Crimson Chronicles

Game 1 at Holy Cross (9/19/09):

Coach Murphy’s new-look Crimson opened the 2009 season on the road against the Crusaders and went down to a tough 27-20 loss. Harvard started off the game on offense and new quarterback Collie Winters employed a spread look which worked well, as they scored on their opening drive when Winters hit Gino Gordon with a five-yard touchdown pass, Long’s extra point missed and the Crimson were up 6-0. Holy Cross scored on their second possession as Dominic Randolph hit Nick Cole on a 21-yard pass play, the extra point was good and the Crusaders went ahead 7-6. Moving into the second quarter, the Crusaders scored again on their second drive as Randolph capped off a 43-yard drive with a quarterback sneak from the 1 to go ahead 14-6.

Holy Cross started the second half with the ball, and Randolph smartly moved the offense from their 27 into Harvard’s territory. From the 32, Randolph gained 22 yards on a keeper and two plays later connected with Matt Bellomo in the end zone on a 10-yard pass. The conversion attempt failed and the Crusaders were ahead 20-6. Harvard got the ball back and the offense started to show some signs of life. Starting at their 33, a couple of rushes by Gordon and two pass completions by Winters moved the ball to the Crusaders’ 43. From there, Treavor Scales rushed to the 27, and Gordon carried to the 14. Gordon carried three more times, eventually taking it in from the 2 and pulling the Crimson to within a touchdown at 20-13. On Harvard’s next possession, they were able to move the ball from their 33 all the way to the Crusaders’ 15. Facing a fourth down and three, Coach Murphy decided to roll the dice and go for it. Gordon took it up the gut but the Holy Cross defense stood tall and Harvard turned the ball over on downs. Moving into the fourth quarter, Holy Cross started their second drive at Harvard’s 45, thanks to Freddie Santana’s 14-yard punt return. On the first play of the drive, Randolph connected with Mistretta on a 45-yard touchdown pass and Holy Cross was ahead 27-13 with time running short. The Crimson started the ensuing drive at their 20. They systematically moved the ball into Holy Cross territory on a series of short runs and passes before Winters hit Chris Lorditch on a 46-yard touchdown pass to make it a ball game at 27-20. As time was winding down, the Crimson got the ball back at their 28, but Winters was sacked and fumbled the ball away on third down. From there, all the Crusaders needed to do was kill the clock and walk off with the victory.