By Michael Kelley ’14
Photos by Steven Tringali ’13/ The Lafayette
Lafayette football (5-2, 2-0 PL) put together its most impressive performance of the season in a resounding 30-13 Homecoming victory against Holy Cross (1-6, 1-2 PL). It was their first win against the Crusaders since 2007.
A victory next Saturday against Georgetown would tie their win total from the past two seasons, when they went a combined 6-16.
“The team continues to be that kind of team: a very close-knit football team that will battle together,” Head Coach Frank Tavani said. “And win or lose, we’re going to stay together as a family.”
Tavani decided to wear the alternate black jerseys for the game yesterday, in accordance with the student-organized “Black-Out.”
The offense took full advantage of the Patriot League’s last place defense, totaling season highs of 406 yards of offense and 30 points. Quarterback Andrew Shoop ‘13 completed 20 of 28 passes for 235 yards and two touchdowns and frequently found favored wide receiver Mark Ross ‘14, who was responsible for one touchdown and 168 of Shoop’s 235 passing yards. Ross had his fourth consecutive 100-yard receiving game and is the first Lafayette player to accomplish that feat since John Weyrauch ‘04 in 2001.
“We had a lot of pass plays called this week and I thought there was a chance I could have a big day,” Ross said. “Luckily, we could run the ball and do both but the game plan was the pass.”
Lafayette unleashed their most efficient rushing attack of the season, totaling 174 yards on 43 carries. Vaughn Hebron ‘13 led the way with 13 carries for 95 yards and one touchdown.
“I owe it to the OGs [Offensive Guards], it starts up with them,” Hebron said.
The defense intercepted their 16th and 17th passes of the season, one from cornerback Darius Safford ‘13 and one from linebacker Mike Boles ‘14. Holy Cross was restricted to 244 yards of offense and possessed the ball for only 24:51, compared to Lafayette’s 35:09. Lafayette also tallied a season high of six sacks, two of which came from defensive lineman and co-captain Rick Lyster ‘13.
After a 55-yard drive put them in field goal range in the first quarter, kicker Ryan Gralish ‘16 hit the right post, blundering the 42-yard attempt.
After exchanging several punts with the Holy Cross, Lafayette strung together two nice drives to build a lead. At the 6:14 mark in the second quarter, Shoop scored on a 10-yard touchdown run to cap off a 5 play, 71-yard drive that lasted 2:20. On the previous play, Shoop rolled out to the right and threw a 43-yard pass down the near sideline to the sure-handed Ross. The extra point attempt was unsuccessful. On the ensuing drive, Safford intercepted a pass that was tipped by defensive tackle Jason Marshalek ‘13. The offense put their helmets back on after a brief stay on the sideline and drove 33 yards where Gralish kicked a 31-yard field goal.
Holy Cross began the second half with the football but moved a total of 2 yards before punting. And once again, Shoop and the offense drove 71 yards in 5 plays to score, this one a five-yard pass to Ross, who boxed his defender out to make the easy catch. On the drive, Hebron had a 51-yard run down the far sideline and made an impressive cut back and juke to force a missed tackle.
With Lafayette up 16, Holy Cross needed a score and got one when tight end Alex Schneider ‘13 caught a 12-yard touchdown pass and broke a tackle from Shane Black ‘15. Holy Cross then forced two straight Lafayette punts, but could not capitalize, missing two consecutive long-range field goals.
Lafayette drove the field for another score, this one an 8 play, 69 yard drive that ended with a 28 yard touchdown pass to tight end Brandon Hall ‘14. On the play, Hall fought through a pass interference penalty and made a diving catch. A fired up Tavani ran onto the field pumping his fist as his players celebrated in the end zone.
But the boisterous Lafayette crowd was temporarily silenced when Kalif Raymond ‘16 returned the kickoff for a touchdown. Raymond let the ball bounce, picked it up, and ran 80 yards to the end zone untouched.
Lafayette then punted, but got the ball back when Boles intercepted a pass inside the ten and returned it to the two-yard line. Three plays later, Hebron dove over the top of the pile to seal the victory.
With each additional win comes increased attention on the Lafayette football team. Players and coaches, for their part, couldn’t care less.
“I don’t think we really care if people talk about us,” Hebron said. “We talk among ourselves, we know what we need to get better on. We know what our goals are and how we’re going to take that.”
Lafayette, Colgate, and Lehigh are in a three-way tie for first place in the league standings. Next up is Georgetown Saturday, October 27. Kick off is set for 6 p.m.
Ben Brown ’14 contributed reporting to this article.
