The long and arduous offseason for Lafayette College’s football team has come to a close as players suit up for the 2025 season. The Leopards will attempt to improve upon their 2-4 record in Patriot League play and 6-6 overall total from the previous year.
Head coach John Troxell, who is entering his 20th season as a head coach and fourth on College Hill, said the team is focusing on the process rather than the outcome in the early stages of the season as it looks to return to the top of the standings.
“We have to minimize mistakes to give us more chances to win in the fourth quarter,” Troxell said. “The goal this year really is to play as hard as we can and have as much fun as we can.”
The Leopards’ offense will be led by senior quarterback Dean DeNobile, who is shaping up for his third season under center. He will be complemented by senior standout wide receiver and Preseason All-Patriot League Team selection Elijah Steward. Although there will be questions about the run game after the transfers of both Jamar Curtis and Troy Bruce, the Leopards return all five starters on their offensive line, which will be the main unit to watch on the offensive side of the ball.
“We focus on putting the work in every day,” senior offensive lineman and captain Brian Baucia said. “We feel really good about where we’re at. Coach Baumann has been great with us, just taking it day by day.”
Although the Leopards’ defense ranked second in the Patriot League and third in scoring in 2024, the unit lost its entire starting secondary and linebacker core in the offseason and will have to rely heavily on the past two recruiting classes. Despite returning all four starters and significant depth on the defensive line, the group is coming off a down year that saw it finish last in the conference in sacks.
“We’re really young, but we’re really competitive and talented,” senior defensive lineman and captain Phillip Peiffer said. “It’s just a matter of building that chemistry and executing what we’re being told to do.”
Peiffer, who is returning for his fifth season, was motivated by his teammates to come back after suffering a season-ending injury early last year.
“It was frustrating watching my team go out there and play and not be a part of it,” Peiffer said. “I wasn’t ready to go out like that, so I knew I had to come back.”
The Leopards will also focus on revitalizing their special teams unit, which struggled mightily in 2024. The Maroon and White were last in field goal percentage by a wide margin, converting only three kicks all season. The team was also largely unsuccessful in flipping the field with a conference second-worst 36.9 yards per punt.
“We have to do a much better job, but we’re going to have some young guys out there for the first time too,” Troxell said. “It’s a concern, but we have athletic kids. Guys are doing a lot of work, so it’s going to be exciting for them to get a big role.”
Regular-season action will kick off on Thursday at 6 p.m. with the Leopards facing FBS opponent Bowling Green State University on the road. The team will travel for two more weeks — the first season it will play multiple FBS teams since 1993 — before embarking on a four-game home stretch starting on Sept. 19, including the Homecoming game against Princeton University on Sept. 26.
The Leopards will conclude their campaign with back-to-back contests against 2024 playoff teams as they travel to new conference opponent Richmond University and host Lehigh University in the 161st Rivalry Game on Nov. 22.
“I think it goes without saying we weren’t satisfied with the season last year,” Baucia said. “Obviously, on paper, it wasn’t the worst season we’ve ever had, but we expect better out of ourselves, so I think we keep the focus on taking it day-by-day and not really looking in the future too much.”