Oct. 17, 2005
EASTON, Pa. (www.lafayette.edu) - Lafayette senior linebacker Maurice Bennett (Philadelphia, Pa./George Washington) has been recognized as the Patriot League Defensive Player of the Week after setting career-highs with 19 tackles and three sacks in last weekend's 24-17 loss to Harvard.
A member of the 16-player watch list for the Buchanan Award, which goes to the top defensive player in I-AA football, Bennett has 84 tackles this season to rank fifth in the nation with 12.0 tackles per game. He was named a second-team Preseason All-American by The Sports Network, and was a first-team All-Patriot League selection a year ago after tying for the league lead with 119 tackles. Bennett has 22 career games with 10 or more tackles while making 31 starts.
Bennett leads a defense that ranks in the top 10 in I-AA football in four categories in games played through Oct. 15, 2005. The Leopards enter their bye week with a 5-2 record, and are 2-0 in Patriot League play as they prepare for a stretch of four league games to close the regular season.
The Leopards are ranked fifth in scoring defense (13.14 ppg), pass defense (132.43 ypg) and pass efficiency defense (91.51 rating). They are eighth in total defense, allowing 251.57 yards per game.
Lafayette has been especially tough in the second half, allowing a total of 13 points after halftime in its last six games. The defense has held four of its seven opponents to 10 points or less this season, including a 7-0 shutout of Atlantic 10 foe Richmond on Sept. 10.
Two members of the secondary, Larry Johnson and Tye Murphy, are in the top 25 in the country in passes defensed. Murphy has 10 break-ups for an average of 1.43 per game, which places him 12th. Johnson is 21st with an average of 12.9 per game, accounting for eight break-ups and an interception.
While Lafayette allowed 24 points in last weekend's loss to Harvard, all three of the Crimson's touchdown drives started inside the 50-yard line.
The Leopards gave up 24 points defensively for the first time since Harvard posted a 38-23 victory last season, a stretch of 13 games. Delaware had a fumble return for a touchdown in Lafayette's 28-14 loss in the I-AA playoffs last year.
Lafayette will host Bucknell on Oct. 29 and Colgate on Nov. 5 to close its seven-game home schedule at Fisher Field. A trip to Patriot League co-leader Holy Cross on Nov. 12 will set the stage for the 141st meeting between Lafayette and Lehigh, on Nov. 19 at Goodman Stadium in Bethlehem.
