DEKALB, Ill. — The Holy Cross football team fell just short in an FBS matchup at Northern Illinois on Saturday, Aug. 30, with a 19-17 setback in their 2025 opener.
The Crusaders (0-1) allowed just one defensive touchdown on the day, and trailed just 6-3 after three quarters. Junior linebacker
Cam Santee paced the defense with 10 tackles and a pass breakup. Sophomore linebacker
Lathan Croley and senior safety
Tommy Bestpitch each had eight tackles on the day.
Senior receiver
Blake Youngblood had his first career touchdown to put the Crusaders in the lead early in the fourth; senior receiver
Max Mosey finished with a team-high 71 receiving yards.
In his first collegiate action, sophomore quarterback
Cal Swanson rushed for a team-best 51 yards and completed 17 of his 29 passes for 155 yards in the air.
Sophomore
Alijah Cason had an exceptional day, totaling 187 yards on three kickoff returns and scoring on a 97-yard return to bring Holy Cross within two points late.
HOW IT HAPPENED:
- In an early defensive battle, the Crusaders held the Huskies to a field goal with four minutes left in the first quarter.
- After Northern Illinois fumbled a snap to give Holy Cross great field position, Palenzuela connected on a 33-yarder to make it a 3-3 game with 3:22 left in the first half.
- The Huskies kicked another field goal late in the half to take a 6-3 advantage into the locker room.
- Cason returned the opening kickoff of the second half for 69 yards, but the Crusaders were unable to convert on an ensuing field goal attempt. Later in the third quarter, junior linebacker Adam Due blocked a punt, but Holy Cross also came up short on that drive, heading into the fourth still trailing by three.
- Holy Cross' offense was able to break through early in the fourth quarter. After 15-yard and 46-yard completions to Mosey, Swanson connected with Youngblood for a 16-yard touchdown to give Holy Cross a 10-6 lead with 10:34 to go.
- NIU immediately responded with a 96-yard kickoff return touchdown, but missed the point after, to hold a 12-10 lead with 10:21 remaining.
- The Huskies extended their advantage to 19-10 with 4:15 left on a two-yard touchdown rush.
- Holy Cross immediately responded, with Cason returning the next kickoff 97 yards to bring the Crusaders within two points with 4:03 left.
- The Crusader defense forced a three-and-out to get the ball back with 2:17 remaining, but turned the ball over on downs, and NIU was able to run out the clock.
BEYOND THE BOX SCORE:
- Cason's 187 kickoff return yards are tied for third in single-game program history; his 97-yard kickoff return is tied for the second-longest in program history and is the longest since 1979.
- Santee's 10-tackle performance marked his first career game with double-digit tackles.
- In three of the team's last four setbacks against FBS competition, the Crusaders have fallen by three points or less.
UP NEXT:
- The Crusaders travel to Durham, N.H., for a matchup against the University of New Hampshire on Saturday, Sept. 6.
- Kickoff is scheduled for 6 p.m.
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