Curtis runs for 156 yards and 2 TDs as Lafayette runs past Sacred Heart 31-17

EASTON, Pa. — Jamar Curtis ran for two first-half touchdowns and Lafayette rebounded from being shut out for the first time since 2019 a week ago to dominate Sacred Heart 31-17 in a non-conference contest Saturday.

The Leopards (4-3) were blanked by Patriot League rival Georgetown last week, 17-0, with the Hoyas dominating time of possession by a whopping 18 minutes. This week they held the ball for more than seven minutes longer than the Pioneers.

Curtis punctuated a 12-play, 70-yard first-quarter drive that consumed more than five minutes by punching in from the 1 to open the scoring. After Jalen Madison evened the score with a 6-yard touchdown for Sacred Heart (3-5), Troy Bruce and Curtis scored back-to-back to make it 21-7 early in the second quarter.

Madison broke free for a 27-yard touchdown midway through the quarter, but Jack Simonetta's 23-yard field goal put Lafayette up 24-14 at the break.

The Lafayette ground game amassed 297 yards, with Curtis picking up 156 yards on 27 carries. Bruce carried 14 times for 83 yards and a touchdown. Dean DeNobile completed 9 of 15 passes, good for 84 yards with an interception, and capped the scoring by squeezing in from a yard out early in the fourth.

Madison finished with 91 rushing yards on 17 carries with both touchdowns. Independent Sacred Heart now has lost all four of its road games.