EASTON, Pa. (Interstat) — In a game that defied pregame projections, the Princeton Tigers erupted for 21 second-quarter points to build an insurmountable lead and held off a late surge from the Lafayette Leopards to secure a 38-28 victory on Saturday at Fisher Stadium.

The win, played before a crowd of 7,856, marked the first of the season for Princeton, which improved its record to one win and one loss. Lafayette, which had won three straight after a season-opening loss, fell to three wins and one loss.

The result was a stark reversal of expectations. Interstat’s ELO system had given Lafayette a 73.70 percent probability to win, and despite Princeton being installed as a pregame favorite with a spread of +11, the Tigers’ decisive performance and the combined total of 66 points going over the line of 57.5 made for a surprising afternoon.

Princeton’s offense, utilizing a dual-quarterback system effectively, set the tone early with a methodical, 15-play, 80-yard drive that consumed over 10 minutes of the first quarter. The march was capped by a 1-yard touchdown plunge from running back Ethan Clark of Clarkston, Michigan, giving the Tigers a 7-0 lead.

The game turned decisively in the second quarter. After Lafayette answered with a 9-yard touchdown run by Ethan Weber of Bedford, Pennsylvania, to tie the game at 7-7, the Tigers’ offense exploded.

Princeton running back Dareion Murphy of Floresville, Texas, punched in a 4-yard touchdown to reclaim the lead. On the ensuing kickoff, Lafayette’s Kente Edwards of Annandale, New Jersey, fumbled, with Princeton linebacker Marco Scarano of Southington, Connecticut, recovering. Just three plays later, Tigers quarterback Blaine Hipa of Kailua, Hawaii, scrambled for a 4-yard touchdown, extending the lead to 21-7.

The Tigers’ defense then delivered a crushing blow. With under three minutes remaining in the half, Lafayette quarterback Dean DeNobile of Upper Saddle River, New Jersey, dropped back to pass, but his throw was intercepted by Princeton defensive back Torian Roberts of Orlando, Florida, who returned it for a touchdown, pushing the advantage to 28-7.

Lafayette showed resilience before the break, engineering a 12-play, 80-yard drive in the final two minutes. Weber capped the drive with his second 1-yard touchdown run of the half, narrowing the deficit to 28-14 at the intermission.

The third quarter saw only a single score, a 26-yard field goal from Princeton’s Will Cluskey of La Jolla, California, making it 31-14.

The Leopards mounted a serious comeback attempt in the fourth quarter. DeNobile led a 10-play, 87-yard drive that was finished by a 3-yard touchdown run from versatile receiver Jakyre Henley of King William, Virginia, cutting the Princeton lead to 31-21.

After a quick Princeton punt, Lafayette drove into Tigers territory, but a fumble by tight end Ethan Hosak of Macungie, Pennsylvania, was recovered by Princeton’s Kyler Ronquillo of Roy, Washington, halting the momentum. The Tigers then put the game largely out of reach with a 14-play, 72-yard drive that consumed over seven minutes. The possession ended with a 4-yard touchdown pass from quarterback Kai Colón of Middletown, New York, to receiver Jackson Green of Rochester, New York, restoring a 38-21 lead with just over three minutes to play.

Lafayette added a late touchdown on a 2-yard pass from DeNobile to tight end Hunter Ditrano of New City, New York, with 37 seconds remaining for the final margin of 38-28.

DeNobile finished with an efficient stat line, completing 27 of 36 passes for 256 yards and one touchdown, but the critical interception for a score proved costly. Weber was a workhorse for the Leopards, rushing 18 times for 76 yards and two touchdowns while adding three receptions for 18 yards. Henley was a dynamic all-purpose threat, accumulating 81 combined kick return yards and scoring a touchdown.

For Princeton, the quarterback combination of Colón and Hipa was effective. Colón completed 13 of 20 passes for 121 yards and a touchdown, while Hipa was 8 of 12 for 84 yards through the air and added 21 rushing yards and a score on the ground. The Tigers’ rushing attack was shared, with Kai Honda of Manhattan Beach, California, leading the way with 37 yards on six carries. Clark and Murphy each recorded a rushing touchdown.

Princeton next faces Columbia at home on Friday, Oct. 3. Lafayette will host Fordham on Saturday, Oct. 4.