BRONX, N.Y. — The No. 22 Holy Cross football team defeated Fordham, 49-47, on Saturday, Oct. 28 at Jack Coffey Field — producing yet another instant classic in the rivalry matchup. 

The Crusaders (5-3, 3-1 Patriot League) retain possession of the Ram-Crusader Cup, earning their seventh consecutive win against the Rams (5-3, 1-2 Patriot League). 

Fordham scored a touchdown with 54 seconds remaining to cut within two points, but the two-point conversion attempt failed; the Crusaders recovered the ensuing onside kick to preserve the victory. 

Making his first career start, junior quarterback Joe Pesansky completed 20 of his 33 attempts for 337 yards and a trio of touchdowns. Senior wide receiver Jalen Coker caught a touchdown and had 102 receiving yards. 

Junior running back Jordan Fuller rushed for 116 yards and two touchdowns, becoming the program's all-time leader with 38 career rushing touchdowns. 

Fifth-year running back Tyler Purdy had two touchdowns, one rushing and one receiving, with 115 total yards on the day, including 85 receiving yards. 

Defensively, fifth-year linebacker Jacob Dobbs totaled 10 tackles, with an eight-yard sack. Junior linebacker Frankie Monte had eight tackles and a pass breakup. Senior cornerback Matt Duchemin recorded five solo tackles and a game-sealing pick-six. 

After a high-scoring first half — in which the Crusaders trailed 34-28 — the Holy Cross defense settled down and held the Rams to just 13 second-half points. 

HOW IT HAPPENED: 

• Fordham scored on its opening drive, with C.J. Montes completing a 36-yard touchdown pass to Garrett Cody. 
• The Crusaders responded immediately, needing just four plays to go down the field as Coker caught a 41-yard touchdown pass from Pesansky — Pesansky's first career touchdown pass — to knot up the score at 7-7 with 10:47 left in the first quarter. 
• Fuller scored from one yard out to put Holy Cross ahead 14-7 with 2:41 left in the first. 
• Julius Loughridge's 45-yard touchdown rush brought Fordham within 14-13 with 21 seconds to go in the opening quarter, but the Rams missed the point after. 
• Loughridge scored again with 13 minutes to go in the second quarter, this time on a 50-yard run, giving Fordham a 20-14 advantage. 
• Fuller's second one-yard score of the day came with 9:45 to go in the second quarter, giving the Crusaders the lead back at 21-20. 
• Holy Cross and Fordham continued to trade touchdowns for the remainder of the second quarter. M.J. Wright caught a 55-yard touchdown pass with 8:38 left, before senior receiver Byron Shipman's three-yard touchdown reception gave the Crusaders the lead back at 28-27 with 3:07 left in the half. Cody then caught his second touchdown of the day — this time a 47-yard reception — to give the Rams a 34-28 edge heading into halftime. 
• The Crusaders opened up the second half with a 34-yard touchdown reception by Purdy with 12:30 left in the third quarter, before a five-yard touchdown from Mekai Felton gave Fordham the lead again at 41-35 with seven minutes remaining in the third. 
• After multiple scoreless drives by both teams, it was the Crusaders who struck next in the fourth quarter. An eight-yard sack by senior linebacker Matthew Kane on third-and-6 forced the Rams to punt, and on the following drive, Purdy scored on a 14-yard rush to put the Crusaders back ahead, 42-41. 
• On Fordham's next drive, Duchemin intercepted a pass from Montes and returned it 68 yards for a touchdown, extending the Crusader lead to 49-41 with five minutes left in the fourth. 
• Montes led a touchdown drive over the next few minutes, with Loughridge scoring for the third time to bring Fordham within 49-47 with 54 seconds remaining. The two-point attempt and following onside kick attempt both failed, however, and the Crusaders were able to take a knee to close out the game.

BEYOND THE BOX SCORE: 

• Fuller breaks the previous career record held by Joe Segreti (1987-1990) of 37 rushing touchdowns.
• Dobbs tied the career program record for tackles for loss, now with 45 in his career; he joins Tom Smith (1985-1988) and Corey Vincent (1988-1991) for the all-time lead. He has recorded double-digit tackles in every game this season.

UP NEXT: 

• Holy Cross heads to Lehigh on Saturday, Nov. 5 for another Patriot League contest. 
• Kickoff in Bethlehem, Pa., is scheduled for 12 p.m. 

FOLLOW THE CRUSADERS 
Be sure to follow the Holy Cross football team — and all things Crusader Athletics — on social media!
Twitter - @HCrossFB | @goholycross
Instagram - @hcrossfb | @goholycross
Facebook - Holy Cross Football | Holy Cross Athletics
YouTube - GoHolyCross