Old Forge at Holy Cross

Recap

OLD FORGE 20, HOLY CROSS 6

Old Forge used a quick strike offense and played bend-but-don’t-break defense to pick up its second straight victory, a 20-6 win over Holy Cross at Monsignor Crotti Field at St. Anthony’s Playground in Dunmore on Saturday afternoon. 

The Blue Devils withstood an 11 play drive by the Crusaders on their first possession, and one possession later quarterback Robby Solfanelli found Ayden Aversa for a 67-yard touchdown. Enzo Tallo was true on the PAT and Old Forge (2-6) led 7-0 with 2:32 left in the opening stanza. 

Holy Cross responded with a 12 play drive but a run that set up first and goal at the 1 was nullified by a holding call. An offside penalty in the Crusaders followed and the Blue Devils would force incompletions on third and fourth down to regain possession. 

One possession later Joey Dominick forced that Aversa recovered and Old Forge would put together a drive of its own. 

Chris Rasmus capped a 13 play, 50 yard drive with two yard run and the Blue Devils led 13-0 with 45 seconds left in the half. 

Holy Cross didn’t quit as freshman quarterback Chase Rutkoski hit Luca Berardi for a 50 yard strike to set the Crusaders up at the Old Forge 20. But Elio Castaldi stepped in front of Rutkoski’s next pass just outside the endzone to thwart the threat. 

The teams traded possessions in the third quarter but the Crusaders had another chance to score to open the fourth quarter. 

Holy Cross had first and goal at the 9 after driving 67 yards on 10 plays but Will Wozniak and Rasmus stopped two running plays for no gain in first and second down. 

Forced to go to the air, Rutkoski was picked off again, this time by Aversa in the endzone, as the Blue Devils kept Holy Cross off the board. 

Old Forge tacked on another score when Solfanelli found Rasmus for a 13 yard touchdown and a 20-0 lead with 1:16 left in the game. 

Holy Cross got on the board against the Blue Devils second string when Simons Madore hauled in a Rutkoski pass and went down the home sideline, 46 yards for the score. 

Solfanelli finished 17-of-25 for 232 yards, while Aversa hailed in 10 passes for 144 yards and Rasmus checked in with six catches for 70 yards. 

Kevin Vincent rushed 22 times for 125 yards for Holy Cross. Berardi finished with three catches for 64 yards. 

SCORING SUMMARY

1ST QUARTER

OF – Ayden Aversa 67-yd pass from Robbie Solfanelli (Enzo Tallo kick) – Old Forge 7-0

2ND QUARTER

OF – Chris Rasmus 2-yd run (Kick failed) – Old Forge 13-0

3RD QUARTER

None

4TH QUARTER

OF – Rasmus 13-yd pass from Solfanelli (Tallo kick) – Old Forge 20-0

HC – Simon Madore 46-yd pass from Chase Rutkoski (Kick failed) – Holy Cross 20-6