Lafayette gets 3 total TDs from specials teams and defense in 56-14 victory over Marist

EASTON, Pa. — Dean DeNobile completed 20 of 23 passes for 241 yards and a touchdown, Jamar Curtis rushed for 88 yards and three scores, and Lafayette beat Marist 56-14 on Saturday.

The Lafayette special teams opened the scoring less than two minutes into the game when Gianlucca Tiberia blocked a punt and Xavier Johnson recovered it in the end zone. The punt return team did it again at the end of the first half when freshman Mason Kuehner scooped a low punt that bounced to him and reversed the field to race down the right sideline for a 57-yard touchdown to make it 28-7 with 1:37 left before halftime.

Marist went three-and-out and Lafayette marched 55 yards in 65 seconds to take a 35-7 lead on Curtis' third short touchdown run of the first half.

Elijah Steward caught six passes for 102 yards and Carson Persing made a team-high nine catches for 82 yards for Lafayette (2-1).

Enzo Arjona was intercepted two times for Marist (0-2). Lafayette DL Jaylon Joseph returned a third-quarter interception for a 16-yard touchdown and a 49-7 lead.

It was the second straight big game for Steward, who set a school record with 15 catches for a career-high 244 yards in a wild 40-35 comeback win at Monmouth last week.

After Lafayette recovered an onside kick in the final seconds, DeNobile hit Steward for a 42-yard touchdown reception and the victory.