newjerseynewsroom.com

BY JEREMY SCHILLING

NEWJERSEYNEWSROOM.COM

WEST LONG BRANCH, N.J. – Monmouth University football played to a 3-8 record last year, partly due to losses in the early part of the year caused by the defense giving up big plays. Unfortunately for the Hawks, the 2011 season started much the same way.

No. 13 Lehigh University (1-0) defeated Monmouth University (0-1) 49-24 Saturday at Kessler Field behind a massive passing day from Lehigh quarterback Chris Lum, who threw for 346 yards and four touchdowns. Afterwards, head coach Kevin Callahan gave credit to a nationally ranked team.

“I think today there were a couple things that happened,” Callahan said. ”First of all, we played a very good team. They executed very well and were right on in everything they did. As a team we didn’t play the way we needed to play. It was across the board. It started with some breakdowns in the secondary that allowed some big pass plays. It was an uphill battle from there.”

The Hawks actually got out to a 7-0 lead in this game. They scored on their first drive, with Pete Nagy scoring a two yard touchdown, capping off a 14-play, 72 yard drive. But after that, it was all Lehigh.

On the ensuing possession Lehigh scored on a 12-play, 64-yard drive, that included a Lum 26-yard pass to star wide receiver Ryan Spadola, one of seven plays of 20 or more yards that the Monmouth defense would give up in the first three quarters. The drive ended in a four-yard rushing score from Zach Barket and with 2:54 left in the first quarter it was tied at seven.

Following a Monmouth punt, Lehigh scored quickly again, this time on a one play bomb, a 73-yard pass play from Lum to Spadola for the touchdown. And with 14:51 left in the half, it was 14-7 Lehigh. Lum was not surprised how open Spadola was all day.

“I have a good idea of when I’m going to throw him the ball from the coverages and just reading it,” Lum said. “I had a good hunch on the long touchdown that I was going to give him the ball.”

Lum finished with 22-34 passing for 346 yards and four touchdowns. Spadola finished with six catches and 148 yards and two touchdowns.

Lehigh only expanded on their lead from there, scoring another touchdown after another Monmouth punt, this time on a Barket 32 yard scoring reception. That drive included another big play – this time a reception by Jake Drawl that went for 21 yards. With 9:34 left in the half, it was 21-7 Lehigh.