Leopards apply brakes to 10-game losing streak

Lafayette figures it has given away potential victories during a 10-game losing streak that went back into the 2018 season.

On Saturday evening, the Leopards finally took one.

It was Selwyn Simpson, a junior running back who has seen a couple of younger players make names for themselves while he missed three games with an ankle injury, who delivered the knockout punch.

Simpson, who had only 41 rushing yards in four games this season, bolted 22 yards for a fourth-quarter touchdown that capped a second-half comeback and gave the Leopards a 21-17 Patriot League victory over Bucknell in Fisher Stadium.

Lafayette, which had lost seven in a row this year, trailed by 10 points after three quarters against the Bison, who have had their own problems under firstyear head coach Dave Cecchini. But the Leopards defense put a stranglehold on Bucknell in the final 15 minutes, allowing only 21 yards while Lafayette’s offense gained 159.

First, the Leopards drove 95 yards after being backed up by a pooch punt that was forced after defensive end Keith Earle made a big defensive stop. Freshman quarterback Keegan Shoemaker, who had gone 11 consecutive quarters without a touchdown pass, ended that slide when he found wide receiver Nick Pearson behind the Bucknell defense and drilled a strike that turned out to be a 43-yard touchdown.

But the job was not finished for coach John Garrett’s team.

Brandon Sanders, who had eight catches and two touchwas downs for Bucknell, fumbled when he was hit by freshman Marco Olivas, and Yasir Thomas recovered it at the Bison 45.

Simpson, who has bulked up to 235 pounds, capped a fiveplay drive by bursting through a hole opened by linemen Jake Marotti and Nathan Slater and going 22 yards for his first touchdown of the season. That put the Leopards ahead.

“Marotti and Slater did a great job on their blocks, and once I was through there was no one there,” Simpson said after finishing with 68 yards on nine carries. “It was been a tough year with my injuries, but everyone has been supportive. It feels great [to finally win one] and everybody is excited.”

It has been running back by committee for Lafayette this year, but Simpson, who at times has had some fumble problems, the big back everybody expected him to be when he was recruited out of Spring-Ford High School. The Leopards finished with 162 yards rushing on 34 plays Saturday.

Pearson wound up with six catches for 95 yards and his third touchdown of the season. Shoemaker was 23-for-27 passing for 207 yards and also contributed 47 net yards on 12 carries.

Linebacker Major Jordan was all over the place for Lafayette with 10 solo tackles and four assists.

Bucknell, now 1-7 overall and 1-2 in the league, had lots of scoring chances in the first half but missed field goals of 39 and 26 yards after being stopped by the Lafayette defense. Ethan Torres did make one field goal, a 28-yarder.