Ben Kuchipudi ’25
Sports Editor
In what senior captain Christo Kelly declared “the biggest game of the season,” the Crusaders knew what was at stake in Easton, PA. Heading into this game, Holy Cross looked to bounce back after a heartbreaking loss to Harvard while Lafayette was coming off a convincing 31-17 victory over Sacred Heart. Last season, the Crusaders fell to the Leopards 38-35 on Parents’ Weekend despite 330 rushing yards and three touchdowns from Matthew Sluka, a Division I record for quarterbacks. This was also Holy Cross’ first Patriot League loss since 2019, and it cost them a trip to the postseason. Knowing how big this game was, the Crusaders looked to make 38-35 look like a distant memory.
In the first quarter, Holy Cross struck quickly, with Joe Pesansky hitting Max Mosey on a short pass that Mosey took 68 yards to the house. A little over ten minutes into the game, Pesansky found wide receiver Justin Shorter on a zig route for six to put the Crusaders up 14-0. Early in the second, Mosey received the snap and muscled his way into the endzone to make the score 21-0. It was a huge lead, but as we learned from the Harvard game last week, no lead is safe.
On a methodical 11 play, 71 yard drive, Lafayette quarterback Dean DeNobile lobbed a pass to tight end Ethan Hosak on a fourth and goal to make it 21-7. On the ensuing kickoff, Holy Cross sophomore strong safety and returnman Carlo Crocetti fielded the kick, but fumbled on the return to give the Leopards a short field, which they capitalized on courtesy of a DeNobile eight yard run. Just like that, the Holy Cross lead was 21-14.
Thanks to a good return by Crocetti to midfield and an unnecessary roughness penalty, Holy Cross was able to strike back quickly with a long touchdown run by Jayden Clerveaux. Five plays later, Lafayette was on the board again when Jamar Curtis, who toasted Holy Cross last year for 229 rushing yards and two touchdowns, scampered for a 30 yard score.
With two minutes left in the half, the Crusaders knew they needed to get points as the Leopards would receive the ball in the second half, so they drove down the field and were faced with a fourth and eight from the Lafayette 36 yard line. Trusting their special teams, Holy Cross trotted out sophomore Daniel Porto to attempt what would be a career and school long 53 yard field goal. He swept his leg, and the ball went through the uprights with room to spare. Despite letting up a huge lead, Holy Cross still held a ten point lead in a high scoring affair.
The second half would be the opposite of the first half, with the game becoming a chess match of sorts. There wasn’t much offense in the third, but the Crusaders made two huge stops, stuffing DeNobile in the red zone and senior defensive tackle Damon Donalds blocked a field goal to keep the score 31-21 heading into the fourth.
To open the fourth quarter, Sam Slade was stuffed at the line to gain, but somehow stayed on his feet to get to midfield. This jump started the drive as Pesansky proceeded to hit Byron Shipman for 26 yards to get inside the ten. The drive would end with another Porto field goal to put Holy Cross up 34-21.
Eight plays and only two minutes later, Lafayette scored again, with DeNobile hitting Dallas Holmes on a screen pass. Up six with just under seven minutes left, Holy Cross needed to get points on the board to put this game away. On third and six from the Lafayette 34, Pesansky seemed to have done that when he hit Quinton Gregory for 12 yards and a first down.
Unfortunately, the referees thought differently and called an illegal touching penalty on Gregory. This call forced a loss of down, leading to a fourth down. Porto was once again brought out for a field goal, but Holmes, who scored the previous touchdown, blocked the kick. It would come down to the final drive to decide a winner.
Lafayette drove down the field, and had the ball on the Crusader 16 on fourth and eight. DeNobile lofted a ball towards the end zone that appeared to be caught by receiver Avery Jones, but the pass was ruled incomplete. Game over. Pesansky kneeled a few times, and Holy Cross got its biggest win of the season.
Now 3-0 in the Patriot League, Holy Cross is firmly in the driver’s seat for another conference title heading into a much-needed bye week. The Crusaders’ next game is at home on November 9 against Patriot League rival, Lehigh, at noon.
Featured image courtesy of Holy Cross Athletics
Web Edited by Zexuan Qu ’28
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