Football Falls To Lafayette 21-13

Bronx, N.Y. – After seeming to get on track over the past two games, the Fordham football offense was hit with a double whammy today: a stingy Lafayette defense and a strong nor'easter that hit the Bronx as the Rams fell to the Leopards, 21-13, in a Patriot League game on Jack Coffey Field. With the loss, Fordham falls to 1-7 overall, 1-2 in the Patriot League, while Lafayette improves to 3-5 overall, 2-2 in the conference. After gaining over 900 yards of offense in their past two games, the Rams were held to just 122 yards today and Lafayette took advantage of several Fordham miscues. The game was played in a continuous rain and a strong northeast wind that limited any balls put in the air. Fordham freshman quarterback Tim DeMoratcompleted 15 of 32 passes for 142 yards and two scores with five of those passes going to senior tight end Isaiah Searight for 30 yards and one score while senior wide receiver Austin Longi had four catches for 48 yards and a touchdown. However, the Rams could not generate a ground game as four Lafayette sacks caused Fordham to finish with negative net rushing yards. Defensively, the Rams held the Leopards to just 22 passing yards but Lafayette gained 280 rushing yards with three scores. Senior safety Antonio Jacksonled the Rams with ten tackles, eight solo, including one for loss, while sophomore linebacker Glenn Cunningham finished with seven stops, including a season-high four for loss. Fordham got on the board first as DeMorat connected with Searight on an eight-yard touchdown pass early in the second before Lafayette responded with a 38-yard scoring run four minutes later.

Glenn Cunningham and Deondre Carter combine for the tackle.

Midway through the second, senior cornerback Dylan Mabin recovered a Lafayette fumble on the Leopards' four and on the next play DeMorat found Longi for the score and a 13-7 lead. But just before the half, DeMorat couldn't handle a bad snap and Lafayette recovered the ball on the Fordham 39. Four plays later, the Leopards took a 14-13 lead on a 31-yard touchdown rush. Midway through the third a 51-yard rush gave Lafayette the ball on the Fordham four and two plays later the Leopards went up 21-13 following a one-yard scoring plunge. Takeaways • Fordham senior tight end Isaiah Searight now has 74 career receptions for 950 career yards. • Searight is looking to become the fourth Fordham tight end to reach 1,000 career receiving yards, joining Dan Light (1,594 from 2011-14), Stephen Skelton (1,313 from 2007-2010) and Jim Walls (1,021 from 1996-1999). • Last year Searight set a school record for a tight end with 139 receiving yards against Lehigh. • The Rams entered the game averaging just 4.14 penalties per game, seventh best in the NCAA FCS, and were whistled for five today. • Andrew Mevis kicked off three times today with all three being touchbacks. • Lafayette has taken the past two meetings with the Rams. • The game was a matchup of the Pace brothers as Ian Pace is the Fordham co-recruiting coordinator/tight ends coach while his younger brother, Ian, is the tight ends/full backs coach for the Leopards. By the Numbers 7.0 – Total tackles for loss for the Rams, who entered the game averaging 7.40/game, 21st-best in the NCAA FCS. 19 – Receiving touchdowns for Austin Longi, moving him into a tie for fifth with Sam Ajala (2011-2014) on the Fordham all-time list. 47.0 – Punting average for Andrew Mevis, a season-high (nine punts for 442 yards with five punts for more than 50 yards). 68 – Long punt for Andrew Mevis, two yards shy of his career-high set last week vs. Bryant 177 – Career receptions for Austin Longi, who had four today, moving him into fifth-place tie with Dan Light (2011-2014) on the Fordham career list. 2,319 – Career receiving yards for Austin Longi, who had 48 today, moving him ahead of Tom Garlick (1989-1992) and into sixth place on the Fordham career list. What's Next? • The Rams close out the home portion of their 2018 Patriot League schedule as they host the first place Colgate University Raiders on Jack Coffey Field next Saturday, November 3, at 1:00 p.m. • It will be the 30th meeting between Fordham and Colgate on the gridiron. • The Raiders lead the all-time series, which started in 1989, 22-7. • Colgate took last year's meeting, 38-12, in Hamilton as James Holland rushed 22 times for 166 yards and one score and Grant Breneman completed 14 of 25 passes for 159 yards and three touchdowns. • The Rams have taken three of the past five meetings, including a 24-20 win on Jack Coffey Field in 2016 as Kevin Anderson completed 27 of 42 passes for 263 yards and three touchdowns. • Fordham is 7-22 against Colgate since joining the Patriot League. • The Rams are 4-10 against the Raiders on Jack Coffey Field and 3-12 in Hamilton.