EASTON, Pa. – The No. 6 Holy Cross football team outlasted Lafayette in a 24-21 victory on Saturday, Oct. 22 at Fisher Stadium.

With Holy Cross trailing by four points, 21-17, with just four minutes to go in the fourth quarter, junior quarterback Matthew Sluka threw a 16-yard touchdown to sophomore wide receiver Justin Shorter on fourth down to give the Crusaders (7-0, 3-0 Patriot League) the lead.

Senior cornerback Devin Haskins came up clutch for the Crusaders, blocking a punt and returning it for a first-half touchdown – his fourth straight game with a blocked punt – and recording a late interception to help seal the victory. Haskins also broke up three passes. Senior linebacker Liam Anderson finished with seven tackles, including a tackle for a loss of three yards, and three quarterback hurries. Senior defensive end Jake Reichwein made six tackles and hurried the quarterback three times.

HOW IT HAPPENED:

• Late in the first quarter, Sluka connected with junior wide receiver Jalen Coker for a 42-yard completion, setting up Fuller for an eventual one-yard touchdown run to secure a 7-0 lead early.
• Lafayette (2-5, 1-1 Patriot League) evened things up with 11:29 to go in the second quarter with a 14-yard touchdown pass.
• Senior kicker Derek Ng put Holy Cross back in the lead, 10-7, with a 31-yard field goal with 2:30 left in the half.
• After the Crusader defense forced a Lafayette three-and-out, Haskins blocked a punt and returned it 14 yards to give Holy Cross a 17-7 lead with 1:17 remaining in the opening half.
• Lafayette quarterback Ah-Shaun Davis threw a 31-yard touchdown to Elijah Steward to make it a 17-14 game with 13:26 left in the third quarter.
• The Leopards took a 21-17 lead with 13:32 to go in the fourth after Carl Smith caught a 15-yard touchdown pass.
• The Crusaders converted on fourth down twice, including Shorter's 16-yard touchdown reception on fourth-and-goal to put Holy Cross back ahead with 4:00 left.
• On Lafayette's next drive, Haskins intercepted a pass from Davis and gave Holy Cross the ball back at the Leopards' 15-yard line.
• Holy Cross missed a field goal opportunity, but on Lafayette's drive with 2:24 remaining, the Leopards could only gain four yards before two incomplete passes — and fourth-down sack from junior linebacker Matthew Kane — sealed the win for the Crusaders. 

BEYOND THE BOX SCORE:

• With his fourth blocked punt this year, Haskins has broken the Patriot League single-season record for blocked punts.
•  Ng is now the Patriot League's career kick scoring leader, with 285 points.

UP NEXT:

• The Crusaders return home for the next three contests, and will next play host to No. 23/16 Fordham on Saturday, Oct. 29.
•  Kickoff is scheduled for 1 p.m. at Fitton Field.
• Tickets for the Ram-Crusader Cup showdown begin at just $10 and can be purchased on the Holy Cross ticketing website or by calling 1-844-GO-CROSS.

FOLLOW THE CRUSADERS 
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