BUFFALO, N.Y. – As time expired, junior quarterback
Matthew Sluka heaved a 46-yard pass to the end zone. Junior wide receiver
Jalen Coker – surrounded by several University at Buffalo defenders – reached above everyone to secure the Hail Mary touchdown – and a 37-31 upset victory for the No. 15 Holy Cross football team on Saturday, Sept. 10.
This is the second straight season that the Crusaders (2-0) have defeated an FBS opponent after beating UConn to open the 2021 season.
After trailing 14-0 early, the Crusaders rallied to tie the game at 21-21 midway through the third quarter. With the game knotted at 28-28, senior kicker
Derek Ng hit a field goal with 7:12 left to give Holy Cross its first lead of the game; the Bulls (0-2) responded with a game-tying field goal with 31 seconds left in regulation.
Over those final 31 seconds, Sluka orchestrated a five-play masterpiece, setting the stage for a Crusader victory.
Sluka rushed for a career-best 146 yards, while also throwing for 238 yards and three touchdowns. Coker finished the night with a pair of touchdowns and a career-best 147 receiving yards. Sophomore running back
Jordan Fuller rushed for a pair of touchdowns.
Defensively, senior linebacker
Jacob Dobbs made 11 tackles, including 1.5 for loss. Senior safety
Walter Reynolds had eight total tackles, including seven solo tackles.
HOW IT HAPPENED:
- After a defensive battle early, Buffalo broke through first with a 20-yard touchdown reception from Justin Marshall to take a 7-0 lead with 3:11 to go in the first quarter.
- The Crusaders faced a 14-0 deficit with 10:56 left in the second after a five-yard touchdown run by Mike Washington.
- Holy Cross' first points of the game came with 4:58 remaining in the second quarter, with Fuller's four-yard rush making it a 14-7 affair.
- Buffalo quickly regained a two-touchdown lead with quarterback Cole Snyder connecting with Quian Williams for a 59-yard touchdown to make it 21-7 with 2:50 to go in the half.
- As the first half came to a close, a 20-yard run by Fuller and Sluka's 26-yard keeper brought the Crusaders to the Buffalo 29-yard line; the late drive ended with a 17-yard touchdown pass to senior wide receiver Ayir Asante to bring Holy Cross within 21-14.
- The Crusaders opened the second half with the ball, and a 7:35-long drive ended with Fuller muscling in a two-yard touchdown to even things up at 21-21.
- The Bulls only needed one play to respond – a 69-yard touchdown pass gave them a 28-21 lead just 11 seconds later.
- Holy Cross fought back, with Sluka completing a 62-yard pass to Coker to tie the score once again at 28-28 with 2:32 remaining in the third.
- Ng's 28-yard field goal gave Holy Cross a 31-28 lead with 7:12 to go, which held until there was just 31 seconds left on the clock and the Bulls connected on a 52-yarder.
- After a touchback, Sluka had a 10-yard rush and completed a 12-yard pass to Coker. Sluka then made a seven-yard completion to sophomore receiver Justin Shorter and spiked the ball with four seconds remaining. As the clock struck zero, Sluka passed to Coker, who came down with the touchdown.
BEYOND THE BOX SCORE:
UP NEXT:
- Holy Cross will play its home opener against Yale on Saturday, Sept. 17.
- Kickoff is set for 2 p.m.
- Tickets for the Homecoming matchup start at just $10 and can be purchased at goholycross.com/tickets or by calling 1-844-GOCROSS.
- Fans have the opportunity to hear from members of the Holy Cross coaching staff on Thursday, Sept. 15 at the Crusader Kickoff, hosted at Volturno Pizzeria. Tickets are just $25 and include dinner and a cash bar.
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