WASHINGTON, D.C. – Lafayette captured its sixth straight win with a 35-25 final over Georgetown on Saturday in a physical game at Cooper Field. The Leopards, who broke into the top 25 polls on Monday, improved to 3-0 in Patriot League play for the first time since 2017.
 
The Lafayette defense came up with plays when it needed to, led by junior safety Saiku White who picked off a pair of passes. Senior LB Billy Shaeffer had a game-high 12 tackles and finished off the afternoon with an emphatic fourth-quarter sack. The Leopards limited Georgetown to 36 rushing yards and just 5-of-17 on third down.
 
Freshman running back Troy Bruce just missed his first career 100-yard rushing game, carrying eight times for 98 yards, including a 71-yard touchdown run in the third quarter. Soph. Jamar Curtis added 35 yards and a pair of touchdowns.
 
To start the game, the Hoyas set up the Leopards at midfield, as an onside kick attempt went out of bounds. After Georgetown stuffed first- and second-down runs, soph. QB Dean DeNobile uncorked a 45-yard pass to Elijah Steward that set up a three-yard touchdown run by Curtis. Lafayette led 7-0 just two minutes into the game and never trailed for the balance of the game. 
 
Later in the first quarter, a healthy diet of Curtis stretched the lead. DeNobile (12-24-2, 171 yards, TD) hit him out in space and he scampered 27 yards behind a lead block from senior TE Mason Gilbert. On the next play, Curtis made a couple of quick cuts before taking the ball to the endzone for his second score of the day and a 14-0 lead.
 
Georgetown cut the Leopards' lead in half early in the second quarter. After a Lafayette punt, the Hoyas took over near midfield. QB Danny Lauter hit Jimmy Kibble for a short pass near the Hoya sideline eluding a couple of tackles and took it 43 yards for a touchdown. Lafayette led 14-7 with 11:24 left before half.
 
The Leopards used a big play to create some breathing room. On the first play after the ensuing kick-off, rookie Troy Bruce shook off one tackler at the line of scrimmage and then ripped off a 71-yard TD, the Leopards' longest play from scrimmage in 2023. Freshman Jack Simonetta added the PAT for the 21-7 lead.
 
Georgetown converted a field goal with five minutes left in the half and the Leopards led 21-10 at halftime.
 
As the second half opened, the teams traded touchdowns in the opening minutes. White's first career pick-six, a 42-yard effort, gave the Leopards a 28-10 advantage two minutes into the half.
 
The Hoyas answered quickly with an 81-yard TD from to Lauter to Kibble that put the score at 28-16. Lauter ended the day 35-58-2 for 464 yards and three touchdowns. The Hoyas added a field goal with five minutes left in the third quarter.
 
Early in the fourth quarter when the Leopards needed some breathing room, freshman Devin Paige reeled in an acrobatic catch with one foot down in the endzone for his first career touchdown. The 27-yard strike from DeNobile extended the advantage to 35-19 at 13:06.
 
Georgetown added a late touchdown on another Lauter TD pass. The Hoyas followed with their second onside kick, which the Leopards handled to end the game.
 
Lafayette comes home for its next two games, playing Colgate on Nov. 4 and Fordham on Senior Day on Nov. 11 with 12:30 p.m. kickoffs set for both games.

NOTES: 

At 7-1, the Leopards are off to their best start since 2009 (the last time Lafayette won six straight games) and opened Patriot League play at 3-0 for the first time since 2017. 

Lafayette is now 4-2 all-time vs. Georgetown during Halloween week.

Bruce's 71-yard touchdown matches the Leopards' longest play from scrimmage last season (a 71-yard run by Jamar Curtis in a win over Lehigh).