Jamar Curtis goes over 200 yards on ground, leads Lafayette to cusp of Patriot League title

Nov 11, 2023, 10:00 pm

EASTON, Pa. -- — Jamar Curtis went over 200 yards rushing for the second time in three games and Lafayette kept its first Patriot League title since 2013 in sight, defeating Fordham 24-16 on Saturday.

Curtis, who had a career-high 229 yards in a key 38-35 victory over Holy Cross on Oct. 21., had 204 yards and his 3-yard run with about 7 minutes left in the game gave the Leopards a 24-10 lead.

The No. 23 FCS Leopards (8-2, 4-1) are tied with Holy Cross for the Patriot League lead and only need to defeat last-place Lehigh on the road next week to wrap up the league title in coach John Troxell's second season.

Lafayette got a touchdown pass and a short touchdown run from Dean DeNobile for a 14-3 lead through three quarters. Jack Simonetta's 24-yard field goal pushed the lead to 17-3 early in the fourth quarter.

Fordham sandwiched a CJ Montes touchdown run and his 15-yard touchdown pass to Julius Loughridge around Curtis' fourth-quarter touchdown, but Lafayette milked the final few minutes off the clock.

DeNobile completed 16 of 21 passes for 137 yards.

Montes was 23-of-34 passing for 253 yards for the Rams (6-4, 2-3).

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