EASTON, Pa. — In a dominant display, the Georgetown Hoyas defeated the Lafayette Leopards 17-0 in their Patriot League opener on Saturday. This victory marked the first time Georgetown has achieved a shutout against an FCS team since their 7-0 win over Stony Brook on September 7, 2006.

The Hoyas improved their record to 4-2 overall and 1-0 in the Patriot League, while Lafayette fell to 3-3 and 1-1. Georgetown’s defense proved to be a formidable challenge for Lafayette, successfully stopping them on fourth down three times and forcing a total of five punts. The Leopards struggled offensively, mustering only 236 yards in total and merely 69 on the ground.

Lafayette nearly managed to break the shutout midway through the third quarter when quarterback Dean DeNobile connected with Elijah Steward for a significant 46-yard gain, advancing to the Georgetown 25. However, the Hoyas’ defense stiffened and forced four consecutive incompletions, quelling the scoring opportunity.

The scoring began with a 26-yard field goal by Patrick Ryan, concluding a 12-play, 51-yard drive in the first quarter. As the first half was approaching its conclusion, Savion Hart scored from one yard out, extending Georgetown’s lead to 10-0. Following an interception by Cooper Blomstrom at the Lafayette 24, Udechukwu Enyeribe showcased his speed and agility, dashing through the middle for a touchdown.

Last year, Georgetown quarterback Danny Lauter set a record by throwing for 429 yards against Lafayette. This time around, he completed 12 of 25 passes for 100 yards with one interception. Meanwhile, Bryce Cox was the standout in the rushing department, carrying the ball 19 times for 74 yards out of the Hoyas’ total of 191 rushing yards. Jimmy Kibble, who was leading the Patriot League in receiving yards, recorded three catches for 42 yards.

DeNobile had a challenging game for Lafayette, managing to complete only 10 of his 38 passes for 167 yards along with four interceptions, reflecting the pressure applied by Georgetown’s defense throughout the match. The Hoyas’ impressive performance both offensively and defensively secured their place in the league with a notable win.