By Eric Goldwein
Photos by Deb Kessel and Jack Fedak IV/ The Lafayette
Lafayette Football’s (4-5, 1-2) defensive back Darius Safford ‘13 had tunnel vision as he sprinted down the sidelines during his overtime interception last Saturday against the Colgate Raiders (4-6, 0-4).
“I didn’t even hear people say ‘go down,'” said Safford, who could have clinched the win by going out of bounds. “I didn’t even look at our sidelines to see what was going on.”
Safford didn’t look to his side, nor did he look back. He could only see ahead, focusing on the Allan P. Kirby Sports Center as he ran 100 yards to Colgate’s end zone.
“I was just in a zone, just seeing APK,” Safford said. “I ran right towards the end zone towards APK.”
Safford’s interception sealed the deal, giving the Leopards (4-5, 1-2) a 37-24 overtime victory in the last home-game of the season.
It was a memorable moment for Safford, though not his most important play of the game. Early in the fourth quarter with Lafayette trailing 14-10, Safford found himself sprinting toward the Allan P. Kirby Sports Center, but this time he didn’t have the ball. Instead, he was chasing down Colgate receiver Daniel Cason ‘14.
Cason ran 56 yards after beating Safford’s coverage, but Saffordstayed in the play and made a tackle at the one-yard line.
“You just got to forget about the previous play. It’s always the next play,” said Safford, who was responsible for one of Lafayette’s seven turnovers in the loss last week to Bucknell. “You still have your teammates looking for you to make plays.”
The Leopards held the Raiders to a field goal, keeping the game within one possession.
Lafayette and Colgate traded touchdowns, leaving quarterback Andrew Shoop ‘13 1:35 to get the Leopards into overtime.
Shoop and the Leopard offense ran the two-minute drill to perfection, and receiver Kyle Hayes ‘12 caught an 8-yard pass to tie the game with 30 seconds remaining.
In overtime, receiver Mark Ross ‘14 caught an impressive touchdown on third and goal on the Raiders’ 14-yard line.
During the following possession, the Leopards’ defense kept the Raiders out of the end zone, closing the game withSafford’s interception and giving senior night a storybook ending.
Safford was surrounded by his teammates after his overtime touchdown, first seeing safety Evan McGovern ‘12.
“I really will probably remember that for the rest of my life, seeing his face as I got to the end zone,” Safford said. “He gave me the biggest hug, saying ‘thank you.'”
Shoop, who threw two interceptions last week against Bucknell, had difficulty finding his rhythm through three quarters against the Raiders. However, he came up with plays in timely spots. Each of his three touchdowns — two passing and one rushing — came in the fourth quarter and overtime.
Ross also squandered multiple opportunities earlier in the game, yet gave the Leopards a 31-24 lead with his overtime touchdown reception.
“He battled back,” Shoop said. “It doesn’t matter what kind of game Mark is having. If there’s a throw I need at the end of the game, I know he’ll make the catch.”
Nine games into this roller coaster season, facing one of the toughest schedules in the FCS, the Leopards have experienced all the highs and lows. Blown out by the nation’s top team, North Dakota State, they have taken down the reigning Ivy League Champion Penn Quakers.
They dominated Fordham, a program with athletic scholarships. A week later, they were blown out by Bucknell — the Bison had not defeated Lafayette since 2001.
But the Leopards have short memory.
“That’s the mentality of everybody right now,” Shoop said. “Don’t let the good things get you too high and the bad things get you too low. You just got to keep going.”
Lafayette could get back to .500 with a win against Holy Cross (4-5, 2-2) in Worcester, Mass. tomorrow at 12:30 p.m.
“We just got to forget about the past,” Safford said. “All we can do is control [this game] and take it one play at a time.”