Sept. 8, 2007

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WAHINGTON, D.C. - Lafayette began its quest for a fourth straight Patriot League football championship Saturday by winning its conference-opener 28-7 against the Georgetown Hoyas at Multi-Sport Field.

Battling intense heat, the Leopards scored on their first two possessions. Junior wide receiver Shaun Adair put the Leopards on the board four minutes into the game with an 11-yard touchdown catch from senior quarterback Michael DiPaola.

Lafayette increased its lead to 14-0 after an eight-play, 61-yard drive that ended with junior tailback Maurice White strolling into the endzone on a four-yard carry. With five minutes left in the first half, White scored again, this time on a 21-yard rush.

Georgetown linebacker John Cassidy kept the scoring gap from widening further by intercepting a DiPaola pass at the 43-yard line with two minutes remaining in the half. Senior free safety Marcel Quarterman returned the favor by breaking up a pass at the four-yard line that likely would have resulted in a touchdown for the Hoyas. The teams went into the locker rooms at the half with the Leopards up 21-0.

Four minutes into the second half, sophomore linebacker Spencer Brown penetrated into the backfield and tackled Georgetown's Mychal Harrison for a four-yard loss on a fourth-and-one.

Lafayette's defense was highlighted by Quarterman's interception return for a touchdown in the third quarter, putting the Leopards up 28-0. Junior linebacker Andy Romans led the defense with 11 tackles, a forced fumble, and a fumble recovery. Sophomore Ian Dell recorded his first career sack on Georgetown's Matt Bassuener.

The Hoyas were able to avoid a shutout by scoring with four minutes remaining in the game. Harrison scored on an eight-yard touchdown run, putting the final at 28-7.

DiPaola went 9-for-17 for 152 yards and one touchdown. Curley entered the game in the third quarter and played the remainder of the contest. On the final drive of the game, Curley showed his elusiveness by running the ball for 12 yards after being initially stopped at the line.

"We played a lot of people but sooner or later dehydration sets in," said head coach Frank Tavani. "Our conditioning really paid off and that's the way it should be in a football game. You should leave it all on the field."

The Leopards return to action Saturday against Penn. Kickoff at Franklin Field is scheduled for 6 p.m. The game can be heard on WAEB-AM 790 and will be televised on Lafayette Sports Network.

Game Notes:
* Marcel Quarterman registered his fourth career interception and returned it for his first career touchdown. He had his first career interception last year against Georgetown.
* Lafayette broke Georgetown's two-game streak of scoring 28 points or more. Georgetown had previously scored fewer than 28 points for in 21 consecutive games.
* Ian Dell got his first career sack.
* Andy Romans fell one short of tying his career high of 12 tackles, which he established last year against Georgetown.