WEST LONG BRANCH, N.J. – The Holy Cross football team rounded out its 2019 season with a 44-27 loss to No. 14 Monmouth in the first round of the 2019 NCAA FCS Playoffs on Saturday, Nov. 30.

Senior Domenic Cozier totaled 149 yards, rushing for 97 yards on 15 carries, for Holy Cross (7-6). Junior Matt Considine threw for 196 yards and three touchdowns, completing 20 of his 37 passes, while adding 21 rushing yards and a touchdown on three carries.  

Senior Macklin Kortebein had a series of impressive kickoff returns, totaling 128 yards on three returns. Freshman Jacob Dobbs had 11 tackles and senior Chris Riley added in seven tackles with a pass breakup.

Holy Cross trailed 7-0 after Monmouth reeled off a 17-yard rushing touchdown in the first quarter. The Hawks quickly added to their lead with a field goal and two touchdowns by the 7:18 mark of the second quarter, capped by a 68-yard run from Pete Guerriero, who rushed for 220 yards in the contest. Sophomore Jason Modak blocked the ensuing point after, holding Monmouth's lead to 23-0.
 
On the next drive, the Crusaders advanced up the field on a pair of 21-yard and 31-yard rushes by Cozier, and Holy Cross earned its first points of the day when Considine connected with senior Derek Mountain on a 14-yard touchdown.

Senior Cody Wilkinson had an onside kick recovered by junior Grant Holloman, but the Hawks defense held the Crusaders to just 19 yards on the next drive. Monmouth's lead sat at 26-7 at the end of the first half as Matt Mosquera hit a 47-yard field goal as time expired.

Considine had a 22-yard pass to freshman Ayir Asante for another Holy Cross touchdown with 11:04 left in the third quarter, but sophomore Derek Ng's point after was blocked, holding Monmouth's lead at 26-13. The Hawks responded with a touchdown and two-point conversion on the next drive, and added a field goal before the end of the third to push their lead to 37-13.

The Crusaders cut within 37-19 with 10:23 left after Considine kept the ball for a 14-yard touchdown, but he was unable to complete the two-point conversion. Monmouth had another touchdown on the next drive, though, building a 44-19 advantage.

Senior Jon Jon Roberts caught a 19-yard pass from Considine at the Monmouth four-yard line, and on the next play, Considine connected again with Roberts in the end zone; Considine completed a pass to sophomore Jack Jewell for a successful two-point conversion with 3:08 left in the contest.

Monmouth (11-2) advances to face second-ranked James Madison on Dec. 7.

BEYOND THE BOX SCORE:

• The Crusaders' onside kick was their first successful attempt of the season; they entered the game 0-for-3.
• Roberts' touchdown was the first of his career.
• Kortebein entered Saturday's game with no previous kickoff returns. Of his three returns on Saturday, all were for more than 31 yards, including a 54-yard return in the second quarter.