EASTON, Pa. – Soph. QB Dean DeNobile, senior LB Billy Shaeffer and freshman RB Troy Bruce secured Patriot League Offensive, Defensive and Special Teams Player of the Week honors, respectively, following the Leopards' 56-22 win over Bucknell on Saturday.
 
DeNobile jammed a whole lot of offense into the second quarter when he threw four touchdowns to four different receivers and completed scoring strikes of 30, 5, 8 and 63 yards on the way to 42 first-half points.
 
The Upper Saddle River, N.J. native finished the Bucknell game 16-of-23 for 229 yards with four touchdowns and no interceptions. DeNobile was coming off the first weekly conference honor of his career on Sept. 25 following the Monmouth game. In that matchup, DeNobile ran for two touchdowns and threw for two others while completing 10-of-14 for 110 yards and carrying the ball 12 times for 50 yards (both career highs). 
 
For the season, the Economics major has completed 66 percent of his passes (52-of-79) for 604 yards with seven touchdowns, ranking first in the conference and 24^th in the nation in completion percentage. On Monday morning, DeNobile, who has freshman eligibility, was named the FedEx Ground FCS National Freshman Player of the Week.
 
Shaeffer turned in one of the most dominant performances of his career vs. Bucknell, ringing up 3.5 sacks and 5.5 tackles for loss. The International Affairs major made nine tackles and forced a fumble while the Leopard defense limited Bucknell to minus-24 rushing yards in the Patriot League opener.
 
A native of Warrington, Pa., Shaeffer has started every game in 2023 and is fourth on the team in tackles (26). His 3.5 sacks lead the defensive unit which has had seven sacks in each of the last two games and is ranked fourth in the nation at 4.0 sacks per game.
 
Troy Bruce affected all realms of special teams play vs. Bucknell. At the start of the second quarter, the Center Point, Ala. native blocked a punt which set up Lafayette's offense near midfield and allowed the Leopards to stretch their lead to 21-0.
 
Bruce also fielded one kick off, which he returned for 20 yards, and a punt which he brought back five yards. On offense, the Civil Engineering major carried the ball six times for 33 yards as the Leopards' third running back.
 
Lafayette is 4-1 and off to its best start since 2009. The Leopards travel to Princeton for a 1 p.m. game on Saturday in their final non-conference matchup of the season.