Saturday, November 9
Worcester, Mass.
12:00 PM
Lehigh University
6-3 , 3-1
10
at
7
Holy Cross
4-6 , 3-1
1st
2nd
3rd
4th
F
Lehigh
0
7
3
0
10
Holy Cross
0
7
0
0
7
Photo by: Mark Seliger
Mountain Hawks Tough Out 10-7 Win At Holy Cross
11/9/2024 4:17:00 PM | Football
WORCESTER, Mass. – A tough, hard-fought football game went Lehigh's way Saturday as the Mountain Hawks defeated Holy Cross 10-7 at Fitton Field. Holy Cross got the ball back at its 14 yard line with 2:24 to play and drove into Lehigh territory, but Daniel Porto's game-tying 52-yard field goal attempt in the final seconds was blocked, sending Lehigh into celebration.
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Lehigh wins its third straight game to improve to 6-3 overall and 3-1 in Patriot League play. The Mountain Hawks have clinched their first winning season since 2016 when the Brown and White went 9-3.
Both defenses controlled play on Saturday with Holy Cross ending with a 258-223 advantage in total offense. Fifty-one of Holy Cross' yards came on its final drive. Lehigh rushed for 168 yards while Holy Cross ran for 110 and passed for 148.
Graduate student Mike DeNucci and junior Jackson Dowd led the defensive effort with 11 tackles. DeNucci added 1.5 for loss, a sack and a pass breakup.
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After stopping Holy Cross on the game's opening drive, Lehigh put together an impressive 15-play, 87-yard drive on its first possession. Sophomore Luke Yoder converted a 4th-and-1 with a two-yard rush to keep the drive alive. On the first play of the second quarter, graduate student Dante Perri found sophomore Mason Humphrey in the back left corner of the end zone for a 12-yard touchdown to give Lehigh a 7-0 lead.
Holy Cross (4-6, 3-1 PL) answered with a touchdown of its own, capitalizing on a short kickoff to go 60 yards in nine plays. A 10-yard pass from Joe Pesansky to Jacob Petersen tied the game at 7-7, which is how the teams went into halftime.
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Lehigh got the ball to start the third quarter and moved 55 yards deep into Holy Cross territory. The Mountain Hawks settled for a 25-yard field goal by junior Nick Garrido to give the Mountain Hawks a 10-7 lead early in the third quarter.
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The defenses took over from there. Lehigh got the ball back after a 3-and-out and moved deep into Holy Cross territory, but the potential scoring drive was thwarted by a fumbled handoff as the Crusaders took over at their 17.
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In the fourth quarter Holy Cross put together an 11-play drive that reached the Lehigh 18 yard line, but on third down, DeNucci came off the edge to sack for a loss of 10 and then an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty against the Crusaders moved them out of field goal range.
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Holy Cross converted two third downs on its final drive, but on 3rd and 10 from the Lehigh 41, Dowd stopped Sam Slade short of the first down marker, forcing the Crusaders to attempt the long field goal, which was blocked by sophomore Andrew Sharga with help from junior TJ Burke.
Yoder led Lehigh offensively with 66 yards on 18 carries, while first-year Jaden Green added 53 yards on nine carries.
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Perri was 4-of-5 for 29 yards and a touchdown, while first-year Hayden Johnson completed 3-of-5 for 26 yards.
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Junior Geoffrey Jamiel led the receiving corps with three catches for 35 yards.
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First-year punter Connor Poole helped flip field position, averaging 37.2 yards on five punts, including two that were downed inside the Crusader 20. Sophomore Mason Moore downed a punt at the one yard line and added five tackles and a pass breakup.
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Pesansky completed 17-of-26 for 148 yards and a touchdown. Jayden Clerveaux rushed 20 times for 84 yards to lead the Crusaders.
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The Mountain Hawks return to Goodman Stadium next Saturday to host Colgate on Salute to Service, presented by Weis Markets with game time set for noon. Tickets can be purchased at LehighTickets.com or by calling 610-758-4263 during business hours.
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EXTRA POINTS… Lehigh's win is its first over Holy Cross since 2017 as the Mountain Hawks reclaim a 20-19-1 lead in the all-time series… The Mountain Hawks won at Fitton Field for the first time since 2016… The 10 points were the fewest scored by Lehigh in a winning effort since a 10-3 victory over Merrimack in 2019… DeNucci and juniors Matt Spatny and Tyler Ochojski recorded Lehigh's three sacks… Lehigh, Bucknell and Holy Cross are now tied at the top of the league standings with 3-1 records… first-year wide receiver Jamaire Harden made his first career start… first-year tight end Aiden Schomp made his first career reception.
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Follow Lehigh Football on X/Twitter and Instagram and like on Facebook for exclusive updates throughout the season.Â
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Lehigh wins its third straight game to improve to 6-3 overall and 3-1 in Patriot League play. The Mountain Hawks have clinched their first winning season since 2016 when the Brown and White went 9-3.
Both defenses controlled play on Saturday with Holy Cross ending with a 258-223 advantage in total offense. Fifty-one of Holy Cross' yards came on its final drive. Lehigh rushed for 168 yards while Holy Cross ran for 110 and passed for 148.
ÂPostgame with @coach_cahill and sophomore Mason Moore! #GoLehigh #TheNest pic.twitter.com/zOW1psj4v3
— Lehigh Football (@LehighFootball) November 9, 2024
Graduate student Mike DeNucci and junior Jackson Dowd led the defensive effort with 11 tackles. DeNucci added 1.5 for loss, a sack and a pass breakup.
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After stopping Holy Cross on the game's opening drive, Lehigh put together an impressive 15-play, 87-yard drive on its first possession. Sophomore Luke Yoder converted a 4th-and-1 with a two-yard rush to keep the drive alive. On the first play of the second quarter, graduate student Dante Perri found sophomore Mason Humphrey in the back left corner of the end zone for a 12-yard touchdown to give Lehigh a 7-0 lead.
ÂThe TD that gave Lehigh the early lead.
— Lehigh Football (@LehighFootball) November 9, 2024
Watch: https://t.co/EOGd6fmf4O@espn @PatriotLeagueHQ #GoLehigh #TheNest pic.twitter.com/xVTyBRYVTC
Holy Cross (4-6, 3-1 PL) answered with a touchdown of its own, capitalizing on a short kickoff to go 60 yards in nine plays. A 10-yard pass from Joe Pesansky to Jacob Petersen tied the game at 7-7, which is how the teams went into halftime.
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Lehigh got the ball to start the third quarter and moved 55 yards deep into Holy Cross territory. The Mountain Hawks settled for a 25-yard field goal by junior Nick Garrido to give the Mountain Hawks a 10-7 lead early in the third quarter.
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The defenses took over from there. Lehigh got the ball back after a 3-and-out and moved deep into Holy Cross territory, but the potential scoring drive was thwarted by a fumbled handoff as the Crusaders took over at their 17.
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In the fourth quarter Holy Cross put together an 11-play drive that reached the Lehigh 18 yard line, but on third down, DeNucci came off the edge to sack for a loss of 10 and then an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty against the Crusaders moved them out of field goal range.
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Holy Cross converted two third downs on its final drive, but on 3rd and 10 from the Lehigh 41, Dowd stopped Sam Slade short of the first down marker, forcing the Crusaders to attempt the long field goal, which was blocked by sophomore Andrew Sharga with help from junior TJ Burke.
ÂThe final play... and the celly!#GoLehigh #TheNest pic.twitter.com/yeHUVGlf0m
— Lehigh Football (@LehighFootball) November 9, 2024
Yoder led Lehigh offensively with 66 yards on 18 carries, while first-year Jaden Green added 53 yards on nine carries.
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Perri was 4-of-5 for 29 yards and a touchdown, while first-year Hayden Johnson completed 3-of-5 for 26 yards.
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Junior Geoffrey Jamiel led the receiving corps with three catches for 35 yards.
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First-year punter Connor Poole helped flip field position, averaging 37.2 yards on five punts, including two that were downed inside the Crusader 20. Sophomore Mason Moore downed a punt at the one yard line and added five tackles and a pass breakup.
Â
Pesansky completed 17-of-26 for 148 yards and a touchdown. Jayden Clerveaux rushed 20 times for 84 yards to lead the Crusaders.
Â
The Mountain Hawks return to Goodman Stadium next Saturday to host Colgate on Salute to Service, presented by Weis Markets with game time set for noon. Tickets can be purchased at LehighTickets.com or by calling 610-758-4263 during business hours.
Â
EXTRA POINTS… Lehigh's win is its first over Holy Cross since 2017 as the Mountain Hawks reclaim a 20-19-1 lead in the all-time series… The Mountain Hawks won at Fitton Field for the first time since 2016… The 10 points were the fewest scored by Lehigh in a winning effort since a 10-3 victory over Merrimack in 2019… DeNucci and juniors Matt Spatny and Tyler Ochojski recorded Lehigh's three sacks… Lehigh, Bucknell and Holy Cross are now tied at the top of the league standings with 3-1 records… first-year wide receiver Jamaire Harden made his first career start… first-year tight end Aiden Schomp made his first career reception.
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Follow Lehigh Football on X/Twitter and Instagram and like on Facebook for exclusive updates throughout the season.Â
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Team Stats
LEH
HCR
Total Yards
223
254
Pass Yards
55
149
Rushing Yards
168
105
Penalty Yards
50
117
1st Downs
16
14
3rd Downs
3
7
4th Downs
1
2
TOP
29:35
30:18
2nd Quarter
LEH 7, HCR 0
LEH - Humphrey,Mason 12 yd pass from Perri,Dante (Garrido,Nick kick) 15 plays, 87 yards, TOP 09:55
LEH 7, HCR 7
HCR - Petersen,Jacob 10 yd pass from Pesansky,Joe (Porto,Daniel kick) 9 plays, 60 yards, TOP 05:19
3rd Quarter
LEH 10, HCR 7
LEH - Garrido,Nick 25 yd field goal 12 plays, 55 yards, TOP 07:06
Game Leaders
Passing Leaders
CMP
4
TD
1
YDS
29
INT
0
CMP
3
TD
0
YDS
26
INT
0
Players Mentioned
LB
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LB
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K/P
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RB
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WR
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WR
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WR
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DB
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LB
/ FootballQB
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K/P
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TE
/ Football
DL
/ Football
DL
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RB
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