The Oldest College Newspaper in Pennsylvania

The Lafayette

The Oldest College Newspaper in Pennsylvania

The Lafayette

The Oldest College Newspaper in Pennsylvania

The Lafayette

Comeback falls short in first loss of the season

By Michael Kelley ’14

Photo courtesy of goleopards.com

Quarterback Andrew Shoop ‘13 attempts to escape a Robert Morris University defender in last Saturday’s game. Shoop and Lafayette scored 21 straight points in the second half to tie the game, but lost on a game-winning field goal with 19 seconds left. The loss cost Lafayette a chance at its first 4-0 start since 1988.
Quarterback Andrew Shoop ‘13 attempts to escape a Robert Morris University defender in last Saturday’s game. Shoop and Lafayette scored 21 straight points in the second half to tie the game, but lost on a game-winning field goal with 19 seconds left. The loss cost Lafayette a chance at its first 4-0 start since 1988.

For a team that has defined itself on forcing turnovers this season, Lafayette football (3-1, 1-0 PL) took a step back last Saturday when they turned the ball over three times in a 31-28 loss against Robert Morris University (1-3) at Joe Walton Stadium.

After a dismal first half, Lafayette trailed 28-7. Following halftime though, the comeback was on as Lafayette scored 21 straight points to tie the game. But it wasn’t enough as RMU kicked a 33-yard field goal with 19 seconds left to win.

In the second half, Lafayette outgained RMU 236-101 and yielded just three points, raising questions about the flat start that ultimately doomed them.

“It’s hard to pinpoint when things are going to come out that way,” Head Coach Frank Tavani said at Tuesday’s media luncheon. “We did not play very well in any phase of the game in the first half. You have to credit RMU, they made a lot of plays, had a game plan, and were able to execute it.”

After trading interceptions, RMU scored off of a disputed fumble call. On the play, receiver Mark Ross ‘14 appeared to juggle a pass without control before an RMU defender knocked it free, leading to the recovery and touchdown return.

“Personally, I thought I was still bobbling the ball and never had control, but I take responsibility for what happened because I should have caught it cleanly in the first place,” Ross, who had 13 catches for 151 yards, said after the game.

Quarterback Andrew Shoop ‘13 agreed. “We felt as though Mark never had full possession of the ball. That’s something we have control of. If I make a better throw or Mark makes a cleaner catch, the refs are not in position to make that call.”

Just five minutes later, RMU scored again, this time off a 26-yard pass and catch in the back of the end zone.

In between RMU scores, Lafayette managed a 79-yard touchdown drive that was capped off by a 25-yard-rushing touchdown by Ross Scheuerman ‘15 (75 yds, 6.2 per carry), the first of his career.

But just as it seemed Lafayette had survived the initial blow, RMU responded with a 72-yard touchdown drive and an interception off of Shoop that resulted in another touchdown, solidifying the 21-point halftime lead.

Tavani sent a message to his team at halftime.

“He challenged us to prove that we were the team we showed in the past three weeks and not the team of the past,”Shoop said.

The message was received as Shoop threw touchdown passes on three straight drives of 80, 73, and 74 yards to tie the game. Ross caught the first two and senior receiver Rodney Gould caught the equalizer.

But on the final drive of the game, RMU drove 67 yards for the game-winning field goal, highlighted by a 43-yard completion from quarterback Jeff Sinclair ‘13.

Defensive lineman Rick Lyster ‘13 partially blocked the field goal, but to no avail.

“He had four fingers on that kick and it just wasn’t enough,” Tavani said. “We have nothing to be ashamed of. We left it all out on the field. I certainly felt good about how our young men battled back.”

In addition to the three turnovers, Lafayette had nine costly penalties, the majority of which were in the fourth quarter.

The loss cost Lafayette a chance at its first 4-0 start since 1988.

ds.com

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