EASTON, Pa. (Interstat) — In a stunning offensive showcase that defied pregame projections, the Lafayette Leopards erupted for a 62-24 victory over the Bucknell Bisons in a non-conference football game Saturday at Fisher Stadium.

The game, which saw a combined 86 points, sailed over the predicted total and delivered a result far more lopsided than anticipated. Interstat’s game simulator had projected a 29-22 Lafayette win, with the Leopards given a 76.9 percent probability to win, yet Bucknell had been installed as a pregame favorite with a spread of plus-8.

Any notion of a close contest was quickly erased by a dominant Lafayette performance, particularly in the second quarter, where the Leopards seized control of the game for good.

Lafayette quarterback Dean DeNobile, a junior from Upper Saddle River, N.J., was nearly flawless, orchestrating an offense that amassed staggering yardage. He completed 26 of 34 passes for 316 yards and five touchdowns, dissecting the Bucknell secondary with precision.

The Leopards set the tone on their opening drive. After a series of efficient passes from DeNobile, including a 14-yard completion to Mason Kuehner and a 9-yarder to the same receiver, running back Ethan Weber broke the game open. The Bedford, Pa., native burst through the line for a 32-yard touchdown run, giving Lafayette a 7-0 lead with 11:04 remaining in the first quarter.

Bucknell, however, responded in the second quarter. Quarterback Christopher Dietrich, a Sparta, N.J. native, engineered a drive that culminated in a 35-yard touchdown pass to TJ Cadden, tying the game at 7-7.

The tie was short-lived. Lafayette’s offense, operating with relentless efficiency, answered with a scoring drive of its own. DeNobile connected with versatile playmaker Jakyre Henley on a 20-yard touchdown pass, restoring the Leopards’ lead at 14-7.

The floodgates then opened. After forcing a Bucknell punt, the Leopards struck again. DeNobile found a rhythm, hitting Elijah Steward for a 34-yard touchdown pass to extend the lead to 21-7. The Bisons managed a 50-yard field goal from Matt Schearer to make it 21-10, but Lafayette was far from finished.

With under two minutes remaining in the half, DeNobile led the Leopards on a rapid scoring drive, capped by another touchdown pass to Steward, this time from 10 yards out. The extra point made the score 28-10. The Leopards weren’t done, adding a final first-half exclamation point when DeNobile hit tight end Ethan Hosak for a 19-yard touchdown with 11:50 left in the third quarter, pushing the lead to 34-10.

Bucknell showed a flicker of life as Dietrich found Cadden for their second scoring connection, a 16-yard pass that cut the deficit to 34-17. But any hope of a comeback was extinguished just 41 seconds later. On the first play of the ensuing drive, Ethan Weber took a handoff and exploded for a 67-yard touchdown run, his second of the day. The junior finished with 139 rushing yards on just 11 carries.

The Lafayette offense continued to pour it on in the fourth quarter. DeNobile threw his fifth and final touchdown pass, a 4-yarder to Matthew Scerbo, to make it 48-17. The Leopards’ special teams then contributed a rare score, blocking a punt that was returned 11 yards by Sam Milligan for a Bucknell touchdown.

Lafayette’s final score came on another big play, as Jakyre Henley took a handoff and raced 70 yards for a touchdown, bringing the score to its final margin of 62-24.

For Bucknell, Dietrich finished 19 of 32 for 224 yards and two touchdowns. TJ Cadden was his primary target, hauling in five passes for 108 yards and two scores. The Bison ground game was led by Tariq Thomas, who gained 41 yards on nine carries.

Elijah Steward was a standout for Lafayette, catching six passes for 116 yards and two touchdowns. Jason Penza also provided a dynamic change-of-pace at quarterback, rushing for 94 yards on seven carries, including a touchdown.

The loss evens Bucknell’s record at 4-2, while Lafayette also moves to 4-2 on the season. The Bisons will look to rebound next Saturday when they travel to face Cornell. The Leopards face a formidable challenge, heading west for a matchup with Oregon State.