SERIES HISTORY
This will be the 37th meeting between the Crusaders and the Leopards on the gridiron, with the all-time series tied at 18-18. Holy Cross has won 11 of the last 15 games between the two schools. The schools first met on Sept. 20, 1986, with Holy Cross coming out victorious 38-14 in Easton.
SERIES QUICK FACTS:
Overall | tied, 18-18
In Worcester | tied, 9-9
At Fitton Field | tied, 9-9
Current Win Streak | Holy Cross, two games
Bob Chesney vs. Lafayette | 3-1
John Troxell vs. Holy Cross | 0-1
In Overtime | n / a
LAST TIME THEY MET: The No. 6 Holy Cross football team outlasted Lafayette in a 24-21 victory on Oct. 22, 2022 at Fisher Stadium. With Holy Cross trailing by four points, 21-17, with just four minutes to go in the fourth quarter, Sluka threw a 16-yard touchdown to wide receiver Justin Shorter on fourth down to give the Crusaders the lead. 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. Linebacker Liam Anderson finished with seven tackles, including a tackle for a loss of three yards, and three quarterback hurries. Defensive end Jake Reichwein made six tackles and hurried the quarterback three times. Late in the first quarter, Sluka connected with Coker for a 42-yard completion, setting up Fuller for an eventual one-yard touchdown run to secure a 7-0 lead early. Lafayette evened things up with 11:29 to go in the second quarter with a 14-yard touchdown pass. 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 linebacker Matthew Kane — sealed the win for the Crusaders.
