Football is beaten by Holy Cross, 19-16

Worcester, Massachusetts – For Superman, it’s kryptonite. For Spider-Man, it’s ethyl chloride. For Daredevil, it’s a vulnerability to strong sounds or smells. For the last seven years, it has been Holy Cross for Fordham football. Unfortunately, the Rams couldn’t find the magic elixir to defeat the Crusaders today as Holy Cross defeated Fordham 19-13 in a Patriot League game at Fitton Field.

With the loss, Fordham falls to 0-7 overall, 0-2 in the Patriot League, while Holy Cross improves to 3-4 overall and 2-0 in the league.

Fordham’s defense was led by a veteran linebacker James Conwaywho totaled 17 tackles, including two for loss, as a sophomore linebacker, tying the game’s highest total Jackson Barletta Added eleven stops and graduate linebackers Mike Courtney made nine.

Freshman kicker Bennett Henderson gave the Rams nine points on offense and scored on all three of his field goal attempts, including a 52-yarder in the first quarter that gave the Rams a 6-0 lead.

The Rams took a 13-6 lead on a one-yard play Julius Loughridge touchdown run midway through the third quarter, scored by a 39-yard pass from Jack Capaldi To Cole Thornton.

But the Crusaders came right back and tied the game on the ensuing possession, and the game remained tied until Henderson made his third field goal of the game early in the fourth period to give the Rams a 16-13 lead with 12:29 left provided.

Holy Cross answered the Fordham score with a short touchdown pass with 6:14 to play and took the lead for good, 19-16.

The Rams had two possessions after the Holy Cross score but were unable to get a first down on either possession.

Takeaways

• After missing the first five games of the year, he moved to senior linebacker James Conway appeared in his second straight game for the Rams.

• Freshman defensive back Boogie Owens recorded his first career interception in this game.

• The last three games between the two teams were decided by a total of seven points (the previous two duels were two points).

• It was the lowest-scoring game between Fordham and Holy Cross since a 17-13 Holy Cross win in 2018.

• The Rams entered the game leading the NCAA in fourth-down attempts, but were 0-2 today (Holy Cross converted its only fourth-down attempt into a game-winning drive).

• The Rams appeared to have recovered a Holy Cross fumble on a punt return when the ball bounced off the Crusader returner and into the hands of Walker Adkinson but the Rams were called for kick-catch interference with the game.

• Holy Cross now leads the Ram Crusader Cup Series 23-16.

• The Rams’ game was the first on natural grass since they played in Worcester in 2022.

• This will be the first of two games on grass for the Rams (at Lehigh) this year.

• The 2024 Fordham football team has played five of its first seven games on the road.

Through the numbers

23 – Career rushing touchdowns for Julius Loughridgeninth all-time for the Rams.

26 – Fourth down attempt by the Rams this season, the most of any NCAA FBS or FCS team.

417 – Career tackles for James ConwayThat puts him ahead of Mark Blazejewski (1988-92) and second on the Fordham career tackles list. He is almost nine years old Ryan GreenhagenRecord of 426.

2,618 – Career rushing yards for Julius LoughridgeSeventh on the Fordham career list.

What’s next?

• After a week off, the Rams will resume the 2024 season by traveling to Bethlehem, Pa., for a Patriot League game against Lehigh University at Goodman Stadium on Saturday, Oct. 26, at noon

• This will be the 36th meeting between Fordham and Lehigh.

• The Mountain Hawks lead the all-time series, which began in 1923, 25-10.

• Fordham has won the last three meetings, including a 38-35 victory at Muglia Stadium last October Brandon Peskin As time expired to lead the Rams to the homecoming victory, he made a 45-yard field goal, his third of the game