EASTON, Pa. – Lehigh snapped Lafayette's two-game win streak in the Rivalry with a 17-10 final in the 157th meeting on Saturday afternoon at Goodman Stadium.
 
Despite the loss, Lafayette holds the all-time series record in college football's most-played game by an 80-72-5 margin.
 
Sophomore Aaron Angelos had the start at quarterback for the Leopards as freshman Ah-Shaun Davis could not play due to injury. Angelos completed 24-of-36 for 133 yards with 11 completions to Steven Stilianos, the MVP of the 156^th meeting.
 
The Lehigh defense held Lafayette scoreless for the entirety of the second half despite the Leopards maintaining a nine-minute advantage in time of possession following 100 rushing yards for the Maroon and White in the second half.
 
The Lafayette defense was led by standout junior linebacker Marco Olivas who had 13 tackles coming into the final week of the season ranked eighth in the nation.
 
Lehigh (3-8, 3-3) took the lead at the end of the first quarter. The Mountain Hawks picked up a first down on a 4^th-and-2 at the 33-yard line when QB Dante Perri ran for two yards. They scored five plays as Perri eluded a Malik Hamm rush and hit Jack DiPietro for a 13-yard touchdown. Lehigh led 7-0 as time expired on the initial quarter.
 
The Leopards took the ball in second quarter and marched down the field 88 yards to tie the game. They used a mix of the run and pass employing nine runs and six passes. Lafayette faced a 4^th-and-1 at the Lehigh four-yard line. Out of a timeout, Jaden Sutton picked up the first down after a measurement.
 
Three plays later, Sutton finished off the seven-minute drive with a one-yard run in for the touchdown. The 15-play drive knotted the game at 7-7 with 7:32 left in the half. Sutton finished the day with 18 carries for 70 yards, joined by senior RB Selwyn Simpson who had 13-for 67, including a 20-yard dash.
 
Special teams bit the Leopards when they went to punt with three minutes left in the half. DiPietro broke through to block Jakob Trestik's punt. Johnny Foley scooped it up and returned it 12 yards for a score and a 14-7 Lehigh lead.
 
The Leopards kickoff return unit picked things up.  Freshman Michael Hayes ripped off a 46-yard return and another 15 yards was tacked on at the end of the play for a Lehigh penalty. Lafayette settled for a 37-yard Micah Pettit field goal as Lafayette pulled within 14-10.
 
Another special teams play kept the momentum for Lafayette. Tristan Tritt stripped the ball from the kick returner and Neriyan Brown recovered with 1:07 left in the half. Lafayette again settled for a field goal attempt. This time it was wide right and the half ended with Lehigh leading 14-10.
 
The Leopards threatened near the end of the third quarter, moving the ball to the Lehigh 30-yard line. Facing 4^th-and-6, the Leopards went for it and Lehigh pressured Angelos whose pass to Stilianos was incomplete. Lehigh took over on downs, but was forced to punt when the quarter ended with the score still 14-10. Lafayette possessed the ball for 12 minutes in the third quarter.
 
Lehigh's first drive of the fourth quarter stretched Lehigh's lead to 17-10. The drive almost never got started as the Mountain Hawks faced 3^rd-and-5 at their own 25. Perri connected with De'Shun Mickens for the first down to keep it moving. Lehigh continued to pass its way down the field with Perri completing passes of 23 and 27 yards before Lafayette's defense could slow the attack. Lafayette limited Lehigh to a Dylan Van Dusen 20-yard field as Lehigh led 17-10 with 9:39 left.
 
Lafayette looked to tie the game on its next drive. Eleven plays took the Leopards to the Lehigh 19 where they faced a 4^th-and-7. Out of an offensive timeout, Angelos weathered some pressure and zipped a pass to a diving Joe Gillette who could not quite corral it. Lehigh took over on downs with 4:32 left in the game.
 
On the resulting possession, the Lafayette defense stopped the Lehigh offense and forced a punt. The Leopards ran into the punter and the penalty yardage was enough to award Lehigh a first down with two minutes left in the game.
 
The defense forced another punt and Lafayette took over for a final time at its own 16-yard line with 26 seconds left and no timeouts. Angelos hit an open Sutton for nine yards on first down and a Lehigh roughing the passer call brought the ball out to the 40-yard line.
 
Lehigh got pressure on Angelos once more and was able to get him to the ground on the final play of the game.
 
"Football is the only game played with an oblong ball. Sometimes it bounces to the left in your favor and sometimes it bounces to the right not in your favor. It ultimately comes down to how you respond to those and if you can finish the execution," said fifth-year Lafayette head coach John Garrett. "Unfortunately, we didn't finish good enough today, but, I'm so proud of our team and so proud of our effort."
 
The Leopards finish the season 3-8 overall and 2-4 in Patriot League play, ending the season in fifth place in the standings.