1st 2nd 3rd 4th Final  Fordham 7 24 3 8 42  Lafayette 3 7 8 0 18
5-1, 2-0	Final Stats |  Photo Gallery   	2-3, 0-1

 

 Final Stats FOR LC  First Downs 29 15  Rushing Yards 237 68  Passing Yards 287 190  Total Yards 524 258  Total Plays 74 65  Fumbles-Lost 0-0 1-0  Penalties-Yards 11-124 12-90  Interceptions-Yards 1-20 0-0  3rd Down Conversions 1-8 5-16  4th Down Conversions 0-0 3-4  Sacks By-Yards 5-26 4-25  PAT Kicks 4-4 1-1  Field Goals 2-2 1-1  Time of Possession 31:27 28:33    Stat Leaders  Passing C-Att Yds TD Int  FOR - Nebrich 23-32 287 3 0  LC - Searfoss 18-32 190 2 1  Rushing Car Yds TD Long  FOR - Edmonds 25 187 2 44  LC - Scheuerman 14 39 0 11  Receiving Rec Yds TD Long  FOR - Jones 7 85 1 24  LC - Scheuerman 6 56 0 27

BRONX, N.Y. - No. 16/19 Fordham erupted for 24 points in the second quarter en route to a 31-10 halftime lead and a 42-18 final in the Lafayette's Patriot League opener.

Fordham QB Mike Nebrich (23-32-0 for 287) threw for all three of his touchdowns in the first half, a nine-yarder to Sam Ajala, a 24-yard strike to Tebucky Jones Jr. and a 58-yard toss to Brian Wetzel. The Leopards were without starting signal caller Drew Reed who missed the game with a shoulder injury. He was replaced by fellow sophomore Blake Searfoss (18-32-1 for 190 yards, 2 TD).

Junior placekicker Ryan Gralish, who was seeing his first action of the season, gave the Leopards an early lead, converting a 37-yard field goal with 2:05 left in the first quarter. The three points finished off a 15-play, 54-yard drive.

Eighty seconds later, the Rams took the lead for good behind freshman tailback Chase Edmonds. Edmonds broke away for a 44-yard TD run after escaping a tackler at the line of scrimmage. The drive was aided by an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty near the Fordham sideline after Lafayette celebrated a pass breakup.

The Leopards were whistled for nine penalties for 70 yards in the first half. No penalty was bigger in terms of momentum than an offensive pass interference penalty that negated a 75-yard reception by Ross Scheuerman at the beginning of the second quarter. The Leopards had the ball down to the Fordham three after Scheuerman's catch and punishing run, but the penalty forced a punt.

On the ensuing possession, Michael Marando hit a 36-yard field goal before Nebrich's three TD tosses, the final of which came at 1:59 as Fordham led 31-3.

The Leopards added a score just before the half. Searfoss hit Mike Duncan to cut the halftime deficit to 31-10. Duncan was a standout performer for the Leopards on special teams, running back six kicks for 128 yards (21.3 yards per return) with a long of 39 yards.

In the third quarter, Marando connected for a 22-yard field goal at 6:55, but Lafayette answered on its next drive. At the Fordham 14-yard line, Lafayette faked the handoff and Searfoss zipped the ball to Brian Keller for the touchdown. Searfoss found Duncan for the two-point conversion and Lafayette trailed by two scores, 34-18, with 1:24 left in the third quarter.

The Rams (5-1, 2-0) put away the game with 7:17 left in the fourth quarter as Edmonds (25 carries for 187 yards) ran it in from eight yards out. Fordham added the two-point conversion on a running back pass to put the final at 42-18.

Lafayette (2-3, 0-1) returns to action Oct. 11, hosting Georgetown at 3:30 p.m.

NOTES: Lafayette's two-point conversion was the first on a pass since Oct. 22, 2011 (Mark Ross from Andrew Shoop).

Lafayette is no 17-12 all-time in Patriot League openers, having won eight of their last 11.