WORCESTER, Mass. — The Holy Cross football team overcame an early deficit to earn a Patriot League victory over Fordham, 19-16, on Saturday, Oct. 12 at Fitton Field.

The Crusaders (3-4, 2-0 Patriot League) have won eight straight contests against Fordham in the annual Ram-Crusader Cup rivalry. In a matchup that has been high-scoring in recent history, Holy Cross and Fordham (0-7, 0-2 Patriot League) combined for just nine first-half points, with neither team scoring a touchdown until 5:59 remaining in the fourth quarter. 

Sophomore running back Jayden Clerveaux had a career day, rushing for 159 yards on 30 carries. He earned the Johnny Turco Memorial Trophy, which is awarded annually by the Class of 1952 and the Varsity Club to the most outstanding player in the Homecoming Day game. 

Senior tight end Jacob Petersen caught a pair of touchdowns for Holy Cross, while sophomore placekicker Daniel Porto drilled a pair of field goals to round out the scoring for Holy Cross. Junior receiver Max Mosey had a team-leading 50 receiving yards. 

Holy Cross' defense held the Rams to just 262 total yards, including just 63 rushing yards — both season lows for a Crusader opponent. Senior linebacker Frankie Monte totaled 16 tackles on the day with 1.5 tackles for loss, including a sack for 11 yards — and a fourth-down pass breakup on Fordham's final drive of the game to preserve the Holy Cross victory. 

Sophomore linebacker Drew Spinogatti made five tackles, with 1.5 TFLs and a forced fumble. Sophomore linebacker Cam Santee and sophomore defensive lineman Brice Stevenson each made five tackles, with Stevenson recording two quarterback hurries and Santee hurrying the quarterback once. Sophomore cornerback Cam Jones broke up four passes, while senior safety Curtis Harris-Lopez had three PBUs. 

HOW IT HAPPENED:

• Holy Cross held the Rams to a pair of field goals in the first quarter, with placekicker Bennett Henderson successfully kicking a 43-yard and 52-yard field goal to give the Rams a 6-0 lead with 5:29 to go in the opening frame. 
• After a series of scoreless drives, a fourth-down sack by Spinogatti for a turnover on downs helped set up the Crusaders' first scoring drive of the game. Porto closed out the second quarter with a 49-yard field goal as time expired, making it a 6-3 game. 
• The Crusaders began the second half the same way they ended the first half, as Porto kicked a 46-yard field goal to tie up the game at 6-6 with 9:31 left in the third quarter. 
• Fordham used eight plays to cover 75 yards on the ensuing drive; a 39-yard completion put the Rams on the one-yard line before running back Julius Loughridge found the end zone on the next play, putting the Rams ahead 13-6 with 5:59 left in the third. 
• Holy Cross responded on the next drive, with Mosey's 25-yard reception and Clerveaux's 35 yard rush setting the Crusaders up at the six-yard line. Senior quarterback Joe Pesansky connected with Petersen for a Holy Cross touchdown, tying up the score at 13-13 with 3:57 left in the third. 
• Henderson recorded another field goal for Fordham to put the Rams ahead 16-13 early in the fourth. 
• After a 12-play drive, the Crusaders pulled ahead, 19-16, as Pesansky and Petersen again connected on a three-yard touchdown to take their first lead of the day with 6:14 left in the game. 
• Holy Cross' defense kept the Rams off the board over the remainder of the game to preserve the win.

BEYOND THE BOX SCORE:

• During Holy Cross' eight-game winning streak in the Ram-Crusader Cup, the Crusaders have not led at halftime in a single one of those games — Fordham has led at the half in six of those matchups, and the score has been tied in the other two before the Crusaders pulled away for a second-half comeback victory each time. 
• Porto's 49-yard field goal marked a career best. 
• Monte's 71 tackles in 2024 are the most by any Patriot League player this season; the total surpasses his previous single-season best of 66 tackles. 
• Clerveaux's career-best 159 rushing yards are the most by any Patriot League player in a single game this season. 
• Holy Cross has won 23 of its last 24 Patriot League contests

UP NEXT:

• Holy Cross hits the road to face Harvard on Saturday, Oct. 19.
• The non-conference contest is scheduled for 12 p.m.

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