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WORCESTER, Mass. — In an exciting matchup on Saturday, Holy Cross emerged victorious with a score of 40-38 against Bucknell, thanks to a crucial blocked punt and an interception return, along with a go-ahead field goal from Daniel Porto in the final minute of play.

This victory keeps Holy Cross (5-6, 4-1) in contention for the Patriot League championship for the sixth consecutive year. The Crusaders are currently tied for first place with Lehigh, who secured a win against Colgate, ending that game with a score of 45-17. As the season wraps up, Holy Cross will face Georgetown while Lehigh will host Lafayette in their upcoming matchups.

Bucknell (5-6, 3-2) started strong, with quarterback Ralph Rucker IV throwing three touchdown passes in the first half. At one point, Bucknell held a commanding lead of 21-3. However, Holy Cross managed to close the gap with Jayden Clerveaux scoring a short touchdown run, finishing the first half at 21-10. The Crusaders continued their momentum into the third quarter when Joe Pesansky connected with Max Mosey on a 35-yard touchdown pass, bringing the score to 21-17.

While a field goal and Rucker’s fourth touchdown pass gave Bucknell a 31-17 lead, the game quickly shifted as events unfolded dramatically. Ross Dansdill blocked a Bucknell punt deep in Holy Cross’s territory, allowing Cam Jones to scoop up the ball and score a touchdown, narrowing the gap to 31-24 late in the third quarter.

Holy Cross continued to fight back, with Clerveaux tying the game with another short touchdown run. The Crusaders then took the lead for the first time when Curtis Harris-Lopez intercepted a pass from Rucker, returning it 56 yards for the touchdown.

Despite Bucknell’s efforts, Rucker responded by throwing his fifth touchdown pass of the afternoon, a 5-yard completion to Eric Weatherly with eight minutes left on the clock, putting Bucknell back in the game.

Holy Cross faced a challenge when they turned the ball over on downs, but they managed to force a Bucknell punt. They then orchestrated an impressive 64-yard drive over 11 plays, culminating in a 23-yard field goal by Porto, which ultimately decided the game.

In the chaos of Bucknell’s final possession, Rucker fumbled the ball on their very first play, sealing the Crusaders’ win. Throughout the game, Rucker showcased impressive skills, completing 33 of 42 passes for a total of 339 yards, with five touchdowns to his credit but also two interceptions. His favorite target, Weatherly, caught 10 passes for 129 yards, scoring two touchdowns.
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