Holy Cross downs UConn 38-28 in FCS-FBS showdown
EAST HARTFORD, Conn. (AP) Sophomore Matt Sluka passed for two touchdowns, ran for another and his 76-yard keeper in the fourth quarter iced Holy Cross' 38-28 season-opening win at UConn on Saturday.
Sluka passed for 123 yards and ran for 112. His long run set up Tyler Purdy's 14-yard TD carry - his second score of the game - to give Holy Cross a 10-point lead with just over eight minutes left.
Holy Cross, two-time defending Patriot League champion, gained the FCS playoff field last spring and the defeat of UConn is its first against an FBS opponent since 2002 (Army).
The Crusaders grabbed a 24-21 halftime lead when a Derek Ng's 30-yard field goal sailed through the uprights with three seconds on the clock and never trailed again.
Holy Cross' Liam Anderson forced a fumble on UConn's first drive of the second half, recovered by Jared Dyer, and the Crusaders scored in five plays, pushing the lead to 31-21.
Ng's ensuing kickoff covered just 23 yards, setting up the Huskies (0-2) at midfield. Jack Zergiotis pulled UConn back within 31-28 with an 8-yard scoring pass to Jayce Medlock.
Zergiotis was 17 of 41 passing for 174 yards and three TDs. He was also picked off three times.
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Passing | CP/ATT | YDS | TD | INT |
M. Sluka
9 QB
|
M. Sluka | 9/16 | 123 | 2 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
M. Siderman
12 QB
|
M. Siderman | 2/3 | 14 | 0 | 0 |
Rushing | ATT | YDS | TD | LG |
M. Sluka
9 QB
|
M. Sluka | 14 | 112 | 1 | 76 | ||||||||||||||||||||
P. Oliver
24 RB
|
P. Oliver | 18 | 79 | 0 | 23 | ||||||||||||||||||||
T. Purdy
20 RB
|
T. Purdy | 10 | 40 | 1 | 14 | ||||||||||||||||||||
J. Forrest
5 RB
|
J. Forrest | 3 | 5 | 0 | 2 | ||||||||||||||||||||
M. Siderman
12 QB
|
M. Siderman | 2 | -2 | 0 | 5 | ||||||||||||||||||||
J. Abrams
22 RB
|
J. Abrams | 2 | -7 | 0 | -1 |
Receiving | TAR | REC | YDS | TD | LG |
J. Coker
80 WR
|
J. Coker | 6 | 3 | 47 | 0 | 33 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
A. Asante
1 WR
|
A. Asante | 3 | 2 | 36 | 1 | 24 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
T. Ayeni
8 WR
|
T. Ayeni | 3 | 2 | 34 | 0 | 28 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
S. Gilliam
3 WR
|
S. Gilliam | 5 | 3 | 17 | 0 | 16 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
T. Purdy
20 RB
|
T. Purdy | 1 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 3 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
S. Morris
89 TE
|
S. Morris | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Defense | T-A | SACK | INT |
L. Anderson
29 LB
|
L. Anderson | 2-0 | 2.0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
M. Cedeno
98 DL
|
M. Cedeno | 1-0 | 1.0 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||
W. Reynolds
26 DB
|
W. Reynolds | 0-0 | 0.0 | 1 | ||||||||||||||||||||
J. Smith
7 DB
|
J. Smith | 0-0 | 0.0 | 1 | ||||||||||||||||||||
J. Modak
97 DL
|
J. Modak | 0-0 | 0.0 | 1 |
Kicking | FG | LG | XP | PTS |
D. Ng
35 K
|
D. Ng | 1/1 | 29 | 5/5 | 8 |
Punting | NO | AVG | IN20 | LG |
P. Haughney
95 K
|
P. Haughney | 8 | 36.3 | 1 | 44 |
Kickoff Returns | NO | AVG | LG | TD |
Punt Returns | NO | AVG | LG | TD |
J. Kreimer 81 WR
|
J. Kreimer | 1 | 1.0 | 1 | 0 |
Passing | CP/ATT | YDS | TD | INT |
J. Zergiotis
11 QB
|
J. Zergiotis | 17/42 | 174 | 3 | 3 |
Rushing | ATT | YDS | TD | LG |
K. Mensah
34 RB
|
K. Mensah | 21 | 65 | 0 | 10 | ||||||||||||||||||||
N. Carter
26 RB
|
N. Carter | 5 | 22 | 0 | 7 | ||||||||||||||||||||
J. Zergiotis
11 QB
|
J. Zergiotis | 10 | 1 | 1 | 8 | ||||||||||||||||||||
R. Burns
30 RB
|
R. Burns | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
Receiving | TAR | REC | YDS | TD | LG |
K. Marion
1 WR
|
K. Marion | 5 | 3 | 60 | 2 | 50 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
C. Ross
7 WR
|
C. Ross | 7 | 3 | 23 | 0 | 11 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
C. Hairston
87 WR
|
C. Hairston | 7 | 2 | 21 | 0 | 11 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
J. Medlock
80 TE
|
J. Medlock | 2 | 2 | 19 | 1 | 11 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
C. Johnson
45 TE
|
C. Johnson | 2 | 1 | 15 | 0 | 15 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
K. Mensah
34 RB
|
K. Mensah | 3 | 2 | 14 | 0 | 14 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
J. Rose
81 TE
|
J. Rose | 2 | 1 | 10 | 0 | 10 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
H. Maurisseau
3 WR
|
H. Maurisseau | 3 | 2 | 7 | 0 | 5 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
N. Carter
26 RB
|
N. Carter | 2 | 1 | 5 | 0 | 5 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
A. Turner
5 WR
|
A. Turner | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Defense | T-A | SACK | INT |
Kicking | FG | LG | XP | PTS |
J. McFadden
84 K
|
J. McFadden | 0/0 | 0 | 4/4 | 4 |
Punting | NO | AVG | IN20 | LG |
J. McFadden
84 K
|
J. McFadden | 4 | 41.5 | 2 | 48 | ||||||||||||||||||||
H. Kerr
99 P
|
H. Kerr | 3 | 40.7 | 1 | 50 |
Kickoff Returns | NO | AVG | LG | TD |
D. Houston
25 RB
|
D. Houston | 2 | 19.5 | 21 | 0 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
D. Morgan
41 LB
|
D. Morgan | 1 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 |
Punt Returns | NO | AVG | LG | TD |