Pujals shows pro potential for HC
Peter Pujals’ magic was at work on Saturday at Fitton Field in Worcester, where Holy Cross pulled a 51-26 upset on ninth-ranked New Hampshire, which had knocked off an FBS opponent in Georgia Southern one week earlier.
Pujals drew a healthy assist from the Crusaders defense, as well.
It was the first win for Holy Cross over a top-10 team since defeating Lehigh, 13-10, on Oct.8, 2005. The 51 points were the most for HC at home since a 52-21 win over Sacred Heart in 2009.
Pujals, who was limited to four games last season after suffering a broken leg against Dartmouth, was 21of-39 for 367 yards and five touchdowns, one shy of his single-game best. Junior Martin Dorsey was a prime target with five receptions for 165 yards and two scores.
Holy Cross (2-1) used a 21-point third quarter to wrest control. Overall, the Crusaders compiled 25 first downs and 520 yards total offense, averaging 6.9 yards per play.
“He’s everything that everyone thought he’d be right from the beginning and he’s done it with a lot of different people around him. He was spot-on this week,” said Holy Cross coach Tom Gilmore, who previously worked with Jay Fielder at Dartmouth and says Pujals can play in the NFL. “I feel he has the athletic ability and arm strength to do it and he has a great football IQ. He really understands football. What encompasses all of that is his competitive level.”
Junior Trevor Knight completed 26-of-45 passes for 310 yards and a careerhigh three touchdowns, including two to Neil O’Connor of Leominster and one to Rory Donovan of Canton, but it wasn’t enough for UNH (2-1).
A telling stat was Holy Cross’ 8-of-17 third-down conversion rate. By contrast, the Wildcats posted 21 first downs and 485 total yards, but were only successful on 3-of-17 third downs.
“I’m not surprised (by our defense), but I am pleased that they are doing it. If you watch us play, as I mentioned before, that we’re a bigmotor, high-energy group. Maybe we’re not playing a perfect game, but our tenacity stands out,” Gilmore said. “You always want each unit on your team to establish its own identity and our defensive identity is high energy.”
Abercrombie injury
Harvard is still reeling in the wake of the serious injury to freshman cornerback Ben Abercrombie, who remains in Rhode Island Hospital. Abercrombie was hurt in the second quarter of Saturday’s 17-10 loss at URI (1-2).
Rams quarterback Tyler Harris completed an 18-yard pass to 6-foot-4 receiver Marven Beavais, who was hit by Abercrombie along the sideline. Abercrombie immediately collapsed to the ground before trainers and medical personnel from both sides rushed to his aid. The game was delayed for nearly 10 minutes while medical personnel worked on the 5-foot-10 defender. Abercrombie, from Hoover, Ala., was placed on a backboard and loaded into an ambulance and then taken to the hospital. Hospital officials declined yesterday to comment on Abercrombie’s condition.
Harvard officials would only say the player was listed in serious condition.
“I’m not at liberty to say anything,” said Harvard coach Tim Murphy. “I’d prefer not to talk about the game. I feel we have more pressing matters to think about.”
Meanwhile, Abercrombie’s high school baseball coach, Adam Moseley, said in an email to AL.com: “We got a good update on Ben (yesterday) morning. The surgical procedure corrected the issue with the fracture on his spinal cord. Ben will be incubated for a few more days while he heals. We were able to communicate with Ben some this morning. He knows he is in for a battle but his resolve is great.”
Reached by Herald last night, Moseley said: “Everyone is just praying a lot. Right now, we just want him to get healthy. He is still not out of the woods yet. Ben is a tough kid and we know he’ll get through it.”
Cooking with Curry
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