EASTON, Pa. – Coming off back-to-back wins, the Lafayette football team kept the momentum going in the early going at Fisher Stadium, but surrendered 40 unanswered points to fall to Holy Cross, 40-14, in Patriot League play on Saturday afternoon.

After the teams traded three-and-outs to open the game, the Leopards put together a 12 play, 55-yard drive that included a third- and fourth-down conversion and was capped off by a three-yard touchdown run by junior Nick Pearson on an end around.

On the ensuing possession, senior running back C.J. Amill broke a 58-yard touchdown run to extend the Lafayette lead to 14-0. The play was the Leopards longest play from scrimmage this season.
Holy Cross opened the second quarter with a 35-yard completion from Geoff Wade to Tenio Ayeni, but the defense was able to hold the Crusaders to a 36-yard field goal by Derek Ng to cut into the lead.

The Leopards went three-and-out on the next drive and had their punt blocked. It was recovered by Holy Cross on the Lafayette eight-yard line. Domenic Cozier cut the Lafayette lead to 14-10 on a 1-yard rush.
Holy Cross scored on its final drive before the half. A 32-yard pass from Wade to Martin Dorsey moved the ball into the Lafayette half. Four plays later, Cozier ran 23 yards off left tackle to set up the score. He punched it in on the next play and Holy Cross led 17-14.
 
On Lafayette's final drive of the first half, they faced 4^th-and-3 at their own 43 when head coach John Garrett ran the fake punt. The direct snap to Harrison Greenhill picked up 26 yards for the first down. The drive stalled at the Holy Cross 28 and the score remained 17-14 at halftime.  
 
Holy Cross opened the second half with solid field position after the kickoff went out of bounds and worked its way down to the Lafayette six-yard line, but junior Yasir Thomas broke up the third down pass attempt to the end zone to hold the Crusaders to a 24-yard field to make the score 20-14 three minutes into the third quarter.
The Crusaders had good field position once again after an interception and Wade connected with Richie DeNicola for a 50-yard touchdown pitch and catch on 3^rd-and-5 to extend the Holy Cross lead to 27-14.
 
On Lafayette's next possession, the Leopards converted a 3^rd-and-3 when O'Malley found senior Chris Granjean to move the chains. The drive stalled, however, and Lafayette was forced to punt. DeNicola's return covered 45 yards and set up another Crusader touchdown.
Holy Cross' third quarter possessions began at the Holy Cross 35 and 45, and Lafayette 33 and 44-yard lines and each resulted in points as it scored 40 unanswered points. 
 
O'Malley finished the day 23-of-41 for 156 yards and an interception and Amill carried the ball eight times for 65 yards and a score. Senior defensive back Trent Crossan led the Leopards defensively with six tackles and sophomore Harrison Greenhill and junior Keith Earle had half a sack each.
 
Lafayette will travel to FBS Army (7-2) on Nov. 10 and will be televised on CBS Sports Network with kickoff scheduled for noon.