EASTON, Pa. – Lafayette opened its four-game home stand with a 38-14 victory over Columbia in the first night game at Fisher Stadium since 2018.
 
Junior RB Running back Kente Edwards continued his hot streak, running for 150 yards and three scores. Edwards has churned out three-straight 100-yard games, running for 127, 255 and 150 with 10 touchdowns in that same span (leading the nation in rushing touchdowns entering the weekend). Junior Ethan Weber added to the run game, chipping in 56 yards and two touchdowns. The Lafayette defense held Columbia to 14 points, shutting out the Lions in the second half.
 
The Leopards booted the opening kickoff to begin the contest. Columbia return man Cobe Crews muffed the kick, and the Lions began their drive at their own five-yard line. Lafayette's defense forced a quick three-and-out. Edwards started off Lafayette's drive with back-to-back runs of nine and five yards. With the offense moving, an illegal formation penalty stalled things. The Leopards settled for a 37-yard Jack Simonetta field goal for the 3-0 lead with 10:13 to go in the first quarter. It was the Leopards' first field goal of the season.
 
With 8:48 in the first, Dean DeNobile and the offense set up shop on the Leopards' 39-yard line. DeNobile connected with Mason Kuehner to move 40 yards downfield to the visitors' 21. Two plays later, Edwards rumbled into the endzone for a 13-yard score and a 10-0 advantage. Over his first two drives, the junior ran five times for 34 yards, averaging 6.8 yards per attempt.
 
The Lion offense responded, cutting into the deficit with a 11-play, 75-yard drive that spanned 5:04. Goodwin capped off the drive with a 17-yard pass, finding Hutch Crow for the touchdown. Columbia trailed 10-7 with 2:28 left in the first quarter.
 
On its following drive, Lafayette remained steadfast in its approach, using Weber for three straight runs, gaining 13 yards and a first. The Maroon and White continued to move the chains, using a combination of passes to Elijah Steward and Kuehner for nine and seven yards, respectively. The Leopards found the endzone with 12:57 in the second, relying on the fifth consecutive run from Edwards to punch it in from four yards out and push the lead to 17-7.
 
Callahan Blair and Jaylon Joseph stymied Columbia's fourth drive of the evening. On 1st-and-10 on the Lions' 45, Blair got into the backfield for an eight-yard loss. Two snaps later, Joseph forced heavy pressure, hitting Goodwin to cause an incomplete pass.
 
Columbia engineered another long drive before half, using 5:27 of the clock on a 12-play drive that spanned 74 yards finishing with a Johnson run for a touchdown. Lafayette held a 17-14 lead at halftime.  
 
Coming out of halftime, offensive coordinator T.J. DiMuzio called upon Edwards once again for runs of 13 and two yards, setting up Persing for a 16-yard reception from DeNobile to convert a 3rd-and-8. The Leopards drove a total of 75 yards on their opening possession. After DeNobile found Kuehner on 4-and-3 for an 11-yard gain, Edwards finished off the drive with his third touchdown of the day, a three-yard scamper. With 9:21 in the third, Lafayette led Columbia 24-14.
 
Lafayette increased the gap between its opponent with a pair of touchdown runs from Weber. On 2nd-and-1 from the Columbia one-yard line, Weber pushed his way across the goal line, making it 31-14 with 6:45 in the third quarter. The junior proceeded to ice the game in the fourth, running for another one-yard score with 3:01 remaining to push the lead to 38-14.
 
The Leopards out-gained the Lions 398-289. Lafayette ran for 232 yards, compared to Columbia's 91. DeNobile was 14-of-17 (82.4%) for 166 yards.
 
The Maroon and White's defense held Columbia to 127 yards in the second half. Dhonte Jackson and Beckham Dee led the team in tackles, with seven apiece. Sophomore Kevin Dodard contributed with six tackles and an interception. As a defense, the Leopards had eight pass breakups.

Lafayette remain at home, hosting Princeton on Sept. 27 at 3:30 p.m.

Notes:
- Lafayette is now 93-50-3 in home openers, winning four consecutive lid-lifters

- The Leopards' defense has held its last three opponents to less than 100 rushing yards

- Kevin Dodard recorded his first career interception