LEWISBURG, Pa. — The Holy Cross football team defeated Bucknell, 37-20, on Saturday, Nov. 15 in Patriot League action. 

Holy Cross had strong performances in all three phases of the game, highlighted by a well-rounded effort on defense. The Crusaders finished with seven total sacks, including five in the first half. Junior linebacker Carlo Crocetti totaled three sacks on the day with six total tackles; junior linebacker Cam Santee recorded a team-high 10 tackles, including eight solo, with two sacks and two forced fumbles. Junior Adam Due secured an interception and had a quarterback hurry to go with four solo tackles. Senior defensive end Christian Ross had a five-yard sack and recovered a fumble. 

Senior placekicker Luis Palenzuela made all three of his field goal attempts, highlighted by a career-best 46-yarder. Junior defensive tackle Brice Stevenson also blocked a field goal attempt at the end of the first half. 

The Crusaders totaled a season-best 414 yards of offense and ran for four touchdowns on the day, with two Crusaders rushing for over 100 yards. Junior running back Jayden Clerveaux had a season-best 142 yards and a touchdown, while senior Nyeoti Punni recorded a career high of 131 yards with a pair of touchdowns, along with a 25-yard reception. Senior receiver Max Mosey had three receptions for 65 yards and rushed for a seven-yard touchdown. 

HOW IT HAPPENED: 

• Each team only had one offensive possession in the first quarter, with the game scoreless after the opening frame. Bison quarterback Ralph Rucker IV connected with Nate Anderson for a 10-yard touchdown to open the second quarter, but the point after bounced off of the left upright, keeping the lead at 6-0.
• Crocetti sacked Rucker twice to force a Bucknell punt midway through the second quarter. Freshman quarterback Dominic Campanile completed a 25-yard pass to sophomore Alijah Cason, and Clerveaux had a 23-yard pickup to give the Crusaders strong field position; Mosey took the direct snap and ran for a seven-yard touchdown to put Holy Cross up 7-6 with 4:28 to go in the second. 
• Bucknell drove down the field to wind down the quarter, attempting a field goal with three seconds remaining in the first half, but Stevenson blocked the kick as time expired to preserve the Holy Cross lead.
• Santee stripped the ball from Tariq Thomas on Bucknell's opening drive of the second half, and Ross recovered the fumble, eventually setting up a 44-yard field goal for Palenzuela to extend the lead to 10-6. 
• Campanile completed a 34-yard pass to Mosey, moving the Crusaders to the 18-yard line. Punni had a three-yard run followed by a 15-yard rush to the end zone, extending the advantage to 17-6. 
• Bucknell's next pass was intercepted by Due, and a 24-yard field goal by Palenzuela pushed the lead to 20-6. 
• A 25-yard touchdown reception by Bucknell stopped the 20-0 run by the Crusaders, bringing the Bison within 20-13 with under a minute to go in the third. 
• Palenzuela connected on a career-high 46-yard field goal to extend the Crusader lead to 23-13 with 12:37 left in the fourth. 
• Punni ran 53 yards for his second touchdown of the game, pushing the Holy Cross advantage to 30-13 with 8:10 remaining; Bucknell responded with a 55-yard touchdown pass to cut within 30-20 with 6:38 left. 
• On the next offensive possession for the Bison, a fourth-down, 11-yard sack by Santee gave the Crusaders the ball back at the five-yard line, setting up a five-yard touchdown for Clerveaux to give Holy Cross a 37-20 lead. 

BEYOND THE BOX SCORE: 

• Holy Cross' seven sacks were their most in a game since the 2021 season. 
• Palenzuela's first field goal of the game, a 44-yarder, bested his previous career long of 34 — before his 46-yarder in the fourth quarter set a new career high.
• The Crusaders have won seven straight games against Bucknell and nine straight in Lewisburg. 

UP NEXT: 

• The Crusaders round out the 2025 season with a Patriot League matchup against Georgetown at Fenway Park on Saturday, Nov. 22. 
• Kickoff is set for 4 p.m. in Boston. 
• This marks Holy Cross' first game at Fenway Park since 1956. 
• Fans can purchase tickets by visiting redsox.com/holycrossfootball. 

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