NORTH ANDOVER, Mass. — The Holy Cross football team defeated Merrimack, 31-17, in its season opener on Friday, Sept. 2.
The Crusaders (1-0) totaled 502 yards of offense and did not punt once. Junior quarterback Matthew Sluka totaled 242 passing yards and a pair of touchdowns in the air, while also rushing for 102 yards and another touchdown. Junior wide receiver Jalen Coker had three receptions for 60 yards and a touchdown; senior receiver Ayir Asante's three receptions on the night were good for 58 yards and a touchdown. Senior running back Peter Oliver finished with 73 rushing yards. Senior kicker Derek Ng made three field goals for Holy Cross.
Defensively, Holy Cross held the Warriors (0-1) to 280 total yards and just 81 rushing yards. Senior safety Walter Reynolds had a 12-yard interception return while also adding in a 14-yard tackle for loss and two pass breakups. Senior defensive end Jake Reichwein recorded a sack for a loss of six yards.
HOW IT HAPPENED:
- The Crusaders and Warriors traded field goals early before Sluka orchestrated a 10-play, 75-yard drive capped with a seven-yard touchdown rush to give the Crusaders a 10-3 lead with 2:44 to go in the first quarter.
- Sluka needed just three plays to put another touchdown on the board on the opening drive of the second quarter. After completing a 28-yard pass to Asante, Sluka rushed for 11 yards and then connected with Asante again for a 24-yard touchdown. The Crusaders missed the point after, however, but still led 16-3 just minutes into the second.
- Ng hit a field goal with 4:13 remaining in the first half, giving Holy Cross 16 unanswered points for a 19-3 edge.
- Merrimack scored a touchdown with 26 seconds to go in the first half to bring the Warriors within nine heading into the locker room.
- A blocked punt in the end zone gave Holy Cross a safety and a 21-10 lead early in the third quarter.
- After Merrimack intercepted a Holy Cross pass, the Crusaders thwarted the Warriors' ensuing drive after Reynolds intercepted a pass and ran it back to the Holy Cross 27-yard line. The drive ended with a 30-yard field goal from Ng, making it a 24-10 game with 26 seconds left in the third.
- Merrimack made it to the Holy Cross 25-yard line to open the fourth, but safety Hunter Burns picked off a pass in the end zone to keep the Warriors off the board.
- Sluka connected with Coker for a 46-yard touchdown to extend the Holy Cross advantage to 31-10.
- The Warriors cut into the Crusader lead late in the fourth, with a 33-yard touchdown reception by Jacari Carter making it a 31-17 game.
BEYOND THE BOX SCORE:
- The Crusaders put up 500 yards of offense in their opener after recording 500 total yards five times in 2021.
- Sluka's 242 passing yards marked the second-highest total of his career.
- Burns' interception was the first of his career.
UP NEXT:
- Holy Cross heads west for an FBS matchup against Buffalo on Sept. 10.
- Kickoff is set for 6 p.m.
