Oct. 3, 2009

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WEST HAVEN, Conn. -- Lafayette turned a three-point halftime lead into a 31-14 win over Yale on Saturday at the Yale Bowl. Senior QB Rob Curley threw for 241 yards and two touchdowns, both to Mark Layton, and Maurice White pounded out 131 yards and a touchdown on the ground as Lafayette wore down the Bulldogs.

The victory, the first ever in eight tries for Lafayette (3-1) vs. Yale (1-2), had an inauspicious start, as the Leopards fumbled the opening kickoff, setting up a Yale score. Yale picked up a pair of first downs on the drive, but faced a 4th-and goal situation at the Lafayette three-yard line. Yale QB Pat Witt, a Nebraska transfer, hit Peter Balsam for the score and the 7-0 lead.

Lafayette cut into Yale's only lead of the game with 10:13 left in the half. The Leopards drove 83 yards on 18 plays over seven minutes before adding a 31-yard field goal by Davis Rodriguez.

The Leopards had a chance for another score late in the first half, getting the ball back with two and a half minutes to go. Curley to Layton strikes of 15, 46 and 17 yards quickly moved the ball down the field, the final connection resulting in the Leopards' first touchdown and a 10-7 halftime lead. Layton finished with seven catches for 116 yards.

Curley looked sharp on the afternoon, completing 20-of-28 passes a week after suffering a mild concussion vs. Penn that left his status vs. the Bulldogs as "questionable" coming into Saturday. He was fitted with a special helmet intended to reduce head injuries, and underwent testing earlier in the week before take the bulk of the snaps in practice.

The Maroon and White controlled the second half. Yale received the kickoff and garnered two first downs before the Leopards defense took over. The Leopards, who held Yale to 272 total yards and just 58 on the ground, stopped Yale on 4th-and-1 at the Lafayette 36-yard line. Doug Gerowski was credited with the tackle of Witt on the QB sneak.

Witt, who was later pulled in favor of Brook Hart (13-for-17 for 154 yards), finished 7-of-13 for 60 yards and a TD. The duo was sacked six times, two apiece coming from Ian Dell and Andrew Poulson and one each by Nick Oliver and Gerowski. The most sacks Lafayette recorded in 2008 was four.

The Leopard offense produce a balanced drive on the subsequent possession, using four passes and four rushes to up the lead to 17-7. Greg Stripe scored on a six-yard run around the right end.

As the third quarter wound down, Lafayette was again threatening, but this time to put the game away. A 17-yard pass from Curley to Michael Bolton and five rushes by White put the Leopards 3rd-and-goal at the Yale four-yard line. Curley hit Layton for a TD strike to cap a seven-play, 52-yard drive just three second into the fourth quarter.

Trailing 24-7, Yale got the ball back with 7:46 to play in the game. The Bulldogs covered 90 yards and the final play of the 11-play drive, a Hart pass to Jordan Forney from 25 yards out, cut the Lafayette lead to 24-14.

After collecting an on-sides kick, Lafayette squelched any Yale thoughts of a comeback by quickly scoring again. The Leopards started at the Yale 40 and White runs of 21, 13 and finally six yards put the final at 31-14.

Lafayette continues its four-game Ivy League swing, hosting Columbia at Fisher Stadium on Oct. 10.