BRONX, N.Y. – Senior running back
Domenic Cozier carried the ball 19 times for 156 yards and two touchdowns, to lead the Holy Cross football team to a 49-27 victory over Fordham at Jack Coffey Field. The Crusaders improve to 6-5 overall and 4-1 in the Patriot League with the win, while the Rams fall to 3-8 on the season and 1-4 in the conference.
Holy Cross finished the day with 551 yards of total offense, including 212 rushing yards and 339 passing yards. The Rams were able to accumulate 468 total yards, but also committed the game's only two turnovers.
Fordham opened the game by taking a 14-0 halftime lead on an eight-yard scoring run by Zach Davis and a one-yard touchdown pass from Tim DeMorat found DeQuece Carter. Holy Cross tied the score at 14-14 in the third quarter on a 57-yard touchdown run by Cozier and a 36-yard scoring strike from junior quarterback
Connor Degenhardt to sophomore wide receiver
Spencer Gilliam.Â
Early in the fourth quarter, the Rams pulled back in front 21-14 on a 32-yard touchdown pass from DeMorat to Hamze El-Zayat. But the Crusaders responded by scoring 35 straight points to put the game away. Holy Cross tied the score on a three-yard touchdown run by Degenhardt, and took the lead on a 12-yard scoring run by Cozier. That was followed by a 45-yard touchdown run by sophomore tailback
Peter Oliver, a 42-yard interception return by sophomore defensive back
John Smith and a four-yard scoring run by Degenhardt. Fordham concluded the scoring with a 13-yard touchdown pass from DeMorat the Carter on the game's final play.
Degenhardt finished the day with 197 yards of total offense and three touchdowns, while freshman wide receiver
Ayir Asante caught 11 passes for 119 yards. Smith led the defense with nine tackles and an interception, and freshman linebacker
Jacob Dobbs added nine tackles and a sack.
Holy Cross returns to action next Saturday, Nov. 23, when it plays host to Georgetown in its regular season finale at 12:00 p.m.
BEYOND THE BOX SCORE:
• The Crusaders are now in sole possession of first place in the Patriot League at 4-1. Holy Cross can clinch an outright conference title with a win over Georgetown next week.
• Senior defensive back
Chris Riley posted his team-leading fifth interception of the season.
• Asante set a new career high with his 11 receptions.
• Holy Cross retained possession of the Ram-Crusader Cup, winning the trophy for the third straight season.
• The victory marked the second time this season and the sixth time in the last two years that the Crusaders have rallied from a double-digit deficit to win.
