The Brown & White

The Mountain Hawks' offense relies heavily on its passing game. By leading the team in receiving yards and receiving touchdowns, senior wide receivers Sekou Yansane and Mike Fitzgerald have been the core of the offense this season.

Game after game, Yansane and Fitzgerald put on a performance of speed, skill and agility.

Each is a very different player and person on and off the field. Both are charismatic and are admired for their individual qualities and displays of leadership, teamwork and dedication to the team.

Despite constantly practicing, training and working together to improve their skills, the two have very different football backgrounds.

Yansane grew up playing sports other than football.

"When I was younger I was all about soccer and basketball," Yansane said. "I was always intrigued with football, but I didn't really know how to play the game. Different video games like Madden, NFL 2k's, and NCAA helped me get accustomed to the rules of the game. I started watching football more and more, and I began playing pick-up games at a nearby field."

Yansane said he quickly picked up a love for the game. He began his competitive career playing football for Winston Churchill High School in his hometown of Potomac, Md.

"Freshman year of high school was my first year playing organized football, and I still had no idea what I was doing," Yansane said. "After trying different positions for my first two years of playing, my junior year I found wide receiver most suiting,"

With his hard work ethic and competitive drive, Yansane trained and practiced rigorously, determined to improve and excel in the sport.

"I couldn't catch, at all, which is a problem if you want to be a wide receiver," Yansane said. "But I enjoyed the game too much to give up, so it became something I worked hard at. Senior year we had a great season and I was able to do well personally."

Continuing to display his love for competition and strong work ethic on and off the field, Yansane said he will always have the drive inside him to play at his best potential.

"Football is exciting but still relatively new to me," Yansane said. "I enjoy learning more and more about the game and especially about wide receiver."

Yansane said he is very grateful for all the help and guidance he has received over the four years under the coaching staff here at Lehigh.

"Having Coach Scheier as my position coach for four years has been a tremendous asset. I've not only learned how to play the position but I've also gotten a better understand of the game," Yansane said. "Having a high football IQ is very advantageous and that is something he has helped me try to reach."

Lehigh's other star wide receiver, senior Mike Fitzgerald, also played football for his home team, Warren Hills Regional High School in Hackensack, N.J.

"My Gym teacher in middle school convinced me to come out for the team in eight grade and I've loved it ever since," Fitzgerald said. "I was a captain my senior year, and I played the same position, wide receiver. I also played cornerback, kicker, punter, kick returner and punt returner."

Fitzgerald said despite his experience with multiple positions in high school, he needed to bulk up to improve his game for the college competition.

"I needed to put on some size when I first got here to improve my blocking," Fitzgerald said. "I was able to get stronger and bigger in the off-seasons and it has helped me become more of a complete player."

With his strong stature and speed on the field, Fitzgerald said he uses his speed to beat the competition.

"I feel most comfortable when I am in one-on-one situations and try to use my quickness to beat my opponent," Fitzgerald said.

Senior defensive lineman Brian Jackson said the team looks to these two players as key fixtures in the Hawks offense.

"They're both our go-to guys," Jackson said. "Sekou is known to make big plays downfield and Fitz is more of the inside guy who can get yards after the catch."

Jackson said he has nothing but praise for how many contributions both players make to the team.

"When our offense or team is playing kind of slow, we can count on Fitz and Kou to deliver a spark," Jackson said. "Whether it be making the catch or blocking for someone downfield. That's why they're both good teammates, [they're] totally unselfish, but when number two or number nine is called, a big play is bound to be made."

Though both strong wide receivers deliver unmatchable performance and effort for the team, Yansane and Fitzgerald have their own personalities come game time, Jackson said.

"Sekou will yell from time to time to motivate us like he's a coach, but he'll also talk to you if you make a mistake, just to get your mind right," he said. "Fitz on the other hand shows his leadership on the field. You can't help but get hyped when he makes a play."

"As seniors, they have definitely shown the will to win and been part of the foundation of this team," Jackson said. "I couldn't imagine playing beside anyone else and seeing them develops since freshman year has been an amazing to watch."

Yansane and Fitzgerald will lead the Hawks' offense as the team takes on Lafayette College Saturday. Kick-off is at 1 p.m. in Easton, Pa.