The Fordham University football team improved to 4-0 in the Patriot League with a 34-23 with a win over three-time defending league champion Lafayette College in Easton, Pa., on Saturday, Oct. 20.

The four league wins to open the season is a first for the Rams since joining the conference in 1989 and the first for a Fordham team since the 1988 squad went 5-0 in the Liberty Conference on the NCAA Division III level.

“I’m so impressed with how the team came out and played today,” said Fordham head coach Tom Masella. “They played hard every play and did the things we had to do in order to win. The defense came up with some big stops and we had so many people make plays today.”

John Skelton Photo by Vincent Dusovic

Fordham was led by sophomore quarterback John Skelton , who completed 19 of 26 passes for his career-high 323 yards and two touchdowns. Running back Jonte Coven led all Fordham rushers with 43 yards on 13 carries while Xavier Martin finished with 41 yards in 14 carries and the two touchdowns.

“I was telling my teammates before the game that this is the biggest game of my life,” Skelton said. “In high school, I never played for a championship and to come in and play the three-time defending league champions with first place on the line was exciting.”

The Rams, who are 6-2 overall, will next be in action on Saturday, Oct. 27, as they travel to Poughkeepsie to face Marist College in their final non-conference game of the year.

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