Ryan McCabe ’28
Staff Writer
The Crusaders were dominated 28-10 by Yale on Saturday, Sept. 20, at the Yale Bowl, dropping to an 0-4 start. Despite strong efforts from the defense led by sophomore linebacker Lathan Croley and junior linebacker Cam Santee, and flashes of offensive potential from freshman Joseph Williams, the Crusaders couldn’t keep pace with Yale’s second-half offensive explosion, led by running back Josh Pitsenberger’s three touchdowns.
The game began with Yale asserting early dominance, marching 76 yards over 12 plays for an opening touchdown to take a 7-0 lead. The first half remained a defensive stalemate, with neither team finding the end zone again before halftime.
Holy Cross struggled to sustain drives, as sophomore quarterback Cal Swanson faced relentless pressure, ultimately getting sacked four times. Yale’s defense, coupled with their own 13 penalties for 100 yards, kept the Crusaders’ offense in check, limiting them to just 193 passing yards and 39 rushing yards for the game.
The third quarter saw a glimmer of hope for Holy Cross. Freshman Joseph Williams ignited the offense with a 64-yard reception, setting up a 23-yard field goal by senior Luis Palenzuela, cutting Yale’s lead to 7-3 with 11:08 left in the quarter. However, Yale quickly answered, as Pitsenberger powered in his second touchdown of the day on a one-yard run, pushing the lead to 14-3.
The Bulldogs’ momentum continued with a 29-yard touchdown pass from quarterback Dante Reno to receiver Nico Brown, extending the advantage to 21-3 by the end of the third.
Yale sealed the game early in the fourth quarter when Pitsenberger, who finished with 127 rushing yards, scored his third touchdown on a 10-yard run, making it 28-3.
Holy Cross showed late resilience, with Swanson connecting with junior receiver Charly Mullaly for a seven-yard touchdown with 56 seconds remaining, finalizing the score at 28-10.
Mullaly, who tallied 38 yards on five receptions, scored his first touchdown of the season, offering a bright spot in an otherwise challenging day for the Crusaders’ offense.
Defensively, Holy Cross was led by standout performances from Croley and Santee, who each recorded career-highs of 13 tackles.
Santee was particularly disruptive, contributing 2.5 tackles for loss, 1.5 sacks, and a forced fumble, while Croley added a sack.
Senior safety Tommy Bestpitch also stepped up, registering 11 tackles to bolster the secondary.
Despite these efforts, Yale’s 318 total offensive yards, including 193 in the second half, heavily overwhelmed the Crusaders’ defense, which couldn’t contain Pitsenberger or Brown, who had 119 receiving yards on five catches.
Williams emerged as a multi-dimensional threat for Holy Cross, adding 18 rushing yards on five carries and 83 yards on five kickoff returns to his 64-yard reception. His performance signals a promising future for the freshman, who could be a key piece as the Crusaders aim to turn their season around.
The Crusaders’ 0-4 start marks a low point for the season, their worst opening since 2005. Head coach Dan Curran and his team now face a defining moment as they begin Patriot League play against Fordham on Saturday, September 27, at 1 p.m. in The Bronx.
Featured Image Courtesy of Holy Cross Athletics
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