Contrary to popular belief, New York football isn’t dead.
The Jets and the Giants seasons may appear over before November, but Fordham is just getting started.
The undefeated Rams’ best season in 25 years continued Saturday afternoon with a 52-34 thumping of Patriot League rival Lehigh (4-1) in front of a second straight sellout crowd at Jack Coffey Field in The Bronx.
“I’ve been on Fordham road a few times,” wide receiver Sam Ajala said. “I hear ‘Fordham this, Fordham that’. People are taking notice.”
And why not? Fordham is 6-0 for the first time since 1988, when the Mets actually were relevant, Ronald Reagan was in the White House and the Internet was years away from being launched.
The Rams’ high-powered, quick-strike attack gave the capacity crowd an offensive display in the impressive win , a contest between nationally ranked Division I-AA programs. It was a clinic led by quarterback Michael Nebrich, a junior transfer from Connecticut who missed most of last year with a torn ACL.
“The history of the school, best team in 25 years, it’s cool to be a part of it, but we’re trying to create our own legacy here,” said Nebrich, who was again brilliant — a season-long trend — connecting on 26 of 36 passes for 384 yards and four touchdowns while also running for 67 yards and a score. “We don’t focus too much on the past. That’s not who we are.”
The Rams piled up 630 yards of total offense, ran 82 plays for an average of 7.7 yards, didn’t commit a turnover, converted 11 of 16 third downs and even made good on a fourth down. Nebrich, a dangerous dual threat, has transformed the offense, from solid to potent, taking it “through the roof” Ajala said. Lehigh head coach Andy Coen said he’s the best quarterback he’s seen this year and one of the best the coach has seen in eight seasons at Lehigh.
“I’m not surprised,” Fordham head coach Joe Moorehead said. “If you look back at Michael’s track record, I believe he broke [Virginia’s high school record for total yards in a season]. He’s an excellent fit for what we want to get done in our system.”
Lehigh’s explosive offense enabled the Mountain Hawks (4-1) to hang around for three quarters, but ultimately it had no answer for Fordham’s high-octane and efficient attack, particularly the duo of Nebrich and wide receiver Sam Ajala. Three times, they connected on long touchdown passes — of 25, 40 and 62 yards.
“The safety wasn’t back far enough so I kept going by him,” Ajala said. “Nebrich was throwing great balls today.”
When Lehigh protected against Ajala (seven catches, 166 yards) going deep or loaded up the box to contain Walter Payton Award canddiate Carlton Koonce, Nebrich went to trusted safety valve Brian Wetzel, the small yet elusive junior wide receiver who hauled in 11 catches for 133 yards.
Six games into his season, Nebrich has 20 touchdowns and 2.453 total yards — video game numbers. He hasn’t stopped to think about how far he has come yet.
“I’ll sit back in December — actually after January when we win the national championship,” the junior said. “There’s no time to sit back now.”