Sept. 13, 2008

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Easton, Pa. - Though Lafayette tallied nearly 400 yards on offense, the Leopards' stingy defense helped secure the 24-6 win against Georgetown on Saturday night in the teams' Patriot League opener. With the win, the Leopards improved to 2-0 on the season.

Junior quarterback Rob Curley finished the night 14-of-24 passing for 175 yards. Tyrell Coon and tailback Maurice White dominated the running game with a combined 212 yards on 35 rushes.

The Leopards marched 71 yards on their first drive, which was capped off by Curley's one-yard touchdown run. Sophomore Davis Rodriguez's PAT was good and Lafayette took a 7-0 lead at 10:07 in the first quarter.

The Leopards' defense held the Hoyas (1-1, 0-1) scoreless in the first half. The last time Lafayette shut out an opponent in the first half was Oct. 6, 2007 against Columbia.

Junior defensive lineman Andrew Poulson blocked Georgetown kicker Casey Dobyns' 29-yard field-goal attempt with 5:16 left in the second quarter.

With less than three minutes remaining, sophomore linebacker Neil Goldsmith intercepted Hoyas' quarterback James Brady and picked up 37 yards in the first half. The interception was Goldsmith's second of the season and led to Rodriguez's 23-yard field goal that gave Lafayette a 10-0 lead at the break.

Lafayette attacked again late in the third quarter when Coon rushed for his first score of the season, a one-yard touchdown at 2:27. Rodriguez added the PAT to increase the lead 17-0. Coon finished the night with 17 carries for 96 yards.

Georgetown broke out of its lull in the fourth quarter on a nine-play, 92-yard drive that resulted in a two-yard touchdown run by quarterback Keerome Lawrence. The Hoyas' failed kick attempt left the score 17-6 at 9:43.

But the Leopards weren't finished as Curley recorded his second touchdown of the night with less than one minute remaining in the game on a one-yard rush to run the final to 24-6.

Lafayette has a bye week before its Homecoming game against Penn on Sept. 27 at 6 p.m.

NOTES:
Maurice White had his second 100+ yard game of the season, finishing with 18 carries for 106 yards. White opened the season with 212 yards and two touchdowns at Marist.

With 74 yards receiving, senior WR Shaun Adair moved into ninth place on the career receiving yards list, taking over for Jeremy Burkes '04 (1506 yards). His five receptions also moved him into a tie for ninth place on the career receptions list with 104. He is tied with tied with Craig Roubinek '94.

The Lafayette defense is allowing just 53.0 yards per game, surrendering 37 at Marist and 70 vs. Georgetown.

Lafayette has won its last five Patriot League openers, last losing in 2003 to Towson, a school that no longer competes in Patriot League football.