WASHINGTON, D.C. — A trick play for a touchdown and game-sealing interception lifted the Holy Cross football team to a 27-24 come-from-behind victory over Georgetown in Patriot League action on Saturday, Nov. 7.
After trailing by 10 points midway through the third quarter, the Crusaders completed the comeback when sophomore running back
Joseph Williams completed a 17-yard touchdown pass to sophomore receiver
Lincoln Fisher with 27 seconds remaining to give the Crusaders their first lead of the day. Junior safety
Braden Haas then picked off a pass on Georgetown's final drive to secure the victory.
The Crusaders earn their third straight win overall and their fifth consecutive Patriot League victory to improve to 5-2 in conference play. Holy Cross has now won 11 straight games against the Hoyas.
Williams had an all-around day for the Crusader offense, with the 17-yard touchdown pass, 51 rushing yards and a score on the ground, and 26 receiving yards. Junior receiver
Ty Curran finished the day with 73 receiving yards and a touchdown on six receptions.
The Crusader defense held the Hoyas scoreless in the second half. Senior linebacker
Adam Due had a team-high nine tackles; in addition to his interception, Haas finished the day with seven tackles and a pass breakup. Junior linebacker
Jalen Rambert had seven tackles, and junior safety
Juju Tackie had two pass breakups and six tackles, including one for a loss.
HOW IT HAPPENED:
- Tackie had a pass breakup on third down to hold the Hoyas to a field goal on their opening drive. The Hoyas then extended their lead to 10-0 with 4:26 to go in the first quarter, scoring on fourth down from the goal line.
- Williams had a 21-yard gain for a conversion on third-and-14, and junior quarterback David Lynch scrambled to bring the ball to the two-yard line. From there, Williams had a wide-open lane to score a touchdown and put Holy Cross on the board with 12:11 left in the second quarter.
- Senior safety Garrett Baldwin picked off a pass, but the Hoyas immediately picked off the Crusaders on the next play. From there, Hoyas quarterback Gavin Beard connected on a 48-yard pass to put Georgetown in striking distance; the Hoyas then scored on a four-yard carry to extend the lead to 17-7 with 6:06 left in the first half.
- Croce had a 51-yard kickoff return to put the Crusaders in prime field position, and Lynch found senior tight end Luke Petitta for a two-yard score to bring Holy Cross within 17-14 with 2:52 left in the first half.
- The Hoyas immediately responded with a 12-yard touchdown completion to go up 24-14 with 33 seconds left before halftime.
- A pair of sacks from junior defensive end Cooper Ackerman and senior edge rusher Carlo Crocetti helped stymie the Hoyas on their opening drive of the second half. On the ensuing offensive series for the Crusaders, Lynch connected with Drae Tyme on a 19-yard reception for a big third-down conversion, and Lynch later found Ty Curran on third down for a 33-yard touchdown to bring Holy Cross within 24-21.
- The Crusader defense continued to hold the Hoyas off the board, securing a fourth-down stop early in the fourth quarter and later forcing Georgetown to punt with two minutes remaining.
- Lynch found Curran for a 20-yard completion to begin the final drive for the Crusaders, and Croce later punched the ball through for a three-yard pickup on fourth down to keep the drive alive. The Crusaders made it to the 17-yard line as the clock wound down, and Lynch chipped the ball off to Williams, who passed to a wide-open Fisher for the touchdown with 27 seconds remaining.
- Haas picked off Beard's pass to end the game and secure the Holy Cross victory.
BEYOND THE BOX SCORE:
- This marks the first win in the final minute of a game for Holy Cross since a 40-38 win against Bucknell during the 2024 season.
- Petitta's touchdown was the first of his career.
- This is the first three-game winning streak for Holy Cross since the 2022 season.
UP NEXT:
- The Crusaders return home for the final two games of the regular season, starting with a Patriot League matchup against Villanova on Saturday, Nov. 14.
- Kickoff is set for 12 p.m. at Fitton Field.
- Tickets can be purchased by visiting goholycross.com/fbtix or by calling the Holy Cross Ticket Office at 1-844-GO-CROSS.
- As part of Holy Cross' Military Appreciation Game, all reserve and active duty military, retired, and veterans can claim up to two complimentary tickets to the game.
FOLLOW THE CRUSADERS
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