Oct. 1, 2016

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EASTON, Pa. -- Holy Cross scored 22 straight points in the fourth quarter to recover from a five-point Leopard advantage and hand Lafayette a 38-28 setback on Homecoming Weekend at Fisher Stadium. It was the Patriot League opener for both teams.

Senior quarterback Blake Searfoss played all but the first series after starting quarterback Drew Reed was knocked from the game by a vicious hit after a 10-yard run. Searfoss was ready to go, completing 32-of-45 for 280 yards and four touchdowns (all career-highs). He connected with junior Matt Mrazek for three of the touchdowns as Mrazek finished with 11 catches for 109 yards (both career highs). Mrazek's 11-catch performance was the first for a Leopard since Ross Scheuerman had 10 grabs on Nov. 8, 2014.

Holy Cross (2-3, 1-0) scored on its first three possessions of the game and led 13-0. The Crusaders who were playing without starting QB Peter Pujals, saw backup Geoff Wade take the 7-0 lead on a 39-yard pass to Jake Wieczorek. Zane Wasp added field goals of 32 and 23 yards as Holy Cross led 13-0. A 37-yard Diquan Walker run opened up the first drive of the second quarter. Holy Cross moved the ball to the two, before settling for Wasp 23-yarder.

The Lafayette (1-4, 0-1) offense earned its first first-down of the game on Searfoss' eight-yard pass to Joey Chenoweth to start the second quarter. The play was followed by a 27-yard completion to Mrazek that put the Leopards in Crusaders' territory on the 48-yard line. Lafayette settled for a 38-yard Jacob Bissell field goal attempt that missed wide left.

Holy Cross returned the favor when Wasp missed a 43-yarder and gave the Leopards the ball back with 3:58 to play. Searfoss orchestrated a 77-yard drive, going 9-of-10 through the air and finishing it off with a touchdown throw to Mrazek from seven yards out to put Lafayette on the board at 13-7 heading into halftime.

Both teams opened the second half of play with unsuccessful offensive possessions before Lafayette took over on its own 25 with 11:26 to go in the third. A 24-yard rush from DeSean Brown put the Leopards within scoring range and Searfoss found Mrazek again, this time from 13 yards out to push Lafayette ahead 14-13.

The Crusaders answered. A 36-yard pass from Wade to Wieczorek set up a Wasp 41-yard field goal to switch the lead back to the visiting side, 16-14.

The scoring was not over in the third quarter. Searfoss used his arm, through a 17-yard completion to Tim Vangelas, and his feet on a 20-yard run, to set up Lafayette in the red zone, 1st-and-goal at the Holy Cross eight-yard line. After a pair of rushes netted five yards, Searfoss found his top option across the middle from three yards out as Mrazek reeled in his third TD of the game and gave the Leopards a 21-16 lead at the end of three.

The fourth quarter wasn't kind to the Maroon and White as Holy Cross tallied 22 unanswered points to break the game open at 38-21 with 7:34 to go. A pair of Wade touchdown passes made it 31-21 and a fumble recovery for a touchdown on strip sack of Searfoss was the final blow.

Lafayette added a late score with 5:54 left in the game, on a 16-yard pass from Searfoss to Wadsworth before the clock ran out on the 38-28 final.

Defensively, Lafayette played most of the game without All-Patriot League linebacker Brandon Bryant who was injured in the first half. His replacement, Rob Hinchen, made a team-high 11 tackles while defensive tackle Robin Cepeda made eight tackles, including 2.5 for loss.

Next up for the Maroon and White is a trip to Bronx, N.Y. on Saturday for a matchup with Fordham. Opening kickoff is slated for 1 p.m.