WEST POINT, N.Y. – Army stretched an 11-point halftime lead to a 31-13 final over the Leopards on Saturday at Michie Stadium. It was the Lafayette's first game against an FBS team since 2016 when Lafayette last played in West Point.
 
In honor of Veterans Day, the Leopards' players wore decals on their helmets with L's featuring photos of family and friends who have served in the military. Sophomore kicker Jeffrey Kordenbrock honored his father Jeff, a captain and helicopter pilot in the Army. Kordenbrock finished the day with field goals of 42 and 43 yards.
 
Sophomore quarterback Sean O'Malley finished the day 9-of-16 for 76 yards, including a three-yard TD to senior Will Eisler in the fourth quarter.  
 
The Leopards' defense, which featured a five-man front against the second-leading rushing attack in the FBS, was led by a career-high eight tackles from senior defensive end Andrew Chuma. Sophomore linebacker Major Jordan and freshman defensive lineman Malik Hamm had seven tackles apiece.
 
The defense was solid coming out locker room in the first quarter. Army put together a 16-play drive, all on the ground, before the Leopards' dug in and Army had to settle for a 25-yard field goal by John Abercrombie.
 
Lafayette was forced to punt on its first offensive drive, but took advantage of an Army special teams' miscue. Jacob Bissell's low liner of a punt took a big bounce and Mike Reynolds tried to field it, but muffed the catch. Yasir Thomas was on hand to scoop up the ball and Lafayette took over at the Army 23-yard line.
 
The Leopards evened the score with 2:22 left in the first quarter when Kordenbrock connected from 42 yards out. The score remained tied through the first quarter.
 
Two minutes into the second quarter, Army (8-2) took the lead for good. Kelvin Hopkins set up the first touchdown of the game with a 35-yard pass to Glen Coates down to the Lafayette one-yard line. Darnell Woolfolk punched it in as Army led 10-3 after a 10-play, 75-yard drive. Woolfolk finished the chilly afternoon with 12 carries for 69 yards.
 
Army's next offensive possession started after the Leopards' downed a Jacob Bissell punt at the six-yard line. The successive drive was a 12-play, 94-yard march over 6:35. The only pass of the drive was a 32-yard strike from Hopkins to Calen Holt. That set up an eight-yard score by Holt two plays later as Army led 17-3 just before half. Hopkins completed 5-of-6 passes in the game for 95 yards.
 
The Leopards got the ball back with 35 seconds left in the half and Lafayette took advantage. C.J. Amill picked up 24 yards on three carries and O'Malley hit Quinn Revere for an 11-yard catch. Kordenbrock kicked a career-long 43-yard field goal as time expired to bring Lafayette within 11 at halftime, 17-6.
 
Special teams bit the Leopards to start the second half as they gave up a blocked punt for the second straight game. Army's Andy Davidson blocked the punt which Reynolds scooped up and took to the Leopard one-yard line. On the next play, Woolfolk ran in his second touchdown of the day and Army led 24-6 with 9:27 left in the third quarter.
 
The Black Knights put together another lengthy drive near the end of the third quarter. Hopkins finished off an 11-play drive with a two-yard run for the 31-6 advantage.
 
Lafayette added a touchdown five minutes into the fourth quarter. Amill hooked up with O'Malley for a 23-yard catch. O'Malley's strike to Tim Payne in double coverage covered 19 yards and moved Lafayette to the two-yard line. On the next play, O'Malley hit Eisler for a three-yard pass just across the goal line to put the final at 31-13.
 
The Leopards (3-7) next host Lehigh on Nov. 17 in the 154^th meeting of college football's most-played rivalry. Kickoff is set for 12:30 p.m. at Fisher Stadium.