By Steve Svetovich
The Holy Cross Crusaders football season ended Friday, Nov. 13, with a 45-6 loss to Lackawanna Trail in the District 2 Class A semifinal.
Holy Cross only drove once into Lackawanna Trail territory in the game. Josh Mies scored a touchdown on a 7-yard sprint with 6:09 left in the contest. The run capped a 65-yard scoring drive.
Lackawanna Trail running back Thomas Huffsmith rushed for 69 yards on just five carries and scored two touchdowns. He also snared a pass for 21 yards, forced a fumble from his linebacker position, kicked a field goal and was 4-for-4 on extra point kicks.
Lackawanna Trail quarterback Nathan Rolka fired two touchdown passes to lead his team to the win.
Holy Cross finished the season 2-9.
The Crusaders took home its second win of the season with a 20-0 shutout over the Columbia Montour Vo-Tech Rams Saturday, Oct. 10, at Monsignor Crotti Field at St. Anthony’s Playground, Dunmore.
Holy Cross struck early in the first quarter by scoring 12 points. With a strong defense prevailing the entire game, the Crusaders never looked back.
Cory Miller, a junior, fired a 30-yard touchdown toss and Josh Mies came back with a 4-yard touchdown burst. on the team’s next possession as Holy Cross built a 12-0 lead with 29 seconds left in the first quarter.
The extra point kick attempt failed after the first touchdown. A pass attempt on a two-point conversion attempt failed after the second touchdown. The tough Holy Cross defense forced four turnovers in the contest.
Mies was outstanding in the backfield. He finished with 170 rushing yards and two touchdowns on 28 carries. He also excelled in defense. He snatched a key interception in Holy Cross territory late in the second quarter.
After a punt on the opening possession, Mies rushed for 33 yards on four runs. Miller tacked on three more yards on a run to set up a first down at the 30 in enemy territory. Rolling out right, Miller then hit tight end Baily Simrell for the clutch 30-yard touchdown pass.
Holy Cross got the pigskin back after another punt. Miller, who improved every week, led the Crusaders on a nine-play, 69-yard drive. The drive was capped by the Mies 4-yard touchdown run with 29 seconds left in the first half.
Columbia Montour Vo-Tech had the ball on the Holy Cross five following a 35-yard pass completion early in the second quarter. However, the Rams fumbled on the next play and the Crusaders pounced on the football. The Rams were able to drive into Holy Cross territory late in the second quarter, but a big play Mies interception put an end to it with 1;29 left in the half.
Mies continued his heroics early in the fourth quarter when he broke a tackle and rambled 14 yards into the end zone for a score, with 9:18 left in the game. Miller then completed a pass to Mies for the two-point conversion and a 20-0 Holy Cross lead.
The Holy Cross tight defense held Columbia Montour Vo-Tech the rest of the way and head coach Josh Watters and the Crusaders earned a second win, doubling last season’s total. The team totaled 230 rushing yards and 59 passing yards in the win.