“The Lehigh–Lafayette game is an integral part of a college education. The game provides thrills and excitement and instills an attitude that is essential to succeed in all walks of life. Traditions, pregame hype and celebrations are all as important as the game itself. No other football rivalry is quite like Lehigh-Lafayette. The traditions are pure and the festivities are genuine. Sportswriters are afraid to predict the winner, oddsmakers shy from a point spread and coaches don’t have to worry about getting their players up for the game. Previous records, scores and games against common opponents are meaningless. It’s one game—all or nothing.”
Preface Legends of Lehigh-Lafayette by Todd Davidson and Bob Donchez D&D Publishing Company, 1995
As college football’s most-played rivalry is set to be played this Saturday at Lehigh’s Goodman Stadium, the quote continues to ring true. It was probably just as true on October 25, 1884 when the two teams took the field for the very first time. Who would have guessed back then that 150 more games would take place prior to this Saturday?
Here are some facts about the rivalry:
First Meeting: Oct. 25, 1884; Easton—Lafayette 56, Lehigh 0
Last Meeting: Nov. 22, 2014; Yankee Stadium—Lafayette 27, Lehigh 7
Series Record: Lafayette leads, 78-67-5 (.537) (150 games)
In Easton: Lafayette leads, 41-29-5
In Bethlehem: Lehigh leads, 37-36
Neutral Site: Series tied, 1-1
Lafayette won 27-7 in Bronx, N.Y. (Yankee Stadium) on Nov. 22, 2014 Lehigh won 16-2 in Wilkes-Barre, Pa. on Nov. 25, 1891
Largest Margin of Victory (Lafayette): Nov. 18, 1944; Easton—Lafayette 64, Lehigh 0
Largest Margin of Victory (Lehigh):Nov. 24, 1917; Bethlehem —Lehigh 78, Lafayette 0
Last Shutout: Nov. 22, 1980; Easton—Lehigh 32, Lafayette 0
Last Tie: Nov. 21, 1964; Easton, Lafayette 6, Lehigh 6 (100th meeting)
Points Scored in Series: Lafayette 2,670; Lehigh 2,202
Longest Lafayette Win Streak: 10 wins, 1919-28
Longest Lehigh Win Streak: 7 wins; 1995-2001
Miscellaneous Facts: The schools played each other twice per season from 1884-1901. They met three times in 1891 and did not meet in 1896, due to a player eligibility dispute between the two schools.
Neither team is playing for a championship this year. In fact, Lehigh has a 5-5 record while Lafayette is a dismal 1-9. But, it does not matter to the players, the alumni, or the Lehigh Valley fans. This is Lafayette-Lehigh and that is all that is important. 16,000 fans will attend and half will leave ecstatic and half will leave dissatisfied.
If you do not have a ticket, tune in at 12:30 Saturday afternoon to RCNTV channels 4 or 1004; WBPH Channel 60, or GoLeopards.com on the internet.
Because…it is the ultimate rivalry!
ABOVE THE EARS (SOME MUSINGS)
- It all started with the Jets losing to Buffalo on Thursday night. The NFL has become totally unpredictable. On Sunday, Bears killed the Rams, the Redskins beat the Saints, the Dolphins beat the Eagles, the Bucs beat the Cowboys, the Jaguars beat the Ravens, and, (wait for it) the Lions beat the Packers. What!!! I bet (pun) they are dancing in Las Vegas!
- As I write this, the Flyers have won two of their last 10 and are 6-8-3, and the 76’ers are 0-11, and the Eagles now have a losing record of 4-5. It continues to be tough to be a Philadelphia fan.
- We covered our first college basketball game this past Sunday and it is hard to imagine seeing a better game the rest of the year. Lafayette took on St. Peter’s and went up by 17 in the first half, only to have the Peacocks come back to tie the game in regulation. In overtime, St. Peter’s went up by 11 and, as people were filing out, Lafayette kept forcing turnover after turnover and came back to win 87-86. Check it out:
- The high school football games did not disappoint this past weekend. Easton avenged a loss to Freedom by winning their first round Subregional AAAA game over Freedom. Saucon Valley (11-0) pulled off the biggest surprise by beating Bethlehem Catholic, a team that “mercy-ruled” them last year. Parkland beat District Two’s Delaware Valley and Liberty beat Stroudsburg. Notre Dame and Northwestern both won at the AA level.
- More great football match-ups are in store this weekend. In addition to Lafayette-Lehigh this Saturday at 12:30, you can watch the Easton – Parkland game on Friday night at 7:00 and the Saucon Valley – Lehighton game at 9:30 on Saturday.
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