RICHMOND, Va. — The Holy Cross football team earned its first victory of the season with a 28-22 win over Richmond on Saturday, Oct. 18 at Robins Stadium.
In the inaugural Patriot League matchup between the two programs, junior running back
Jayden Clerveaux led the offense with 77 rushing yards and a touchdown on 12 carries, along with an 11-yard reception. Senior running back
Nyeoti Punni ran for 47 yards and a touchdown, and freshman
Joseph Williams also scored a touchdown, rushing for 30 yards and also catching a pair of passes for 13 yards. Sophomore
Ty Curran had four receptions for 39 yards.
The Crusader defense made clutch plays in key moments, paced by sophomore linebacker
Lathan Croley, who had a team-high 10 tackles and 0.5 TFLs. Junior linebacker
Cam Santee finished with nine tackles and two TFLs, while junior cornerback
Cam Jones recorded nine tackles and 1.5 TFLs. Junior linebacker
Adam Due totaled seven tackles and forced a fumble, also blocking a punt.
HOW IT HAPPENED:
- The Spiders scored on their opening drive, with a 56-yard completion putting them ahead 7-0 with 13:29 to go in the first.
- The Crusaders responded quickly, using 16 plays to cover 75 yards. Sophomore quarterback Braden Graham keyed the extended drive for the Crusaders before turning the reins over to freshman quarterback Dominic Campanile, who scored on a four-yard keeper for his first collegiate touchdown on his first collegiate snap.
- Punni scored on fourth down on a one-yard run, putting Holy Cross ahead 14-7 with 13:14 left in the second quarter.
- Richmond got the ball back with 32 seconds left in the first half, but the Crusader defense held them to just a field goal, making it a 14-10 game at halftime.
- Early in the second half, the Spiders pushed the ball to the four-yard line, but a fumble on the snap and a hurry on the next play by sophomore defensive tackle Jordan Pritchard-Sewell held Richmond to a field goal again, keeping the Crusaders in the lead, 14-13.
- With about seven minutes to go in the third, Due forced a fumble and Pritchard-Sewell recovered the ball at the Richmond 43-yard line. Clerveaux immediately ran the ball in for a 43-yard touchdown, extending the Crusader lead to 21-13.
- Richmond scored on its next drive, but was unsuccessful on the two-point conversion, keeping the Holy Cross lead at 21-19.
- Williams' one-yard run with 11:38 to go in the fourth extended the Holy Cross advantage to 28-19.
- The Spiders had an extended drive to push the ball to Holy Cross' 10-yard line, but settled for a 27-yard field goal to make it a 28-22 game with five minutes left.
- Richmond had two more possessions in the closing minutes, but was unable to capitalize, with a three-and-out and then a turnover on downs with 1:15 to go.
BEYOND THE BOX SCORE:
- Graham's start at quarterback was the first of his collegiate career.
- Punni's touchdown in the second quarter marked his first collegiate touchdown.
- Sophomore Ethan Moss had a 67-yard punt in the second quarter, which was the longest of his career.
- Williams has scored a touchdown in back-to-back games.
UP NEXT:
- Holy Cross returns home for its next two contests, starting with a Patriot League matchup vs. Colgate on Oct. 25.
- Kickoff at Fitton Field is set for 1 p.m.
- Tickets can be purchased from the Holy Cross Ticket Office online or by calling 1-844-GO-CROSS.
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