Football will suit up this Homecoming weekend against Lehigh for the 28th time in program history. The Mountain Hawks (6-0, 4-0 Patriot League) sit at No. 4 in the FCS, while Cornell (2-2, 1-1 Ivy) comes off a tough 29-41 loss to No. 17 Harvard (4-0, 2-0 Ivy).
The two share a 139-year history dating back to Nov. 24, 1887, when the Red lost to Lehigh 10-38. Since then, Cornell has held a 17-9-2 record over Lehigh and claimed the victory in the teams’ last two meetings.
Homecoming weekend has not always guaranteed a win for Cornell. Since 2015, the Red have lost seven of its homecoming games, and last year, Cornell lost to Colgate in a game head coach Dan Swanstrom said had “major mistakes.”
Last year, fans got to see a glimpse of senior quarterback Garrett Bass-Sulpizio, who took over for quarterback Devin Page during the Colgate loss. Bass-Sulpizio struggled last year during Homecoming, throwing two interceptions. This season, Bass-Sulpizio is the starting quarterback, and his second Homecoming game will offer another chance to see how he handles the role.
The last time Cornell faced Lehigh on Homecoming weekend was in 2014 and the Red lost during a 14-point unanswered surge from the Mountain Hawks’ offense. At home, the Red have a 13-3-2 record against Lehigh.
The Rivalry, This Year
Lehigh’s offense has posted stellar statistics this year, averaging 33.7 points per game and 392.8 yards per game. The team is commanded by quarterback Hayden Johnson, who has missed the team’s last two games due to an injury.
Derek Morgan has since stepped up to fill Johnson’s shoes, guiding Lehigh to three wins against William and Mary, the University of Pennsylvania and Fordham. Morgan has notably recorded six touchdowns and zero interceptions across the three games.
On the ground, the heart of Lehigh’s offense is Luke Yoder, who has recorded 12 touchdowns and is 286 yards away from a 1,000 yard season. In the air, Anthony Feaster and Nick Palumbo are the wide receivers to watch — both have over 200 yards this year and together found the end zone five times.
Lehigh’s defensive unit is historically strong — last year, they were No. 2 for scoring on defensive. Luke Denny should cause some trouble on defense alongside Nick Peltekian, who both lead the team in interceptions and have a combined 47 total tackles.
Look for senior wide receiver Samuel Musungu and Cornell’s All-American Pro-Prospect senior tight end Ryder Kurtz to make several catches. 10 of the Red’s touchdowns this season have come from running backs, so expect Swanstrom to keep the ground game rolling.
The Red will need to lean on its defensive leaders, including senior safety Tommy MacPherson, who has three interceptions and 35 total tackles and junior cornerback Tyler Gibson, who has 26 total tackles and an interception.
The Red will face off against the Mountain Hawks at 2 p.m. on Saturday at Schoellkopf field.
Zeinab Faraj is a member of the Class of 2028 in the College of Arts and Sciences. She is a senior editor for the 144th Editorial Board. She was a features editor and an assistant sports editor on the 143rd Editorial Board and can be reached at zfaraj@cornellsun.com.
