• THE MATCH-UP: Lafayette (3-1) hosts Princeton (1-2) on Saturday at Fisher Stadium. The Leopards look to rebound from their first loss of the season, a 31-28 setback at Robert Morris. Lafayette erased a 21-point halftime deficit only to have RMU kick a game-winning field goal with 19 seconds left in regulation.
• A WIN OVER PRINCETON WOULD...make Lafayette 4-1 for the first time since 2009 when the Leopards opened 8-1. It would also snap a five-game series losing streak against the Tigers. The Leopards who are 2-11 vs. Princeton since the series picked back up in 1992.
• TURNOVER TALES: Turnovers have told the story for Lafayette in 2012. The Leopards are +9 on the season, a year after going -14 for the 2011 campaign. In Lafayette's last outing at Robert Morris, the Leopards were -2, handing over two interceptions and a fumble while picking off one pass. Lafayette is currently ranked second in the nation in turnover margin at +2.0 per game.
• RCN COMMUNITY NIGHT: Forks Township police officer Brooks Kranich will sing the national anthem and Easton Mayor Sal Panto will handle the pre-game coin toss.
• INTERCEPTION NUMBERS: Lafayette is first is the nation in passes intercepted with 11 through four games (2.75 per game). Individually, sophomore safety Jared Roberts is second in the nation at .75 per game (3 interceptions in four games).
• ON THE LEFT SIDE: Just a sophomore, Luke Chiarolanzio, anchors the offensive line. Chiarolanzio has started 14 straight games at tackle (10 as a freshman at right tackle and four this season at left tackle). Lining up next to him at left guard is Brad Bormann, a starter at guard in six games as a sophomore and all four this season.
• RELIABLE RODNEY: Head coach Frank Tavani likes to call senior WR Rodney Gould "Reliable Rodney" and the numbers bear that out. Gould is second on the team in "money" receptions, which are plays that result in a first down or touchdown. Of his 14 receptions, half fit that category with six first downs and two touchdowns. Mark Ross leads the team in money receptions with 16 of his 21 catches qualifying (14 first downs and 2 touchdowns).
• MOVING UP THE PASSING LADDER: Senior QB Andrew Shoop threw for 268 yards at Robert Morris, moving him to ninth place all-time for career passing yards with 2,783 yards. He advanced past Ryan O'Neil (2,699) and Mark Jones (2782). He needs 138 yards to ascend to eighth place (Ed Baker-2921).
• TOUCHDOWNS TOO: Andrew Shoop's three touchdown passes at Robert Morris moved him to 21, placing him ninth all-time. He needs two more to advance to eighth place..
SCOUTING PRINCETON
• Princeton enters the weekend with a 1-2 record, but just four points separate the Tigers from a 3-0 mark. Princeton dropped its opener, 17-14, at Lehigh on Sept. 15 and followed with a one-point loss (21-20) to Georgetown. The Tigers are coming off a 33-6 beatdown of Columbia in the Ivy League opener on Sept. 29.
• Princeton, which was 1-9 in 2010 and 2011, returns eight starters on offense and nine on defense.
• Soph. Connor Michelsen has taken over the quarterback duties, completing 36-of-71 for 355 yards, no TD's and one INT. Classmate Quinn Epperly has played in all three games, completing 8-of-14 for 107 yards and a touchdown.
• On the ground, tailbacks DiAndre Atwater and Akil Sharp have split time. Atwater has averaged 5.1 yards per carry (28-143) with a touchdown. Sharp missed the Columbia game with an injury but has 29 carries for 97 yards and two touchdowns.
• The Princeton defense has been the story in the early going, allowing just 14.7 points per game while surrendering 102 rushing yards and 213 passing yards per game.
• Senior OLB Andrew Starks has been the standout on defense, leading the team with 10.3 tackles per game. Seniors Mike Catapano and Caraun Reid, both all-Ivy League selections in 2011, anchor the line at end and tackle, respectively, while combining for five sacks.
• Bob Surace (Princeton '90) is in his third season at Princeton and holds a 3-20 record at the school.
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