Holy Cross absolutely clawed their way to their first win of the season, holding off a furious Montrose comeback 27-20 in a Lackawanna Football Conference game Saturday afternoon. What fueled those final, clutch defensive stands? Forget Xs and Os for a second: junior Christian Novak spilled the beans that their line coach, Rob Rucker, promised pulled pork for a victory. You just know that aroma of victory, and BBQ, was in the air as they battled.
Rutkoski Deals Early, But Montrose Keeps Swinging
This game was a roller coaster. Holy Cross quarterback Chase Rutkoski put on a show early, slinging for 192 yards and four touchdowns, with three of those hitting paydirt in the first half alone. But it wasn’t a clean sheet, he also tossed two interceptions in the first half. Still, the Crusaders’ defense was feeling it, forcing a massive five turnovers to keep Montrose on their heels. The final Rutkoski touchdown pass, a connection with Luca Berardi after Novak recovered a fumble, felt huge at the time, pushing the lead to 27-13 with less than three minutes left in the third quarter. Joel Patino nailed the extra point. Rutkoski knew it, too, saying, “I threw it up and knew he was going to come down with it because that’s the type of player he is.” He added they knew Montrose wouldn’t quit, and boy, was he right.
The Pulled Pork Defense Steps Up Big in The Crunch
Montrose roared back, with Liam MacNamee, who finished with 165 yards and three touchdowns on 20 carries, capping a quick 66-yard drive with a 15-yard run. Gabriel DeLlano Duran’s extra point sliced the lead to 27-20 with 39 seconds left in the third. The Meteors then put together an epic 17-play drive, chewing up 11 minutes of the fourth quarter and marching all the way to the Holy Cross 5-yard line. They even pulled off a wild 21-yard completion on fourth-and-9 from quarterback Evan Strohl to tight end Lincoln Hobbs! But when it mattered most, facing fourth-and-goal from the 5, an illegal procedure penalty pushed them back. Now at fourth-and-goal from the 10, the Holy Cross defense absolutely REFUSED to break, forcing an incomplete pass to turn the ball over on downs with just 37 seconds left. Coach Joe Giorgio admitted they gave up some big plays but praised the team: “when we needed to, we really stepped up.” And just for good measure, after Montrose forced a punt and got the ball back at midfield with 11 seconds left, Luca Berardi slammed the door shut with an interception of Strohl’s final heave.
What a way to grab your first win! Novak summed it up best, saying, “Everyone doubted us, no one thought we had a chance. It feels great to prove everyone wrong and show we’re a lot more than people think we are. That we’re able to fight.” This win isn’t just about the pulled pork, it’s about a team showing grit and proving what they can do. You gotta wonder if that defensive intensity, fueled by a delicious promise, is a sign of what’s to come.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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