Sluka, Coker help Holy Cross upset FBS Buffalo 37-31

Sep 11, 2022, 03:25 am

BUFFALO, N.Y. -- — Matthew Sluka threw a 46-yard touchdown pass to Jalen Coker as time expired to help Holy Cross beat FBS Buffalo 37-31 Saturday night.

Holy Cross (2-0), ranked No. 16 in the FCS coaches poll, beat UConn 38-28 to open its 2021 season and give the Crusaders their first win over an FBS opponent since 2002.

Alex McNulty kicked a 52-yard field goal with 31 seconds left in regulation to seemingly force overtime and, after a touchback on the ensuing kickoff, the Crusaders took possession at their own 25 with no timeouts. Sluka scrambled for a 10-yard gain, hit Coker for a 12-yard gain to near midfield and then connected with Justin Shorter for 7 yards before killing the clock with 4 seconds to play. Sluka half-rolled to his left to bide time before launching an arcing pass down the right side where Coker made a high-point catch over four defenders at the 1 and lunged into the end zone.

Cole Snider threw a 20-yard touchdown pass to Justin Marshall in the first quarter and Mike Washington scored on a 5-yard run to cap a nine-play, 85-yard drive that gave Buffalo 14-0 lead about 4 minutes into the second quarter.

Coker scored on a 62-yard catch-and-run Derek Ng made a 28-yard field goal to give Holy Cross its first lead of the game at 31-28 midway through the fourth quarter.

Snider was 23-of-34 passing for a career-high 305 yards and three TDs with no interceptions for Buffalo (0-2).

Sluka completed 13 of 21 passes for 238 yards and three touchdowns and added 146 yards rushing on 25 carries. Coker finished with four receptions for 147 yards.

Jordan Fuller had touchdown runs of 2 and 4 yards for Holy Cross.

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