Lehigh University’s season opener at Drake in Des Moines, Iowa, will be a homecoming of sorts for Mountain Hawks junior Jake Drwal.

Drwal, a wide receiver, grew up in Omaha, Neb., some two hours away.

“I’m going to have a bunch of family up there,” he said. “They’re bringing buses with 60 or 70 people. I’m pretty nervous for this game, but hopefully I get that out early and make some plays.

“I’m going to try to do something for the fans.”

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Drwal has developed into a “proven commodity,” according to fifth-year coach Andy Coen, after leading the team with 47 receptions as a sophomore. The wideout totaled 641 yards and four touchdowns last season.

Drawl admitted starting as an underclassman has been beneficial coming into this season.

“Last year I came in making my first starts and was just going with the flow,” Drwal said. “Now I realize how to be a better receiver and watch film and how to be a better overall player. I really have been critiquing the finer things in my game. My route running is a lot more crisp, and I’m focusing on blocking a lot more.”

While Drwal’s personal cheering section will arrive at Drake Stadium by bus, the junior and his teammates will leave this morning on a y chartered flight. Lehigh has not flown for a football game since traveling to Greenville, S.C., for an NCAA Division I-AA quarterfinal playoff contest at Furman in 2001.

“None of these guys have done that (flown) and for some guys, it’s possible it’ll be their first time on an airplane,” Coen said. “We have to keep the focus. We could get delayed on takeoff or whatever can happen but you can’t let it get in your head. We have to be focused on why we’re there.”

The Mountain Hawks are there for a win. It wasn’t until Week 5 – Oct. 10 against Georgetown – when Lehigh chalked up its first victory in 2009. Getting off to a better start is important for Lehigh, which hosts defending FCS champion Villanova – also the top-ranked team in the country – next Saturday.

To prepare for Drake, the Mountain Hawks will practice under the lights at 7 tonight to get a feel for Saturday’s game-time setting.

“We’ll get the lights on and get a sense of how they are,” Coen said. “That’s a big part when you play a night game is the lights are a little different. Give the kids a chance to catch passes and catch punts in them.”

Lehigh and the Bulldogs met once before with the Mountain Hawks winning 19-0 at Goodman Stadium on Sept. 6, 2008. The game, played in the steady downpour in the aftermath of Tropical Storm Hanna, isn’t much of an indication to Saturday’s contest.

Drake is led by senior halfback Steve Platek (147 yards and 6 TDs rushing, 49 receptions for 553 yards receiving) on offense while senior defensive end Dain Taylor (38½ tackles, 10½ sacks) is a preseason All-American.

“It’s been a long time since we’ve played another team in a football game,” Lehigh senior linebacker Al Pierce said. “We’re looking forward to hitting someone else other than our teammates like we have been all summer.

“It’s real important to start with a win and get the season rolling. It’s going to set the tone for the rest of the year.”

Lehigh University football team opens season at Drake University
By MICHAEL LORE, The Express-Times
http://www.lehighvalleylive.com/sports/index.ssf?/base/sports-0/1283486706143460.xml&coll=3