EASTON, Pa. – Lehigh senior TB Dom Bragalone scored three touchdowns en route to game MVP honors, pushing Lehigh past Lafayette 34-3 on Saturday at Fisher Stadium in the 154^th Meeting of college football's most-played rivalry.
 
Lafayette maintains the advantage in the series lead 78-71-5 in the game which has been played for 122 straight years in a series that began in 1884.
 
Despite the final score, things looked like they were off to a good start for the Leopards who received the opening kickoff. J.J. Younger was back in the lineup returning kicks after missing the last three games with injury. His first effort was a 36-yard burst to the 50-yard line. He ended the day with three kick returns for 97 yards, including a long of 42 yards in the third quarter.
 
The momentum was short-lived. as Leopard sophomore QB Sean O'Malley was sacked on the first play from scrimmage by Maxie Davis who returned it 43 yards for a touchdown and the 7-0 advantage.
 
Lehigh's first offensive drive (following a three-and-out) covered 78 yards on 12 plays to add a 20-yard field goal by Ed Mish at 8:33 in the first.
 
On Lafayette's ensuing possession, the Leopards found themselves in their own half in a punting situation. The snap to punter Jacob Bissell was high and Lehigh recovered at the one-yard line. Two plays later Bragalone punched in the score from a yard out to lead 17-0.
 
Lafayette was poised to put points on the board just before the end of the first quarter but Lehigh's special teams got the best of the field goal unit. Riley O'Neil broke through the line to block Jeffrey Kordenbrock's kick.
 
The Leopards had more success kicking at the Bourger Varsity Football House end of the field. Kordenbrock converted a 43-yard field goal to cap a 12-play, 71-yard drive. The kick was the longest of Kordenbrock's career.
 
Lafayette looked to build some momentum just before the end of the first half. Freshman DL Billy Shaeffer picked off a Brad Mayes pass. The Leopards got the ball back with 13 seconds left. O'Malley found freshman TE Steve Stilianos for 19 yards to the Lehigh 24.
 
Lafayette head coach John Garrett opted immediately for Kordenbrock to attempt a 41-yard field goal. The kick was blocked but the play was waved off after Lafayette was whistled for a delay of game. Garrett sent the offense back to the field and O'Malley delivered a ball to Tim Payne just across the goal line, but Pearson couldn't reel it the potential momentum swinging reception. Lehigh led 17-3 at halftime.
 
When Lafayette came out in the second half, the defense immediately forced a punt on Lehigh's first possession. The punt hit off a Lafayette player who was blocking in front of returner C.J. Amill and Lehigh recovered at the 26-yard line.
 
Lehigh took advantage of the miscue to put away the game. Bragalone finished off the short drive with a three-yard touchdown run as Lehigh led 24-3 with 10 minutes left in the third quarter. He ended the day with 32 carries for 95 yards and three TDs. Lehigh added a 21-yard field goal by Mish at 4:33 in the third and then Bragalone ran in a final score with eight minutes left in the game to stretch the final to 34-3.
 
Defensively, LB Michael Root led the team with 11 tackles, playing in his final game as a Leopard. He joined 19 other seniors and their families who were honored  as part of Senior Day. Junior DL Demetrius Breedlove had four tackles and batted down three passes. Freshman Malik Hamm ran his season sack total to 8.5 while registering his 15^th tackle for loss.
 
O'Malley finished the day 18-of-42 for 162 yards with one interception. In the process, he took over seventh place for career completions, {moving to 433 while passing Rob Curley '10 (429 in 2007-09)} and ninth in career passing yards with 3.711 {passing Andrew Shoop '13 (3705 in 2010-12)}.
 
Lafayette and Lehigh both finish the season at 3-8 overall and 2-4 in Patriot League play.