The pick gave the Crusaders field position at Harvard’s 29-yard line with 40 seconds left. Pujals hit wideout Tyler Artim across the middle to put the ball at the one-yard line, but a holding penalty limited the Crusaders to just a field goal.
On Holy Cross’s second drive, the Crusaders switched to pass-heavy play-calling and moved the chains with ease, countering Harvard’s one-yard touchdown run with one of their own.
After bottling up the Crusaders on the first drive of the contest, the Crimson struggled to contain Pujals the rest of the opening half. The secondary showed its youth early on, missing tackles and blowing coverages. Pujals took advantage, torching Harvard’s defense for 125 yards through the air before the break.
But the Crimson adjusted during intermission, holding Pujals to just 69 yards passing and a pick after the Crusaders’ first drive of the second half.
“We did a lot of good things, but we can’t make the mistakes that we did and hope to beat a good team,” said Holy Cross coach Tom Gilmore.
—Staff writer Samantha Lin can be reached at samantha.lin@thecrimson.com. Follow her on Twitter at @linsamnity.