Lafayette uses Curtis and late end zone pick by Smallwood to run Sacred Heart's season opener
FAIRFIELD, Conn. -- — Jamar Curtis ran for 171 yards and backup quarterback Dean DeNobile helped lead a late drive to help Lafayette spoil Sacred Heart's home opener with a 19-14 win to start the season for both teams on Saturday.
Curtis ran 47 yards to the Pioneers' 31-yard line with 1:35 left and Lafayette ran out the clock from there. Just two plays prior, Lafayette's Taylor Smallwood intercepted Sacred Heart's Cade Pribula in the end zone to preserve the 19-14 lead.
Lafayette reclaimed the lead when DeNobile guided the Leopards on a 13-play, 75-yard drive that ended with Nahjee Adams scoring from a yard out with 7:14 remaining.
The Leopards built a 13-0 advantage when Curtis ran for a 28-yard score early in the game, and just into the second quarter, Ryan Schuster ran it in from the 4 but the point-after kick missed.
Jalen Madison put the Pioneers on the scoreboard when he ran it from 17 yards with 1:28 before halftime. After a scoreless third, Sacred Heart took its lone lead when Pribula connected with Ethan Hillman on an 11-yard score with 11:41 remaining.
Pribula finished with 139 yards passing.
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Game Information
2024 Patriot League Standings
Team | CONF | OVR |
---|---|---|
Lehigh | 5-1 | 9-4 |
Holy Cross | 5-1 | 6-6 |
Bucknell | 4-2 | 6-6 |
Lafayette | 2-4 | 6-6 |
Georgetown | 2-4 | 5-6 |
Fordham | 2-4 | 2-10 |
Colgate | 1-5 | 2-10 |
2024 FCS Independents Standings
Team | CONF | OVR |
---|---|---|
Merrimack | 0-0 | 5-6 |
Sacred Heart | 0-2 | 5-6 |