EASTON, Pa. – The Leopards piled up nine touchdowns on Saturday to dominate Bucknell 62-24 and remain undefeated in Patriot League play (3-0). 

It was a day of stellar individual performances at Fisher Stadium that led to Lafayette's highest scoring output since a 64-0 win over Lehigh to close out the 1944 season. Lafayette racked up a school-record of 670 offensive yards (348 rushing, 322 passing). Junior RB Ethan Weber churned out his first career 100-yard rushing game (139 yards) as did Jakyre Henley (5-107, TD). Senior WR Elijah Steward reeled in two touchdown passes to finish with 116 yards. Senior QB Dean DeNobile was 26-of-34 for 316 yards with a career-high five touchdown passes while fellow QB Jason Penza ran for 94 yards, ripping off a 79-yard touchdown. 

The Lafayette defense stood tall on Bucknell's opening possession, forcing a three-and-out thanks to Jaylon Joseph. The junior broke through the offensive line and drilled QB Chris Dietrich for a loss of six, the first of his two sacks.The Leopards ended the day with nine tackles for loss, while seven players had three or more tackles led by six apiece from Beckham Dee and Robert Stevens. 

DeNobile and company used 2:22 of the game clock on a six-play, 65-yard touchdown drive. He completed completed passes of seven and 14 yards to Carson Persing and Mason Kuehner, respectively. Following another Kuehner reception, the Leopards opted for Weber. No. 32 broke off a 32-yard touchdown. Lafayette led 7-0 four minutes into the game.

The visitors found their way into the endzone early in the second quarter. Facing a 4th-and-5 on the Lafayette 35, Dietrich hit TJ Cadden in the endzone for the touchdown to knot the score at 7-7 with 11:58 left in the first half. 

The Leopard offense quickly responded, marching 75 yards on just five plays. Henley capped the scoring drive by hauling in a 20-yard pass from DeNobile. Lafayette led 14-7. After another Bucknell punt, the Maroon and White needed just one play to score again, this time a 79-yard run from Penza. Lafayette held a 21-7 lead with 7:06 on the clock.

A 50-yard field goal by Matt Schearer, the longest in the Patriot League this season, brought the Bison within 21-10 with 1:48 left. 

Lafayette added two quick scores before the end of the half to put the game out of reach. Steward reeled in touchdowns of 34 and 10 yards. DL Michael Vaughn intercepted a Dietrich misfire with 1:03 left to play to set up Steward's second TD. Lafayette led 34-10 at halftime, its most points in a half this season.

The Maroon and White opened the second half with a 78-yard touchdown drive that spanned 3:10. Ethan Hosak's 19-yard catch was the eighth and final play of the possession, concluding the drive and pushing the Leopard advantage to 41-10 with 11:50 in the third.

Lafayette added three more scores before the afternoon was over. Weber rumbled 67 yards for his second touchdown, while Matthew Scerbo and Henley chipped in with scores of four and 70 yards, respectively. 

The Leopards next travel to Oregon State in week eight, with a 10 p.m. ET kickoff before closing out the season with four-straight conference clashes. 

NOTES

• With a six catch, 116-yard day, Steward moved to second and fifth for career receptions and receiving yards

• DeNobile's 26 completions moved him into fourth all time for career completions

• Weber notched the first 100-yard rushing game of his career

• In the first quarter, Christian bush uncorked a career-long 67-yard punt

• Bucknell QB Ralph Rucker, the reigning Patriot League Offensive Player of the Year, did not play due to a shoulder injury

• Bucknell RB Tyriq Thomas, the 2024 Patriot League Rookie of the Year, was held to 41 rushing yards

• Ethan Weber and Jakyre Henley rushed for 139 and 107, respectively. The duo is the first to rush for 100 yards in the same game since since Oct. 27, 2018 vs. Fordham (CJ Amill with 133 and Selwyn Simpson, who was in attendance on Saturday, with 112)