack Simonetta hit a 21-yard field goal just before the half, 14 plays/52 yards.
Lehigh’s Yoder scored on an 80-yard run to open the 3rd quarter, 1 play/80 yards.
Lafayette’s Edwards scored on a 1-yard run in the 3rd quarter, 13 plays/97 yards.
Lehigh’s Yoder scored on a 3-yard run in the 3rd quarter, 4 plays/73 yards.
Lehigh’s Yoder scored on a 6-yard run in the 4th quarter, 7 plays/47 yards.
Lafayette’s Edwards scored on a 4-yard run in the 4th quarter, 8 plays/75 yards.
Lehigh’s Hayden Johnson scored on a 1-yard run late in the 4th quarter, 10 plays/75 yards.
Lehigh’s Connor Poole added 6 extra points while Lafayette’s Simonetta added 3 extra points. Lafayette converted on a 2-point attempt on their last drive in the 4th quarter.
The FCS selection show is Sunday at noon with first-round games being held on November 29th. The win for Lehigh means they will likely have a first round bye and will play on December 6th at home. Lafayette will have to hope for an at-large bid to play on November 29th.
