By Kurt Bresswein | For lehighvalleylive.com

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The Lafayette College Leopards host the Lehigh University Mountainhawks on Nov. 19, 2016, at Fisher Stadium in Easton. The 2017 and 153rd edition of the football rivalry is set for Nov. 18, 2017, at Goodman Stadium in Bethlehem.

Tim Wynkoop | Lehighvalleylive.com File Photo

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The 153rd meeting of Lehigh-Lafayette is Saturday at Lehigh University's Goodman Stadium in Bethlehem.

Ahead of this most-played college football rivalry in the nation, which dates to 1884, students are taking no prisoners in social media posts belittling their counterparts one Lehigh Valley city away.

Lafayette owns the most wins -- 78-69-5 — while the Lehigh Mountainhawks won the last two and seven of the last nine, taking the 2016 tilt 45-21.

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Lehigh fans root on their team versus Lafayette on Nov. 19, 2016, at Fisher Stadium in Easton.

Tim Wynkoop | Lehighvalleylive.com File Photo

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Here's a smackeral of the smack-talk ahead of the 2017 edition.

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Contest within a game

Lehigh is offering up a "Go Lehigh, Beat Lafayette" scarf to the best rivalry banner takedown of their competition from Easton, as posted to @LehighU on Instagram tagged #rivalry153.

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Lafayette cheerleaders take part in the 152nd game against rival Lehigh in November 2016 at Fisher Stadium in Easton.

Tim Wynkoop | Lehighvalleylive.com file photo

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Leopards not lying down

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Lafayette Leopards fans are not taking anything lying down, and that includes President Alison Byerly.

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Feel like its going to be a great #RivalryWeek pic.twitter.com/xDrJTmiCM5 — Alison Byerly (@alisonbyerly) November 14, 2017

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This box of garbage arrived and my son started crying. Coincidence? I think not. #rivalry153 #BeatLehigh

This box of garbage arrived and my son started crying. Coincidence? I think not. #rivalry153 #BeatLehigh pic.twitter.com/4QwcZ5mdpM — Sara D (@641Parsons) November 10, 2017

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Community pride, far and wide

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Both schools are looking to involve their communities, both in and outside the Lehigh Valley, in the fun.

Lafayette, for example, smashed a car standing in for Lehigh for charity.

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Lehigh, meanwhile, shared a list of telecast parties around the United States for alumni unable to make it to the game.

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Can't make it to Goodman Stadium for #Rivalry153? Attend a Lehigh-Laf Telecast Party near you: http://bit.ly/2ykR0iY

Can't make it to Goodman Stadium for #Rivalry153? Attend a Lehigh-Laf Telecast Party near you: https://t.co/cRQ0KBwW67 pic.twitter.com/NMzTcCbykW — Lehigh University Alumni (@LehighAlumni) November 3, 2017

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Lafayette has a list of telecast parties planned far and wide, as well.

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Who has the edge?

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So far this week, the edge in the edginess appears to go to Lehigh. Students there, after all, invoked the controversial arrest of Philadelphia rapper Meek Mill in one of their rivalry-stoking efforts:

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You know it's Lehigh-Laf week when the banners start going up. #Rivalry153 pic.twitter.com/uceWIvcO6J — LehighinTown (@LehighinTown) November 14, 2017

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Public outcry over Mill's arrest for "popping wheelies on a dirt bike and another for getting into a fight," as described by CNN, went as high as the Pennsylvania Board of Pardons, prompting this statement Tuesday from Chairman and Lt. Gov. Mike Stack:

"This week, the Board of Pardons staff received numerous phone calls about the petition seeking action regarding Meek Mill. As chairman of the board, it would be inappropriate for me to pre-consider or comment on any case that could potentially come before the board."

Lehigh also pinned the death of a "Game of Thrones" character on Lafayette:

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Lafayette killed Jon Snow #Rivalry153 — RyBob (@R_ThomasB) November 14, 2017

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Lehigh fans even seized on an iPhone glitch that's been replacing "I" with ... something else.

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This is relevant. Photo by Joanne. pic.twitter.com/RyfrQbp15x — LehighValleywithLove (@LVwithLove) November 14, 2017

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Game previews

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Check out each school's game preview as follows:

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Here's a preview for #Rivalry153 against Lehigh...much more coverage coming later...http://gopards.co/Rivalry153 Posted by Lafayette College Football on Tuesday, November 14, 2017

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#Rivalry153 - The game preview: Lehigh University Football hosts Lafayette Saturday and can clinch the Patriot League... Posted by Lehigh Athletics on Tuesday, November 14, 2017

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Lehigh's Nick Shafnisky hoists the 2016 trophy at Fisher Stadium in Easton.

Tim Wynkoop | Lehighvalleylive.com File Photo

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How to tune in

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Kickoff is 12:30 p.m. Saturday.

It'll be carried on WFMZ-TV69, the Patriot League Network and ESPN Radio (AM 1320, 1230 and 1160).

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Kurt Bresswein may be reached at kbresswein@lehighvalleylive.com. Follow him on Twitter @KurtBresswein. Find lehighvalleylive.com on Facebook.