Lehigh makes goal-line stand to secure a 21-14 victory over Richmond for 15th Patriot League title

RICHMOND, Va. -- — Tight end Joseph Marranca recovered a fumble in the end zone with 4:21 remaining, and Lehigh made a goal-line stand to secure a 21-14 victory over Richmond on Saturday for the program's 15th Patriot League championship.

Luke Yoder rushed for 147 yards and a touchdown for Lehigh — and he nearly had a second score before fumbling it at the goal line for Marranca to secure. Lehigh had a bad snap on the two-point conversion attempt, but a procedure penalty gave them another chance to convert.

Richmond went 71 yards in 12 plays to bring up a fourth-and-goal with 48 seconds left, and Jack Callaghan’s pass under pressure came up short of his receiver on the outside.

Lehigh (9-2, 7-1), ranked 17th in the Stats Perform poll, earned its third straight auto-bid to the FCS playoffs with the win — combined with a Holy Cross win over Villanova earlier.

Freshman Patrick Coan was 10-of-21 passing for 82 yards and a touchdown for Lehigh. Aiden Schomp made a one-handed grab and went in for a 15-yard touchdown for a 14-13 lead with 9:27 left in the third.

Callaghan threw for 207 yards with a touchdown for Richmond (6-5, 4-4).

Up next

Lehigh: Plays at Lafayette in a regular-season finale next Saturday.

Richmond: Hosts William & Mary next Saturday.

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