The Holy Cross football team entered its annual Thanksgiving morning clash with Wolcott on the cusp of a Class S state playoff berth.
The Crusaders needed a win over the Eagles at Joe Monroe Field, and for the first quarter and a half, the teams were locked in a scoreless duel. In a span of about five and a half minutes in the second quarter, everything changed.
Wolcott scored three touchdowns in the aforementioned timespan and bolted to a 20-0 victory over Holy Cross in front of a big crowd at Wolcott High School. Both teams finished 7-3, and both teams finished ninth in their respective classes in the state playoff standings. The Eagles finished their season with six straight wins, while the Crusaders ended theirs with a tough loss after winning five straight games.
Holy Cross picked up 39 yards on a Pat Giancarli run on the first play from scrimmage, but the offensive production was limited from there. The Crusader defense held the Eagles down until early in the second quarter, when the home team took possession at its own 30-yard line.
Facing a 3rd and 20 at its own 20, Wolcott picked up 28 yards on a pass from game MVP Jack Byrnes to Mitch Lanza. Lanza was able to atone for a personal foul he committed on the first play of the drive. On 4th and 8 from the Crusader 33, Byrnes scrambled for an 18-yard gain. One play later, Byrnes hit Nick LaFountain for a 15-yard touchdown pass. Kyle Hensel’s extra point put Wolcott ahead, 7-0, with 6:30 minutes to go until halftime.
Three plays into the ensuing Holy Cross possession, Frank Turrell intercepted a Drevon Yeldell pass and set Wolcott up on its own 48. On 3rd and 9 from their own 49, the Eagles got an 18-yard completion from Byrnes to Ryan Lofgren to keep the drive going. A penalty on the Crusaders on a short Eagle run was followed by another Byrnes to LaFountain connection for nine yards. After Byrnes ran for two yards, Joe Fontano brought the ball to the one-yard line on a 13-yard gain. After Holy Cross stopped Fontano for no gain on first and goal, Fontano scored from a yard out to put Wolcott ahead, 13-0, with 2:14 to play until halftime.
The Crusaders had the ball and an opportunity to get some points on the board going into halftime, but the Eagles forced a three-and-out. A short punt into a gusty wind gave Wolcott the ball at the Holy Cross 33 with 1:20 left in the first half. Ten seconds later, Lanza was celebrating in the end zone with his teammates after catching a 33-yard touchdown pass from Byrnes. Hensel connected on the extra point, and the Eagles had a stunning 20-0 lead.
Holy Cross finally caught a break near the end of the third quarter when it recovered a Wolcott fumble at the Eagle 48. A personal foul on 3rd and 23 gave the Crusaders the ball at the Eagle 29. Holy Cross moved the ball down to the Wolcott 15 on two Chase Tyson passes, one for six yards to Rashaun Mitchell and the other for three yards to Tom Ligi. Two straight incompletions, including a throw to the end zone, ending the scoring threat. It was the last time the Crusaders threatened the Eagle end zone.
Photo credit: Holy Cross and Wolcott players meet at midfield for the coin toss before their Thanksgiving morning clash. (Copyright, Sports on CT-69)
GALLERY: Here are my pregame photos from the game.
