The Match-Up: Patriot League play continues as the Leopards close out their four-game home stand when they host Bucknell at 12:30 p.m. on Saturday. Lafayette is coming off a 42-41 loss to Fordham in the conference opener while Bucknell, which was coming off a bye week, notched its first win, a 21-10 decision vs. Cornell. 

Surrounding the Game: It's another event-filled weekend on College Hill as Lafayette hosts First Responders Appreciation Day and plenty of Kid Zone activities. In addition, on Saturday morning, a locker in Bourger Varsity Football House will be dedicated in honor of Chris LaPietra '89 who passed away suddenly in the summer of 2021. LaPietra was the captain of the 1988 Colonial League championship team. His teammates and friends also have worked to name an endowed scholarship in his honor.

Emerging Factor: Freshman QB Ah-Shaun Davis' play as of late has been a major story line for the Leopards. Davis, the Patriot League Rookie of the Week for the second straight week, is coming off a 20-of-28, 354-yard, two-touchdown passing performance vs. Fordham when he went toe to toe with the reigning Patriot League Offensive Player of the Year senior Tim DeMorat. Davis did not throw an interception and also ran in a touchdown in the Leopards' first 300-yard passing game since 2019. 
    Davis has started the last three games. In his collegiate debut vs. No. 23 New Hampshire on Sept. 18, he was 16-of-23 for 192 yards with a pick while completing passes to five targets. Against Penn, Davis was 12-of-18 for 157 yards and a TD. The effort earned him Patriot League Rookie of the Week laurels.

Rivalry 157: In a recent development, Lehigh has moved the kick-off time for Rivalry 157 on Nov. 20 in Bethlehem, Pa. to noon.

Big Plays For 14: Of the Leopards' 21 plays of 20 yards or more in 2021 Ah-Shaun Davis has been involved in 12 of them, including the season-long play from scrimmage, a 74-yard TD toss to K.J. Rodgers vs. Fordham. The week prior vs. Penn, Davis heaved a 70-yard bomb to Joe Gillette. 

100-Plus From 2 WR: Lafayette had two receivers with 100-plus yards vs. Fordham. Junior WR Julius Young had six grabs for 123 yards and a TD while classmate K.J. Rodgers snared four balls for 114 yards, both career highs, and a TD.  

Offensive Output: Lafayette's 41 points were the most a Leopard offense has scored since Sept. 13, 2014 when Lafayette posted 50 against Robert Morris. The 499 yards were the most since Nov. 2, 2019 when Lafayette had 501 vs. Fordham. 
100-Yard Run Games: Senior RB Selwyn Simpson had 19 carries for 110 yards vs. Fordham, the Leopards' first 100-yard rushing game since the last time Simpson accomplished it — week nine of the 2019 season (11/2/19) when Simpson churned out 102 rushing yards and punched in two TDs, including the game-winning, 10-yard run with 1:48 left in the game. Lafayette had three 100-yard games in 2019, one by Jaden Sutton (100) at Georgetown and the other by Keegan Shoemaker (124) vs. Sacred Heart, but did not manage a 100-plus yard rushing game in the spring 2021 season.

Year Five In The Garrett Era: John Garrett is in his fifth season at Lafayette. Garrett took over the coaching reins on Dec. 21, 2016. He guided Lafayette to a pair of 3-8 campaigns in 2017 and 2018, a 4-8 mark in 2019 before a 2-1 clip in the spring 2021 campaign. Lafayette registered a third-place conference finish in 2017 (3-3) and a fourth-place finish in 2018 (2-4) before a break through with a second-place finish in 2019 when Lafayette won four of its last five games. The Leopards finished second in the Patriot League south division in the spring 2021 season.
    Garrett has more than 25 years of coaching experience at the NFL, NCAA FBS and NCAA FCS levels. Offensive coordinator stints at Richmond and Oregon State preceded his hiring.

Fending Off the Flags: A hallmark of John Garrett's teams has been their ability to avoid penalty flags. In the spring 2021 season, Lafayette ranked fifth in the nation in fewest penalties (12), 11th in fewest penalties per game (4.0), seventh for fewest penalty yards (117) and 16th in fewest penalty yards per game (39.0). 
    In 2019, Lafayette had the 12th fewest penalty yards per game (40.7), ranked 16th in total penalty yards (488), 22nd in fewest penalties per game (5.08) and 26th for total penalties (61) out of 124 teams ranked in the NCAA. 
    In 2018, the Leopards were fourth in the nation for fewest penalties per game (4.27), fifth for fewest penalties (11) and 12th for fewest penalty yards (433).
    In 2021, Lafayette is fourth in the nation in penalty yards per game (31.0), eighth in penalties per game (4.0), 16th in penalty yards (155) and 24th in total penalties (20). 

In the Classroom: Lafayette's athletic programs ranked first in the nation in the NCAA's annual Graduation Success Rate (GSR) report released in Nov. 2020. Lafayette claimed a 99 percent GSR overall for its 19 sports measured. Seventeen Lafayette programs achieved a GSR of 100 percent. Lafayette football continued to stand out within the Patriot League, with a mark of 97 for the second straight year. Lafayette trailed only Georgetown (100), equaled Holy Cross and ranked ahead of Colgate (93), Bucknell (91), Fordham (88) and lastly, Lehigh (82).

Opponent: The Bucknell Bison jump into the conference fray this weekend, coming off a 21-10 win over Cornell on Oct. 2 on Homecoming Weekend in Lewisburg, Pa. Bucknell is 1-3 with losses to Sacred Heart (21-0), No. 11 Villanova  (55-3) and Penn (30-6).
    Soph. Nick Semptimphelter has been handling quarterback duties, one of three Bison to play the position this season.  He has completed 27-of-56 for 230 yards with a touchdown and two interceptions. His father, Scott, played QB at Lehigh and was the 1993 Offensive Player of the Year, competing  alongside All-American wide receiver Dave Cecchini, the current Bison head coach who is in his third season. 
    The Bison have surrendered 414 yards of total offense per game and have been especially susceptible to the run, allowing 193 yards per outing. Junior LB Ben Allen leads the team with 30 tackles. 
    When the teams last met, March 27, 2021, the Leopards scored first before Bucknell ripped off 38 straight points in a 38-13 final. Lafayette turned it over four times in that game and was held to 15 rushing yards.