Copyright, Sports on CT-69, file
The Holy Cross football team got some solid efforts Sunday from a bunch of different players, including seniors who were playing in what turned out to be the final game of their careers.
Let’s start with senior Dylan Gray. Gray got the Crusaders to within a point, 14-13, with 4:05 to play in the game on his 81-yard kickoff return for a touchdown. He also had a pair of touchdown-saving tackles on Rockville junior star Amir Knighton, including one on a 58-yard gain.
Despite being the main focus of the Ram defense, Crusader senior Marques Campbell managed to churn out 89 yards on 21 rushing attempts. He also had a 31-yard punt return that flipped field position from the Holy Cross 34 to the Rockville 35. Campbell did lose a fumble on the ensuing drive, but made up for it by rushing for 62 yards on nine attempts on the next drive.
Senior David Jannetty recovered a Knighton fumble at the Crusader 13 to end a nearly four-minute Ram drive to begin the third quarter. The fumble came on a 3rd and 2, and it followed Gray’s potential touchdown-saving tackle on Knighton on a 7-yard run.
Junior Nicholas Damato had a good day. He was able to handle long snaps on his punts with no issues, easier said than done in cold, wet conditions. Damato ended a Rockville drive that took up the final 5:22 of the third quarter with an interception at the Holy Cross 4. He returned the interception to the Crusader 20.
Junior Christopher Perrone became the main target for fellow junior Drew Caouette on the lone Holy Cross touchdown drive of the game. Perrone caught one pass and turned it into a 32-yard gain. He also caught a 10-yard touchdown pass from Caouette.
Note: Holy Cross loses Campbell, Gray, Patrick Minicucci, Luke Schrade, Nicholas Nelson, Benjamin Iannantuoni, Jannetty and Mike Koosa to graduation.
