10 Holy Cross vs. John Curtis eye-catchers

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>[player_tooltip player_id='901579' first='Cole' last='Canatella'] rolled out to his right as time expired and launched one final heave toward the end zone where a determined Derrick Johnson battled amid a crowd to secure the tipped pass as he fell to the turf.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>And Holy Cross, back within one point, opted without hesitation to go for the win and history.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Canatella handed off to Kayden Andoh, who pitched to [player_tooltip player_id='421518' first='Koby' last='Young'] dashing the other direction on a power-reverse, striding past a diving tackle attempt at his legs and crossing the goal line for the 42-41 victory, the Tigers' first-ever against perennial power John Curtis.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='675900' first='Dagan' last='Bruno'] | 6-1, 185 QB | John Curtis (2024)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Patriots' senior quarterback had a heck of an evening, both running the team's well-known veer-option rushing attack and showing his efficiency as a passer, selling pump fakes and taking shots downfield. Bruno finished with 156 yards and two touchdowns on 12 carries and another 177 yards and a score on 6-for-9 passing. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='901579' first='Cole' last='Canatella'] | 5-11, 175 QB | Holy Cross (2024)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Tigers' senior quarterback continued his own strong run to start the season — coach Scott Wattigny saying postgame that he's "on fire — with an 18-for-27 passing performance for 244 yards and the critical touchdown as time expired and 28 yards and two touchdowns rushing. Canatella battled through a long night of physical John Curtis defense hitting, hurrying him and chasing him around and continued to play poised, confident and tough until the clock struck 0:00's, and then some. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Derrick Johnson | 6-4, 205 TE | Holy Cross (2025)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The big junior target came up with a handful of critical catches late as a go-to during the Tigers' comeback, including a game-tying two-point conversion and then the heaved and tipped touchdown as time expired.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='1237787' first='Lane' last='LeCron'] | 6-0, 200 LB | John Curtis (2026)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Even in the high-scoring affair, the Patriots got after Canatella and company with some big stops in the backfield including some familiar names in senior linebacker [player_tooltip player_id='901569' first='Zachary' last='Drake'], junior linebackers [player_tooltip player_id='710285' first='Hayden' last='Delatte'] and Anthony Smith and junior defensive lineman [player_tooltip player_id='1221227' first='Logan' last='Barnes']. But among that group was the hard-hitting sophomore involved on at least one sack and one hurry and hit.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='285662' first='Marlon' last='Prout'] Jr. | 5-9, 160 RB | John Curtis (2024)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The speedy senior back rushed 15 times for 90 yards and a touchdowns — with another long touchdown negated by a penalty — with his impact continuing to increase deeper into the contest. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Jake Roberts | 5-8, 175 DB | Holy Cross (2024)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The senior safety was one of the Tigers' defensive standouts with his highlights including an early fumble recovery and a hard-hitting stop on the sideline.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>Kaheam Smith | 5-10, 180 RB | John Curtis (2024)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Prout's fellow senior running back also came up with some of his biggest plays down the stretch, a big block to spring Bruno for the first touchdown of the fourth quarter and then a 14-yard score of his own to put the Patriots back ahead after Holy Cross had pulled back even. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='920695' first='Ke'Rynn' last='Smith'] | 5-9, 180 RB | Holy Cross (2026)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The sophomore budding star rushed eight times for 89 yards, including touchdown dashes of 10 and 38 yards, to pair with senior Kayden Andoh's nine rushes for 91 yards, a touchdown and his pitch to Young on the game-winning power-reverse play. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='139627' first='Michael' last='Turner'] Jr. | 6-1, 165 WR/DB | John Curtis (2024)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The LSU commitment played well in all three phases, highlighted by his three catches for 96 yards, a 63-yard touchdown catch-and-dash, his hand in a pair of blocked extra-point attempts and his coverage as a versatile defensive back.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id='421518' first='Koby' last='Young'] | 6-1, 175 WR/ATH | Holy Cross (2024)</strong></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>The Georgia Tech commitment caught 10 passes for 92 yards to lead his Tigers' loaded cast of weapons at the skill positions, threw a game-tying two-point conversion early in the fourth quarter and ran for the game-winning two-point conversion with no time remaining. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:paragraph --> <p></p> <!-- /wp:paragraph -->