<body><div><img src="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?type=thumbnail_580x000&amp;url=3ZzDXl_0wDgNUBp00" alt="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=3ZzDXl_0wDgNUBp00" width="788" height="518" ><div style="position:relative;width:100%; height:0; padding-bottom: 56.25%;"><iframe src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/aakm00gw3WY?enablejsapi=1&version=3&playerapiid=ytplayer" allowfullscreen frameborder="0" style="width:100%; height:100%;top:0; left:0; position:absolute"></iframe></div>Two teams needing a win in very tough 9-5A battled to the end Friday night at Tad Gormley Stadium.In the end, Holy Cross held off Warren Easton 23-21 to get the victory.“We have played too many games this year not playing at a high level of execution and giving things away,” Wattigny said. “We started to do that last night but fought through it. The message is to just score one more point than the opponent. We had a real chance to beat Curtis but did not execute. We got two more points in this one.”Noel Mora gave the Tigers a 3-0 lead midway through the first quarter with a 30-yard field goal.Claude Johnson, who has been out with an MCL strain, returned to action and was very important. Johnson increased the lead to 10-0 early in the second quarter with a 2-yard touchdown run.“He is very important to us,” Wattigny said. “He was hurt early in the season and had a three-week recovery. He played with a knee brace. He gives us the best chance to win. He had two explosive plays for us and that is what we missed.”It looked like the Tigers were on their way to an easy win when Jonah Olsen hit Finn Martin with a 45-yard touchdown pass later in the second quarter to give Holy Cross a 16-0 lead at halftime.The Eagles came storming out of the locker room, exploding for 14 quick points in the third quarter.Quarterback Carl Reed scored from 1-yard out and Tyrell Surtain raced nine yards for a score to cut the deficit to 16-14.Martin then delivered the biggest play of the game, returning the ensuing kickoff 95 yards for a touchdown to give Holy Cross a 23-14 lead.Reed capped a fourth quarter drive with a 2-yard touchdown run to make it 23-21 with 9:20 to play in the game.Easton had an opportunity to win it in the final minute but on its final drive, the Tigers stopped Surtain short of the line to gain at the Holy Cross 33-yard line to seal the victory.“Martin made big plays when we needed them,” Wattigny said.Johnson rushed for 82 yards and a touchdown for Holy Cross.Reed ran for 116 yards and two touchdowns and passed for 101 yards for Warren Easton.Holy Cross (3-4, 2-2) returns to action next Saturday afternoon against Archbishop Rummel at 2 p.m. at Joe Yenni Stadium in a game you can listen to on KMEZ, 102.9 FM.“We felt like after we lost to Karr and how we lost to Karr by self- imploding, we felt like we played the best team in the district,” Wattigny said. “We had a huge win over Jesuit. We had a shot against Curtis. We had to have this one and got it. Wattigny feels good about what is to come.“I feel everyone is playing for second place,” Wattigny said. “We look forward to finishing with Rummel, St. Augustine and Brother Martin. We feel we are comparable to those good teams.”Warren Easton (3-4, 0-4) has an even tough assignment against unbeaten Karr next Friday night.</div></body>

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Holy Cross fights off Warren Easton for 23-21 district win

Two teams needing a win in very tough 9-5A battled to the end Friday night at Tad Gormley Stadium. In the end, Holy Cross held off Warren Easton 23-21 to get the victory. “We have played too many games this year not playing at a high level of execution and giving things away,” Wattigny said. “We started to do that last night but fought through it. The message is to just score one more point than the opponent. We had a real chance to beat Curtis but did not execute. We got two more points in this one.”