Holy Cross football coach Curt Spencer playfully called quarterback Brian Ferguson “Pretty Boy” on Friday.
Ferguson had a pretty good game – his three rushing touchdowns and one passing were more than enough for the Indians to knock off Bishop Brossart, 41-14, at Thomas More University’s Republic Bank Field.
PHOTOS: Slideshow provided by Charles Bolton
Ferguson, who ran for 65 yards and threw for 76, said running game is the best part of his game, adding that passing is improving.
“I implant my passing game with my run because I run to make the cornerbacks come up, and then I throw it whenever they come up,” Ferguson said. “We all stay connected on all levels. Running game was going, my linemen were blocking perfectly, my running backs were finding the holes.”
Ferguson’s numbers weren’t the only reason Holy Cross (5-2, 1-0 in Class A District 4) resoundingly snapped its two-game losing streak.
There was Xavier Thornberry’s game-opening 92-yard kickoff return for a touchdown.
“I think he’s had one almost every year,” Spencer said. “His vision in the open field’s crazy.”
Spencer was a little surprised Brossart kicked to Thornberry.
“Most people don’t kick to us,” he said.
And there was a defense that intercepted two Landon Spaulding passes and recovered a fumble.
“They started faster and got up on us right from the opening kickoff,” Brossart coach Jacob Martin said. “We had some breakdowns defensively with an option play … so we dug ourselves in a hole pretty early, 21-nothing.”
It wasn’t that Brossart (3-4, 0-1) didn’t move the ball – the Mustangs gained 195 yards on the ground, and Spaulding threw for another 74. The problem was, they didn’t take advantage of their scoring chances.
The Mustangs’ first drive after Thornberry’s touchdown was an example. Brossart moved the ball to Holy Cross’ 34, but two incomplete passes ended the threat.
A 55-second stretch effectively clinched Holy Cross’ win.
Charles Oglesby’s 27-yard run set up Ferguson’s six-yard touchdown run with 0:49 left in the first quarter. The next play, Dustin Wilson picked off Spaulding, Oglesby ran for three yards, and Ferguson faked a handoff to Oglesby and ran untouched around left end for 17 yards.
Brossart’s second turnover – Holy Cross’ Everett Rayburn recovered Landon Ketron’s fumble – became the Indians’ 28-0 halftime lead when Ferguson scored from four yards out.
The Mustangs and Indians later traded touchdowns. Spaulding’s 13-yard run got Brossart on the board, but Holy Cross countered with Ferguson-to-Max Hunt for 35 yards.
Spaulding later scored from a yard out, and Dustin Wilson’s one-yard plunged ended the scoring.
INDIANS 41, MUSTANGS 14
BISHOP BROSSART — 0-0-6–8—14
HOLY CROSS — 14–14–7–6 — 41
First quarter
HC-Xavier Thornberry 98 kickoff return (Gabriel Romito kick), 11:48
HC-Brian Ferguson 6 run (Romito kick), 0:49
Second quarter
HC-Ferguson 17 run (Romito kick), 11:54
HC-Ferguson 4 run (Romito kick), 0:15
Third quarter
BB-Landon Spaulding 13 run (kick failed), 7:01
HC-Max Hunt 35 pass from Ferguson (Romito kick), 5:35
Fourth quarter
BB-Spaulding 1 run (Spaulding run), 11:06
HC-Dustin Wilson 1 run (kick failed), 2:52
Records: Bishop Brossart 3-4 (0-1 in Class A, District 4), Holy Cross 5-2 (1-0).
