Saturday, September 25, 2010

#Lehigh gameday blog from New Hampshire: Liberty High grad Joey Orlando gets two TD catches in a 31-10 UNH win over Lehigh

FROM KEITH GROLLER

2:42 p.m.

It's a 31-10 win for New Hampshire over Lehigh. Lehigh's defense gave it some chances to keep things interesting and the offense did nothing with those opportunities. Plenty to work on in the bye week on both sides of the ball and the key is to get Chris Lum healthy and in sync as the quarterback. The defense has some work as well, especially defending the pass.

2:35 p.m.

New Hampshire has pulled the starters and is looking to run out the clock. About four minutes is now left and this is going to end up as a day of disappointment for Lehigh. But I am glad I am here to see a local kid like Joey Orlando have a career day. Good kid. Lehigh, like the rest of the Patriot League, is just overmatched against these scholarship powers from the Colonial. If you care about competing at a high level, you have to give scholarships to give these teams a chance.

2:27 p.m.

Another Colvin interception at the UNH 1 ended a mini-Lehigh threat. Joey Orlando just caught another pass and the Bethlehem boy has had a career day. It's UNH 31-10 with 9:30 left and it's play-out-the-string time. No. 1 objective for Mountain Hawks now is to get out of here without any more injuries.

2:03 p.m.

John Veniero picks off a UNH pass for the Lehigh defense's third takeaway of the day and the Mountain Hawks have the ball at the UNH 35. It has been a long time since the offense has done anything positive. And that trend continues as Colvin is intercepted inside the UNH 5.

1:58 p.m.

What a day for Liberty graduate Joey Orlando. He just hauled in a 14-yd TD pass for his second TD catch of the day. He had just six catches coming in and has six today so far. We'll be talking to the former Hurricane after the game, that's for sure.

1:53 p.m.

Lehigh stops UNH on fourth down of its first second-half possession, but can't get a first down on its initial possession in the third quarter. A bad punt against the wind gives the Wildcats the ball at its own 40 and they are on the move again with a big pass completion that carries inside the Lehigh 20.

1:41 p.m.

Ready to start the second half and Lehigh will get the ball first. As I suspected, UNH dominated the stats with 292 first half yards to 86 for Lehigh. Mountain Hawks completed just 4 of 13 passes for 45 yards. LU has carried the ball 14 times for 41 yards.

Again, only the two turnovers and the 76-yard kick return by John Kennedy has it this close.

1:19 p.m.

It's halftime here in Durham, NH, and game is going pretty much expected with New Hampshire dominating and leading 24-10. A couple of turnovers by the defense and a big kickoff return by John Kennedy helped out the Mountain Hawks offense, but this is a one-sided affair. Don't have the halftime stats yet, but my guess is that UNH has a 3 to 1 edge in total offense on Lehigh. It could be even more lopsided.

Smart move by coach Andy Coen not to play Chris Lum today and to let Mike Colvin show what he can do. With a a bye week coming, good to let Lum get totally healthy for more important games later in the season.

1:13 p.m.

New Hampshire offense taking charge of this game. Dontra Peters followed Toman's scramble with a 14-yard TD run and it's now UNH 24-10 with 1:04 left in the first half and Lehigh's defense has no answers for the Wildcat offense.

1:09 p.m.

Northampton grad Billy Boyko just came up with a sack, but UNH has come right down the field and had a first down at the Lehigh 25. Mountain Hawks need a stop here -- and don't get it. R.J. Toman eluded the pass rush and gets 10-yard gain to convert on third down.

1:00 p.m.

Lehigh's Bryan Andrew intercepts a UNH pass and a nice return puts Lehigh in business at the Wildcat 40. Mountain Hawks earning enough breaks to keep this competitive.

12:56 p.m.

Game starting to unravel fast for Lehigh. Colvin just made the kind of mistake you fear from a sophomore quarterback getting his first career start. His underthrown pass was picked off by UNH's Dino Vasso and the Wildcats got the ball back at the Lehigh 35. Still 17-10, 8 minutes left in the first half.

12:50 p.m.

UNH came right back down the field, and overcame an illegal block penalty to re-take the lead. The go-ahead score came on a 21-yard TD pass from R.J. Toman to Terrance Fox. With the PAT kick, it's now 17-10 UNH with 10:07 left in the first half. UNH offense may be too much for Lehigh defense, at least when the defense can't get turnovers.

12:41 p.m.

Lehigh got a lucky bounce and left guard Keith Schauder recovered a fumble to keep possession for the Mountain Hawks and they were able to take advantage of their good fortune to get a tying touchdown. Jay Campbell burst up the middle for an 11-yard TD run and the PAT makes it 10-10 with 14:04 left in the first half.

12:37 p.m.

Some power/computer issues knocked me offline for much of the first quarter and it was an entertaining one here at Mooradian Field. The teams exchanged field goals and UNH took the lead on a 1-yard TD pass to Liberty grad Joey Orlando, his first of the season. That was set up by a 51-yard pass.

Lehigh missed a long field goal, but a UNH fumble hass Lehigh in business at the UNH 22.

First quarter ended with UNH on top 10-3.

12:01 p.m.

Starting right on time here at the University of New Hampshire. UNH has the ball first. Beautiful day, much warmer than expected for Sept. 25.

http://blogs.mcall.com/groller/

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