By Tiffany Williams –
Holy Cross opened its 2025 season with yet another reminder that it can go toe-to-toe with FBS competition. The Crusaders came within a single possession of knocking off Northern Illinois on the road, ultimately falling 19-17 in DeKalb on Saturday night, but once again showed the kind of toughness that has become their hallmark.
For three quarters, Holy Cross’ defense dictated the game. The Crusaders held the Huskies to a pair of field goals in the first half and entered the locker room trailing just 6-3. Junior linebacker Cam Santee anchored the unit with 10 tackles and a pass breakup, while sophomore Lathan Croley and senior safety Tommy Bestpitch added eight stops apiece. Even when NIU moved the ball, Holy Cross forced mistakes and limited damage, highlighted by Adam Due’s blocked punt late in the third that nearly swung momentum.
The breakthrough came early in the fourth quarter. After sophomore quarterback Cal Swanson connected with senior wideout Max Mosey on completions of 15 and 46 yards, he found senior receiver Blake Youngblood in the end zone for the first touchdown of the game — and the first of Youngblood’s career — to give Holy Cross a 10-6 lead with just over 10 minutes to play.
But the Huskies answered instantly, returning the ensuing kickoff 96 yards for a touchdown to retake the lead. Though the extra point was missed, NIU wasn’t finished. After extending their advantage to 19-10 on a short rushing score with 4:15 left, the Crusaders needed a spark. They got it in the form of sophomore Alijah Cason, who electrified the sidelines and silenced Huskie Stadium with a 97-yard kickoff return for a touchdown — the longest by a Crusader since 1979. That cut the deficit to two with 4:03 to play.
Holy Cross’ defense held its ground, forcing a quick three-and-out to give the offense one final chance. Swanson, who made his collegiate debut with 155 passing yards and a team-best 51 rushing yards, had the ball with just over two minutes remaining. But the Crusaders came up short on downs, and NIU was able to run out the clock.
The loss adds to a growing list of near-misses for Holy Cross against FBS opponents. In three of their last four such games, the Crusaders have fallen by three points or fewer — a testament to how close the Patriot League power is to breaking through. Saturday’s effort was another sign that they can match physicality and execution against bigger rosters while still finding game-changing plays in all three phases.
Cason’s performance alone was historic. His 187 kickoff return yards tied for the third-most in single-game program history, while his 97-yard touchdown return tied the second-longest ever by a Crusader. Santee, meanwhile, notched his first career double-digit tackling performance, stepping into a leadership role on defense.
The Crusaders (0-1) now shift their focus to New England, where they’ll travel to Durham for a matchup against New Hampshire on Sept. 6. If Saturday’s near-upset is any indication, Holy Cross is again poised to be a team nobody overlooks — FBS or FCS.