EASTON, Pa. – Lafayette turned in its best offensive performance to date, racking up 392 yards of total offense on the way to a 24-3 final over Columbia on Saturday at Fisher Stadium.
 
Sophomore running back Jamar Curtis registered his second 100-yard rushing game of the season, churning out 145 yards on 20 carries with a pair of touchdowns. Junior RB Nahjee Adams and sophomore Dean DeNobile added 61 and 20 rushing yards, respectively. DeNobile made his second straight start at quarterback and finished 15-of-22 for 149 yards in the air.
 
Nine minutes into the game, Columbia took an early 3-0 lead when Hugo Merry converted a 42-yard field goal try on the Lions' second possession of the game.
 
On the ensuing Leopards' drive, the Maroon and White offense got things going. Facing a 3^rd-and-15 near midfield, DeNobile completed a pair of passes to Curtis for 12 and seven yards to pick up the first down. Five plays later, Curtis ran the ball up the middle in for a six-yard touchdown. The sophomore accounted for 43 rushing yards on the drive which was capped by Jack Simonetta's PAT. Lafayette led 7-3 at 12:54 in the second quarter and did not relinquish the lead.
 
Eight minutes later, Lafayette extended its lead to 14-3. At the Columbia 33-yard line, Adams looked as if he had been stopped at the line of scrimmage, but kept his feet, spun off the pile and broke away for a 32-yard gain before being upended at the one-yard line. A play later, DeNobile and company rammed the ball in for a one-yard score, taking the Leopards into halftime.
 
In the second half, the Lafayette offense created some breathing room. DeNobile hit junior WR Chris Carasia for a 30-yard pass to midfield. Five plays later Curtis ran in his second TD of the game, carrying it in from 29 yards out for the 21-3 lead.
 
Just before the end of the third quarter, Lafayette recorded its first turnover of the game when soph. DB Byron Johnson intercepted Columbia QB Caden Bell.  A 16-yard Jermaine Conyers rush set up a 34-yard field goal by Simonetta that extended the Leopards' lead to 24-3 with 14:14 left in the game.  
 
That score held as the final as Lafayette knelt down in the final minute just short of the endzone. The Leopards enjoyed an 11-minute advantage in time of possession. Perhaps most telling was their performance on third down, as the Leopards converted 9-of-17 and were 3-for-3 on fourth down. 
 
Defensively, Lafayette limited Columbia to 157 yards of total offense and 2-of-11 on third down. Senior LB Marco Olivas was flying all over the field on Saturday, making seven tackles with 1.5 sacks, joining fellow linebacker Preston Forney with seven stops, while Tim O'Hearn contributed six stops.
 
Lafayette continues its three-game homestand on September 23, hosting Monmouth at 3:30 p.m.. Family Weekend festivities are on tap and Lafayette football will also celebrate a Russo Years Reunion and the 35th Anniversary of the 1988 Colonial League championship team.