Bronx, N.Y. – The Fordham football team led 17-14 at the half, but it wasn't enough, as the Rams dropped a 31-17 decision to Lafayette on Saturday afternoon at Moglia Stadium at Jack Coffey Field.
With the loss, Fordham falls to 2-7 overall and 2-4 in the Patriot League, while Lafayette improves to 3-4 overall and 2-2 in conference play.
Fordham opened the scoring on its second possession of the afternoon. The Rams marched 70 yards in six plays, with senior running back
Jamell James finishing the drive with a 12-yard touchdown run to give Fordham a 7-0 lead with 4:32 remaining in the first quarter.
Lafayette answered on its ensuing possession, driving 65 yards in six plays before Jakyre Henley scored on a 30-yard touchdown run to tie the game at 7-7.
The Rams regained the lead early in the second quarter when sophomore
Yohan-Li Louis scored on a four-yard touchdown run, capping a 10-play, 71-yard drive and putting Fordham ahead, 14-7.
Lafayette again answered, tying the game at 14-14 on a six-yard touchdown pass from Eddie Jordan to Mason Kuehner with 5:11 remaining in the half. Fordham then took a 17-14 lead into halftime when junior
Bennett Henderson connected on a 20-yard field goal as time expired.
The Leopards took control after halftime, scoring a touchdown on their opening possession of the second half to take a 21-17 lead. Lafayette added another touchdown early in the fourth quarter before Jack Simonetta's 26-yard field goal with 3:58 remaining completed the scoring.
Fordham finished the afternoon with 397 yards of total offense, including 309 yards through the air. Senior quarterback
Gunnar Smith completed 28 of 40 passes for a season-high 309 yards, marking the first time since last year's game at Lafayette that a Fordham quarterback surpassed 300 passing yards.
Smith's 309 passing yards came on 28 completions, with senior
Ricky Gonzalez II leading the Rams with 11 receptions for 129 yards.
KJ Reed added six receptions for 63 yards, while
Nodin Tracy caught three passes for 41 yards.
On the ground, Louis rushed 13 times for 43 yards and a touchdown, while James carried 10 times for 37 yards and a score.
Defensively, senior linebacker
Andrew Osmun led the Rams with 11 tackles, including one tackle for loss. Osmun also reached a career milestone during the game, recording his 250th career tackle.
Freshman
AJ Revella added eight tackles, while senior
Johnny Schmitt and sophomore
Tyler Davis each recorded five or more stops. Davis also registered a sack, while Tiumalu Afalava added a sack and a tackle for loss.
Notes
• Fordham finished with 397 yards of total offense, including 309 passing yards.
• Smith's 309 passing yards were a season high and marked Fordham's first 300-yard passing performance since last year's game at Lafayette.
• Smith completed 28 of 40 passes with no interceptions.
• Gonzalez II led Fordham with 11 receptions for 129 yards.
• Fordham converted 4-of-12 third-down attempts and 3-of-6 fourth-down attempts.
By the Numbers
397 – Total yards for the Fordham offense
309 – Passing yards for
Gunnar Smith, a season high and Fordham's first 300-yard passing performance since last year's game at Lafayette.
257 – Career tackles for
Andrew Osmun after reaching the milestone during today's game.
129 – Receiving yards for
Ricky Gonzalez II.
11 – Receptions for Gonzalez II.
11 – Tackles for Osmun on the day
What's Next?
Following the bye week, the Rams will travel to Bucknell on November 7, with kickoff set for 1:00 pm.
