EASTON, Pa. - Lafayette football opened its 141st season and the John Troxell '94 head coaching era with a 6-0 shutout win over Sacred Heart on Saturday at Fisher Stadium.
Lafayette led 6-0 with two minutes in the game and needed a final defensive stand to finish off the two-time defending NEC champion. The Pioneers took over on the final possession of the game at their own 23-yard line following a Lafayette punt.
Sacred Heart wide receiver Rob DiNota caught a 34-yard pass from Marquez McCray on third down to move the ball to the Lafayette 38-yard line. On 4th-and-4, McCray again connected with DiNota (8-114) for a 20-yard strike down to the Lafayette one-yard line. McCray finished the day 22-of-40 for 228 yards.
The visitors attempted two passes, both incomplete, leaving Sacred Heart with three seconds left on the clock. Following an offensive timeout, the Pioneers went to the running game. Leopard safety Saiku White was among several Leopard defenders to meet All-American Malik Grant just before the goal line and finish off the shutout while starting the sideline celebration.
White ended the contest with a game-high 12 tackles. Defensive co-captain Malik Hamm had five tackles, including 3.5 tackles for a loss of 14 yards. He registered 1.5 sacks to become the career sacks leader at Lafayette, joining Harrison Bailey '95, each with 25. The Leopard defense held Sacred Heart to 56 rushing yards. Senior captain Marco Olivas finished the game with seven tackles as did classmates DaRon Gilbert and Preston Forney.
It was a stalemate through the first half with neither table able to put points on the scoreboard. Lafayette freshman Jamar Curtis did return the opening kickoff of the game 68 yards, but the Leopards could not capitalize.
The Lafayette defense, expected to be the strength of the team in 2022, came up with big plays throughout. With less than 30 seconds left in the first quarter, Sacred Heart had the ball 1st-and-10 on the Lafayette 15-yard line. Senior linebacker Brian Reilly forced a fumble from Grant to halt the Sacred Heart drive.
Hamm came through with a sack with 3:02 left in the half on a key third down. That tackle for loss stymied a Sacred Heart drive that had advanced to the Lafayette 28.
Lafayette special teams continued to make an impact with a 22-yard punt return from Joe Gillette that started the Leopards' drive at the Sacred Heart 21-yard line two minutes into the third quarter. After two negative yardage plays, freshman quarterback Ryan Schuster picked up 22 yards on 3rd-and-30. Sacred Heart also was flagged for a personal foul on the play which gave Lafayette a first down at the SHU 11-yard line. Two plays later, Schuster eluded the rush and scored from 18 yards out for his first career touchdown. The extra point was no good and Lafayette took a 6-0 lead with 10:12 remaining in the third quarter.
With 7:05 left in the fourth quarter, White forced a fumble that Forney recovered at the Lafayette 38-yard line to stop a potential scoring drive by Sacred Heart.
After the teams traded empty offensive possessions, Sacred Heart had its final opportunity of the game with 2:06 left, setting the stage for the Leopards' final defensive stand and the season-opening win.
The Leopards will travel to Philadelphia for week two, facing FBS foe Temple on Saturday at 2 p.m. at Lincoln Financial Field.
NOTES: Lafayette is now 88-50-3 all time in season openers.
Lafayette head coach John Troxell is the first Leopard head coach since Bill Russo to claim a victory in his head coaching debut. Russo beat Central Connecticut State 51-0 in 1981.
