2008 Woodie Awards
RSSHawks break losing streak, shutout Hoyas
By Adam Kinney
Issue date: 10/30/07 Section: Sports
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The Hawks' rebounded from last week's 59-10 loss to Holy Cross College to register their first shutout since their win against the Hoyas in 2002.
"We talked a lot this week about revealing what your true character is," Head Coach Andy Coen said. "Are you going to be someone that is going to lay down after last week, or are you going to step back and fight? I think I got the right answer this week."
Lehigh's starting offensive line-up was extremely different than last week's.
Sophomore quarterback Chris Bokosky started in place of senior quarterback Sedale Threatt.
Behind Bokosky, the Hawks racked up 421 total yards with 307 rushing yards. The offense averaged 5.8 yards per play, possessed the ball for over 34 minutes and scored on all five chances in the red zone.
Junior running back Matt McGowan sparked the offense in the first half, totaling 128 yards on 24 carries, including two touchdowns in the first quarter. McGowan has been hampered by a hamstring injury the entire season and was listed as questionable leading up to Saturday.
"Our trainers did a good job with me and I came out Wednesday and felt pretty good and I said coach, 'I think I can go,'" McGowan said. "It feels unbelievable to be back on the field. It's extremely frustrating to be on the sidelines and see our offense struggle the way it did the past few weeks."
McGowan said the team had to come out strong this week after last week's loss.
"We speak a lot about tradition all the time and what happened last week doesn't happen at Lehigh," McGowan said. "We felt that we had to come out and make a statement and I feel that today really speaks a lot about the character of this team."
Bokosky's start made the difference for the Hawks, but Coen said it was a difficult decision.
"It was the hardest personnel conversation I've ever had," Coen said. "I care so much about [Threatt] as a person and he really is a great young man."
Bokosky didn't turn the ball over and completed five out of 12 passes for 87 yards, including his first career touchdown pass on a 24-yard strike to senior tight end Joe Sutherland with 1:50 remaining in the first quarter to give Lehigh a 21-0 lead.
"To actually get my first start felt really good," Bokosky said. "The coaches told me to manage the game and don't create turnovers. There really was no need to throw the ball downfield today because we controlled it up front and took what we could."
Although Threatt didn't start, he played one drive, Lehigh's first possession of the second half, and engineered an eight play, 63-yard drive that was capped off when Threatt scored on a 5-yard touchdown run to give the Hawks a 38-0 lead.
When he wasn't on the field, Threatt was leading the cheers for his teammates.
"Sedale was the first one to congratulate me after my touchdown pass and he was cheering us nonstop," Bokosky said. "He is a great leader and a great individual to be around."
Lehigh's defense smothered Georgetown's offense the entire game, not allowing them to advance past the Hawks' 39-yard line. The Hawks limited the Hoyas to only 148 total yards and nine first downs. Georgetown senior quarterback Matt Bassuener completed nine of 19 passes, was sacked twice and intercepted once. Sophomore running back Charlie Houghton was the Hoyas' leading rusher with 84 yards on 21 carries.
Senior linebacker Rashaun Gasaway led the Hawks with seven total tackles. Junior defensive lineman Brian Jackson registered one and a half sacks and junior linebacker Tim Diamond picked off Bassuener in the first quarter.
"It was important that the defense came back and performed well today so now those guys have some confidence," Coen said.
Hawks' freshman quarterback J.B. Clark replaced Bokosky in the fourth quarter and threw his first career touchdown pass on a 27-yard screen play to senior running back Rich Forman, who scampered for the score to give Lehigh a 45-0 lead. The touchdown was also Forman's first of his career.
With the win, Lehigh improves its record to 4-4, 1-2 in Patriot League play. Georgetown drops to 1-8, 1-4 in the league.
The Hawks face Colgate University Saturday at 12:30 p.m. in Hamilton, N.Y.
