South Mountaineer Volume 32, Issue 03

              V
Volume 32, Number 3
September 19,1989
Bethlehem, Pa.
Massachusetts plays
the spoiler 42-23
By MIKE ALBRIGHT
South Mountaineer Editor
The University of Massachusetts converted three Lehigh
turnovers into touchdowns during the third quarter Saturday, turning a
close game into a 42-23 victory.
The win also spoiled Lehigh's l,000th game festivities, which
included a ceremonial coin flip, the distribution of special posters to fans
and the naming of sections of the stadium in honor of three past football
coaches. Rain and dreary weather kept much of the anticipated crowd
away as only 6,123 people attended the game.
Prior to the game, former coaches William Leckonby, John
Whitehead and Fred Dunlap were honored by having sections of Murray
H. Goodman Stadium named after them.
Massachusetts rained on Lehigh's parade just as much as the
bad weather did as the Minutemen piled up 525 yards in total offense.
Tailback Jerome Bledsoe perforated the Lehigh defense for 209 rushing
yards, including an 85-yard scamper that opened Massachusetts' scoring
in the first quarter.
Bledsoe's feats were nearly matched by Lehigh's Erick Torain
(Harrisburg, Pa.), who totalled 259 yards in total offense. Torain, who
was among the nation's leaders in total offense and scoring last year,
scored three times against Massachusetts, giving him six touchdowns in
two games.
Engineer quarterback Todd Brunner (Cranbury, N.J.) also
posted some good numbers, despite throwing four interceptions. Brunner
was 35 of 56 for 426 yards for the afternoon.
Twelve of Brunner's tosses found the hands of senior receiver
Rob Varano (Mt. Carmel)—to the tune of 174 yards.
Leading 21 -17 at halftime, the Minutemen turned up the heat,
scoring three times in the third quarter.
Quarterback Roger Baldacci capped a 75-yard drive with a
See LOSS page 3
Photography by YOUNG HONG
Defensive lineman Andy Kosko wraps up Massachusetts' David Mitchell. On the day, Mitchell
ran for 46 yards against the Lehigh defense. The Minutemen rushed for 326 yards, including
209 by tailback Jerome Bledsoe. In photo at left, Amy Deysher, 8, cheers on the Engineers despite Saturday's rain and dreary weather, which put a damper on Lehigh's 1,000th game festivities. Amy is the daughter of Robert and Ann Deysher. Robert is a 1972 Lehigh grad.
Heading into Saturday's Massachusetts contest, several Lehigh
players were among the nation's best following outstanding performances against Fordham in the football season opener.
Despite the 42-23 loss Saturday, those players can expect to
remain near the top in the statistics.
Quarterback Todd Brunner (Cranbury, N.J.) was the nation's
top-rated passer with a 243.6 efficiency rating. However, he threw four
interceptions against the Minutemen and will likely drop from the
leaders.
Brunner did, however, complete 35 of 56 passes for 479 yards,
which should be good enough to maintain his spot among the nation's
best.
Brunner was also fourth among Division I-AA players in total
offense, averaging 377 yards per game. That average will increase
following Brunner's 449 yard total offense performance Saturday.
Tailback Erick Torain (Harrisburg, Pa.), who was tied for the
nation's lead in scoring with an 18-point-per-game average following his
three touchdown performance against Fordham, equalled that Saturday
with three scored against the Minutemen.
Torain, who was among the leaders in total offense in 1988, had
259 yards in total offense this week, which may be enough to move him
among the leaders in that category.
As a team, the Engineers were second in total offense heading*
into Saturday. They were also second in passing offense.
Rob Varano (Mt. Carmel, Pa.) caught 12 passes for 174 yards
Saturday, which just might be the nation's best effort this season.
Photography by YOUNG HONG