91 Holy Cross Postseason History
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HHolyoly CCrossross PPostseasonostseason HHistoryistory 91 1946 Orange Bowl 1983 NCAA Division I-AA Quarterfi nals Miami (Fla.) 13, Holy Cross 6 Western Carolina 28, Holy Cross 21 January 1, 1946 • Orange Bowl • Miami, Fla. December 3, 1983 • Fitton Field • Worcester, Mass. Al Hudson of Miami is the only In a game which proved to be player ever to score a touchdown one of the most exciting ever at after time had offi cially expired in Fitton Field, a well-oiled Western an Orange Bowl. This climax, the Carolina passing attack dissected greatest in Orange Bowl history, the Holy Cross defense for a 28- gave the Hurricanes a 13-6 victory 21 win in the quarterfi nals of the over Holy Cross in the 1946 NCAA Division I-AA playoffs. contest, which appeared certain Holy Cross jumped on top 7-0, as to end in a 6-6 tie. The deadlock Gill Fenerty, coming off a shoulder appeared so certain that thousands separation, ran for a 33-yard of the spectators had headed for the touchdown early in the fi rst period. exits. They were stopped in their It was not long, however, before a tracks by the roar of the crowd, brilliant Western Carolina passing who saw Hudson leap high on game had its fi rst tally, a 30-yard the northeast side of the fi eld to pass from Jeff Gilbert to Eric intercept Gene DeFillipo’s long, Rasheed. A 7-7 halftime score had desperation pass on last play of the 10,814 on hand anxious for a the game — and turn it into an shootout in the second half. A hard 89-yard touchdown return. It was hit in the fi rst half kept Fenerty to his credit that DeFillipo did not from further action, but substitute want to settle for a tie. He fl ung Sandy McMurtry stepped in and the pass to Fran Parker, a 6’4” end, showed there was no difference at Miami’s 11-yard line. Parker made a frantic snatch at the ball, which bounced off between the two runners when he danced for a 38-yard touchdown and a 14-7 Crusader his hands and hovered in the air long enough for Hudson to grab it. The Hurricanes lead. Less than two minutes later, a Holy Cross breakdown gave the visitors a 14-14 tie had opened the game with a 6-0 lead in the second quarter, driving just 26 yards after after a 60-yard blocked punt return. For the fi rst time, the stadium grew quiet. Another Stan Koslowski’s punt was partially blocked by Carlos DiBuono. Joe Krull scored the Gilbert scoring pass opened the fourth quarter, and Holy Cross trailed for the fi rst time touchdown from one yard out around left end, but Harry Ghaul’s extra point attempt all day. Not to worry, the Crusaders’ Chuck Doyle fi nished off a beautiful drive with a was blocked by Charley Stephenson. The Crusaders struck right back, with Koslowski two-yard burst to tie the score again, at 21-21. But Western Carolina responded once tossing a 16-yard touchdown pass to Walter Brennan in the southeast corner of the fi eld. again, as Gilbert hooked up with Rasheed for a 25-yard touchdown, making the score Joe Byers had a key 54-yard run during the drive, but Koslowski missed the extra point 28-21. Holy Cross would have the ball two more times, but was unable to score, and to leave the score tied at 6-6. Neither team could muster much offense for the remainder Western Carolina moved on to an eventual national runner-up fi nish. of the game, before Hudson’s interception return concluded the scoring. Team Statistics Western Carolina Holy Cross Team Statistics Holy Cross Miami First Downs 20 19 First Downs 13 7 Rushing Yards 32 217 Rushing Yards 207 202 Passing Yards 354 143 Passing Yards 62 0 Total Offense 386 360 Total Offense 269 202 Comp-Att-Int 29-54-0 12-30-0 Comp-Att-Int 8-20-2 0-10-4 Fumbles / Lost 6 / 4 7 / 3 Fumbles / Lost 1 / 1 1 / 1 Penalties / Yards 10 / 83 4 / 40 Penalty Yards 5 35 Punts / Average 6 / 46.3 11 / 31.7 Punts / Average 9 / 38.5 10 / 37.8 Punt Returns 2-8 1-4 Kickoff Returns 4-59 5-88 Scoring Summary 1st 2nd 3rd 4th — Total Time of Possession 30:34 29:26 Holy Cross 0 6 0 0 — 6 Miami 0 6 0 7 — 13 Scoring Summary 1st 2nd 3rd 4th — Total Western Carolina 0 7 7 14 — 28 2nd UM—Krull 1 run (Ghaul kick blocked) Holy Cross 0 7 7 7 — 21 HC—Brennan 16 pass from Koslowski (Koslowski kick failed) 4th UM—Hudson 89 interception return (Ghaul kick) 2nd 9:23 HC—Fenerty 33 run (Melink kick) 1:54 WCU—Rasheed 30 pass from Gilbert (Biasucci kick) Attendance: 35,709 3rd 9:06 HC—McMurtry 38 run (Melink kick) 7:20 WCU—Simmons 60 blocked punt return (Biasucci kick) 4th 13:38 WCU—Kiser 15 pass from Gilbert (Biasucci kick) 9:54 HC—Doyle 2 run (Melink kick) 5:23 WCU—Rasheed 25 pass from Gilbert (Biasucci kick) Stat Leaders Western Carolina Holy Cross Rushing Williams (10-26-0) McMurtry (9-64-1) Fenerty (10-62-1) Muldoon (16-57-0) Doyle (13-45-0) Passing Gilbert (28-52-343-3-0) Muldoon (10-24-116-0-0) Receiving Kiser (9-94-1) Totten (3-45-0) Rasheed (5-89-2) McMurtry (3-13-0) DeLapp (5-70-0) West (5-49-0) Attendance: 10,814 The reunion for the 50th anniversary of Holy Cross’ Orange Bowl appearance. 92 AAll-Timell-Time CCrusaderrusader HHeadead CCoachesoaches A. C. N. Peterson Maurice Connor Frank Cavanaugh Timothy F. Larkin Luke J. Kelly Cleo A. O’Donnell Dr. A. C. N. Peterson Timothy F. Larkin Captain John J. McEwan coached at Loras (16-6-1) and DePaul (21- 1896-1897: 6-5-3 1907-1912: 18-25-8 1930-1932: 21-5-1 22-4), while earning a medical degree from Peterson was a Worcester resident who The fi rst Holy Cross coach to post a los- A 1914 All-American at Army, McEwan Rush Medical College and playing profes- starred at tackle and on the rowing team ing record, Larkin was a 1905 graduate was called the greatest center in the his- sional football. Anderson’s career record at Penn State. He coached in the contro- who played quarterback and was inducted tory of college football at the time. He of 201-128-15 still ranks him 16th all-time versial 1896 game with Boston College in the Holy Cross Hall of Fame. Larkin coached at Army from 1923-1925 (18-5- in Division I-A victories. Inducted into the in which Holy Cross claims a 6-4 win. also earned a law degree in 1909, and later 3) and Oregon from 1926-1929 (20-13- College Football Hall of Fame in 1971, he became a reporter for the Worcester Ga- 2), before moving to Holy Cross where passed away on April 26, 1974. John J. Corbett zette. He passed away on Jan. 14, 1960. he compiled a .796 winning percentage. 1898: 1-0 He was fi red with three games left in the Joseph L. Sheeketski For reasons undetermined, Corbett Harry Van Kersberg 1932 season after a sideline fi ght with 1939-1941: 15-11-3 coached but one game at Holy Cross, de- 1913: 3-6 Bart Sullivan over the use of a player. A Sheeketski came to Holy Cross in 1933 feating Massachusetts 23-0 in 1898. Van Kersberg lasted just one season at colonel in the Army and later the chair- and coached the backfi eld for six seasons, Holy Cross, but counted a 13-0 defeat of before taking over for Eddie Anderson, Maurice Connor man of the New York Touchdown Club, Boston College among his victories. McEwan also coached the Brooklyn earning the head coaching job on a secret 1898-1902: 27-15-4 Dodgers of the NFL and was inducted ballot of the players. Sheeketski’s 1939 An 1896 graduate of Harvard, Connor Luke J. Kelly into the College Football Hall of Fame in team went 7-2, while his 1941 squad took over during the 1898 season, and 1914-1917: 12-17-3 1962. He passed away on Aug. 9, 1970. posted a 19-13 win at Louisiana State. led the Crusaders to a 7-1-1 mark in Kelly spent four seasons as head coach, He later coached at Nevada from 1947- 1901. Connor later became a lawyer, and with his teams posting shutout victories over Arthur Corcoran 1950 (24-18). A 1933 graduate of Notre passed away on March 22, 1939. Boston College in both 1914 and 1915. 1932: 0-1-2 Dame, Sheeketski played halfback for Knute Rockne. He passed away in 1996. Major Frank Cavanaugh Bart F. Sullivan An assistant to O’Donnell and McEwan, Corcoran fi nished the 1932 season, but his 1903-1905: 16-10-2 1918: 2-0 teams did not win a game or score a point. Anthony J. Scanlan Cavanaugh coached Holy Cross for three Sullivan was called ‘Mr. Holy Cross’ for 1942-1944: 16-8-3 seasons, and also spent time as head coach his 52-year tenure as track coach, trainer and Dr. Edward N. Anderson Scanlan served as the Crusaders’ head at Cincinnati in 1898 (5-1-3), Dartmouth football coach.