Football Recap: Rank Disadvantage No Problem for Holy Cross

Holy Cross lost to St. John the Baptist back in October of 2024, but they didn't allow them the same satisfaction on Sunday. The Knights managed a 32-28 win over the Cougars. The victory was all the more spectacular given the Knights' disadvantage in MaxPreps' New York football rankings (they are ranked 260th, while the Cougars are ranked 71st).

When it comes to explaining why St. John the Baptist lost, don't look at Maurice Scott. Despite the final result, he rushed for 90 yards and two touchdowns on only 12 carries, and also threw for 180 yards and one TD. Another player making a difference was Kalen Percer-Hogue, who gained 145 total yards.

Knights

Previous 4 Games (Home)

09/21/25 vs St. John the Baptist	32-28
11/16/24 vs Kennedy Catholic	35-7
10/27/24 vs Mt. St. Michael Academy	14-0
10/20/24 vs Xaverian	20-13

Holy Cross' win was their fourth straight at home dating back to last season, which pushed their record up to 2-1. The home victories came thanks in part to their defensive effort, having only surrendered 12.0 points on average over those games. As for St. John the Baptist, their loss dropped their record down to 2-2.

Coming up, Holy Cross will challenge Christ the King at 2:00 p.m. on Saturday. As for St. John the Baptist, they are taking a road trip to challenge Kellenberg Memorial at 1:30 p.m. on Saturday. The Cougars will be up against the Firebirds' rather soft defense (which has allowed 39 points per matchup), so fans could be in store for a big offensive performance.