Lehigh Defense, Special Teams Denies Holy Cross In 10-7 Slugfest

WORCESTER, MA – Going into their game against defending champions Holy Cross, one of the big questions about the Lehigh Mountain Hawks was how they might respond to a close fourth quarter under the tension of a critical Patriot League contest.

The Crusaders did not have those same concerns going in; after all, almost everyone on their roster had been in this position before in past championship seasons, and always found a way to win a big game against a conference rival.

The Crusaders were 31-4 in Patriot League competition since 2018. They had been there before. They knew how to win.

And as Holy Cross lined up for a game-tying field goal with a few seconds left on the clock, they hiked the ball, with the crowd and even probably most Lehigh fans fully expecting overtime, because that’s what Holy Cross does in Patriot League play.

But then something amazing happened.

Lehigh DE Andrew Sharga reached up and blocked the low kick, DB Mason Moore picked up the loose ball, and a host of elated Mountain Hawks celebrated as the clock struck zero.

It would be the Mountain Hawks (6-3, 3-1 Patriot) who were the team that stayed calm and collected in the fourth quarter, making a huge defensive stop and special teams plays when they needed to, as they beat Holy Cross (4-6, 3-1 Patriot) 10-7 in a thrilling, physical struggle at Fitton Field in Worcester, MA between two worthy Patriot League title contenders.

“This was the type of game we expected,” Lehigh head coach Kevin Cahill said after the game. “You’re not going to come in here and blow a team out, nor are we going to get blown out. I’m proud of out kids in the way they fought. Holy Cross is a very physical team. We knew we had to raise our standard. It was a hard-fought game and we were glad we got the win.”

All afternoon the game was a game football purists would love, with both sets of offensive and defensive lines pushing and struggling back and forth for supremacy, no offense totally taking over, no defense totally breaking.

“We battled the entire four quarters, the entire 60 minutes of football,” DB Mason Moore also said, who recovered the blocked kick to seal the deal and added 5 tackles and 1 pass break-up. “We’ve been practicing and preparing for this moment since fall camp, and this week, coach Cahill fired us up with a pregame speech.”

Everything about this game was gritty – including the touchdowns.

Both teams had a grand total of eight offensive drives in the game, both offenses grinding out some long, extended drives that ended mostly in punts – a constant tug-of-war over field position.

Holy Cross P Brian Norris punted 5 times for a 41.4 average, whole Lehigh P Connor Poole booted the ball 4 times for an eye-popping 46.5 yards per kick, and Lehigh’s punt return units downed the ball deep repeatedly, one time at the 1 yard line and another at the 14 yard line.

Early on Lehigh QB Dante Perri would scramble away from pressure and throw a bullet to WR Mason Humphrey in a place where only he could catch it – in the left corner of the end zone to give Lehigh a 7-0 lead after the first play of the second quarter.

But Holy Cross would drive right back with a gutsy drive of their own. A nine-play, 60 yard drive mostly on the ground with RB Jayden Clerveaux would end with QB Joe Pesansky finding big TE Jacob Petersen for a 10 yard touchdown grab to tie the game.

After that, it was a nervy battle the rest of the way, with defense and special teams ascendant the rest of the day on both sides.

After Lehigh would receive the second half kickoff, QB Hayden Johnson would lead the Mountain Hawks on a 12 play, 55 yard drive into the Holy Cross red zone, but the Crusader defense would step up and stall Lehigh’s drive on the 7, forcing the Mountain Hawks to settle for a 25 yard FG by PK Nick Garrido.

Then, after a 3 and out by the Holy Cross offense, Lehigh would drive the field again, only to see Holy Cross LB Frankie Monte force a fumble as his teammates recover the ball. Monte led all tacklers on the afternoon with 21, and he forced the game’s only turnover.

It would come down to a tense fourth quarter.

After Holy Cross’ defense would stall Lehigh’s drive at their own 41, Poole would kick it away as Joe Pesansky and the Crusaders drove the length of the field into the Lehigh red zone, their 18 yard line.

They would get no further.

“We made them drive the whole field,” Mason said. “We didn’t give up any explosive plays. We kept everything inside and in front.”

After a huge tackle for loss by LB William Parton, LB Mike DeNucci would beat his man on the corner and sack Pesansky for a 12 yard loss. Along with a penalty, Holy Cross would get themselves well out of field goal range – kicking into the wind – forcing them to punt instead of having an opportunity to score points.

Getting the ball back with 5:34 to play, Lehigh’s offense got a first down to try to ice the game, but the Holy Cross defense shut down the Mountain Hawk running game, forcing a punt. Poole boomed a 56 yard punt, forcing Holy Cross to start their drive from their own 14 yard line to try to win or tie the game.

The Lehigh defense held firm, giving up a few chunk plays before blocking the game-typing field goal.

“This says that we’re next up,” Mason said. “We deserve this and we earned this moment.”

Full Box Score

LEH: Perri,Dante (29), Yoder,Luke (66), Jamiel,Geoffrey (35)
HCR: Pesansky,Joe (149), Clerveaux,Jayden (84), Mosey,Max (47)
Attendance: 12,910

Chuck Burton

Chuck has been writing about Lehigh football since the dawn of the internet, or perhaps it only seems like it. He’s executive editor of the College Sports Journal and has also written a book, The Rivalry: How Two Schools Started the Most Played College Football Series.

Reach him at: this email or click below: