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Lafayette Hangs Tough With New Hampshire, but Wildcats Rally to Stay Unbeaten. @LafColFootball @UNH_Football

Tagged under: Gameday Hub, News, Pennsylvania Colleges

| September 19, 2021

Bret Edwards Tosses Two Touchdowns To Brian Espanet In Victory.
By Brian Ptashinski @BPtashinski on Twitter

EASTON- The Lafayette Leopards, making their season debut at Fisher Stadium, after two tough road losses at Air Force and William & Mary, were looking to get into the win column on a beautiful Saturday afternoon. However, nationally-ranked New Hampshire Wildcats had other ideas, as they fell behind early, to rally in a 19-13 victory in a key FCS contest.

The Leopards opened up the game in spectacular fashion, as return specialist Michael Hayes took the opening kickoff from his own seven, and hugged the right sidelines on his way to a 93 yard jaunt, giving the home team an early 7-0 lead after Micah Pettit kicked the extra-point.

New Hampshire, ranked 23rd in the most recent FBS pole, coming off wins against Stony Brook and Towson respectively took their initial drive to the Lafayette 18, where the drive stalled, placekicker Jordan Conn missed from thirty-five yards, the first of two field goal attempts the other being from thirty-nine yards.

The Wildcats made the score 7-6 in the second quarter on a three yard pass from Edwards to Espanet with 11:29 on the clock, the first two touchdowns the pair would hook up for, the PAT was missed. Edwards finished 22 of 37 passing for 249 yards and the two scores, Espanet caught 6 passes for 57 yards in the contest. That score held up at intermission.

New Hampshire, grabbed the lead in the third quarter as Edwards found Espanet, after scrambling out of the pocket for a 14 yard score at the 10:43 mark. The attempt for a two-point conversion was no good leaving the score at 12-7.

Freshman quarterback Ah-Shaun Davis, making his first start for the Leopards, led his team down field late in the third quarter, the big play was a 48 pass completion Jordan Hull to the Wildcat 25,however the drive would stall and had to settle for a 38 yard filed goal by Pettit making the score 12-10 with 2:16 left in the quarter. Davis finished the game 16 of 23 for 192 yards and a pick.

In the final quarter, New Hampshire found the end zone again on the second play, when running back Dylan Laube found an opening on the left side of the line and scooted down the sidelines for a 50 yard score and a 19-10 lead.

The Leopards, not be deterred drove the ball down to the Wildcats 24, but again the drive stalled and facing a fourth-and-two, they decided to kick the field goal, knowing they needed two scores, Pettit came in a and connected on the 41 yard attempt to leave score at 19-13 with 1;48 left to play.

The obvious decision to try on the on-side kick, was recovered by the Wildcats, were they ran out the clock to survive the scare 19-13.

Lafayette(0-3) will host the University of Pennsylvania, in their second of a four game homestand next Saturday at 3:30.

Follow PA Football News on Twitter @PaFootballNews

 
 
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