Box Score
|
1st |
2nd |
3rd |
4th |
Final |
| Holy Cross |
0 |
14 |
7 |
0 |
21 |
| Bucknell |
0 |
14 |
0 |
0 |
14 |
Final Statistics • Highlights
LEWISBURG, Pa. – Junior quarterback Connor Degenhardt threw for 276 yards and accounted for three touchdowns, to lead the Holy Cross football team to a 21-14 victory over Bucknell at Christy Mathewson-Memorial Stadium. The Crusaders improve to 2-3 on the year and 1-0 in the Patriot League with the win, while the Bison fall to 0-5 overall and 0-1 in the conference.
Holy Cross finished the game with 394 yards of total offense while picking up a season-high 20 first downs. Bucknell was held to just 297 total yards on the day.
The Bison opened the scoring on a two-yard touchdown run by Chad Freshnock at the 14:55-mark of the second quarter, following a blocked punt. Bucknell increased its lead to 14-0 a few minutes later when Gerrit Van Itallie returned an interception 48 yards for a score.
The Crusaders responded with a 92-yard drive on their next possession, ending with a 33-yard touchdown pass from Degenhardt to senior tight end Derek Mountain. Holy Cross then tied the score at 14-14 late in the second quarter on a quarterback sneak by Degenhardt.
In the third quarter, senior defensive lineman Kevin Bucceroni blocked a field goal to give the Crusaders possession on their own 39-yard line. Degenhardt then hit sophomore wide receiver Spencer Gilliam for a 45-yard gain, setting up another Degenhardt quarterback sneak to put Holy Cross up 21-14. The Bison were able to reach the red zone once in the fourth quarter, but missed a field goal before the Crusaders ran out the clock.
Senior running back Domenic Cozier carried the ball 16 times for 101 yards, while junior wide out Tenio Ayeni caught a team-best five passes for 59 yards. Senior defensive back Corey Stefanik finished the game with seven tackles and two fumble recoveries, with junior defensive lineman Benton Whitley adding five tackles and two quarterback sacks.
Holy Cross returns to action next Saturday, Oct. 12, when it travels to Brown for a 12:30 p.m. game.
BEYOND THE BOX SCORE:
• The Crusaders have now won five straight and seven of their last eight games in Lewisburg.
• Cozier set a season-high for rushing yards, while reaching the 100-yard mark for the third time in his career.
• Degenhardt set a new career-high for passing yards.
• The victory marked the fifth time in the last two seasons Holy Cross has rallied to win after trailing by double digits.
