Football Dropped by Lafayette, 24-10

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Easton, Pa. – Leopards are nocturnal animals, active at night when they venture out in search for food. They mostly spend their days resting, camouflaged in the trees or hiding in caves. Apparently, no one told this to the Lafayette College defense which held Fordham scoreless for the first three quarters as the Leopards defeated the Rams, 24-10, in a Patriot League game at Fisher Stadium.
 
With the loss, Fordham falls to 1-5 overall, 1-2 in the Patriot League, while Lafayette improves to 4-2 overall, 2-0 in the League.
 
Grad student linebacker James Conway led the Fordham defense, making eleven tackles, including one for loss, while sophomore defensive back Boogie Owens chipped in with nine stops, five solo, and he intercepted a pass.
 
Offensively, junior quarterback Gunnar Smith completed 32 of 45 passes for 354 yards and a touchdown with nine of those balls going to junior wide receiver Ricky Gonzalez II for 69 yards. Sophomore wide out Jack Freeburg hauled in five passes for 113 yards while freshman wide receiver Troy Worrell added four catches for 91 yards and a score.
 
How It Happened
• After a scoreless first quarter, Lafayette scored twice in the second to take a 14-0 lead at the break
 
• The Leopards made it 21-0 in the third on a blocked punt returned for a score before the Rams got on the board when Smith found Worrell in the left corner of the endzone early in the fourth.
 
• The Rams then scored again on a Bennett Henderson 35-yard field goal with 9:01 remaining but could get no closer.
 
Notes
• Conway has recorded double digit tackles in five of the six games this year.
 
• Freeburg is the first Fordham receiver to gain 100 yards in a game since Cole Thornton against Bucknell last November.
 
• Smith recorded his second 300-yard passing game of the year.
 
• Fordham was a perfect 5-for-5 on fourth down conversions.
 
• Lafayette entered the game second in the Patriot League in rushing yards per game (204.8) but the Fordham defense limited the Leopards to just 83 net yards.
 
• Fordham outgained Lafayette 405-402 in total offense.
 
By the Numbers
5 – Field goals made this year by Bennett Henderson.
 
10 – Different Fordham players to catch at least one pass today.
 
176 – Career punts for Will Haslett, seventh all-time on the Fordham career list.

522 – Career tackles for James Conway, a school and Patriot League record.
 
7,567 – Career punting yards for Will Haslett, moving him into fifth on the Fordham career list
 
What's Next?
• After a week off, the Rams return to action with their final nonconference game of the season, hosting Dartmouth College at Moglia Stadium on Saturday, Octobe8 18 at 1:00 p.m.
 
• It will be the sixth meeting between Fordham and Dartmouth on the gridiron.
 
• The Big Green lead the all-time series, 5-1, and have taken the past five meet­ings.
 
• Dartmouth won last year's meeting in Hanover, N.H.
 
Portions of this story created through content automation technology from Data Skrive.