No. 8 Lehigh Rolls Past No. 16 William & Mary, 44-20 (9-12-26)
By: Darrell Owens
Headline Photo Credit: William and Mary Athletics
BETHLEHEM, Pa. — September 12, 2026 — William & Mary entered Saturday’s matchup with Lehigh as one of the top-ranked teams in the FCS. By the time the afternoon was over, the Tribe had learned just how dangerous the Mountain Hawks’ rushing attack can be.
No. 8/9 Lehigh jumped out to a 30-0 lead in the opening 21 minutes and never surrendered control, defeating No. 16 William & Mary 44-20 at Goodman Stadium. The victory moved Lehigh to 3-0 overall and 3-0 in Patriot League play, while William & Mary dropped to 2-1 overall and 1-1 in league action.
The win also extended Lehigh’s regular-season winning streak to 20 games, the longest active streak in Division I football.
Lehigh Comes Out Firing
The Mountain Hawks wasted almost no time establishing their identity.
Senior running back Luke Yoder ripped off a 50-yard run on Lehigh’s third offensive play and finished the drive with a one-yard touchdown run.
William & Mary’s next possession ended in disaster when an errant snap went out of the back of the end zone for a safety, giving Lehigh a 9-0 advantage.
Yoder struck again later in the first quarter, scoring on a two-yard run to put the Mountain Hawks ahead 16-0.
Lehigh’s defense and rushing attack had completely tilted the game in the opening period.
Mountain Hawks Run Wild
The second quarter only made matters worse for the Tribe.
Backup quarterback Derek Morgan entered the game and immediately made an impact, throwing a 22-yard touchdown pass to Nick Palumbo for the first touchdown pass of his career.
Then starting quarterback Hayden Johnson showed his athleticism with a 50-yard touchdown run, pushing the lead to 30-0 with 9:08 remaining in the first half.
William & Mary finally answered when sophomore running back Jah’Kei Chavis scored on a four-yard touchdown run.
But Lehigh had one more response before halftime.
Morgan capped a 75-yard drive with an eight-yard touchdown run, sending the Mountain Hawks into the locker room with a commanding 37-7 lead.
Yoder Leads Another Dominant Ground Attack
Yoder was the star of the afternoon.
The senior running back finished with 169 rushing yards and three touchdowns on 23 carries, giving him three consecutive 100-yard rushing performances to open the season.
Lehigh finished with a staggering 366 rushing yards on 51 attempts, averaging 7.2 yards per carry.
The Mountain Hawks’ rushing performance continued an impressive stretch for the program, which has now surpassed 100 rushing yards as a team in 36 consecutive games.
William & Mary Shows Fight
Despite falling into a 30-point hole, William & Mary continued competing.
Chavis scored his second touchdown of the afternoon on a one-yard run early in the fourth quarter, cutting the deficit to 37-14.
The Tribe then put together another long scoring drive late in the game. Quarterback Winston Watkins capped a 79-yard, 16-play drive with a one-yard touchdown run, bringing William & Mary within 24 points.
Watkins finished the afternoon 18-of-22 passing for 164 yards, while Chavis provided the Tribe’s biggest offensive punch with two rushing touchdowns.
But the deficit was simply too large to overcome.
Yoder answered William & Mary’s second touchdown with his third score of the day, an 11-yard touchdown run with 8:35 remaining.
Lehigh Controls the Line of Scrimmage
The biggest difference in the game was the line of scrimmage.
Lehigh outgained William & Mary 365-99 in the first half, turning its physical rushing attack into a huge early advantage.
The Mountain Hawks also received contributions from multiple quarterbacks. Johnson finished with 84 passing yards before leaving briefly with a knee injury, while Morgan stepped in and delivered both through the air and on the ground. Johnson later returned and broke off his 50-yard touchdown run.
William & Mary, meanwhile, struggled to establish itself offensively early. The Tribe didn’t record its first first down until late in the opening quarter, while Lehigh consistently created favorable situations with its ground game.
A Statement Victory for Lehigh
This was more than just another win for the Mountain Hawks.
The matchup was the first meeting between William & Mary and Lehigh since 1992, and both teams entered the game ranked in the FCS Top 25. Lehigh’s victory improved its record against the Tribe to 2-8, with wins in two of the teams’ last three meetings.
For Lehigh, the victory reinforces its status as one of the FCS’s most dangerous teams.
For William & Mary, the loss serves as a reminder that there is still plenty of football left to play. The Tribe showed resilience after halftime, but the early deficit proved impossible to overcome.
Final
No. 8/9 Lehigh 44, No. 16 William & Mary 20
Lehigh: 3-0, 3-0 Patriot League William & Mary: 2-1, 1-1 Patriot League
Lehigh’s combination of explosive rushing, physical line play, and an overwhelming first half proved too much for William & Mary. The Mountain Hawks remain unbeaten, while the Tribe will look to regroup and respond in its next matchup.
