Oct. 24, 2009

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EASTON, Pa. - Lafayette staved off a last-second drive by Fordham's high-powered passing attack and registered a 26-21 win on Saturday at Fisher Stadium on Homecoming Weekend. The Leopards improve to 6-1 for the second straight season.

The Leopards' passing scheme had its own say in the final outcome. The effort was highlighted by a career-high 305 yards and two touchdowns from senior QB Rob Curley (23-31-1). Curley hit Mitchell Bennett and Mark Layton for a combined 11 catches and 199 yards and spread the ball around to seven receivers. Perhaps most important for Lafayette was the domination in time of possession, as Lafayette held the ball for 37 minutes and limited Fordham QB John Skelton's opportunities.

The Rams' offense came into the contest averaging 484 total yards per game and 323 in the air, but was held to 333 total yards and 245 via the passing game. Fordham (3-4, 0-2) was the first to find its stride on the third possession of the first quarter, but a 43-yard field goal attempt was blocked by Andrew Poulson.

The Leopards (6-1, 2-0) failed to capitalize on the ensuing possession, as Curley was intercepted by Bryson Wilson, placing Fordham on Lafayette's 10-yard line. The Rams took advantage of their best field position of the game when Skelton (29-45-1) found Darryl Robinson for a four-yard touchdown strike and a 7-0 lead.

After the kickoff and a penalty for an illegal block, Lafayette took the ball on its own 10-yard line. Tyrell Coon tore off a 36-yard run, and a holding penalty against the Rams set Lafayette up 1st-and-10 at the Fordham 21. On 3rd-and-14, Layton reeled in a perfect pass from Curley to the corner of the endzone to knot the game at seven with 14:24 to play in the opening half.

With 10:35 on the clock, the Rams got the ball back in Lafayette territory (29-yard line) after a short punt. Fordham picked up 15 yards on first down on a Jason Caldwell rush, but the drive was quickly halted by Eric McGovern who came up with his second interception of the season.

The Leopards were forced to punt following the interception, but Fordham handed the ball right back with a roughing the kicker penalty on Tom Kondash that put Lafayette 1st-and-10 at the 49. Curley connected with Layton for a 41-yard strike that set Lafayette up at the eight. The Leopards settled for a 23-yard Davis Rodriguez field goal and led 10-7 after burning 5:42 off the clock.

The Leopards' final possession of the half yielded another Rodriguez field goal, this time a 42-yard conversion that gave Lafayette a 13-7 halftime advantage.

Lafayette came out of the locker room and promptly marched 90 yards down the field. Maurice White capped off the 12-play drive with a six-yard pass from Curley, giving Lafayette a 20-7 lead. White carried the ball five times for 24 yards on the drive. He finished with 24 carries for 107 yards, his second 100-yard plus rushing game of the season.

With four minutes left in the third quarter, Fordham trimmed the lead to single digits (20-14) on a 13-yard run from Asa Lucas that capped off a nine-play drive.

It remained a one-touchdown game into the fourth quarter. Lafayette opened its first fourth-quarter possession on its own 20-yard line. Lafayette converted a 3rd-and-17 with Curley's crisp pass to Layton for an 18-yard gainer. Five plays later, Bennett made an over-the-shoulder catch to push into Fordham territory.

On the next play, the Rams tacklers could not take down White, who smashed his way to the four-yard line. The Leopards went right back to White, who found his way into the endzone for a 26-14 Lafayette advantage after a failed two-point conversion.

With 3:47 left in the game, the Rams recovered a Leopard fumble on Lafayette's 25-yard line. Skelton's fifth pass attempt of the drive to Caldwell resulted in a five-yard touchdown reception and cut the Leopards' lead to 26-21.

Fordham's on-sides kick attempt was recovered by the Leopards at their own 29. Lafayette moved the ball to the Fordham 34 thanks in large part to a personal foul against Fordham and carries of 14 and 7 yards by White.

The Leopards turned it over on downs with 26 seconds remaining on the clock. Skelton hit Lucas for a 22-yard completion and moved the ball to the Lafayette 44. With the Leopards defensive backfield standing in front of the goal line, Fordham threw its final pass underneath and Darryl Whiting ran for 29 yards before being tackled by Carlos Lowe at the Lafayette 10, ending the game.

Michael Schmidlein and Mark Leggiero made 11 tackles apiece to pace the Leopards. Schmidlein left the game in the second half with a shoulder injury.

Lafayette continues Patriot League play next Saturday when the Leopards host Bucknell (3-4, 1-1) at 1 p.m.