Ben Kuchipudi ’25
Sports Editor
After the Holy Cross football team lost on the road in heartbreaking fashion 20-17 to Rhode Island to open the season, first-year Holy Cross head football coach Dan Curran and his Crusaders marched into Fitton Field hungry and ready to throw the first punch against the University of New Hampshire Wildcats. Two years ago, the Crusaders beat New Hampshire in the postseason on this very field.
Crusader students filled this year’s newly placed student section with a sea of white on this whiteout game, and Holy Cross alumni filled the stands on the same side as the Holy Cross Ring of Honor. This year, Holy Cross fans may sit on a different side of the stadium than they did last year, but cheers still roared as the Holy Cross starting lineup was announced over the PA system.
Holy Cross deferred the coin toss to the second half, so New Hampshire received the ball first and methodically drove down the field on the back of their star running back Isaac Seide, who finished the game with 161 yards on 18 attempts (8.9 YPC).
In the red zone, New Hampshire quarterback Seth Morgan dropped back and floated a pass towards the end zone. Senior Crusader safety Curtis Harris-Lopez picked off the pass, good for his first interception of the season.
A couple of drives later, the Crusaders got on the board courtesy of a Daniel Porto field goal. On the next possession, the Wildcats jump started their drive with a 63 yard kick return by Caleb Mead.
Five plays later, New Hampshire found the endzone courtesy of a Logan Tomlinson 12-yard touchdown reception.
The Crusaders and Wildcats exchanged punts the next few drives, but Holy Cross was able to tack on three more before half with another Porto field goal. Coming out of the locker room, the Crusaders opened up the playbook.
After a short run by Jordan Fuller, Crusader quarterback Joe Pesansky launched a bomb towards the middle of the field that was hauled in by Justin Shorter for 52 yards. Two Fuller runs later, Holy Cross was in the endzone, and took a 13-7 lead. It did not last for long as Seide broke loose for a 35 yard run, which set up another Tomlinson touchdown.
Both teams opened the second half with touchdown drives, which contrasted the slow first half. To open it up, Pesansky hit tight end Jacob Petersen for 19 yards, and a play later rolled out to his right and delivered to an on-the-run Petersen, who took it 71 yards to the house.
On the Wildcats’ next drive, Isaac Seide once again ripped off a huge run, going 61 yards inside the Crusader ten. It looked like New Hampshire would punch right back, but Caleb Burke fumbled at the five and defensive end Will Robinson recovered.
Holy Cross punted the next drive, and New Hampshire pushed the ball inside the Crusader 30-yard line. On a fourth down and six yards to go, Seth Morgan scrambled, but the Crusaders stopped him right before the line of gain.
Unfortunately, the Holy Cross offense stalled out and Seide punched it in from a yard out the next possession, giving New Hampshire a one point lead. Four punts later, Holy Cross had the ball back with 99 seconds remaining, needing only a field goal to take the lead.
That feat got off to a good start, as Pesansky hit sophomore Charly Mullaly for 32 yards to the New Hampshire 43. However, a myriad of penalties and a sack had the Crusaders backed up to a 3rd and 43, where Pesansky was picked off by Brendan Tighe to seal Holy Cross’ fate.
In another heartbreaker, the Crusaders fell 21-20 in their home opener. Holy Cross will have a chance to pick up their first win of the season on Saturday at 2 p.m. at Bryant.
Featured image courtesy of Holy Cross Athletics
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