Oct. 7, 2014
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THE OPENING KICK
MATCH-UP: Lafayette (2-3, 0-1) hosts Georgetown (2-4, 0-1) in Patriot League action on Saturday. The contest in the Leopards' first day game of the season. Kickoff is set for 3:30 p.m. on a Fall Break weekend.
Georgetown comes to Easton fresh off a 34-3 home loss to perennial Ivy League power, Harvard, and a 19-0 loss at Colgate in the Patriot League opener on Sept. 27.
LAST TIME OUT: 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. The Leopards played on a Friday for the first time since Oct. 14, 1977.
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).
NO PUSH OVER: In recent seasons, Georgetown has given Lafayette more than it could handle, winning three of the last four meetings with the Leopards by a combined eight points.
WHEN LAST THEY MET: Lafayette registered a 45-27 win at Georgetown on Nov. 2, 2013. Drew Reed completed 18-of-24 for 275 yards and four touchdowns. Defensively, Lafayette forced three turnovers that led to 21 points as the Leopards improved to 3-0 in conference action and took over sole possession of first place in the Patriot League standings.
MOVING UP THE LIST: With 160 rushing yards at William & Mary, senior TB Ross Scheuerman moved into fifth place for career rushing yards. Scheuerman has 2,876 career yards and recently passed Ryan Priest '87 (2,597 yards). Scheuerman needs 61 yards to eclipse Tom Costello '91 (2,936) and could advance as high as third all-time with a healthy senior season. Scheuerman has led the team in rushing the past three seasons and carried for 1,113 yards and 14 touchdowns in 2013 as the first player since 2006 to rush for 1,000 yards.
BRYANT AT LB: Freshman Brandon Bryant has been a contributor since the beginning of training camp. The Cherry Hill, N.J. native has been a constant on special teams and has seen increased playing time at linebacker, especially with the injury to senior linebacker Colton Kirkpatrick. Bryant, who is fifth on the team in tackles, is likely to start at weakside linebacker.
NEXT MAN IN: Because of a host of injuries, Lafayette head coach Frank Tavani has already used eight kick returners through five games this season after using seven returners all of last season. In 2013, Matt Smalley and Ross Scheuerman had 19 returns apiece. Scheuerman has been using sparingly in the role this season and Smalley has been slowed by an ankle injury. Against Fordham, Mike Duncan had six returns (21.3 ave), the first six of his career.
ABOUT GEORGETOWN
• The Hoyas enter the game at 2-4, coming off a 34-3 home loss against Harvard in the first meeting between the two schools. Georgetown failed to score on several possessions deep in Crimson territory.
• The Hoyas return seven starters on each side of the ball after posting a 2-9 record last season.
• Junior QB Kyle Nolan is 109-of-209 for 1,038 yards with three TDs and two INTs. Junior WR Jake DeCicco has reeled in 27 passes with a TD while sophomore Justin Hill has recorded 22 catches for 215 yards and a score.
• Junior TB Jo'el Kimpela leads the rushing attack, carrying 78 times for 306 yards. Senior RB/WR Daniel Wright has 32 carries for 161 yards and two touchdowns.
• Senior LB Nick Alfieri, who leads the team with 62 tackles, is currently fourth all-time at Georgetown in tackles, totaling 279 stops throughout his career. Senior DE Alec May has been a force on the line, registering 52 tackles, including 12 for a loss with 9.5 sacks.
• Rob Sgarlata (Georgetown '94) takes over as the Hoyas head coach after 18 years as an assistant. He is the fourth head coach in school history to have graduated from and gone on to coach Georgetown. As the defensive coordinator, he developed four All-Americans.
