Sept. 8, 2015

 Lafayette at Delaware
 Gameday Info	 GoLeopards.com Gameday
 Date	 Saturday, Sept. 12, 2015 at 6 p.m.
 Location	 Newark, Del. | Raymond Field at Delaware Stadium
 Tickets	 Lafayette Athletics Ticket Office
 Game Notes	 Lafayette | Delaware
 TV	 Lafayette Sports Network (RCN 4/8, 1004/608 in HD, WBPH-60)  Gary Laubach, Mike Joseph, John Leone  ESPN College Sports Extra (DirecTV 788)
 Live Streaming	ESPN3, Patriot League Network  Gary Laubach, Mike Joseph, John Leone
 Live Stats	 Delaware Live Stats
 Social Media	 Twitter & Facebook
 More Coverage	 YouTube Channel  | Lafayette News Stand

THE OPENING KICK

MATCH-UP: Lafayette travels to Newark, Del. for the first time in more than a decade to face the Blue Hens of the University of Delaware. The game is the first meeting in a three-game series that concludes in 2018.

LAST TIME OUT: Lafayette opened the season with a 34-7 loss at the hands of current Top-25 team William & Mary. It was the first time ever Lafayette had played a game on Sept. 5 in 134 seasons. The Leopards trailed 14-7 at halftime before William & Mary's offense wore down the Leopards, using a 58-yard pass and a 32-yard run to pull away.

THE SERIES: Saturday night's matchup with Delaware is the 26th meeting in the series that began in 1914 with a 41-0 Lafayette victory. The Blue Hens have claimed the last 11 outings with the most recent coming in the 2004 FCS Playoffs when the Blue Hens were the reigning national champions and handed Lafayette a 28-14 loss. The two teams met almost every year from 1949 through 1972. They did not play in 1968 and 1969 and had the rare cancellation due to the flu in 1957.

WITHOUT A SACK: Lafayette's young offensive line didn't give up a sack (10 fewer than Penn State gave up against Temple) in week one. The last time Lafayette didn't allow a sack was Oct. 25, 2014 vs. Holy Cross. In the 2014 season, a much more experienced Lafayette line allowed one sack vs. Lehigh, but two or more in every other game with a season-high seven allowed vs. Bucknell.

BB AT WLB: Sophomore Brandon Bryant made the most of his season debut at WILL linebacker. The Cherry Hill, N.J. native made a career-high 13 tackles against William and Mary, including one of the team's two sacks. He finished fifth on the team in tackles (55) and third in tackles for loss (6.5) in 2014. He was a constant on special teams and managed to block a pair of kicks.

SOPHOMORE WIDEOUTS: Sophomores Matt Mrazek and Rocco Palumbo have emerged as two of the Leopards' top receivers. Mrazek started six of the final seven games in 2014, making 26 catches for 360 yards and a pair of touchdowns. In the 2015 opening weekend, he made eight catches for 66 yards, joined by Palumbo who snared eight balls for 59 yards.

YOUNGINS': Lafayette started seven freshmen or sophomores on the offensive side of the ball in the season opener vs. William and Mary, including two freshmen and a sophomore on the offensive line. On the defensive side of things, a freshman and two sophomore made starts.

BENCSKO STRIKES: Dennis Bencsko, a versatile defender who got the start at STRIKE linebacker vs. William & Mary for an injured Chris Brockman, picked off the first pass of his career. He also finished with three tackles and pass breakup.

SEARFOSS' DAY: Blake Searfoss was the first Lafayette QB to throw for 30 or more completions since Zach Zweizig completed 31-of-47 against William and Mary on Sept. 14, 2013. Searfoss connected for 31-of-45.

HONORING KELLER: Lafayette football is dedicating the 2015 season to Brian Keller '16 who passed away on June 25 after a car accident. Keller, who was entering his senior year, played 21 games during his career, including nine during the 2013 Patriot League championship season. His final appearance in a Lafayette uniform came in Yankee Stadium on Nov. 22, 2014 when he made two catches and helped push the offense to 309 rushing yards in a 27-7 victory.
    To remember and honor their teammate, Lafayette players are wearing No. 80 helmet decals and have wristbands with "Live Like Keller" and "BK #80" emblazoned on them.

ABOUT DELAWARE:

• Delaware is coming off a 6-6 campaign in 2014 when the Blue Hens finished 4-4 in CAA play in a tie for fifth place. Delaware dropped its season opener, 20-14, against Jacksonville out of the Pioneer League.     

• The Blue Hens return seven starters on offense but just four on a defense that played seven true freshmen in the season opener.

• Joe Walker and Blake Rankin split time at QB against Jacksonville. Rankin, a junior, is a Rutgers' transfer from Bloomsburg, Pa. while Walker is a redshirt freshman from Philadelphia. For the first time since 1989, Delaware had no QB with previous collegiate game experience entering the season. Walker and Rankin are vying to take over for three-year starter Trent Hurley who was lost to graduation.

• Junior TB Wes Hills led the Blue Hens' rushing attack in 2014, carrying 172 times for 952 yards for six touchdowns. Against Jacksonville, Hills carried 16 times for 88 yards. He also serves as the team's kick returner. Junior Jalen Randolph had two touchdowns, one rushing and one receiving, giving the Blue Hens' multiple backfield options.

• Delaware is coached by Dave Brock (Salisbury State '94) in his third season. Previously, Brock coached at Rutgers, Boston College, Kansas State, North Carolina, Temple, Hofstra, Salisbury State and Western Connecticut State.