EASTON, Pa. – No. 23 New Hampshire scored a touchdown 17 seconds into the fourth quarter that proved to be the difference in a 19-13 final over the Leopards on Saturday afternoon at Fisher Stadium. 

It was the home opener for Lafayette which opened the season at FBS Air Force (2-0) and has followed with a pair of CAA foes in William and Mary (2-1) and New Hampshire (3-0). A defensive struggle throughout on Saturday, New Hampshire limited Lafayette to 233 yards of total offense, with 41 coming on the ground. 

The Lafayette defense was also up to the task led by junior LB Marco Olivas who made a game-high 13 tackles.

The Leopards started freshman Ah-Shaun Davis at quarterback. The Willingboro, N.J. was 16-of-23 for 192 yards with one interception while connecting with five receivers.  UNH QB Bret Edwards completed 22-of-f-37 for 249 yards with two touchdowns and benefited from 133 yards on the ground. 

Things started off well for the Leopards as freshman Michael Hayes ran the opening kick off back 93 yards for a touchdown. Micah Pettit's PAT gave the Leopards the 7-0 lead 14 seconds into the game. Hayes' runback was the first kick-off returned for a touchdown since 2018 (J.J. Younger, 95 yards vs. Monmouth).

The Leopards defense withstood New Hampshire's RPO-offense through most of the first quarter, forcing a pair of field-goal tries by Jordan Conn who missed kicks of 35 and 39 yards. 

When the game moved to the second quarter, the contest's first turnover led to points. Davis was sacked by Gunner Gibson and fumbled the ball. New Hampshire took over at the Lafayette 40-yard line. 

On the ensuing drive, the Leopards' were whistled for pass interference in the end zone which moved the ball to the three-yard line. Three plays later, Edwards hit Brian Espanet for a TD toss. The PAT was no good and the Leopards' maintained the 7-6 lead. 

With a minute left in the first half, the Wildcats were inside the Lafayette 10-yard line. The Leopards' dialed up the blitz and OLB Billy Shaeffer came through with the sack, forced fumble and recovery. Shaeffer finished the game with eight tackles. Lafayette ran out the time of the scoreboard and kept the 7-6 lead at halftime. 

On the opening drive of the second half, New Hampshire marched down the field 76 yards over four minutes. Edwards finished off the scoring march with a 14-yard scramble and throw to Espanet. The two-point try was stopped short of the goal line by Jyaire Stevens and Brian Reilly. UNH led 12-7.

With five minutes left in the third quarter, Davis heaved a 48-yard pass to Jordan Hull which took the Leopards down to the New Hampshire 25-yard line. Lafayette settled for a 38-yard field goal by Pettit to pull within 12-10 with two minutes left in the quarter.

On the second play of the fourth quarter, New Hampshire extended its lead via a 50-yard run by Dylan Laube. The sophomore bounced outside and ran away from the Leopard defenders for the 19-10 advantage.    

The next four possessions yielded no scores and the Leopards took over on offense for a final time with five minutes to go. Davis completed passes to Julius Young, Mason Gilbert, Joe Gillette (2), Hull (3-86) and Hayes before being faced with a 4th-and-2 at the UNH 24. Needing two scores, Leopard coach John Garrett, elected to attempt a 41-yard field goal. Pettit converted it and Lafayette trailed 19-13. 

The special teams tried to come up with another game-changing play, but UNH recovered the onside kick to end the game. 

Lafayette continues on its four-game home stand, hosting Penn on Saturday at 3:30 p.m.