WASHINGTON (Interstat) — Holy Cross defeated Georgetown 27-24 in an NCAA Football Championship Division game on Saturday at Cooper Field. The Crusaders improved to 5-5, while the Hoyas dropped to 3-5. Georgetown was the home team, and the game was played before an announced attendance of 3,150. Holy Cross built a productive offensive day and made enough defensive plays to leave with a narrow road victory.

Georgetown quarterback Gavin Beard kept the Hoyas competitive throughout. The 5-foot-10, 190-pound native of Aledo, Texas, completed 15 of 25 passes for 165 yards and a touchdown. He also carried five times for 1 yard. Jonathan Alexander caught three passes for 76 yards and a touchdown for Georgetown. Clay Ash rushed 17 times for 78 yards and a touchdown and added two receptions for 16 yards. Jayden Sumpter carried 15 times for 65 yards and a touchdown, while Hassan Mahasin had four receptions for 48 yards and also returned three kickoffs for 56 yards and two punts for 32 yards. Samir Crosby caught three passes for 11 yards and added two tackles. Legend Bernard caught one pass for 6 yards, Burke Carroll had one reception for 4 yards, and Isaiah Grimes had one reception for 4 yards and one tackle. Isaac Ramsey carried eight times for 32 yards.

Holy Cross quarterback David Lynch was the Crusaders’ top star. The 6-foot-3, 215-pound Lynch completed 16 of 26 passes for 140 yards and accounted for two touchdowns. He also rushed eight times for 44 yards. Lynch’s 33-yard touchdown pass to Ty Curran in the third quarter highlighted his day and helped Holy Cross keep pace in a tight contest. Lynch had recently completed 11 of 20 passes for 92 yards and rushed once for 10 yards in a 33-14 victory over Richmond.

Holy Cross receiver Ty Curran caught six passes for 73 yards and a touchdown and had one rush for 7 yards. Lincoln Fisher caught one pass for 17 yards and a touchdown, Luke Petitta caught one pass for 2 yards and a touchdown, and Drae Tyme added a 19-yard reception. Datrell Jones rushed seven times for 18 yards and caught one pass for 3 yards. Mason McSweeney had one reception for 8 yards, Lucas Weir had one reception for 9 yards, and Matthew Boucher contributed on both offense and defense.

Defensively, Adam Due led Holy Cross with nine tackles. Jalen Rambert and Braden Haas each had seven tackles, and Haas recorded an interception. Juju Tackie had six tackles, while Garrett Baldwin added six tackles, an interception and three punt returns for 9 yards. Cooper Ackerman finished with five tackles and a sack, and Carlo Crocetti had three tackles and a sack. Chisom Onwuzurigbo, Rushaune Vilane and Gabe Flores each had four tackles. Travon Chardonet and Brady Fodor added three tackles apiece. Aidan Horodnik, Will Miller, Vin Ferrara and Anthony Redfern each had two tackles, while Billy Matan, Matthew Boucher, Mateo Brink, Bennett Nunnally, Cameron Mills and Alessandro Garrett each had one tackle. Ethan Moss punted three times for 113 yards, and Alessandro Garrett had one punt for 43 yards.

Georgetown’s defense was paced by Jack Casey with 14 tackles. Chris Martin had eight tackles, Ryan Hussey had seven tackles and an interception, and Dean Mangiocavallo and Cody Pham each had five tackles. Bryson Logan recorded four tackles and a sack, while Chigozie Oge-Evans had two tackles. Samir Crosby added two tackles, and Isaiah Grimes had one tackle. The Hoyas’ defense forced Holy Cross to work for its points and kept the game close into the fourth quarter.

The Hoyas opened the scoring when Thomas Anderson made a 40-yard field goal with 10:41 remaining in the first quarter. Clay Ash later scored on a 1-yard run, and Anderson’s extra point followed. Holy Cross answered in the second quarter when J. Williams scored on a 1-yard run and Owen Saraceno kicked the extra point. Georgetown responded with Jayden Sumpter’s 4-yard touchdown run, which was upheld after an automatic review confirmed that the runner broke the plane. Holy Cross then pulled closer on Lynch’s 2-yard touchdown pass to Luke Petitta. Georgetown answered before halftime when Beard found Jonathan Alexander for a 12-yard touchdown. In the third quarter, Lynch connected with Ty Curran for a 33-yard touchdown, and Saraceno’s extra point brought Holy Cross closer.

Holy Cross had won two of its previous three games, including a 33-14 victory over Richmond and a 34-3 victory over Bucknell. Georgetown had won three of its previous four games, including a 28-27 victory at William & Mary and a 27-17 victory at Colgate. The Crusaders next host Villanova and Fordham. The Hoyas next visit Fordham and Villanova.

The Interstat game simulator had projected a final score of Holy Cross 30, Georgetown 29. Interstat’s ELO system gave Holy Cross a 68.3 percent probability to win.