EASTON, Pa. – Lafayette football's Patriot League championship season saw the Leopards finish ranked in the top 25 in both of the national polls announced on Monday at the official conclusion after the FCS national championship game on Sunday.
The Leopards ended at 19
th in the American Football Coaches Association (AFCA) FCS Coaches Poll and 21
st in the Stats Perform poll. During the season, the Leopards were ranked in the polls for five-straight weeks, peaking at No. 16 in the AFCA poll and No. 20 in the Stats Perform ballot on Oct. 30. Lafayette initially broke into the polls on Oct. 23, following its 35-25 win over then No. 11/15 Holy Cross on Oct. 21.
Under Patriot League Coach of the Year
John Troxell '94, Lafayette claimed a Patriot League title for the first time in a decade and surpassed the single-season win total from the previous 40 years with a 9-3 mark. The Leopards finished their non-league slate with a 4-1 mark, the lone blemish against No. 21 Duke, and ran up a 5-1 conference clip for the first time since 2006.
The Leopards featured 12 All-Patriot League selections, including the Patriot League Rookie of the Year
Jaylon Joseph. The offense was led by sophomore running back
Jamar Curtis who finished second in the nation in rushing, ending with a Lafayette single-season record 1,460 yards. Defensively, the Leopards had at least one selection at every level of the unit, led by senior linebackers
Marco Olivas and
Billy Shaeffer.
The Lafayette football program will kick off its spring season on March 18, culminating with the Maroon and White spring showcase at 3 p.m. on April 20 at Fisher Stadium. The 2024 fall campaign begins Aug. 29 at Buffalo.
