EASTON, Pa. - Lafayette opened the 100th season of football at Fisher Stadium with a 13-9 win over Marist on Saturday afternoon. The Maroon and White defense registered stops when it needed them most, shutting out Marist in the second half.
Offensively, Jason Penza's 38-yard TD run in the third quarter gave Lafayette its first lead of the day and lifted the hosts to their eight-straight win over Marist.
Lafayette's defense was led by 11 tackles from Dhonte Jackson, eight from sophomore captain Beckham Dee and seven via junior DL Callahan Blair. The Leopards allowed Marist to convert just 1-of-5 fourth-down plays and 2-of-5 in the red zone, which netted only nine points, despite holding a 10-minute edge in time of possession.
Marist struck first in the opening quarter. On a 1st-and-10, Sonny Mannino took off running on an RPO for 20 yards to the Lafayette three-yard line. The defense limited Marist to a 21-yard Luke Stenson field goal with 4:47 on the clock for a 3-0 lead.
After the field goal, freshman kick returner Kameron Vance set up the Leopards just inside the Marist half following a 48-yard kickoff return. Lafayette moved the ball to the Marist seven-yard line, but faced 4th-and-2. The Leopards handed off to Jakyre Henley who was stopped short of the line to gain.
Midway through the second quarter, Marist extended its lead when Mannino (26-of-38, 291 yards) zipped a five-yard TD pass to Zack Garmont. The extra point was no good and the Red Foxes led 9-0.
On the next possession, Lafayette benefited from another solid kick return, this time by soph. Nick Bierman. The Leopards had the ball 1st-and-10 on the Marist 48-yard line when Daniel Lipovski (12-for-31 for 136) connected with Mason Kuehner on a 40-yard pass to the eight-yard line. Lafayette settled for a Jack Simonetta 22-yard field goal with 5:03 left in the half.
The Leopards forced a punt and got the ball back with three minutes to go in the half. They went to the air with Lipovski completing three passes for 40 yards to Mason Kuehner and a 13-yard toss to senior captain Carson Persing. Simonetta hit his second field goal of the day, this time for 32 yards, as time expired. Lafayette trailed 9-6 at halftime.
In the third quarter the Leopards' defense stopped a 4th-and-2 at the Lafayette two when Jackson stuffed a pass to Marco Lainez for a loss of a yard. The offense took advantage, keeping the ball on the ground. Rookie RB Malachi Gamble picked up 42 yards on four carries to put the Leopards inside the Marist half. Penza did the rest, running 38 yards on a draw to the endzone to give the Leopards' their first lead of the game, 13-9 with 5:03 left.
To kick off the fourth quarter, Michael Vaughn and Blair sacked Mannino for a loss of eight yards, bringing the ball to the Lafayette nine-yard line. On 4th-and-4, Mannino could not connect with a receiver and Lafayette took over on downs.
On the ensuing possession, Henley broke off a 45-yard run to the Marist 40-yard line. The Leopards eventually attempted a 41-yard field goal that missed wide left. Henley finished the day with 13 carries for 77 yards.
Lafayette's defense came up with another fourth-down stop with 7:11 left on the clock, handing the ball to the offense at the 26-yard line. The offense couldn't get the ball moving and was forced to punt. The punt was blocked by Jaden Taylor and Marist took over at the 22-yard line with 4:11 left in the game.
With 2:34 left on the clock, Lafayette's defense stacked the box on 4th-and-1 at the 13-yard line. Dee and Darien Riley stopped Mannino on a QB sneak. Lafayette was forced after a three-and-out, leaving Marist with 2:11 on the clock.
Two incomplete passes by Mannino sandwich a four-yard rushing play. The Leopards put away the game on 4th-and-6 when Jalen Edward broke up a pass.
Lafayette will wrap up its non-conference play on Sept. 19 at Columbia in a noon kickoff, the Leopards' lone matchup vs. an Ivy League foe in 2026.
Notes: Persing made four catches for 26 yards, moving into sixth place on Lafayette's career receptions list, ahead of Phil Ng '89.
