EASTON, Pa. – Lafayette came within inches of completing a comeback after trailing 21–0 in the second quarter. With 1:20 left in the game, junior QB Dean DeNobile scrambled and tossed a pass to Avery Jones which just eluded his grasp in the corner of the endzone in a 34-28 loss to Holy Cross on Saturday.
Jamar Curtis finished with 117 rushing yards, recording his 13th career 100-yard rushing game. The junior moved into sixth place all-time with 2,651 rushing yards, passing Ryan Priest '85.
It was all Holy Cross in the first quarter, as the Crusaders took a 14-0 lead. Holy Cross QB Joe Pesansky found wide receiver Max Mosey on a 58-yard screen for the score. On the next scoring drive, Holy Cross chewed up 6:04 on an 11-play, 51-yard drive that saw wide receiver Justin Shorter haul in three passes for 30 yards, including a six-yard touchdown.
The Patriot League foes traded shots in the second quarter, with 38 combined points. After a second Leopards' punt, Holy Cross commanded a 62-yard drive. Mosey took two-straight snaps out of the Wildcat formation, before scoring on a four-yard run as Holy Cross led 21-0.
Lafayette (4-4, 1-2) started its offense on the third drive of the game, converting a pair of fourth downs. DeNobile connected on a 20-yard pass to wide receiver Chris Carasia along the sideline and then a 23-yard slant to Carson Persing. The Maroon and White faced 4th-and-goal at the two-yard line and DeNobile passed to TE Ethan Hosak for his second score of the season. Lafayette trailed 21-7.
On the ensuing kickoff, defensive back Jalen Edwards forced a fumble that was recovered by Tighe Cummiskey, helping the Leopard offense set up shop on the Holy Cross 29-yard line. The offense was 3rd-and-goal and DeNobile scrambled up the middle for an eight-yard touchdown to cut the deficit to 21-14.
Holy Cross (4-5, 3-0) responded with a touchdown run of its own when Jayden Clerveaux took a handoff 28 yards in for a TD and a 28-14 advantage.
The Leopards answered with another touchdown, courtesy of Curtis. After taking a slant 23 yards into Holy Cross territory, Jones had a key block on a 30-yard scamper by Curtis to make it 28-21 and inch the Leopards within seven.
Lafayette's defense stood tall on the Crusaders' fifth drive, forcing a long field goal try. Daniel Porto booted a school-record 53-yard kick to make it 31-21 Holy Cross before halftime.
The Maroon and White attempted to close the gap after stalling inside the Holy Cross 15-yard line, opting for a field goal. Damon Donalds blocked Jack Simonetta's 28-yard attempt. The Crusaders added their own a 24-yard field goal with nine minutes left in the game to lead 34-21.
Lafayette needed a score on its next drive to remain in the game. On 3rd-and-9, DeNobile found Carasia on a 30-yard pass that moved the chains. Curtis then burst through a hole for 27 yards to set up a shot at the end zone. DeNobile connected with Dallas Holmes for a 12-yard score, shrinking the deficit to 34-28.
On the ensuing Crusader possession, they threatened to put the game out of reach. Lafayette forced a 51-yard field goal attempt that Tyree Morris blocked, giving the Leopards a chance to complete the comeback.
Lafayette took over with 2:28 remaining. DeNobile hit Persing and Jones for gains of 21 and 11 yards, respectively. It all came down to a 4th-and-8 at the Holy Cross 16. DeNobile scrambled and lofted a pass to a diving Jones that fell incomplete.
Defensively, Saiku White (8), Preston Forney (6) and Semaj Cross (6) led the Leopards in tackles. Robert Stevens finished with four tackles and a tackle for loss. Neriyan Brown logged two tackles and two breakups.
Lafayette returns to action on Saturday, traveling to Bucknell for a 1 p.m. kickoff.
