The Holy Cross football team didn’t get off to a great start against Crosby on Thursday afternoon at Municipal Stadium.
The Crusaders fumbled away the opening kickoff, and the Bulldogs took advantage on the first of two Tanner Leo touchdown passes to Jeffery Burke. The extra point put Crosby ahead, 7-0.
Holy Cross was able to overcome its slow start and claim a 33-21 win. The Crusaders improved to 3-1 while the Bulldogs fell to 0-2.
Holy Cross quarterback David Kacprzyski accounted for four of his team’s touchdowns, and his first, a one-yard run, got the Crusaders on the board in the first quarter. The Kevin Matiz extra point tied the game, 7-7.
The first of two Kacprzyski touchdown passes to Marques Campbell gave Holy Cross the lead for good in the second quarter. Matiz’s second extra point made the score 14-7. Campbell’s second touchdown reception from Kacprzyski later in the second quarter, combined with a Matiz PAT, put the Crusaders ahead, 21-7, at halftime.
Crosby made a run at Holy Cross in the third quarter. Leo completed a big pass deep down the field, then later hooked up again with Burke. A two-point pass to Burke cut the Bulldog deficit to 21-15. Crosby got the ball back and had a chance to even the game, and possibly take the lead, late in the third quarter. The Bulldogs attempted a jet sweep, a fumble was recovered by R.J. Damato and gave the ball back to the Crusaders.
Holy Cross took advantage when Kacpryzski found Mahkai Wilson for a touchdown across the middle of the end zone. The extra point was missed, but the Crusaders had a 27-15 lead early in the fourth quarter. Another Bulldog fumble, this time on a muffed punt return, was recovered by Crusader freshman Carsten Donovan. Thomas Ligi, who ran for over 100 yards, bulled his way to a six-yard touchdown. The kick missed, but Holy Cross led, 33-15. Crosby added a late touchdown when Leo scrambled, bought time, and unloaded a touchdown pass to Taji Blizzard.
Up next: Holy Cross has a big home game next Saturday when it hosts Woodland at Alumni Field at 1 p.m. Earlier that day, Crosby hosts Watertown for a 10 a.m. kickoff at Jimmy Lee Stadium.
Photo caption: Holy Cross quarterback David Kacprzyski steps up and completes a deep pass downfield against Crosby on Thursday afternoon at Municipal Stadium. (Copyright, Sports on CT-69)
