Lehigh Defeats Richmond

Bethlehem, PA - August 30, 2025: The Lehigh University football team, for the second meeting in a row, defeated the University of Richmond 21-14 Saturday afternoon at Goodman Stadium.

Lehigh, currently ranked 14th, last faced Richmond in the playoffs back in November 2024. They narrowly won that meeting 20-16 to advance in the bracket. Richmond previously dominated Lehigh, winning 30-6 in a regular season contest at Goodman in 2022 and 31-3 in Richmond in 2021.

Richmond joined the Patriot League this season, and along with Villanova, who will join for the 2026 season, it should make the conference a more competitive one. There are talks about several other teams, including William & Mary, who may also join.

Richmond scored first in today's game after CJ Fraser intercepted a Hayden Johnson pass late in the first quarter. Richmond’s Kyle Wickersham scored on a 1-yard quarterback sneak. Will McManus added the point after and Richmond was up 7-0.

Richmond was moving the ball late in the second quarter and it appeared they would add more points on the scoreboard. They had the ball on the 5-yard line, first and goal, when there was a bad snap which set the offense back to the 23-yard line. They could not convert on second or third down and a field goal was attempted. The field goal sailed wide right and the score remained 7-0. The stance by the Lehigh defense seemed to give the Mountain Hawks the momentum.

On Lehigh’s next possession, with 2:22 left in the first half, they drove 80 yards on 6 plays to tie the game 7-7. On the first play of the drive, running back Jaden Green ran around the left side for 29-yards. Lehigh’s Johnson then completed four of five passes during the drive, one of which included a 27-yard completion to Geoffrey Jamiel. Lehigh executed the two-minute drill well and moved into scoring position. The drive was capped off by a screen pass to Green who ran it in for the touchdown. Lehigh’s Nick Garrido added the point after and the game was tied.

To open the second half, Lehigh took the kick and orchestrated another great drive. This time, the Mountain Hawks drove 75 yards in 8 plays. One of the biggest plays off the game for Lehigh occurred when they were faced with a 4th and 3. Johnson rolled out to his right and hit Jamiel who broke free for a 29-yard reception for a touchdown. Garrido’s point after made it 14-7 Lehigh.

However, on the ensuing kickoff, Richmond’s Isiah Dawson, who decided to field the ball at the 1-yard line, ran it 99-yards for a touchdown, game tied 14-14.

After the teams exchanged a couple possessions, Lehigh went on yet another long drive, this time 87 yards in 12 plays. Lehigh’s Green capped off the the drive with a 4-yard run right into the heart of the Richmond defense. Garrido's point after made it 21-14 Lehigh.

Richmond had some time on the clock to work the two-minute drill but Lehigh’s Mekhai Smith intercepted a Wickersham pass on the Richmond 18-yard line, sealing the win for Lehigh.

Game statistics included Lehigh’s 21 first downs to Richmond’s 10; Lehigh had 298 total yards on offense to Richmond’s 181; Lehigh recorded 2 sacks to Richmond’s 1; Lehigh had 1 interception while Richmond had 2.

Lehigh’s Green led all rushers with 88 yards. He had two touchdowns, one rushing and one receiving. Lehigh’s Johnson in passing with 135 yards and two touchdowns.

On defense, Lehigh’s Brycen Edwards led all players with 8 tackles. Lehigh’s William Parton followed with 7 tackles.

Lehigh is at home again next weekend (9/6) at which time they will host Sacred Heart University at Goodman Stadium. Kickoff is set for 12 PM.

Lehigh's Jaden Green runs for yardage against Richmond on August 30, 2025 at Goodman Stadium in Bethlehem, PA. Green, with 88 yards rushing and 2 touchdowns, led Lehigh to a 21-14 victory.