Hammond Grad Enjoying Lehigh's Football Playoff Success

There were a lot of unhappy faces around Maryland on Saturday as the Towson University football team saw its magical season come to an end with a 40-38 loss to Lehigh University in the Football Championship Series playoffs.

But for the family of one Hammond High School graduate, the win by Lehigh at Towson's Johnny Unitas Stadium was a sweet moment.

Kenyatta Drake, a senior defensive back for Lehigh, played at Hammond before heading to Lehigh of the Patriot League. He is majoring in architecture.

“I chose to attend Lehigh University because of the multitude of courses and majors Lehigh has to offer; it is a great academic establishment and has a very unique, prestigious reputation," Drake said in a statement on the Lehigh athletic website. "Also, Lehigh is a high educational facility that is as big on sports, particularly football, as I am."

Drake, listed at 6-foot, 180 pounds, had two solo tackles and three assists in the win over Towson. His five total tackles was third on the team, behind Colin Newton (12) and Mike Groome (11).

The game was tied at 38 late in the game when junior defensive lineman Tom Bianchi of Lehigh tackled Towson quarterback Grant Enders in the end zone for a safety to give his team a 40-38 lead.

"It was a perfectly called play," Bianchi said. "Coach made a great call. I was not sure it was a safety."

Lehigh then ran out the clock when it got the ball after the Towson free kick.

Lehigh will play Saturday at North Dakota State in the next round of the playoffs.

The Lehigh roster also includes junior offensive lineman Thomas Ruley, who played at Parkville High in Baltimore County, just a few miles from Towson. Jake Peery, a graduate of  Baltimore's Archbishop Curley High School, handles the kickoffs for Lehigh. He averaged 42.1 yards on seven kicks against Towson.