BETHLEHEM, Pa. — Mason Moore showcased his defensive skills with a pivotal interception return for a touchdown, leading the Lehigh Mountain Hawks to a 38-14 victory over their longstanding rivals, Lafayette. This win secured Lehigh an automatic spot in the FCS Playoffs, courtesy of their performance throughout the season and their strong showing in this decisive game.

The Mountain Hawks have now claimed victory in five straight matches, consistently limiting their opponents to fewer than 20 points in each contest. Moore’s impressive 41-yard pick-six not only marked a highlight of the game but also underscored Lehigh’s remarkable defensive strategy, as they restricted Lafayette to just 283 total yards and recorded two interceptions during the match.

Lehigh and Holy Cross were both tied for the top spot in the standings, but Lehigh earned the automatic bid to the playoffs due to their 10-7 win against the Crusaders earlier this month.

Offensively, the Mountain Hawks amassed 229 rushing yards, with standout performances from Jaden Green, Matt Machalik, and Luke Yoder, each exceeding 60 yards on the ground. Quarterback Hayden Johnson completed 10 of 13 passes for 115 yards, contributing with a passing touchdown as well as an interception. Johnson, along with Green and Machalik, also secured rushing touchdowns throughout the game.

For Lafayette, Jamar Curtis accumulated 131 rushing yards and was responsible for both touchdowns. Meanwhile, Dean DeNobile completed 20 of 25 pass attempts, finishing with 171 yards, although he was intercepted on two occasions.

The rivalry between Lehigh and Lafayette stands as one of the most storied in Division I football, with these teams squaring off an impressive 160 times to date. In comparison, other notable rivalries include Princeton-Yale at 146 meetings and Harvard-Yale at 140.

With this recent victory, the Mountain Hawks have celebrated their 13th championship in the Patriot League, reinforcing their place within the conference’s football landscape.