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PRINCETON, N.J. Lafayette QB Drew Reed threw for 356 yards and three touchdowns, but Princeton's high-powered offense scored 28 points in the second and third quarters for a 35-31 win over the Leopards on Saturday night at Princeton Stadium.

It was the fourth 300-yard passing game of his Reed's career, as he completed 28-of-36 (78 percent) for three touchdowns and two interceptions. Reed threw five passes to Rocco Palumbo for 101 yards while Matt Mrazek caught five balls for 81 yards and two scores. Reed spread the ball to six receivers with Dylan Wadsworth finishing with a team-high six catches.

On the first possession of the game, it looked like the Lafayette defense stopped Princeton in its own half, but a personal foul penalty after the third-down play extended the Tigers' drive. Princeton took advantage, capping a nine-play drive before Joe Rhattigan scored from 23 yards out at 12:04.

The Leopards' offense answered. Reed's 41-yard pass to Mrazek put the Leopards to the Princeton four-yard line. Two rushes later, fullback Kyle Mayfield scored Lafayette's first rushing TD of the season and the first of his career to knot the game at 7-7. Mayfield's run capped a seven-play, 79-yard scoring drive just over six minutes into the game.

Lafayette longest drive (in terms of plays) of the year gave the Leopards the 14-7 lead just before the end of the first quarter. Mrazek snatched a ball from behind the Princeton defender to finish off a 14-play drive over 81 yards while running nearly eight minutes off the clock.

The Princeton (1-0) defense made the difference midway through the second quarter. Ty Desire hit Reed as he delivered the ball and the resulting errant pass was picked off by Dorian Williams and returned 22 yards to the Lafayette eight-yard line. Princeton scored two plays later on a two-yard run by John Lovett to knot the game at 14 apiece.

The Lafayette defense made its presence known, as Brandon Bryant sacked Princeton QB Chad Kanoff (15-of-29 for 160 yards) back to the Princeton two-yard line for a loss of 15 yards. After the punt, Lafayette took over Princeton 40-yard line. A 35-yard pass and spectacular grab by Palumbo across the middle set up a Leopard score. On third down, Reed eluded pressure and hit Nick Franzese for his first career touchdown reception along the back of the endzone for the 21-14 lead at 2:07.

The two minutes were enough for Princeton to tie the game just before the half. Lovett ended an 11-play drive with a one-yard run and a 21-21 score.

Lafayette maintained its lead on the first drive of the second half. A 19-yard run by Mayfield and a 26-yard pass from Reed to Palumbo led to a 36-yard Jacob Bissell field goal. The Leopards led 24-21.

Princeton took its first lead of the game on a 10-play, 67-yard drive. Rhattigan scored on a one-yard TD run with 4:48 left in the quarter.

The teams traded turnovers, with Mrazek having the ball knocked loose on a catch across the middle before Draeland James returned the favor with his second interception of the season. Princeton got the best of the turnover of the sequence when Markus Phox picked off a Reed offering as the QB faced intense pressure.

The Tigers capitalized, scoring on a 17-yard Rhattigan run after he bounced off two would-be tacklers. Princeton led 35-24 at the end of the third quarter. Rhattigan finished with 22 carries for 136 yards and three touchdowns.

Lafayette made it a one-possession game with 5:27 left. Reed found Mrazek for a 24-yard touchdown and Bissell's PAT cut the lead to 35-31.

Princeton salted away the game using eight straight runs, but it was a 10-yard pass from Kanoff to Lovett to pick up a final first down near midfield that ended the game.

Michael Root (12), Jerry Powe (11) and Bryant (10) all registered double figures in the tackle department for the defense which registered three sacks on the night.

Lafayette (1-2) next hosts Villanova on Sept. 24 at 6 p.m.