Revamped Holy Cross set to challenge Bulldogs

Last October 9, led by quarterback Joe Walland, TD '00, Yale utterly annihilated Holy Cross at Fitton Field, 34-14. The win, which extended Yale's winning streak over Holy Cross to seven games, was so one-sided that backup quarterback Peter Lee, TD '02, got into the game in the fourth quarter.

Football

Record:1-1, 0-1 Ivy Recent Results: Lost at Cornell, 24-23 Coming Up: Sat., Sept. 30 vs. Holy Cross

On the opposing sideline stood freshman backup quarterback Brian Hall, watching the destruction. "Yale came out and really jumped on us," he said. "It's always tough to watch something like that." Hall did not appear in the Yale game, but by the end of the season, he was the Patriot League rookie of the year and the centerpiece of the Crusaders' new option offense, which scored more points in the four games that he started than they had in the previous seven. Holy Cross football hasn't looked back since.

Last week, the Crusaders shocked nationally-ranked Towson, 17-14, to open their season with a 3-0 record for the first time since 1991; they haven't won more than three games in a season since 1992. Against Towson, Hall threw for 165 yards and ran for 45 more and a touchdown, his 11th rushing touchdown in seven games as the starting quarterback. He was named the Patriot League Offensive Player of the Week for his performance. "He adds a different dimension to their offense," Towson Coach Gordy Combs said. "His ability to run the option and throw the football puts a lot of pressure on your defense."

But it was Holy Cross' defense that made the difference, holding the Tiger offense to 200 yards, less than half its average output. "Going into the game, we had had some big plays in terms of yardage and touchdowns, but Holy Cross never allowed us to get to that point," Combs said. Tiger quarterback and varsity rookie Chris Blake '03 threw for just 59 yards on seven for 21 passing. "They confused our young quarterback," Combs added. "They were patient in defending the pass. In obvious passing situations, where usually you rush four men, they rushed only three. They only blitzed us three or four times, max."

"They may have disrupted the Towson quarterback," Yale Coach Jack Siedlecki said, "but they completely demolished the Harvard QB the game before. He was running for his life the entire game." Barry Wahlberg '03, making his first—and so far, last—collegiate start in Harvard's 27-25 loss to Holy Cross on Sat., Sept. 16, completed 4 of 16 passes and was picked off three times. The week before, the Crusader defense shut down another first year-starter, holding George-town's Sean Peterson '02 to 12 completions in 30 attempts and with one interception.

Team captain and All-American candidate defensive lineman Dave Puloka '01 credits Holy Cross' domination of young quarterbacks to the Crusaders' experienced defensive line, which includes three senior starters. "Our coach is really confident in our abilities to rush the passer," he said. "By only rushing with three men, we can leave more guys back to break up the pass." This has been effective because inexperienced quarterbacks tend to get rid of the ball faster, including lofting some balls up that they should throw away, Puloka added.

Puloka's opponents are impressed by his work. "He's one of the better defensive ends we'll face all year," said Lee, who has taken over for Walland this season. "Puloka's as athletic as you're going to get for a defensive lineman," Harvard Coach Tim Murphy added. Puloka leads a defensive unit that ranks 13th in total defense in Div. I-AA.

That said, Murphy doesn't expect Lee to do as poorly as Peterson, Wahlberg, and Blake. "Holy Cross' switch of Puloka to defensive tackle has negated his athletic ability." (Puloka said of the switch, "I'd prefer to play outside, but whatever: it's best for the team.") Murphy added, "I think Lee is going to do just fine. He's been playing well and he has a couple of games under his belt." Thus far Lee has completed 37 of 56 passes for 418 yards, two touchdowns and one interception.

Hall, while just a sophomore, is already a veteran when it comes to pulling out close games—Holy Cross's last two victories came by a combined five points. Puloka credits the team's winning streak to the play of Hall. "A quarterback is so important," Puloka said, "and now we finally have one we can base our offense around." Siedlecki even draws comparisons between Hall and the legendary Walland. "[Hall] is more of a threat when he scrambles and, similar to Joe Walland, he has the ability to make a big play out of a nothing play," Siedlecki said. "Containing him is key."

But Yale may not be able to contain the Crusaders' mission for revenge. "Our coach has definitely put that in our heads," Puloka said. "They're going to come in here all fired up," said linebacker and Yale Captain Pete Mazza, JE '01. "We're playing with a lot of confidence right now," Hall added. "Everyone on this team knows we have something special."

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