Oct. 17, 2005

EASTON, Pa. (www.lafayette.edu) - Maurice Bennett, the reigning Patriot League Defensive Player of the Week, has been named as one of four I-AA All-Stars by I-AA.org for his performance against Harvard on Saturday.

Eastern Washington quarterback Erik Meyer, Appalachian State running back Kevin Richardson and Samford free safety/kick returner Courtland Finnegan were also honored.

Bennett (Philadelphia, Pa./George Washington) set career-highs with 19 tackles and three sacks in Lafayette's 24-17 loss to the Crimson. He had eight solo and 11 assisted stops, broke up a pass and was credited with a quarterback hurry, and his three sacks went for a combined loss of 17 yards. Bennett also teamed with Blake Costanzo for a pair of tackles as the Leopards held Harvard out of the end zone on four plays from inside the three-yard line early in the second quarter.

The senior linebacker and co-captain is fifth in the nation with 12.0 tackles per game, and has had 10 or more tackles in 22 of his 31 career starts. Bennett is the anchor of a unit that ranks in the top 10 in I-AA football in four categories. Lafayette is fifth in scoring defense (13.14 ppg), pass defense (132.43 ypg) and pass efficiency defense (91.51 rating), and eighth in total defense (251.57 ypg).

Bennett is also a semi-finalist for the Draddy Trophy, widely known as the "Academic Heisman", which is awarded to a student-athlete for his combined academic success, football performance and exemplary community leadership.

Lafayette, which is idle this week, is 5-2 overall and sits atop the Patriot League standings with a 2-0 record. The Leopards will close the regular season with four league contests as they defend their 2004 Patriot League title.