BETHLEHEM, Pa. – The Mountain Hawks went on to beat Lafayette 38-14 on Saturday at a sold-out Goodman Stadium in the 160th edition of college football's most-played rivalry.
Following the victory, a sea of students and fans stormed the field and tore down a goalpost (see photos below), carrying it nearly 5 miles over the mountain and into South Side Bethlehem eventually tossing it from the Philip J. Fahy Memorial Bridge into the Lehigh River below.
Toppling down the goalposts at the end of the game was a yearly tradition. This was the first time since 1989 that the students took it down. They took a portion of the metal crossbar and base, carried it over South Mountain and tossed it over the Fahy bridge into the Lehigh River below.
Wooden goalposts, once more prevalent and easier to topple, were eventually replaced with metal ones to avoid injuries.
After carrying the metal crossbar and base over South Mountain it was tossed in the river below.
The goalpost being tossed from Fahy Bridge into Lehigh River below
Photo Courtesy John Bedics
The goalpost being carried off the field by Lehigh University fans
Video courtesy Steve Topp
Southside traffic was gridlocked and filled with numerous police vehicles as this took place, according to photographer, John Bedics
A sea of students and fans toppling down the goalpost and carried it over South Mountain.
Photo courtesy John Bedics
Lehigh University Football team - Photo courtesy Lehigh Sports
Photo Gallery of goalpost being taken down and carried by Lehigh fans
Photos courtesy Steve Topp
The victory Saturday clinched Lehigh's league-leading 13th Patriot League football championship with the Mountain Hawks earning the league's automatic bid to the FCS playoffs for the first time since 2017.
Congratulations goes out to Lehigh University on their win today.