NCAA DI FCS INTERACTIVE BRACKET | NCAA DI FOOTBALL CHAMPIONSHIP INFORMATION
 
RICHMOND, Va. – Patriot League Co-Champion Lehigh (9-3, 5-1 PL) upset No. 9 Richmond (10-3, 6-0 CAA), 20-16, in the First Round of the NCAA Division I Football Championship Subdivision (FCS) Championship at Robins Stadium.
 
Trailing 16-7 in the fourth quarter, the Mountain Hawks scored the final two touchdowns of the game on a 65-yard carry by first-year running back Jaden Green and a 54-yard touchdown pass from first-year quarterback Hayden Johnson to junior wide receiver Geoffrey Jamiel to clinch their first postseason victory since 2011.
 
The Mountain Hawks advance to meet No. 8 Idaho (9-3, 6-2 Big Sky) in the Second Round of the FCS Playoffs on Saturday, Dec. 7. Live coverage between the Mountain Hawks and Vandals will be available on ESPN+, beginning at 9 p.m. ET.
 
PATRIOT LEAGUE IN THE FCS PLAYOFFS
Patriot League teams are 10-17 in FCS Playoff games since 2010, winning at least one postseason game in nine seasons during that span. Since 1997, Colgate and Lehigh are tied for the Patriot League lead with six FCS Playoff victories. Fordham (3) and Holy Cross (2) have also earned victories in the playoffs.
 
LEHIGH MOUNTAIN HAWKS (9-3, 5-1 PL) 20, AT NO. 9 RICHMOND SPIDERS (10-3, 6-0 CAA) 16
E. Claiborne Robins Stadium/Richmond, Va.              Saturday, Nov. 30 – 2 p.m. (ESPN+)
BOX SCORE
RICHMOND, Va. – First-year quarterback Hayden Johnson threw a 54-yard touchdown pass to junior wide receiver Geoffrey Jamiel with 6:21 remaining in the game to lift Lehigh to a 20-16 upset victory over No. 9 Richmond.
*Johnson completed 14-of-18 passes for 199 yards, two touchdowns and one interception, while Jamiel caught 10 passes for 137 yards and a score.
*First-year running back Jaden Green opened the fourth-quarter scoring with a 65-yard touchdown run to bring the Mountain Hawks within two points. He finished with 70 yards on 11 carries, while sophomore running back Luke Yoder added 52 yards on 12 carries.
*Sophomore cornerback Aidan Singleton and junior linebacker Brycen Edwards led the Mountain Hawks with 12 tackles and one pass breakup apiece.
*Sophomore linebacker William Parton added eight tackles and 1.0 TFL while junior linebacker Jackson Dowd recorded seven tackles, 1.0 TFL, one forced fumble and two pass breakups for a Lehigh defense that held Richmond to one touchdown.
*Lehigh’s offense converted 7-of-11 third-down opportunities.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED
*Richmond had first-half drives of 15 and 17 plays, but the Mountain Hawks’ defense limited the Spiders to field goals of 25 and 27 yards by Sean O’Haire to take a 6-0 lead by the 5:27 mark in the second quarter.
*Late in the second quarter, Johnson converted a third down, completing a 41-yard jump ball to first-year wide receiver Matt D’Avino to the Spiders 12-yard line.  
*Three plays later, Johnson scrambled to the left and found first-year receiver Logan Galetta on a seven-yard touchdown pass to give the Mountain Hawks a 7-6 lead with 1:04 remaining in the half.
*The Spiders answered quickly, as O’Haire connected on his third field goal of the half, a 21-yarder, as time expired to give Richmond a 9-7 lead at the break.  
*Richmond used another long drive, this time finding the end zone on a seven-yard touchdown pass from Camden Coleman to Sean Clarke.
*The Mountain Hawks responded on their next play from scrimmage as first-year running back Jaden Green rushed around the right side for a 65-yard touchdown to bring Lehigh within two at 16-14.
*Midway through the final frame, Johnson extended a long third down with a 19-yard run to set up a 54-yard touchdown pass to Jamiel two plays later. The long touchdown gave Lehigh its first lead of the game, 20-16, with 6:21 left in the fourth quarter.
*The Spiders drove into Mountain Hawks’ territory, but on a fourth down, junior linebacker Brycen Edward broke up a pass attempt to force a turnover on downs.
*The Mountain Hawks sealed the upset victory when first-year defensive back Ignatious Williams recovered a muffed punt with just over one minute remaining in the game.
RECAPS: LEHIGH | RICHMOND
 
ABOUT THE PATRIOT LEAGUE
The Patriot League is in its fourth decade of academic and athletic achievement, continually demonstrating that student-athletes can excel at both academics and athletics without sacrificing high standards. The Patriot League’s athletic success is achieved while its member institutions remain committed to its founding principle of admitting and graduating student-athletes who are academically representative of their class. Participation in athletics at Patriot League institutions is viewed as an important component of a well-rounded education.