The Game
It’s that time of year – the weekend before Thanksgiving can only mean one thing : the most played rivalry in all of football is upon us. The 141st meeting between Lehigh and La(ugh)fayette will take place in Bethlehem, PA this year, in nicely equipped Goodman Stadium. The Engineers (never the Mountain Hawks) are playing for the Patriot League Title, and the automatic berth in 1AA playoffs that comes with it. The Leopards from Easton aren’t out of the playoff picture, and need both a win (not going to happen) and a loss by Colgate (also not going to happen – not against Georgetown) to take the title. Last year, at Lafayette’s really crummy stadium (seriously – wooden benches and NO restroom facilities), it was a nail-biter down to the wire, with the Leopards eventually winning and getting the playoff berth (same scenario as this year, except it was literally between the two – no third party like Colgate involved). The very next day, Lehigh was granted an at-large bid into the playoff’s anyway, and both went down in the first round, Lehigh to the eventual 1AA champ – JMU.
So yes friends, tonight we make the trek to participate in The Game. It may not be flashy, and it won’t make ESPN, but it is the most overlooked rivalry in sports.
Go Lehigh!