Few would have predicted such a low-scoring game, but that’s what transpired when Holy Cross met Brother Martin in a Catholic League rivalry that has lasted the 50 years of Brother Martin and decades longer if you count the games against the St. Aloysius Crusaders starting in 1922. The Tigers emerged with a 7-3 homecoming victory. “It was a solid defensive game,” said Coach Mark Bonis. “Both defensive teams played very hard. Give Holy Cross credit. They came away with a hell of a win.”

Holy Cross took the opening kickoff and rolled right down the field to the Crusaders’ 5 before Jaden Hardy fumbled into the end zone for a touchback.  Neither team threatened again until the Tigers missed a 43-yard field goal early in the second period. Then the Crusaders finally drove into Holy Cross territory and scored on a 39-yard field goal by Jack Landry. But a roughing the kicker penalty caused Coach Bonis to take the three points off the board to get a first down at the 12. You figured that, at worst, Brother Martin would get the field goal back. But a bad snap on the first play resulted in a 19-yard loss, and Landry ended up missing a 27-yard attempt from a sharp angle.

Shortly afterward, lightning struck the Crusaders. Holy Cross sophomore quarterback John Dade Wooton lofted a long pass down the sideline. Receiver Tyler Kirkwood outfought the defender for the ball and pulled away for an 80-yard touchdown.

Landry got another opportunity late in the third period after the Crusaders drove from midfield to the 4 before bogging down. The 31-yard field goal made it 7-3 with 3:16 remaining in the period. “We didn’t finish drives in the red zone, and that hurt us badly,” said Coach Bonis.

Matters got worse in the final period. With nine minutes to go, QB Drew Martin rolled out to pass or run. A clean tackle from behind left him with a broken ankle that ended the senior’s season. “We’ve lost him for the rest of the year, and that’s a big loss.” In a great show of sportsmanship, players and coaches from both teams consoled Drew as he was loaded onto a stretcher. Sophomore Isaiah Torregano took over at QB for the rest of the game and likely for the remainder of the season.

The Crusaders now prepare for 6-1 Archbishop Rummel Saturday night. It’s another highly ranked opponent for the Crusaders (after Easton, Curtis, and Bastrop). The Raiders are ranked #7 in Louisiana by maxpreps.com. Coach Jay Roth’s squad comes off a 20-7 victory over Jesuit Saturday night. QB Chandler Fields passed for 215 yards and two touchdowns.

Be sure to come out and support your Crusaders tomorrow night as they take on the Rummel Raiders at Tad Gormley. Kick off is for 7:00 p.m. As Coach Bonis always says, “Team. Tough. Compete. Finish.”