Ryan McCabe ‘28
Staff Writer
On a dreary Family Weekend, the Holy Cross Crusaders’ football team faced off against the defending Ivy League champions, the Yale Bulldogs, in a thrilling back-and-forth battle at Fitton Field. The atmosphere was charged with anticipation, and the excitement on the field did not disappoint. The teams clashed under challenging weather conditions, but the game ultimately culminated in a disappointing 38-31 Yale victory, which dropped the Crusaders’ record to 1-3.
Yale quickly set the tone for the game, though they’d have to do it without starting quarterback Grant Jordan, who went down with an injury after just two completed passes. The Bulldogs drove down the field and struck first as backup quarterback Brogan McCaughey scrambled three yards into the end zone for an early touchdown, giving the Bulldogs a 7-0 lead. However, the Crusaders responded dramatically on their first play from scrimmage, with senior quarterback Joe Pesansky launching a stunning 74-yard touchdown pass to sophomore receiver Maxwell Warren, leveling the score at 7-7 and electrifying the home crowd.
Yale regained the lead with a two-yard touchdown run from running back Wilhelm Daal, but Holy Cross quickly answered. Sophomore running back Jayden Clerveaux capped off an effective drive with a one-yard goal line plunge, tying the game at 14. The first half continued with both teams exchanging blows, highlighted by a 40-yard field goal from Yale’s Nick Conforti and an impressive 45-yard field goal from Holy Cross’s Daniel Porto, the longest of his career, as time expired. This sent the teams into halftime tied at 17-17.
The second half brought more drama as Yale capitalized on a Holy Cross fumble, completing an 11-play, 78-yard drive that ended with a 24-yard touchdown pass from McCaughey to David Pantelis. Undeterred, the Crusaders fought back in the fourth quarter, with Clerveaux scoring his second touchdown to bring the game to 24-24.
As the tension mounted, both teams traded scores late in the game. Yale’s Nathan Denney rushed for a five-yard touchdown, putting the Bulldogs ahead 31-24. However, Pesansky responded by connecting with junior receiver Max Mosey for a highlight-reel 42-yard gain, setting up Clerveaux for his third trip to the end zone, which tied the score again at 31-31.
With 3:35 left to play, Yale mounted a game-sealing touchdown drive, aided by a crushing pass interference call on fourth down that gave them new life. Moments later, running back Nathan Denney punched his way into the end zone, sealing the victory for the Bulldogs with just 12 seconds remaining.
Despite the heartbreaking loss, the Crusaders showcased impressive performances. Pesansky threw for 279 yards and Mosey led with a career-high 129 receiving yards. With star running back Jordan Fuller sidelined due to injury, Jayden Clerveaux burst onto the scene, becoming the first Crusader this season to score three rushing touchdowns in a single game. On the defensive side, senior linebacker Frankie Monte delivered a standout performance with a career-high 17 tackles.
Following the game, first-year Head Coach Dan Curran addressed the press.
“We’ve got everything we want in front of us… we have the opportunity next week to roll it back, continue to get better, and I fully expect this group to do that,” said Curran, emphasizing his team’s resilience. “This is a resilient group. They believe in one another. We’ve got a really good group of kids right now, and they understand that every week is a new opportunity, and it’s an opportunity for us to continue to learn and grow from it and get better every single week.”
The Crusaders now look to regroup as they travel to face standout quarterback Kyle McCord and the Syracuse Orange for an FBS showdown on Saturday, September 28, with kickoff set for 12 p.m. at the already sold-out JMA Wireless Dome.
Featured image courtesy of Holy Cross Athletics
Copy Edited by Lilly Baumfeld ’27
Web Edited by Zexuan Qu ’28
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