EASTON, Pa. – Soph. QB Dean DeNobile threw two touchdowns and ran for two more to spur Lafayette to a 28-20 win over Monmouth on a rainy Saturday afternoon at Fisher Stadium.
 
The Leopards improved to 3-1 with the win over the CAA opponent, a mark Lafayette last reached in 2012.
 
Lafayette's second straight win was sparked by the running game, as the Leopards racked up 206 yards. Soph. Jamar Curtis churned out his third 100-plus yard rushing game of the season, carrying 28 times for 143 yards. The Waldorf, Md. is averaging 128 yards per game. Making his third start of the season, DeNobile ran for 50 yards of his own with two rushing TDs.
 
On the other end of the field, Lafayette's defense limited Monmouth's running game to 59 yards led by junior S Saiku White and senior LB Preston Forney with nine tackles apiece. Lafayette rang up a season-high seven sacks. 
 
It was a low-scoring first quarter made up of three possessions, with each team managing a score. Monmouth got on the board first thanks to a 47-yard field goal seven minutes into the game.
 
The Leopards answered with a lengthy drive that covered 13 plays on 75 yards. On 2^nd-and-8 at the Monmouth nine-yard line, DeNobile made a perfect back-shoulder throw to soph. WR Elijah Steward. He brushed off a defender and reeled in a one-handed grab for his first touchdown of the season.  
 
Just before the end of the first quarter, the Leopards forced the first turnover of the game. Forney dislodged the ball from the Hawks' Jaden Shiren, and the Leopards took over near midfield. On the resulting drive, Lafayette moved the ball on the ground as Curtis accounted for 47 yards. DeNobile finished off the scoring march with a one-yard push and a little help from his friends. The Leopards led 14-3 with 8:23 left in the half.
 
Monmouth added a 36-yard field goal as time expired and the Leopards led 14-6 at halftime.
 
As the second half opened, the Leopard defense stopped the Hawks on the opening drive and forced a punt. When the offense took over, DeNobile moved the ball through the air, connecting with seniors Mason Gilbert (24 yards) and Griffin Rooney (29 yards) down to the Monmouth nine-yard line. Two plays later, DeNobile scurried in from three yards out for the 21-6 lead at 9:50 in the third.
 
With two minutes left in the third quarter, Monmouth trimmed its deficit to one score. Marquez McCray hit Dymere Miller for a 20-yard TD and a two-point conversion that made the score 21-14.
 
Lafayette created some breathing room three minutes into the final quarter. Curtis contributed 49 yards to get the Leopards' final scoring drive going, eventually leading to an eight-yard touchdown from DeNobile to junior WR Chris Carasia. Lafayette led 28-14.
 
Monmouth put together a 16-play, 80-yard drive that made it 28-21 with two minutes left in the game. The ensuing onside kick went out of bounds, but the Maroon and White offense went three-and-out, leaving Monmouth with the ball with 1:39 left.
 
Freshman Jaylon Joseph and junior Tim O'Hearn helped the defense put away the game with sacks as the game went final.
 
Lafayette finishes its three-game homestand on September 30, hosting Bucknell at 3:30 p.m. on Homecoming Weekend.