Ryan McCabe ’28
Staff Writer
The Holy Cross football team closed its 2025 season with a statement win on one of the most historic stages in New England. Under the lights at Fenway Park, the Crusaders’ defense delivered its most dominant performance of the year, forcing five turnovers, including two pick-sixes, in a 42 to 7 rout of Georgetown on Saturday evening in front of 13,674 fans.
From the opening kickoff, Holy Cross seized control and never let the Hoyas settle into any rhythm. Max Mosey set the early tone with a 33-yard punt return that placed the Crusaders in plus territory on their first possession. The offense capitalized immediately, as freshman quarterback Dominic Campanile found sophomore receiver Alijah Cason for a nine-yard touchdown early in the first quarter.
The Holy Cross defense wasted no time making its presence felt. Junior cornerback Eli Thompson stepped in front of a pass with four minutes left in the first quarter to end Georgetown’s first promising drive. The Crusaders kept applying pressure, and midway through the second quarter, defensive end Colin Reynolds delivered a key third-down sack that pinned the Hoyas deep near their own goal line. On the next play, junior defensive back Donovan Comestro blocked the Georgetown punt, and senior linebacker Sam Boyer fell on the ball in the end zone for a 14 to 0 Holy Cross lead.
Georgetown tried to answer before halftime, but the Crusaders shut the door again. Junior safety Chisom Onwuzurigbo intercepted a pass at the four-yard line with under three minutes remaining in the half. Shortly after, sophomore linebacker Lathan Croley stuffed a fourth-and-one try to close out a near-perfect defensive first half in which Holy Cross allowed only 57 total yards.
The second half belonged to Thompson, who delivered the highlight of the night. With the Hoyas threatening early in the third quarter, Thompson jumped another route, picked off his second pass of the day, and raced 90 yards for a pick-six that pushed the Crusaders’ lead to 21 to 0. It was his second interception return touchdown of the season and the second multi-interception game of his career.
Georgetown briefly responded with a 72-yard scoring drive capped by Jack Johnson’s touchdown pass to Savion Hart, but Holy Cross controlled the rest of the game. Early in the fourth quarter, linebacker Cam Santee forced a fumble that Onwuzurigbo recovered for his second takeaway of the day.
The Crusaders’ offense took advantage of the momentum and turned the fourth quarter into a runaway. Mosey broke loose on a direct snap for a 46-yard touchdown run that extended the lead. Soon after, junior cornerback Cam Jones added the team’s second pick-six of the night. The final touchdown came from senior running back Sam Slade, who sprinted 88 yards for the first score of his career.
When the clock hit zero, Holy Cross players soaked in a rare experience on an iconic field. The win marked the program’s first at Fenway Park since 1956 and its tenth straight victory over Georgetown. It also capped a challenging season on a high note, giving the Crusaders back-to-back wins to finish 3-9 overall and 3-4 in the Patriot League.
Head coach Dan Curran called it a complete team win and praised the defense for its relentless energy, but the night also carried a sense of relief. Holy Cross spent much of the year on the wrong side of close games, and the frustration of a difficult season lingered even in the celebration. The strong finish at Fenway Park did not change the full picture, yet it gave the seniors a meaningful final chapter and offered a glimpse of what the team hoped to be all Autumn. While the team ended on a high note, the offseason promises to be one to watch as Holy Cross considers its next steps forward after a challenging year.
Featured image courtesy of Holy Cross Athletics
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