The Fordham football team lost in deflating fashion to the College of the Holy Cross (CHC) Crusaders on Saturday, Nov. 13. In a game that decided the Patriot League Championship, the teams were tied at 24 at halftime before the Crusaders scored 28 unanswered points to clinch their third straight conference title.

Head Coach Joe Conlin, a typically genial presence after games, entered the room for his final home game press conference of the season without a word. His opening statement to reporters was professional, but his frustration was clear.

“Obviously a disappointing game,” Conlin said, before pointing out flaws in nearly every aspect of the Rams’ second-half performance on both offense and defense.

It was no surprise when Holy Cross’ mobile thrower began the drive with a run and finished it on the ground in turn, taking it into the endzone himself for the Crusaders’ first score.

Since 1902, Fordham and Holy Cross have now faced off 59 times, but this 2021 matchup was the most highly anticipated in years, as both teams entered the game with 4-0 records in the Patriot League. The first half lived up to expectations, as Holy Cross depended on a ground-and-pound style while Fordham made the most of its high-flying offense.

On the first drive of the game, the Crusaders received the kickoff and went to work immediately with a 27-yard rush from quarterback Matthew Sluka, CHC ’24, to enter Fordham territory. With 11 rushing attempts per game this season, it was no surprise when Holy Cross’ mobile thrower began the drive with a run and finished it on the ground in turn, taking it into the endzone himself for the Crusaders’ first score.

After a dull opening drive on offense for Fordham, Holy Cross moved down the field again in a run-heavy, six-and-a-half minute drive and converted on a 41-yard field goal to pull ahead 10-0. To reach field goal range, the Crusaders had to convert on third down twice in the same drive, a recurring problem for the Rams as they went on to allow their opponents to convert 11 times in 17 attempts throughout the course of the game.

Fordham only needed 1:41 to strike back, as quarterback Tim DeMorat, Fordham College at Rose Hill (FCRH) ’22, found MJ Wright, FCRH ’23, for a 54-yard catch on the initial play of the possession. Fordham’s first big gain of the game set up for a stiff arm and score by running back Zach Davis, Graduate School of Arts and Sciences ’22, three plays later to put the Rams in contention.

The afternoon light was fading prematurely, but the frenzied scoring continued in the second quarter. As dark clouds from the west began to encroach on the clear sky above Coffey Field, Sluka received the ball on a lateral from his running back and connected with receiver Tenio Ayeni, CHC ’22, for a 54-yard flea flicker touchdown on the first play of the quarter. Holy Cross led, 17-7.

Fordham’s response was swift, as a pass interference call on a long throw downfield gave the Rams excellent field position at their own 40-yard line. The offense drove 60 yards in just four plays, as DeMorat completed passes for 29 and 25 yards. The latter throw was a bullet to receiver Fotis Kokosioulis, FCRH ’22, who bolted to the sideline and broke the plane for Fordham’s second score of the game.

After forcing the Crusaders to punt with 10:34 remaining, the Rams assumed possession under the cover of darkness.

After forcing the Crusaders to punt with 10:34 remaining, the Rams assumed possession under the cover of darkness. Though it was still early afternoon, brewing storm clouds were directly overhead and gave the impression that night was already falling in the Bronx. 

On the seventh play of the drive, DeMorat threw yet another deep ball to Dequece Carter, Gabelli School of Business at Rose Hill (GSBRH) ’23, in the back of the end zone. After review, replays showed that Carter managed to keep his left foot in bounds for a visually stunning 32-yard touchdown.

After the extra point, Fordham led Holy Cross for the first time all game, 21-17. DeMorat was firing on a dime to anyone who was open and some who weren’t, and the Rams’ offense seemed prepared to take on the Crusaders in a championship-deciding shootout. Then the skies opened, and a flash of lightning was quickly followed by a referee’s whistle and then a clap of thunder.

The storm eventually passed, but the calm weather never returned.

With 7:24 remaining in the second quarter, the game was postponed due to extreme weather. Fans calmly filing out of the stadium eventually resorted to a less organized evacuation when the rain began in earnest, scattering them across the Rose Hill campus in search of cover. The action stopped at 2:14 p.m. and did not resume until 3:25 p.m. 

After the game, Conlin said that he considered the delay to be a nonfactor in Fordham’s eventual defeat, and it’s true that the inevitable swing in momentum did not immediately follow the sharp change in the conditions.

The storm eventually passed, but the calm weather never returned. Harsh winds did little to abate the frigid temperatures as the sun began to set, and the Crusaders resumed their drive on a turf field that was waterlogged in many places. They failed to muster more than a single yard and punted back to Fordham.

The Rams’ goal line stand ultimately failed on third down, as Fuller finally broke through to put the Crusaders ahead by seven.

A 35-yard field goal by Nick Leinenweber, FCRH ’22, in the ensuing drive gave the Rams a 24-17 lead, but Holy Cross made the most of the time left in the half. With 3:21 remaining, the team traveled 61 yards on nine plays and scored on a one-yard rushing touchdown by Jordan Fuller, CHC ’25, with 15 seconds to spare. As players entered the locker room for a shortened halftime, the biggest game of their seasons was tied, 24-24.

Fordham received the kickoff in the third quarter but on third down, DeMorat was sacked and taken to the medical tent after struggling to get up after the play. Holy Cross took over at their own 49-yard line and drove 51 yards in 2:36. On first down at the one-yard line, leading defensive player Matt Jaworski, FCRH ’25, was injured and could not put any weight on his left leg as trainers helped him off the field. The Rams’ goal line stand ultimately failed on third down, as Fuller finally broke through to put the Crusaders ahead by seven.

DeMorat returned for Fordham’s next drive but appeared uncomfortable in the pocket, missing badly on several pass attempts and giving Holy Cross possession after just 1:56 of game time. Conlin admitted after the game that the quarterback did not respond well to prolonged pressure from the Crusaders’ defense.

The Rams’ final complete drive of the quarter was also their last real chance to stay in the game.

“I thought we could’ve protected him better, and I didn’t think the pockets were as clean as he’s used to,” Conlin said. “It was collapsing around him, and he didn’t feel as good as he typically does.”

Holy Cross took over again and rushed on eight of 10 plays in the drive. The final run was not designed, however, as Sluka narrowly avoided a sack and scrambled 15 yards into the end zone to extend the team’s lead to two scores.

Down 14 points with 4:32 remaining in the third, the Rams’ final complete drive of the quarter was also their last real chance to stay in the game. But after a season of offensive dependence on DeMorat, the quarterback simply did not deliver.

Conlin insisted that the team will prepare well for its final opponent.

Despite efficient rushing by Davis and Trey Wilson III, GSBRH ’23, the latter of whom was injured during the drive and did not return, many of DeMorat’s passes seemed errant at best and dangerous at worst. The inevitable finally occurred in the end zone, as a pass intended for Hamze El-Zayat, FCRH ’22, was intercepted, ending Fordham’s comeback bid.

In the final 15 minutes of play, Holy Cross continued to pick apart Fordham’s defense, as Sluka took to the air for one score while Fuller rushed for another, his third of the day. Meanwhile, the Rams’ offense compiled four net yards, 12 passing and -8 rushing, in two meaningless drives. The final score was 52-28.

One game remains on Fordham’s schedule against Colgate University next week, and Conlin insisted that the team will prepare well for its final opponent. The Rams have been a hard-fighting team all season and will continue to compete without the incentive of a championship on the line. But there was also a hard truth evident in the stands in the final minutes of play at Coffey Field Saturday evening.

As a determined wind blew over a game that once started in sunshine, only the most enduring Fordham fans who withstood the rain and subsequent cold still watched on as the Rams faced the end of their championship run. The Fordham band left in the second quarter.

In front of the hushed student section, Fordham players wandered up and down the sideline, sometimes yelling words of encouragement but mostly remaining silent in the face of certain defeat. After the game, the presentation of the Ram-Crusader Cup to the victors of the rivalry game was short and to the point. Everyone was cold.

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